If nothing seems to change in your congregation despite your best efforts and great strategies, chances are a “stay-the-course” mentality or an unhealthy culture is to blame. While usually taken for granted and often misunderstood, the culture of a local …
Summer’s coming…Registering campers, hiring staff now
All four Eastern PA Conference Camp & Retreat Centers have opened registration and begun seeking staff and volunteers for Summer Camp 2024, as they prepare to welcome campers from EPA, Greater New Jersey and beyond to a socially and spiritually …
EPA&GNJ Collaboration progress, next steps: December 2023 update
Each month EPA&GNJ Cabinet and staff will be reporting on the progress and next steps, opportunities and challenges in collaborative areas of leadership, database development, ending the sin of racism, youth ministry groups, camp & retreat ministry, finances and benefits, …
Pathways to Transformation: Creating Wholeness and Fruitfulness
The church as a living, dynamic spiritual body is constantly evolving and seeking to adapt to the changing needs of its members and society. Recent upheavals in our world have accelerated changes in our churches that were already underway, thrusting …
NEJ CoNAM leaders explore Native culture, impact of UMC’s ‘new reality’
EPA&GNJ to host 2024 Northeastern Jurisdictional CoNAM meeting Five members of Eastern PA’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) attended a meeting with their counterparts from across the Northeastern Jurisdiction in October to explore how the “new reality” of a …
Latino Commission youth event teaches leadership based on faith, values
Over 45 enthusiastic, mostly Latino youth and young adults came together November 11, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Warrington, to attend Youth Force Unleashed, a diverse, bilingual gathering hosted by the church’s Casa del Pueblo Latino/Hispanic ministry. They …
Men’s retreat creates band of brothers through labors of love
Eastern PA’s United Methodist Men (UMM) discovered truly “how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity,” (Psalm 133) during a weekend men’s retreat in November, sponsored by Lansdale United Methodist Church’s men’s ministry. The …
EPA, seminaries explore cultivating a Culture of Call
The number of young elders in The United Methodist Church reached a record low number in 2023, the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, reported in October. (The center also published in May, “Who will be God’s …
Entre Nos: Hispanic clergy gather to focus on fellowship, wellbeing, ministry
Hispanic/Latino clergy of The United Methodist Church met to explore facets of their wellbeing in life and ministry together, October 30 to November 1, in Phoenix, Arizona. EPA&GNJ clergy attended the national gathering, titled “Entre Nos” (Among Us) and coordinated …
2024 EPA Local Pastor Licensing School dates and dean announced
Local Pastor Licensing School registration will be from December 1 to January 15.Click here to register. Eastern PA’s fully online 2024 Local Pastor Licensing School will begin in February, led by its new Dean, the Rev. John Bletsch. Registration will …