Diversity and inclusion concept. Human silhouette figures of different gender, age and race standing in front of a multicultural city.

The mission of United Methodists of Eastern PA is “to recruit and develop transformational leaders so that people and communities experience healing, renewal and wholeness from God.” That mission pertains not only to congregations but also to the conference boards, agencies and committees that serve them.

Now, new leaders—faithful disciples committed to connectional ministry—are needed and being sought for some of those boards, agencies and committees for 2024-2028. EPA’s Leadership and Nominations Committee, co-chaired by the Rev. David Piltz and Maryann Griffith, is helping each of those groups to find and recruit gifted members for election by the 2024 Annual Conference to fill current and continuing leadership needs.

January 15 is the deadline for all boards, agencies and committees—including the Leadership and Nominations Committee—to produce an initial report for the 2024 Annual Conference. That earlier than usual deadline is to allow time to satisfy a key task of EPA’s “Ending the Sin of Racism” goal, which is to do an “Implicit Bias” examination of all conference reports and resolutions. (Implicit bias is “prejudice that is present but not consciously held or recognized.”

EPA’s commissions on Religion and Race and the Status and Role of Women will assist in that process, which will precede the finalization of reports and resolutions. The conference’s goal is to increase the numbers of People of Color who chair boards, agencies and committees with an aim for them to occupy at least one-half of those roles. The examination will also consider representation of women and members with disabilities on boards, agencies and committees.

Authors of Annual Conference reports and resolutions–including boards, agencies and committees–will receive feedback from the implicit bias review and be asked to resubmit their reports and resolutions with any needed changes to the Conference Secretary by February 15.

Find conference leadership details and service opportunities

Visit the Conference Leadership web page to learn who leads and serves on the various boards, committees and agencies. Find leaders in the 2023 Conference Leadership Roster. Find memberships of all boards, committees and agencies, and brief descriptions of their mission, in the 2023 Conference Committee on Leadership Annual Conference Report (aka 2023 Leadership Report).

Anyone who wishes to serve on a conference board, committee or agency in 2024-2028 should fill out and submit the online Conference Leadership and Service Interest Form, found on the Conference Leadership page.

“We still need more people—especially conference finance and trustee board members,” said Piltz. Indeed, serving on the conference level, beyond the congregation, is a special opportunity and responsibility to serve and impact the church and its mission connectionally.

EPA’s Connectional Table, which coordinates and supports the work of all boards, agencies and committees, meets via Zoom quarterly and will meet next on Tuesday, January 30.