UM News has published at least three recent news stories that report on UM churches, annual conferences and general agencies all trying to shift their ways of functioning in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most are trying to survive …
Church continues annual backpack ministry safely
Wesley UMC in Bethlehem, PA, wasn’t about to cancel its 8-year tradition of giving away thousands of back-to-school backpacks and other goodies to families just because of a daunting pandemic. While it had to curtail many of the usual, festival-like features …
UM Lay Leaders urge laity to engage in social action
The UMC’s Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders (AACLL) executive team has sent a letter to laity across of the U.S. church calling for their commitment to “love one another” and to work together to foster meaningful social change at …
Bishop’s Letter: Fundraising Appeal for Camps
Bishop Peggy Johnson appealed to Eastern PA Conference churches and members in a letter this week to support our four Camp & Retreat Centers as they struggle financially from the cancellation of Summer Camp and numerous events in the still …
New district staffing changes announced
The Eastern PA Conferences’ four districts will share two full-time District Resource Assistants (DRAs), plus additional part-time staff, as of September 1. The cost-saving, efficiency move follows the departure August 31 of Michael Yancey as East DRA and North DRA …
Meet our missionaries in virtual visits
Eastern PA Conference Missions Secretary Barbara Drake reports that conference members and churches can get to know online some of the Global Ministries missionaries we support through their “virtual itineration” this fall. At least eight missionaries serving around the world …
New book club begins with Transforming Community
The Eastern PA Conference’s Congregational Development Team has launched a new book club this fall, and its first title explores how churches can use Methodist traditions to pursue missional transformation. Transforming Community: The Wesleyan Way to Missional Congregations looks at …
Dismantling Racism II to focus on Asian-American experience
A Dismantling Racism Level II workshop, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 AM to 12 PM, will focus on The Experience and Impact of Racism on People of Asian Ancestry.
Learn more…
Online, streamlined Annual Conference session approved
In an historic decision, Eastern PA Annual Conference members voted overwhelmingly August 26 to approve temporary rule changes that will allow for their 2020 annual conference on October 13-14 to be a Zoom videoconference webinar with electronic voting and a …
Dual online events engage youth and youth leaders in learning
While many are avoiding public gatherings this summer during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eastern PA Conference and its churches are making ample use of Zoom video-conferencing for meetings, worship, education and special events. And the Conference’s Youth Ministries program is …