Fearing Safety, UMC Oregon-Idaho Conference Moves 2027 Meeting From Idaho

A photo from the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference at Boise First UMC Cathedral of the Rockies on June 18, 2026. Courtesy the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church

Citing dangers to LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church voted last month to move next year's annual conference out of Idaho.

At this year’s annual conference — a meeting where representatives from Oregon and southern Idaho United Methodist churches gather to vote on and make decisions — held at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho, the Rev. Heather Riggs of Montavilla United Methodist in Portland brought a motion to the floor to change the location of next year’s conference.

Dozens of clergy and laity gave public comment, arguing why they believed the event should remain in Idaho or move to Oregon in 2027. The vote was close, but the end result was that the conference would either move to Oregon or be held virtually.

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