flooded areas of Pakistan

Pakistan: Many roads in flooded areas of Pakistan are completely damaged, which makes it hard for people to travel and for aid workers to deliver much needed supplies. Photo by Qasim Berech, Oxfam International.  

FROM BISHOP PEGGY JOHNSON  - Offering for Pakistan

The world has experienced another major natural disaster.  This time there are devastating floods in Pakistan.  Many are in risk of contracting water-borne diseases and the number of people affected by this tragedy has risen to 20 million.   The United Methodist Committee on Relief has already sent $75,000 but so much more is needed. As United Methodists we know that 100% of every dollar given goes directly to the need and the overhead of our relief agency is covered by our apportionment dollars.  Please take an offering for our sisters and brothers in Pakistan.  Send donations to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Office, P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA  19482-0820, and it will be forwarded to the UMCOR Advance #3982450 on your behalf.

For more information on the United Methodist Committee on Relief and its response to the Pakistan floods, go to: www.umcor.org.

Message from Bishop Peggy Johnson

As we begin a the fall season with its many “new beginnings” I give thanks to God for the faithful clergy, lay people, conference directors, district superintendents and staff that have so graciously labored for the kingdom of God in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference.  Much good has been happening this year and I am constantly amazed at the new and innovative ministries that are coming from our churches.

Click here for a Powerpoint presentation on the Revised Conference Goals and Structure 2010.

At the May session of Annual Conference we promised to continue to refine the Strategic Plan of the conference and bring to the November 13, 2010 Adjourned Session of Conference both the fruits of the labors of the Strategic Review Committee and the Structure Review Committee.  Both committees have met for many months to refine our vision and structure to make it in line with the United Methodist “Four Foci” (developing principled leaders, creating new faith communities and revitalizing existing ones, ministry with the poor, and improving global health).  At the Adjourned Session these documents will be voted up or down and not perfected on the floor.  

Offering PlateEastern Pennsylvania Conference 2011 Draft Budget included with this report.  At the midyear point of 2010 we pause to thank God for His many blessings.  As Christians, we believe that God has called on us to “make a difference” in our world.  Even though economic challenges continue in many places, we are aware of God’s grace and resources to help others in need. This is most evident by the tremendous outpouring of giving to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund: churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference have donated more than $400,000 to date.  We are truly helping to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.    Thank you to all the members of local churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference for their generous giving and continued support.

As of June 30, 2010 we have received $9 million, or 43% of the $21 million budget for all funds.

Girl looking through fencePennsylvania Anti-Poverty Summit

Jesus tells us in Luke 3:11, that “whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” In writing to Timothy, the apostle Paul tells him “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

At least 1.6 million Pennsylvanians live in poverty. They are our neighbors, our friends, and our families.

What can you do?

What can your congregation do?

What can The United Methodist Church across Pennsylvania do?

Be part of the solution. Be part of  United Methodists Uniting: Pennsylvania Anti-Poverty Summit, Oct. 10-11 at Camp Hill United Methodist Church, Camp Hill, PA.

United Methodist Men of Jarrettown UMC held a “Potato Drop” at Jarrettown UMC last March, and  distributed 45,000 pounds of Maine potatoes to food banks in this region to include Philabundance, the large food bank in Philadelphia.  This is part of the UMM/St. Andrew’s Society’s End Hunger nation wide campaign. 

September is National Hunger Action Month

Hunger is a year-in-year-out problem.  But during September hunger advocates, agencies and alliances across the country work together to focus attention on the issue of hunger in America. 

Make no mistake – there is hunger in this, the wealthiest nation on the planet!  Some 49 million Americans now live with food insecurity – the situation in which one never knows from day to day if they will have enough food for their children and themselves.  And this plight is exacerbated by the nationwide depression affecting just about everyone.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church

Welcome!  The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is made up of about 465 churches, which serve nearly 125,000 members in 16 counties.   Led by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, the Conference's mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Today, this mission is the focus of the conference’s 465 churches, congregations which speak to diverse and multi-generational populations in the many cities, towns, and rural areas throughout our area.  The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and its sister Peninsula/Delaware Conference together compose the Philadelphia Area, with nearly 1,000 churches served by Bishop Peggy Johnson.

If you are a clergy person or member of one of our 465 churches, we invite you to explore this website for resources and information to support you in your effort to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

If you are looking for a welcoming faith family, we invite you to visit a United Methodist Church in your community: www.find-a-church.org.

News

Read the latest news of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

Photos

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Videos

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Bishop's Blog

Read thoughts on faith and life from Bishop Peggy Johnson.

Thursday, September 2, 2010 - 13:33
Congo Partnership Visit
From July 28th until August 12th I visited the Central Congo Area of the United Methodist Church with a team of people from both the Eastern Pennsylvania and...