Bishop Peggy Johnson e-mailed an urgent appeal to Conference members today, calling upon all to contact their U.S. Senators, especially Sen. Pat Toomey, as the Senate debates proposed changes to our nation's health care system. The changes "should alarm all of us and incite our urgent response," she wrote.

"The White House administration and Senate Republican leadership have been pushing legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and, most importantly, to restructure Medicaid in ways that would result in devastating cuts to health care coverage for millions who need it most: low-income working families, disabled citizens, children and adults not eligible for Medicare."

Bishop Johnson joined the UMC's Board of Church and Society, on which she serves, in urging United Methodists to appeal for a commitment to justice and mercy in the Senate, to protect the affordable health care access of millions who rely on Medicaid and other provisions of the ACA for care and remedies to serious illnesses. "Urge them to stop unilateral efforts to adopt the drastic, proposed health care changes and instead to begin a bipartisan effort that can sensibly and humanely address actual concerns," read the letter.

"Pennsylvania is a key state in the debate, and our own Senators' views and votes are critical to the fate of any proposed legislation. We need our Senators to vote on legislation that will INCREASE access to affordable, quality health care. The current legislation does not, nor would any amendments.

"The United Methodist Church is clear," it continues. "Health care is a basic human right. We must ensure access to affordable, quality health care for all people." Learn more...

The Eastern PA Conference Office is searching for a fulltime Conference Treasurer, who would report to the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) and the Resident Bishop. The Treasurer is responsible for all aspects of the conference's financial management, providing excellence in business and financial management and administration. That includes responsibility for receiving and disbursing funds, in accordance with conference and denominational policies, and strategic goal-setting and planning, in collaboration with the Bishop and the CFA. Persons interested in this position should send resumes with cover letters to [email protected] by  August 11th. Initial interviews will take place during the week of August 21.  Download the job description.

The Conference has two new staff members, while two other hiring searches are underway.  Regina Railsford Babcock (right) joined our conference team July 24 as an Administrative Assistant. She is getting orientation and preparing to succeed Gloria Knoeller, who retires after 38 years as an administrative support staff member. Regina has been an Administrative Assistant at St. James, an Episcopal Church-related private school in Philadelphia, and at Siloam UMC in Booth Corner. She is married to the Rev. Kevin Babcock, a local pastor serving Clifton Heights UMC. 

Sheila Reavis is working here part-time for the summer, from July 17 to September 4, as a temporary staff member, scanning documents to the cloud for the Conference Benefits Office. She is a Lay Servant Minister at Grace Community UMC in Chester. 

The Conference is also seeking to hire a new  Conference Treasurer (see above) and a part-time  Coordinator for Urban Ministries.  Persons interested in the latter position should send resumes with cover letters to [email protected] by August 4.

We have added plenty more dramatic images from Annual Conference to the four AC 2017 photo albums on our  Flickr page (titled Day 1 Day, 2, Day 3 and Ordination). They include some familiar faces and memorable scenes. Enjoy the impressive contributions of our talented, dedicated Annual Conference Photography Crew: Sabrina Daluisio, the Rev. James Mundell, Paul Davis, the Rev. Steward Warner and John Coleman. We are very grateful for them all! Thanks also to Sabrina Daluisio and Desktop/Web Publisher Lindsey Cotman for assembling and posting the many wonderful images.  Enjoy!

While you're at it, check out also the collection of images on our colorful  Instagram page. Please join our growing list of followers there. Also, see the vivid photo (above) of newly ordained, smiling, robed clergy, with admiring peers applauding them in the background, taken at the Annual Conference ordination service and posted atop our  Facebook and  Twitter pages. An image so nice, we used it twice.

Speaking of photos,  we're looking for really good photos of 2017 Vacation Bible School programs. Whether you used "Hero Central," "Super God!" or any other theme, if you took photos we want to see some, share some on our Flickr page, and  choose the best ones to publish on our website and in the Summer issue of NEWSpirit newspaper (due out in mid-August). So, please, please, send us your best photos of kids (or adults) enjoying VBS. August 7 is our deadline for photos to be considered for publishing in NEWSpirit. But we'll accept and publish great photos online throughout August. Don't delay. Search through your smartphone, camera or memory cards now to choose and send us your very best. E-mail them as soon as possible to  [email protected]. 

• the Conference Scholarship Fund for college students;
• Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM) Scholarships for seminary students;
• Conference-affiliated Methodist Services (formerly the Methodist Children's Home) which provides residential, educational and support services to children, families and women going through life transitions; and
• the Conference Council on Youth Ministries.  

The Eastern PA Conference is still searching for a part-time Coordinator of Urban Ministries, who will report to the Director of Connectional Ministries. If you are interested or know of anyone interested in this position, resumes and cover letters should be e-mailed to  [email protected] by the new extended deadline: August 4.   Download the job description

Charge Conference forms to be downloaded and completed by local church leaders are now available on the conference website, accessible at the top of the Resources tab menu and also on the Forms page. District offices will provide instructions on preferred methods of submitting forms. Included with the usual reports are forms for:

• Safety and Accessibility Inspection;
• Safe Sanctuary policies updating (based on revisions by the 2016 Annual Conference); and
• The new Accountability Agreement with the Boy Scouts of America (if not signed in 2016).

The forms and annual reporting process are described as "an opportunity to celebrate your church's achievements, a useful tool to evaluate your church's ministry goals and objectives, and a helpful process to ask important accountability questions." Any questions or suggestions should be directed to the appropriate District Office (not to the Conference Communications Office).

The new North District will again sponsor its own Laity Academy over four weeks on Monday evenings, September 11, 18 and 25 and October 2. Classes will be in session at St. John's UMC, 1211 West Arch Street, Coal Township, PA. To better serve local churches in their region, the active Methodists United Mission ConneXion, in the Shamokin area, is partnering again with the Eastern PA Conference, as they did  a few years ago, to bring the Laity Academy closer to home.

 

This year, the "Basic" course will be offered as well as two Advance courses: "Leading through Failure" and "Visitation and Nurturing." The academy is open to anyone in the North District or in the entire Eastern PA Conference, for those who want to drive out there and see the sheer beauty of God's early autumn canvas in our northwestern region. Each session will run from 6 to 8:30 PM. For information, contact Patty Korbich at [email protected] or 570-672-1031. A small fee will help pay for class materials and light refreshments. Registration is required. Register at    https://www.epaumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ND-Laity-Registration-Form-2017.pdf

Charles Wesley event open to all   Pianist needed for hymn sing

The  Charles Wesley Society  will meet at Historic St. George's UMC, 235N 4th St., Philadelphia, September 29-30 and invites any interested persons who wish to attend. Please register online. The meeting will feature scholarly presentations that interpret and promote the life and work of Methodist hymnist and co-founder Charles Wesley, with a particular focus on the context of social justice. 

Topics include: "Charles Wesley's Response to the Cries of  t he Oppressed," "Charles Wesley and the Beloved Community," and "Sanctif ication, Salvation, and Social Justice: How the Central Doctrine of Methodism Holds these in Tension." Event organizer Steven Hoskins will speak on "Improvising Poetic Justice: The 1801 Hymnal of Richard Allen, African Methodist Episcopal Minister."  The meeting will also include a tour of historic Methodist sites in Philadelphia, including: Historic St. George's museum; Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, founded by Bishop Richard Allen; and the Dock Street site of the first Methodist Meeting in Philadelphia. 

Another feature will be a public hymn sing at St. George's Church on Friday evening, Sept. 29. But since the St. George's music director will be out of town, an accompanist is needed to play piano for the hymn sing. "This is a terrific opportunity for a dedicated Methodist musician to celebrate Wesley's music," writes Donna Miller of St. George's. There will also be a stipend paid. Contact her at [email protected].   

See, hear and feel it all, from the stirring opening worship and plenary session to our final session of holy conferencing and uplifting reports before adjournment. Be sure to watch Upper Room Chapel Dean Tom Albin lead an insightful, faith-affirming Teaching Session on Prayer. (Also, be sure to download and use his excellent handout materials available on our Annual Conference webpage.)

Enjoy  three inspiring, thought-provoking  sermons by Bishops Peggy Johnson, Latrelle Easterling ( right) and Peter Weaver. 

Marvel at the first-person historical narratives offered by Methodist forebears Captain Thomas Webb ( left) , Mary Thorne and Harry Hosier. And join in celebrating the ordination and commissioning of new clergy, while also commemorating the dedicated lives of newly retired clergy and recently deceased clergy and clergy spouses.

Take your time--take the rest of summer--to view the 30 dramatic video segments on our playlist, carefully prepared by our Communications staff member Lindsey Cotman. Or "binge-watch" them all at once. It's your choice.

But also, don't forget to download and read the many significant Annual Conference reports and resolutions (with their voting results) that are also accessible....where? You guessed it: our Annual Conference webpage.

Views: We're also looking for more informational and inspirational writings by clergy and laity that we can publish (or republish) on the conference website--especially in our " From Pulpit & Pew" blog section. Most of our contributions are republished, with permission, from insightful, well-written pastor's columns in church newsletters. We would like to receive more of those; but we also want other writings from diverse lay and clergy members who have something important, helpful or thoughtful to say that can benefit our readers. If you send us something, please try to e-mail a good photo of yourself as well; and definitely tell us how to contact you if we have any questions or concerns.