United Methodist leaders and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have reached an agreement about new Affiliation and Facility Use Agreements between congregations, scouting units and the BSA. Bishop John Schol, who chairs the UMC Leadership Team, announced the completion …

Exploring the lifecycle and leadership of small-membership churches
Bi-Vocational Pastors & Small Church Network to focus on church revitalization July 12 Church Revitalization for Small-Membership Churches will be the focus of the EPA Bi-Vocational Pastors and Small Church Network’s next meeting on Tuesday, July 12. The group’s usually …

Federal EPA to offer churches free energy efficiency trainings
The Rev. Zachary Hopple, pastor of Christ UMC Lansdale, wants Eastern PA Conference churches to know about free, upcoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) training events to help churches save on energy costs. The first, July 12, from 6:30 to 8:00 …

‘Building Communities of Hope and Joy’ at Mission u
“God’s desire for us is to build communities of hope and joy.” The Eastern PA Conference United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) invite all to join in exploring that inspiring, unifying desire at monthlong sessions of Mission u …

Church welcomes neighbors into its ‘spiritual home’
“Welcome Home.” One sees that greeting written down at First UMC in Media and on its website. But now members are also saying it more, as they welcome new and diverse attendees to join them in worship and ministry. The …

Local Pastors Licensing School to begin in August
The Eastern PA Conference’s next Local Pastor Licensing School will begin August 19 and run eight weekends total until Oct. 8. That includes six weekends total of in-class modules, again offered fully online via Zoom video-conferencing, with a weekend off …

COSROW to host event on women’s heart health, June 25
EPA’s Commission on the Status & Role of Women (COSROW) will shed light this month on a topic too long lost in the shadows of medical ignorance: heart illness in women. Deena Weems Thornton (left), Portfolio Advisor for Health & …

New Certified Lay Ministers persevere together while apart
Six new Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) “graduated” in a Service of Recognition June 5, at Salem UMC in Orwigsburg. After months of class sessions on Zoom, they met each other in person there for the first time. Yet, despite so …

UMC, BSA* Relationship Update webinar set for June 16
A Letter from Steven Scheid, Director, Center for Scouting Ministries General Commission on UM Men (GCUMM), The United Methodist Church The following letter is being sent to scouting representatives in UMC congregations. There is no indication as of this email of …