The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is made up of nearly 400 churches, which serve over 80,000 members in 16 counties. Led by Bishop John Schol, the Conference’s mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

News & Information

EPA Recognizes Four Who ‘Go and Make Disciples’

The Eastern PA Conference celebrates evangelism each year with two major awards, the One Matters Award and the Denman Evangelism Awards, that recognize churches and individuals making strides in living out Jesus’ Great Commission to “Go and make disciples” (Matthew ...

Urban Ministry Awards Go to 4 Community-Engaged Churches

In describing the urban ministry challenge today, the Rev. Evelyn Kent Clark, Eastern PA Conference Dean of the Cabinet, may have turned iconic author Charles Dickens’ most famous opening line into a call for mission evangelism. “We think these are ...

Helping people feel they Belong

Open hearts, open minds, open doors. United Methodists of Eastern PA have special ways of making guests of all ages feel special, to feel like they Belong. That’s our 2024 Annual Conference theme. We asked churches to share some of ...

EPA Annual Conference to ordain, commission 8 clergy

“Who presents these candidates to be ordained or commissioned?” Bishop John Schol will ask that question to begin the 2024 Eastern PA Conference’s Service of Ordination and Commissioning May 21. The congregation’s response will remind all present of where these ...

EPA to vote on conference partnership, camp’s land easement 

The 2024 Eastern PA Annual Conference, May 21-23, will consider 11 resolutions, including a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue and extend the 18-month collaborative partnership between the EPA and Greater New Jersey conferences (EPA&GNJ). The MOU resolution—which also ...

Embracing the Joy of Our Unity

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BISHOP (From NEWSpirit newspaper’s Spring 2024 issue) “…so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” –Romans 12:5 I tasted grits for the first time at the age ...

EPA to graduate 7 new CLMs June 2

Eastern PA will celebrate the 2024 Class of Certified Lay Ministers at their graduation ceremony on Sunday, June 2, at 3 p.m., at Bickley’s New Beginning United Methodist Church, Philadelphia. The Rev. Andrew Foster III will preach at the event. ...

Ministry that Transcends Hatred and Discrimination

The United Methodist Church’s General Conference voted May 1 to approve a resolution condemning racial-ethnic discrimination and gender-based violence against Asian Americans. Submitted by the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists, the resolution condemns increasing discrimination against racial-ethnic minorities, especially ...

Annual Conferences to meet back-to-back, while looking forward

As of May 13, 526 members have registered online for the United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) Annual Conference. Online registration is closed.   Following his ascension, Jesus Christ’s followers gathered in a room to meet, pray and await the Holy ...