The Eastern PA Conference office and staff are both undergoing changes. All district offices will move into the Conference office in July—a move that was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. Major renovations are being completed, including the addition and rearranging …
Racism in policing dialogue draws nearly 300 on Zoom
“Fight for Floyd: Where do we go from here?” a live video discussion sponsored June 1 by the Eastern PA Conference, drew nearly 300 participants to the event on Zoom to wrestle with the crisis…
Churches respond to pandemic by going online, as some reopen and others wait
Members of First UMC Mt. Carmel (above) came home for Mother’s Day May 10. With bright carnations in hand, they returned to their beloved, historic sanctuary for worship after a two-month absence during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that led to …
Annual Conference 2020 shortened to two busy days
By John W. Coleman The Eastern PA Annual Conference will happen October 13-14, with a tight schedule that shortens it from three days to two, to save on time and money. But the agenda will be much the same as …
Reopening our churches: Lessons from Noah
As we prepare for the slow, cautious process of reopening our churches after these many weeks of seclusion, we can find some helpful advice from the Word of God taken from Genesis 6-9, the account of Noah and the ark…
Clergy seek racial justice, peace at protest rallies
Eastern PA Conference clergy and laity have joined peaceful marchers in recent rallies for racial justice in Philadelphia and other cities, protesting the brutal killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis, Minn., police May 25. While violence and looting may have …
Conference tries to grow Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural ministry
‘This is not a project but a journey’ The Eastern PA Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CORR) holds its annual Ministry in a Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Context (CR/CC) Workshop Saturday morning, June 6, for pastors and church leaders beginning or ending …
Conference suspends summer camps for 2020
‘Many tears have been shed’ By John W. Coleman The four Camp & Retreat Centers spread across the Eastern PA Conference have made the painful decision to suspend onsite summer camp this year, which was to begin in June. That action …
Workshop for New CR/CC Ministry Appointments, June 6
Ministry in a Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Context: Workshop for New CR/CC Ministry Appointments. Online Zoom event. 9 AM – 12:30 PM.
‘Go-Sow-Lo’: Sermon for Trinity Sunday
Bishop Peggy Johnson: Jesus’ Great Commission means making disciples is the main goal of the church. It is what we should always be doing and never get distracted. Watch the video.