While we are caring for and encouraging the families most affected, church leaders and responsible committees and boards at all levels, must also prayerfully look toward the future of the church and respond strategically to potential economic changes so that the spiritual ministry of the church can continue to meet the needs of our members and communities.

Stop by the Clark County Adventist Community Services (CCACS) building at 3114 E Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver, Washington and you’ll immediately notice the garden. Perfect rows stretch from fence to fence, each bed exactly five feet from the next, already showing promise of a bountiful harvest.

This week, the governors of Oregon and Washington both released their versions of a “Stay Home” orders that closed many non-essential businesses across both states. Interestingly, the orders have slightly different implications for our churches in Oregon and Washington. Here’s how we’re understanding the implications for Oregon Conference churches.

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Due to the rapidly-changing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the administration of the North American Division (NAD) has elected to transition its corporate office in Columbia, Maryland, to a virtual operation.

Oregon Conference Department of Education has announced that all conference schools will be closed from March 16-31. This decision aligns the Adventist Education system with Governor Kate Brown’s order to close all Oregon K-12 schools. The decision applies to all Oregon Conference schools in both Oregon and Washington. 

On March 4, 2020, during the North American Division monthly staff meeting, NAD administration invited Tim Northrop, president of Adventist Risk Management, and Dr. Peter Landless, Health Ministries director of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to present on what the church is doing in regard to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

With Coronavirus arriving in Oregon, many of our churches and schools are asking, “what should we do to prepare?”

Have you ever wondered how an Executive Committee decides on the details of a Conference Budget? According to North American Division best practice, each year’s budget is to be based on a projected “income” of 98% of the previous year’s tithe. That’s the starting point.

On February 8, Pastor Dale Cardwell was ordained to gospel ministry at InsideOut Ministries in Salem during a special afternoon service.

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