VIP-2021 Statistical Reports are due to be completed by Monday, January 31. Senior pastors should have received an email from John Wilson, Conference Secretary, on Monday, November 22 with detailed instructions. If you have any questions, please contact him at john.wilson@wpaumc.org.
There have been some changes to this process so it’s not too early for pastors to get started-especially if you have never done them before. Please don't leave this task until the last minute or you risk being late with the reports. It takes time to gather the information for the three Tables. It will be the pastor’s responsibility to see that the information is gathered from church leadership and entered online by January 31, 2022.
New-The last day to pay 2021 Connectional Apportionments (and Conference General Advances) is Thursday, January 13, 2022. Please make every effort to reach your 100% goal. To verify your church’s current status, use the Connectional Apportionment Reports page on the Conference website at wpaumc.org/apportionment
New-Boy Scout Bankruptcy Update: United Methodist leaders have reached a settlement as part of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) pending bankruptcy proceedings. It calls for the denomination to pay $30 million over three years into a trust to compensate survivors of Scouting-related sexual abuse and also provides United Methodist churches protection from future abuse-related lawsuits. The settlement, announced Dec. 21 after months of negotiations, is part of a BSA reorganization plan and must be approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Learn more
-General Conference postponed until August 29 – September 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minn. After two postponements, organizers continue working to hold General Conference next year. The business manager says staff knows how important the coming legislative assembly is as the denomination weighs a potential split. However, the delta variant presents new challenges. Read story
Join in Active Waiting: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi suggests that United Methodists spend the time leading up to the next General Conference engaging in the spiritual exercise of active waiting. Rather than a time of anxiety and stagnation, active waiting for believers is a time to cooperate with what God is doing among us while preparing for new manifestations of God’s promises. Read her blog post
2022
Local Pastor's Luncheon: Friday, January 7th
Location: TBD
SPARK : Erie Bayfront Convention Center: April 9-10
https://www.wpaumc.org/spark
District Conference: Sunday, May 15th Somerset Grace UMC
2022 Annual Conference :Thursday, June 2, 2022 to Saturday, June 4, 2022
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Covid patients and caregivers
Our Country, Military and Leaders
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and the WPA Cabinet
2022 General and Jurisdictional Conference: General Conference postponed until August 29 – September 6, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minn. After two postponements, organizers continue working to hold General Conference next year. The business manager says staff knows how important the coming legislative assembly is as the denomination weighs a potential split. However, the delta variant presents new challenges. Read story
Continuing Education for United Methodist Clergy
Since 2018, United Methodist clergy and other church leaders have taken one-hour continuing education classes at clergyeducation.com. In addition to admission into live sessions, registrants receive a video recording of the webinar and a certificate representing 1-hour CEU credit. The cost for each session is $25.
OLMSTED MANOR RETREAT CENTER- Stay in our modern hotel-style lodge or the historic Tudor-style manor house as you enjoy the peace and beauty of the Allegheny National Forest. Learn more. Call us today at (814) 945-6512. Calendar of Events:
Prayer Retreat @ Olmsted Manor (more info )
Where: Olmsted Manor Retreat Center - 17 East Main St. - Ludlow, PA 16333
Friday, February 25, 2022 to February 27
Join this weekend retreat as we explore Centering Prayer as a path of waking up to our pre-existing oneness with God. We are not ultimately separate from God, and we’ll explore the significance of opening to this reality through teaching, reflection, and centering prayer practice. Click here for more information.
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Volunteer In Mission Team Leader Training Dates
This training is for certification as United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Team Leader
and is designed to equip participants to plan and lead VIM teams locally, nationally, or internationally. It is designed for those who have previous experience as part of a VIM team or local mission service and for those who have led VIM teams and need to re-certified with the new UMVIM Handbook.
It is also helpful for those who have thought about joining a VIM team and want to know what to expect. In the process you will learn more about UMC missions and Volunteers In Mission opportunities for local churches & individuals. More...
Let's get ready, trained and equipped to work!
Mission News: Check out updates on local and global ministries in this week’s issue of the Mission News.
If you would like to come volunteer at the barn – to verify or make up UMCOR kits or build ramp modules – you can anytime! You can also go out and assist in assembling a ramp in the community. Just contact us at missionbarn@gmail.com to register your team. Thank you to all the churches, individuals, and UMWs for your generous prayers and support of me as your Deaconess and Church and Community Worker and Eastbrook Mission Barn! If you would like someone to share the joy of missions with your church or organization, please contact me at ktpete@gmail.com. My advance covenant salary number is 982942. Eastbrook Mission Barn’s WPA advance number is ms002009b. If you donate through the WPA Conference, you can designate your donation this way.
Upcoming Youth Events: Mark your calendars for these Conference youth events:
New-Confirmation Journey: Confirmation classes are invited to attend one of three Friday afternoon events -- March 4, 11 or 18 -- to meet Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and learn more about connectional ministries. Hosted by the Conference staff at Dutilh United Methodist Church in Cranberry Twp., the sessions will begin at 1 p.m. with an option for lunch with the Bishop at noon. The day will end at 4:30 p.m. Registration will open January 5, 2022 on the Conference website.
Updated- Date for SPARK Reservations! Erie Bayfront Convention Center: April 9-10
https://www.wpaumc.org/spark
Erie Bayfront Convention Center: April 9-10
July 18-22, 2022
Jumonville
A week of outreach, worship, and service!
New-Upcoming Youth Events: Mark your calendars for these Conference youth events:
Youth 2023 - We are excited to announce the tradition continues with YOUTH 2023 headed to Daytona Beach, Florida July 25-28, 2023! Stay connected as we plan the details that make this event so memorable! Learn More
50 Ways to Strengthen Ministry with Youth: The Lewis Center for Church Leadership offers this resource to view or download. here https://www.churchleadership.com/50-ways/50-ways-to-strengthen-ministry-with-youth/
Safe Sanctuaries and Online Youth Groups: WPAUMC’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator Amanda Gilligan offers things for you to consider, as well as resources to help, as you adapt your church’s Safe Sanctuaries policy to include online gatherings. Read her blog post.
Join the Youth Ministry Team: Let your youth know that there’s still time to apply to be part of the 2020-2021 Conference Youth Ministry Team. Watch video. Fill out the online YMT applicationYouth Information: on the web at https://www.wpaumc.org/youthevents
Pension Calculation Worksheet: Please be aware we have updated the 2021 pension calculation worksheet on our webpage.
It can be found by visiting us at :
https://www.wpaumc.org/
Drop down to misc files and it can be found there.
Please note, there is a slight increase from 2020 in that the Benefit Reserve is changing from .1% to .5% for 2021.
1/12/2022
Martin Luther King Jr. weekend -- Jan. 15-17, 2022 -- has been a time to celebrate Dr. King’s life and remember how his work in the Civil Rights Movement prepared the foundation for dismantling racism. This year, due to the resurgence of the coronavirus, observances have been moved online or scheduled for later this winter. In Western Pennsylvania, the Greensburg District Antiracism Team prepared the virtual service virtual service shown above. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi offered the message. ... read more
1/10/2022
Pending court approval of a settlement agreement in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bankruptcy case, United Methodists have agreed to contribute $30 million to a $3 billion Survivor Trust Fund that will receive contributions from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), insurance companies and charter organizations. Every annual conference in America is asked to contribute toward the $30 million. The Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference has been asked to contribute $ 650,300 to the Survivor Trust ... read more
2/15/2021
As Indiana District Superintendent Jim Pond prepares to retire, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi announced a new experimental district leadership model. Her announcement follows. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of our connection, teamwork, innovation, and good stewardship of our resources. It has further affirmed that in Western Pennsylvania we can manage through change because God has been faithful to us in the midst of changing dynamics as we have had to develop new ways of ... read more
10/28/2019
Someone threw a brick through front door glass at Connellsville Area Community Ministries (CACM) early on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 27 and removed a donation jar and a safe, among other things. CACM is one of the Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Conference's six regional mission agencies. “Please join us in prayer for those who committed the crime. They are obviously in a difficult place and need help,” said a CACM Facebook post on Sunday. On Monday evening, John Batronis, 54, of ... read more
The Eastbrook Mission Barn is one of six UMCOR Relief Supply Network depots across the United States.
Mission Barn & UMCOR Supplies- Due to Annual Conference in June being cancelled and therefore the UMCOR collection, Mission Barn Director Katie Peterson is looking for a church willing to be the collection point for their district for UMCOR supplies, cleaning buckets, and hygiene kits on a one or two time basis this summer. Preferably they can keep track of what church brought the donations and then store the kits and supplies in a secure location. People can bring the kits and supplies from the collection directly to the barn or the conference center, or she can arrange to send a truck or trailer to pick them up. Contact: Katie Peterson
There are a variety of scholarships available at www.umc.org/resources/scholarships and at www.wpaumc.org/scholarshipforms.
