Grief Watch
A name given to all of the efforts by residents of the Peace House and other Metanoians to give spiritual, emotional and other support to people who are grieving, and to address the systemic injustices within our society which give people reason to grieve. (For more details see the section above entitled “Our Current Missions and Ministries”)

Lay Leader
In United Methodist parlance, a non-ordained person with recognized gifts for leadership, who has been elected to provide leadership to the congregation as a whole, in cooperation with the Pastor.

Leadership Team
A Group of leaders consisting of the Pastor, Chair of Community Council, Lay Leader and one or two elected members-at-large. The Leadership Team prepares agendas for Council meetings, sees that Council decisions are implemented, and administers the affairs of the community, as needed, between meetings of the Community Council.

Liturgist
A person assigned to lead the parts of the Sunday evening worship gathering, except for the Scripture reading and Holy Communion.

Member
A person who has met the requirements leading to membership, who observes “Our Covenant as Members” and who has been welcomed as a member. Members are collectively responsible for the life and ministry of the congregation.

Mentor
A member assigned to help guide a specific exploring member through the process leading to full membership.

Non-Violent Direct Action
Active confrontation of specific instances of violence and injustice, sometimes using illegal means (civil disobedience), but only in a manner which is faithful to the principles of non-violence in word and deed, as practiced by Jesus, Gandhi, the Berrigan brothers and others. Examples of non-violent direct action are sit-ins, blockades, boycotts, and the refusal to comply with a law which is deemed to be unjust. In every case, non-violent direct action implies a willingness to accept the legal consequences of one’s actions.

Pastor
The person assigned by the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference as the leader in charge of the local congregation, in this case Metanoia Peace Community. The term “pastor” means “shepherd.”

18th Ave Peace House
1. The property at 2116 NE 18th Ave, owned by Metanoia Peace Community.
2. The residents of the house and their collective ministries of hospitality, community-building, peacemaking, and grief support

Perinatal Loss
Part of the “Grief Watch” ministry, this program publishes and distributes books, video tapes, and other resources for parents whose infants have died, before, at, or shortly after, birth. For a fuller description of the program see “Our Current Missions and Ministries,” earlier in this handbook.

Reconciling Congregation
The term used by a movement within the United Methodist denomination to designate churches which openly welcome gay men, lesbian and other sexual minority persons into their life and leadership.

Sense of the Meeting
A process of group discernment, developed by Quakers, in which participants set aside private agendas and opinions and sit in silence with a decision that needs to be made, speaking only as they are led by the Spirit to offer something to the rest of the body. Usually in the process the Spirit brings the group to a common resolution of the issue, a “sense of the meeting,” that a particular course of action (not necessarily an action previously proposed) is the right course of action.

Shared Ministries
In United Methodist terminology, the ministries of mission, evangelism, education, and social advocacy sponsored by the United Methodist denomination--locally, nationally, and internationally, and to which every local United Methodist Church contributes through the payment of apportionments.

Sojourner
Anyone who participates in the life and work of Metanoia Peace Community but is not a member.

Tithe
Ten-percent of one’s income, usually understood to mean ten-percent of one adjusted gross income, given as an offering for the benefit of others and as an act of piety, justice and faith in God. Most Metanoians give part, but not all, of their tithe to the congregation

Trustees, Board of
A six-member body which functions as the Board of Directors for Metanoia Peace Community United Methodist Church, Inc. The Board serves as custodian of property owned by Metanoia Peace Community and executes legal agreements as directed by the Church Conference or Community Council.

United Methodist Church
The world-wide denomination of Christians of which we are a part. Metanoia is one of about 220 congregations in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the UMC, and one of 42 congregations in the (Portland) Metropolitan District