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 of offices.

The four DRAs, including newly hired Deb Boyd, will work together in new ways to support the entire Cabinet and streamline their tasks to avoid duplication. Boyd succeeds the Rev. Lin George, who retires June 30. Meanwhile, DRAs will work together in new ways to support the entire Cabinet, rather than individual districts. Their greater cooperation will streamline tasks and avoid duplication.

In Connectional Ministries, Administrative Assistant Felicia Anderson left the staff in March. The Rev. Kevin Babcock will join the staff part-time as Coordinator of Church Support Services in July. He will partner with the Director of Connectional Ministries and the Congregational Development Team to offer opportunities for local churches to consider new forms of development and revitalization.

Other jobs have been expanded in their titles and responsibilities.

Regina Raiford Babcock, Office Administrative Assistant will welcome visitors to the conference office at the front desk when the office reopens, possibly in July. That desk has been unstaffed for some years. She will also handle administrative duties for department directors, with an emphasis on Connectional Ministries. Babcock will work closely with the Connectional Table and process grants and scholarships, while continuing to work with vendors and troubleshoot office issues.

Lindsey Cotman, Senior Media & Events Support Associate supports online facilitation and registration of events, while designing and publishing media materials and managing technical operation of the conference website. Soon she will also support facilitation of district events, adding to her support of the conference’s Zoom video-conferencing, Google Mail and calendaring operations for meetings and events.

Madeline Gonzalez-Lopez, Senior Benefits & Data Support Associate has begun coordinating operations of the conference database, in addition to her ongoing work assisting with Pension & Health Benefits related matters.

Debra Boyd is the newest member of the Eastern PA Conference team of District Resource Assistants (DRA) as of June 8. She and the others will all work together at the Conference Office, rather than separately in the four districts, beginning July 1. Boyd becomes the South District DRA, succeeding the Rev. Lin George, who retires June 30.

A member of Hopewell UMC in Downingtown, Boyd served on staff there as Director of Lay Ministries for seven years. A Christ Servant Minister, she participated in numerous mission trips for hurricane relief and trips to South Africa. She had a prior career in market research.

A self-described “history nerd” and dog-lover, Deb “rejoices when people encounter and experience God in a transformative way, having personally experienced the life-changing power of Jesus Christ herself.”