Peggy Johnson speaks to about 100 members at West Lawn church Written by David Mekeel WEST LAWN — Bishop Peggy Johnson stressed unity on Saturday morning as she addressed more… Read more

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance after delegates at a crucial conference Tuesday rejected… Read more

by Kristin E. Holmes, Updated: March 1, 2019 In the years since she was stripped of her credentials by the United Methodist Church, Beth Stroud had hoped the denomination she calls… Read more

It’s Lily Rohner’s first time competing in the Klondike Derby at the Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania. Think of the derby as a battle of the bands for… Read more

MARSHALLTON — On Feb. 1, Troop 19 was formally launched as the first all-girl troop under Scouts Boy Scouts of America in Chester County. Troop 19 is the sister troop… Read more

Faith and Form, Volume 51, Issue 3 :: Rachel Hildebrandt | Photographs by Chris Kendig

Philadelphia’s religious building stock is in transition, due in large part to the declining memberships and resources of many congregations, which echoes the situation in cities and towns across the country. The moment a building is sold by a congregation or its denominational office, a new user will likely decide its long-term fate. The numbers confirm this. Of the city’s 839 purpose-built religious properties, 17 percent are no longer in religious use. Half are no longer occupied by the original congregation. Since 2009, nearly 35 religious buildings have been demolished. Keep reading at faithandform.com  Read more

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jeff Gammage continues his revealing coverage of First UMC of Germantown’s recent decision to provide sanctuary to two undocumented immigrant families whose appeals for protective asylum were… Read more

St. James United Methodist Church re-established its basketball league this month, an effort to give youth the opportunity to compete in their neighborhoods and bring the community together.

Dormant for about 10 years, the league was most recently led by James Otis Powell, the late husband of former pastor Margaret Marie Powell. The re-launch is a move by pastor John T. Brice Sr. to holistically address the needs of the community.

“We run the league; we pay for the league; we pay for the refs,” said Brice. “No child had to come out of pocket for anything. That’s from tithe and offerings. That’s what it’s supposed to be for.” Read the story…   Read more

The Rev. Mark Salvación, pastor of Historic St. George’s UMC Philadelphia, interviews faith leaders weekly on a new, hourlong, talk-radio podcast program on WWDB 860 AM.

“Faith to Faith with Pastor Mark,” produced by the Beasley Media Group, airs Sundays, from 3 to 4 PM. Salvación hosts weekly live interviews with diverse guests from various faith traditions. Recently he interviewed the Rev. William Brawner, Eastern PA Conference Coordinator of Urban Ministries and pastor of Haven-Peniel UMC Philadelphia.

Listen to that interview at https://files.greatermedia.com/uploads/sites/76/2018/08/FTF081218.mp3.

The interview is preceded by a 60-second ad for our conference’s Helping Puerto Rico Rise Again Special Love Offering in September. Communications director John Coleman, who wrote and recorded the ad, encourages all Eastern PA Conference churches to receive the offering and invites other churches and faith groups to join us in this fundraising effort.
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Volunteers at Wesley UMC in Bethlehem handed out new backpacks, school supplies, clothing, hot dogs and more—including free haircuts—to elementary school children.

Thousands of families attended the annual “We Got Your Back” charity event that gets bigger, more generous and more successful each year.   Read more