Republished with permission from the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation newsletter The Rev. David Woolverton is the lead pastor at St Paul’s UMC in Elizabethtown, PA, and a graduate of the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation’s Advanced Financial Academy. Originally, David’s AFA …
Creating a Culture of Calling to Ministry, Part 2
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” —John 20:21b After his resurrection Jesus’ demonstrated his own practice of leadership succession. He lingered with his disciples to further instruct and strengthen their personal faith. And he assured them …
Retired 50-year church organist gets to share her gift once more
Celebrating the Creator’s gift of music on Sunday, May 21, enabled Covenant UMC in Lancaster to also celebrate a much-beloved, retired musician who shared that gift with the church for 70 years, including 50 years as its organist. Dolly Kepner, …
Churches that retained staff during COVID closures may qualify for tax credits
During the pandemic many churches received federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) grants to help them during a financially challenging time. Many of our congregations still struggle to rebound from the pandemic. But there is another program, Employee Retention Credits (ERC), …
Hear God speak at Laity Academy #2, August 4-5
After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. – 1 Kings 19:12 United Methodists of Eastern PA may hear God’s still, small voice speak to …
Brief Summary of EPA 2023 Annual Conference
For the first time in three years, the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference met in person from Thursday, May 18, to Saturday, May 20, at the Expo Center in Oaks, Pa. More than 700 members and visitors gathered under the theme …
EPA Awardees Honored for Evangelism, Urban Ministries
About 30 people gathered April 22 for the 2023 Eastern PA Annual Conference awards ceremony at Christ United Methodist Church in Fairless Hills—a 30-minute, video-recorded ceremony where plaques and framed certificates were given out and brief remarks were shared. A …
Project Restoration moving disaster recovery work to Philly
The Eastern PA Conference’s Project Restoration is about to enlarge its territory of endeavor as it moves its Hurricane Ida disaster recovery work from suburban counties into Philadelphia. Doing so will require all that the project’s management team has learned …
Introducing a New Streamlined Reporting Process for Church Leaders
By Rev. James Lee jlee@gnjumc.org For many pastors and church leaders, reporting and form-filling is akin to the dreaded task of sorting through a mountain of laundry on a weekend afternoon—necessary, yet decidedly not exciting. However, things are about to …
Consolidated EPA budget, new fiscal policies proposed for 2024
Eastern PA Conference members will see a restructuring—and perhaps a clarifying—of fiscal policies and assets in the proposed new 2024 conference budget at the annual session May 18-20. But they can get a preview and participate in a Q&A session …