August 5, 2015
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WHAT'S NEW
Bishop Peggy Johnson announces new clergy appointment changes

NORTHEAST DISTRICT
  • The Rev. Ed Van Arsdale (Part-time Local Pastor) - To: Richmond UMC (NE District).

See complete list of 2015 Clergy Appointments.
United Methodist Night at the Philadelphia Union, August 16
Soccer is growing across the USA--we now have leagues for children, youth and adults, and we have churches sponsoring teams and leagues. Now here in the Philadelphia area we have a pro soccer team, “Philadelphia Union.”

Inspired by the Jarrettown UMC's Youth Group, the  Eastern PA Conference’s UMM are sponsoring “United Methodist Night at the Philadelphia Union” on Sunday, August 16, game time 7 PM.  Let’s go where the young people are, and help fund UM ministries – GO BLUE!

Union’s stadium is PPL Park, located right off Rt. I-95 at the Commodore Barry Bridge Exit in Chester, Pa.  PPL Park is just a few blocks from our own St. Daniels UMC.  The Union uses St. Daniels’ parking lot.

For discounted tickets, use the code “UMM15″ at www.philadelphiaunion.com/promo . Tickets are available for $25 in the corner, with $5 being donated back to United Methodist Ministries! Groups of 10 or more receive additional savings. Fundraising options are also available. For help with a group order, call 610-497-9909 or contact [email protected] .

Visit the event webpage for complete location and ticketing detailsm and download the flyer to share with your church. Contact Ross Brightwell at [email protected] or 215-643-1269 with questions.
REMINDERS
2016 Delegate Election Announcement
The voting process for 2016 General Conference delegates at the 2015 Annual Conference ran into problems with wifi connectivity, causing several ballots to be retaken. Subsequent analysis of the voting reports by the conference showed discrepancies with the presentations of ballot results displayed during the voting process. These discrepancies involved the total number of voters listed on the subsequent reports not matching those displayed, and discrepancies in the total number of votes cast in each ballot.  Upon further examination it was discovered that these discrepancies were caused by cross-voting (clergy voting for laity, and laity voting for clergy).  Under voting and over voting were also discovered which should not have been permitted.  There is also a possibility that issues with wifi connectivity may not have allowed all votes cast to be recorded . Continue reading
Fast-growing Church leaves with property
Faced with no good alternatives, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference recently negotiated a way for its fastest-growing church to leave the denomination but keep the church property . Continue Reading on UMC.ORG

Also see:  Behind the scenes on the separation of a church
Campus Ministry Sunday is August 23 
Life-changing. Church-changing. World-changing.That's what can happen when college students and churches encounter one another to learn, share and grow in Christ and in community. Make sure your church celebrates Campus Ministry Sunday on August 23 (or on a more convenient date). Invite and welcome college students to your church for faith-sharing and fellowship. Receive the special Campus Ministry Sunday Offering that will help us renew efforts to promote and support campus ministries conference-wide. Retain half of the offering to support your own local campus ministry efforts, and please let us know what you are doing. Remit the rest, or the entire offering, to the EPA Conference Treasurer (P.O. Box 820, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0820).

Visit the Higher Education and Campus Ministry webpage on our new Conference Website, and be sure to download the new Campus Ministry Sunday promotional flyer to share with your church.
EPA Conference launches new Website

The Eastern PA Conference's long-awaited new Website is here and available for use at www.epaumc.org.

Please visit our new site today and often. There's much to read, quality photography to appreciate, and new content added weekly. Also, please respond to our short, nine-question feedback survey. Your answers may help us further develop and refine this new communication and engagement tool to better serve you and the needs of our conference. Thanks!
Please reserve your hotel room for AC 2016 now!
We're trying to gain favor at the Lancaster Marriott for our 2016 Annual Conference, and you may be able to help. We really need members who plan to attend Annual Conference to start making room reservations now for the June 16-18 session. As more early reservations are made, we can get more leverage with the hotel staff for our meeting and hospitality needs.

So if you can, please reserve your rooms now at the Lancaster Marriott, Penn Square, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 ( 717-239-1600 ). The online  room registrations  rate is $129/day. Discounted parking in the garage is $7/day. Book your hotel room now
MORE REMINDERS
Missed any past issues of NEWSpirit Digest?
You can still read or share informative, colorful back issues of our weekly e-newsletter on the Eastern PA Conference Website at https://www.epaumc.org/news-events/newspirit-digest. Share this link with others who might want to stay informed about our news, events, resources and concerns. And please encourage them to subscribe by e-mailing [email protected]. Thanks!
SAVE THE DATE
Adjourned Session of Annual Conference
Save the Date! Nov. 14, 2015:  The Adjourned Session will be held at the Macungie campus of Bethany UMC, 3801 Brookside Road, Macungie, PA 18062.
Please Save These Dates! 
Aug. 14-16, 2015: Laity Academy,
The Inn at Reading (PA)  

Sept. 9-12, 2015: Laity Retreat

Oct. 2-4: Northeastern Jurisdiction Lay Leadership Event, Hershey, PA

Oct. 8-28: Bishop's Days on the Districts
  • Oct. 8: Southeast District
  • Oct. 13: Central District
  • Oct. 14: East District
  • Oct. 20: Northeast District
  • Oct. 22: Northwest District
  • Oct. 28: Southwest District
Nov. 14, 2015: Adjourned Session of Annual Conference, Bethany UMC, Macungie, PA

May 10-20, 2016: UMC General Conference, Portland, OR

June 16-18, 2016: Eastern PA Annual Conference, Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, PA

July 10-16, 2016: EPA Conference to host the 2016 UMC Northeastern  
Jurisdictional Conference Lancaster County Convention Center and the Penn Square Marriott Hotel. Each district will serve as the Hospitality Team for one day.
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church
980 Madison Avenue, Norristown, PA 19403
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