Bishop Schol returns to EPA, meets with clergy

The United Methodists of Eastern PA welcome Bishop John Schol back to provide continuing coverage as our episcopal leader through 2024. At the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, Nov. 1-4, he was reassigned to EPA and also to the Greater New Jersey …

Jurisdictions see shift in bishops, more cooperation

Even as The United Methodist Church faces mounting disaffiliations, those who plan to remain United Methodist are collaborating more across jurisdictional lines. Jurisdictional conferences also saw more women and more people of color become bishops and the most “firsts” since …

Historic NEJ Conference seeks hope, healing amid troubles

As the UMC’s Northeastern Jurisdiction met Nov. 2-4 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md., with the theme “One in Ministry to All the World,” host Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling welcomed guests from 10 conferences to “the home …

NEJ Conference to elect 2 bishops, celebrate milestones

The 21st Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference will officially convene next Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 2-4, at the University of Maryland Hotel in College Park, Md. But the 184 delegates and reserves will first gather on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 31 and …

Delegates urge hope for denomination’s future

Since the postponement of General Conference to 2024, much of the news has been about church disaffiliations and denominational divisions. No question the rhetorical punches are flying on social media and in newsletters. However, many United Methodists see no reason to …

UM court answers 2021 EPA Conference question

The United Methodist Church’s supreme court released this week three decisions responding to questions raised during annual conference sessions. One of its decisions responded to a question raised at Eastern PA’s 2021 Annual Conference. The Judicial Council determined that bishops …

General Conference postponed until 2024

Citing long wait times for visas, General Conference organizers announced that The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking assembly — long postponed by pandemic — must wait until 2024. “We engaged in a fair, thorough, integrity-filled discussion of the alternatives,” said …

Europeans make plans for separation

United Methodists in Europe are beginning to make plans for what happens if a proposal for the denomination’s separation wins General Conference approval. Several European annual conferences have indicated plans to remain with The United Methodist Church. Other conferences expect …