33 nominated for 2016 General Conference

Thirty-three members–18 laity and 15 clergy–have been nominated to represent the Eastern PA Conference at the UMC’s 2016 General Conference and Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Brief profiles of each–including biographical information, employment, participation in connectional ministries and personal statements–appear on the conference Website (in the Annual Conference section under the Events tab).

Typical of this conference, the two groups are diverse in gender, age, professional experience, theological and social perspectives, ministry involvement, and race and ethnicity. (See lists below.) They will be voted on at Annual Conference in successive ballots until a full slate of delegates is elected to attend General Conference in Portland, Ore., (four lay and four clergy delegates) and the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in Hershey, Pa. (those four plus four more lay and clergy delegates).  Six alternate delegates–three clergy and three lay–will join them.

Annual conference members will be allowed to make additional nominations from the floor and also vote for write-in candidates during the election of delegates. Members will use electronic voting machines to cast votes. The manufacturer, Meridia, will orient them with a training and practice-vote during the conference’s opening session on Thursday afternoon, May 14.

Clergy	Laity
Melinda McKonly      James McIntire           Chris Kurien               Robin Hynicka            Joe DiPaolo                 Irving Cotto                Tracy Bass                  Sukja Bang                  Lydia Munoz              Jeff Raffauf                 Lillian Smith                Lloyd Speer                Dawn Taylor-Storm   Sharon Vandergrift      Bob Wilt	Gary Ault Jane Bonner    Ross Brightwell Sandra Cianciulli Debra Coulbourn Mousa Dassama Barbara Drake Judy Ehninger Jordan Harris Clifton Hubbard Ann Jacob Krystl Johnson David Koch Sue Grimm Mattox Aaron Smith Lenora Thompson Mary White Wilhelmina Young

Photo: Ruth Daughtery raises a point at the 2012 General Conference, where she was an elected delegate from the Eastern PA Conference.