Conference Budget:
Please reference Schedule A and Schedule B for a summary of the conference budget for May 2013.

As a result of the faithful giving of EPA local churches to the connectional ministries fund or CMF we ended 2012 surpassing the $3,400,000 budget. Total receipts were $3,401,619 and December 2012 was another outstanding month with receipts totaling $432,684. Thanks to all of the congregations who continue to support this ministry. For 2013, the annual budget is the same as 2012, $3.4 million. Through five months a total of $1,299,482 has been received. This is $117,185 less than budget and $63,392 less than receipts from a year ago, at the same period.

Nearly 1,000 members of The Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference met May 16-18, 2013 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, PA, with the theme, “Wholeness: Physical, Spiritual, Relational.”  Click here: Photos of Annual Conference
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Annual Conference opened with District Celebrations.  Each of the six districts presented news of their churches’ ministries, and the many outstanding ways churches are reaching out with the compassion of Christ in their communities.

Bishop Peggy Johnson led Opening Devotions, noting the 275^th anniversary of Aldersgate Day on May 24, 2013, when John Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed.”  She encouraged listeners to be “fired up and ready to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth.” 

Tellers count and tally votes on several resolutions at Annual Conference 2013.

Conference members voted on four Constitutional Amendments, instructed to vote either yes or no.  The results of the vote will be combined with all the other conferences of the denomination.  Results be announced later in the year.

Here are the results of voting on the 2013 Resolutions:

2013-02 Resolution Relating to Creating a Mission ConneXion presented by the Cabinet.  Approved.

2013-12 Related to Creation of Task Force to Review and Revise Housing Allowance Guidelines submitted by the Cabinet.  Approved.

Rev. Gary Harke, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, spoke to the clergy and lay members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference on Thursday, May 16.

Watch annual conference live via video streaming: http://www.epaumc.org/news/videogallery/video-streaming

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference partners with 41 other churches in PA Council of Churches.  Rev. Harke thanked Bishop Peggy Johnson for her participation in and counsel to the PA Council of Churches Executive Committee. 

He said, "Ecumenism is a gift exchange – each brings gifts to the table and each receives gifts in return."  He added, "We need to break down walls that divide so God’s good news can be displayed to all."