About Urban Ministries
The Office of Urban & Metro Ministries is strengthening its capacity to re-invigorate urban ministry and to be a relevant source of information and support to urban congregations.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference includes some of the most historic population centers in the country, including Philadelphia, Chester and Reading. Since its founding in 1784, the Conference and its predecessors have been fully committed to working in ministry in each of our urban centers. Read More
Fight for Floyd and Beyond
The Eastern PA Conference Urban Commission oversees an ongoing campaign to address racism and violence in U.S. policing that was prompted by the May 25, 2020, killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The campaign seeks to address problems in police-community relations in communities of color, including police mistreatment and brutality committed against African Americans that may be racially motivated.
Fight for Floyd and Beyond began as an education and advocacy campaign after a June 1, 2020, meeting in response to George Floyd’s tragic, senseless and publicly viewed killing that has incited frustration at the preponderance of police violence against unarmed Black people America. Learn More
Featured News
Next Urban Summit to focus on victims, ‘co-victims’ of violence
Honoring Victims and Co-victims* of Violence: An Urban Mini-Summit
The Eastern PA Conference Urban Commission sponsored an Urban Mini-Summit on urban violence on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 10 AM to 12 PM, via Zoom video-conferencing. That date has been the National Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims since 2007.
*Co-victims, or co-survivors, of homicide are persons who have lost a loved one to homicide, including family members and friends.
Click here to view the recording of this event, or see below:
Featured Resources
Urban Commission
Urban Alliance / Urban Church Initiative Grant Application
Fall 2021 Application Deadline: November 15, 2021
The Urban Commission of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference will award grants to assist in funding Urban Alliances or Urban Church Initiatives. United Methodist churches of the Eastern PA Conference are encouraged to apply. The Urban Commission hopes to offer grants twice a year. Alliances and Initiatives who receive funding are eligible to apply for additional funding once every 12 months.
Download the Urban Alliance / Urban Church Initiative Grant Application (.docx download)
UM Metro Ministries, Inc.
Building Repair Grant
UM Metro Ministries will receive applications two times per year with submissions due on March 15 and September 15. UMMM has limited funds and seeks to fund the most compelling projects that demonstrate high impact on the life of the congregation and/or the community it serves. Learn More
For more information about funding resources visit our Funding For Ministry webpage.
2021 Urban Ministry Awards
Members of the West Lebanon Mission Link receive a Herbert E. Palmer Urban Ministry Award for their collaborative food pantry ministry that also received an Urban Commission grant. Presenting the award to the Rev. Bruny Martinez (center) were (from left) the Revs. David Eckert and Myra Maxwell, who co-chair the commission. To Martinez’ left are ministry partners Isaias “Jesse” Davila, the Rev. Jeff Kapp and Bob Howard.
The Revs. Myra Maxwell and David Eckert (kneeling) presented Herbert E. Palmer Urban Ministry Awards to (from left): the Rev. Jose “Ricky” Ayala and Gil Vining form New Hanover UMC Gilbertsville; the Rev. John Lewis and Lewis Wilford of Grace Community UMC Chester; Rev. Bruny Martinez and Isaias “Jesse” Davila (back) of the West Lebanon Mission Link (WLML); the Rev. Joseph Paul Grasser of Christ UMC Easton; and the Rev. Jeff Kapp and Bob Howard of the WLML.