The Johnstown District Pre-Charge Conference Briefings will be held on the following dates:
June 28, 2022 at 10 am at the Ebensburg United Methodist Church
July 13, 2022 at 6:30 pm at Windber Calvary United Methodist Church
Pastors, please plan to attend one of these briefings.
Cherry Run Camp is YOUR camp meeting. Located at Rimersburg PA the Cherry Run Camp Meeting Association sponsors a yearly camp meeting where everyone is welcome to join together for worship, Bible teaching and preaching, fun and fellowship. More information is available at www.CherryrunCamp.com. View the Spring 2022 newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/CR-News-
MTSO offers full-tuition scholarships to all qualified UM ministry candidates
In 2018, Methodist Theological School in Ohio and its donors made a bold scholarship commitment in support of the United Methodist Church and those who aspire to serve it.
In the years since, that commitment has been renewed and enhanced. The school pledges to provide a full-tuition scholarship to every qualified incoming student who pursues United Methodist candidacy as an elder or deacon. The pledge covers those applying by Jan. 31 for the 2022-23 academic year.
“The leaders our Church will ordain in the coming years will need solid theological and academic grounding to take us to places we can’t yet fully imagine,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “We’re pleased to be able to do our part, with our donors’ support, to help this new generation of leaders cover their tuition as they earn meaningful seminary degrees.”
Interested prospective students are invited to learn more by contacting an MTSO admissions counselor at 800-333-6876 or admissions@mtso.edu.
Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in social justice, counseling, theological studies and practical theology, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.
CONTACT:
Danny Russell, communications director
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322
Danny Russell
Director of Communications
MTSO
Office: 740-362-3322
Mobile: 614-209-7226
Theological education and leadership in pursuit
of a just, sustainable and generative world
Due to the increased damage of Hurricane Ida, we are in dire need of Flood Buckets! Please drop your flood buckets off at Elton: Zion UMC at 1089 Mt. Airy Drive, Elton, PA 15934. Please call to make arrangements before dropping off 814-266-1512. Thank you for any help you can give us!
2/10/2020
Cleaning Kit Value: $75.00 per kit Cleaning Kit Materials One five-gallon round bucket with lid (14.35” h x 12.19” w x 12.19” d) o No screw lids o May be used, but must be free from all residual product o Advertisement on the outside acceptable One 32–64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent One 16–40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner o No spray cleaners One 16–34 oz. bottle liquid dish soap One 4–8 oz. pump spray air freshener One 6–14 oz. pump spray insect repellant (pack of 10... read more
9/6/2022
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 Siblings in Christ, I pray that all our souls are anchored in Christ, who is our hope. This past summer I had the opportunity to rest and relax with my husband and fur baby, be educated around leadership and my African American ... read more
7/7/2022
The 2021-2022 Committee on Episcopacy today released a statement thanking Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi for her continued care and leadership of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, while she also served with Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball of West Virginia as Interim Bishops of the Harrisburg Area, which includes the Susquehanna Conference. The shared leadership model was announced shortly before Harrisburg Area Bishop Jeremiah Park retired in 2021. The 2021-2022 Committee on Episcopacy of The ... read more
4/24/2022
The Rev. Chenda Innis Lee, a lifelong United Methodist and ordained elder in the Virginia Conference, has been selected by the WPA Conference Personnel Committee to serve as the new Coordinator of Clergy and Lay Excellence. Rev. Lee has been serving as the Regional Coordinator of Spiritual Formation in the Pittsburgh/Butler area since December 1, 2021. She will begin her new position on the Conference Program Staff on July 1, 2022. “Rev. Lee has a quiet confidence and a deep spiritual ... read more
30 Days of Anti-racism: Join CORR this September for 30 days of anti-racism. Each day participants will engage in an activity that helps them to become more anti-racist in the ways they think and act. Join in.
Facing the Future Virtual Conference: The "Be Still as a Spiritual Practice: Online Event" is for pastors serving in cross-racial, cross-cultural, and multicultural contexts and anyone engaged with or discerning cross-racial/cross-cultural/multicultural ministry. Participants learn skills to support the CRCC ministry context, personal self-care, and professional development. November 16, 2022, 1-7 pm. Learn more.
Racial Justice Prayer Service Outline: The General Commission on Religion and Race recently released a a prayer service outline aimed at helping churches host a racial justice prayer service in their ministry context. Download the prayer service outline.
Sacred Conversations to End Racism: This October 9-11, Olmsted Manor Retreat Center in Ludlow, PA, will partner with CCW Transformation Ministries to offer Sacred Conversations to End Racism, a contemplative retreat on the equitable treatment of all God’s people. This event is for both clergy and laity who hunger for a deep spiritual experience and who are interested in joining God in becoming agents of reconciliation. Leaders Claire Cox-Woodlief and Latercha McKnight will teach participants practical ways to have sacred and brave conversations towards ending racism. Learn more and register.
Save the Date: Antiracism Summit: Hosted by the Conference Commission on Religion and Race and scheduled for October 20-22, 2022, this summit will offer workshops, Bible study, panels, self-care, action and more. This event will also include a youth antiracism component and will connect with United Women in Faith. Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will lead opening worship. More information and registration to be announced soon.
Resources to Address Racist Shootings: As people in the U.S. struggle to understand deadly shootings at a New York grocery store and a California church, United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is suggesting resources to help leaders undo the work of racism. Among the recommendations are videos on decolonizing the church, a book edited by prominent United Methodist pastor the Rev. Rudy Rasmus and an online anti-racism course from the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. See the resources herehttps://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/resources-for-responding-to-systemic-racism
Read Churches condemn hate, urge action after shootings here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/churches-condemn-hate-urge-action-after-shootings
Report on Indian Boarding Schools: The United States operated 408 boarding schools for Indigenous children across 37 states or then-territories between 1819 and 1969 — half of them most likely supported by religious institutions including United Methodist predecessors. Emily McFarlan Miller reports for Religion News Service on the first volume of an investigative report by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Read story here https://religionnews.com/2022/05/11/department-of-interior-releases-first-report-detailing-u-s-indian-boarding-schools/
See UM News story: Pastor reflects on abuses at Indian boarding schools here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/pastor-reflects-on-dark-days-at-indian-boarding-schools
Asking the Hard Questions About Race: The Rev. Giovanni Arroyo poses a difficult question to white United Methodists who say they want an end to racism. “Do you want racial justice enough to voluntarily relinquish some of your power?” A native of Puerto Rico, he knows firsthand what it’s like to be a minority in America, and that experience informs the way he pursues his mission as The United Methodist Church’s point person on inclusion. Read UM News story. here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/asking-the-hard-questions-about-race
Listen to Our Conexión podcast with Arroyo on racism and Christianity here https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/our-conexion-episode-1
Racial Justice Prayer and Action Challenge: The General Commission on Religion and Race will launch its Racial Justice Prayer and Action Challenge on Juneteenth, but now’s the time to sign up. Rev. Debbie Hills has submitted one of the prayers. You and your congregation are invited to join in the challenge. Learn more here https://www.r2hub.org/racial-justice-prayer-action-challenge
African American Methodist Heritage Center: The African American Methodist Heritage Center in Madison, NJ needs money and attention so it can continue to preserve the history of African American Methodists. The center is prioritizing fundraising in 2022 and considering a name change. See UM News story. here https://www.umnews.org/en/news/preserving-black-church-history
Risky Discipleship: Watch a video to learn the story of The Village at Glencliff, a unique respite care community for persons experiencing homelessness, and the risky discipleship required by the
United Methodists who made it happen. Watch here https://www.umc.org/en/content/risky-discipleship-the-village-at-glencliff
Tips for Building Relationships: Elizabeth Mae Magill wanted to create a food ministry that wasn’t a charity, but a demonstration of Christ’s radical welcome. For months, she did street ministry to get to know food-insecure neighbors, hear their stories, and build relationships. In Leading Ideas, she shares nine practical tips for meeting people and learning their needs. Learn more.
Discipleship and Anti-Racism: Realize the connection and learn how to have courageous conversations on a difficult topic through a new online course from Discipleship Ministries. There’s no cost. See video and learn more
The Eastbrook Mission Barn is one of six UMCOR Relief Supply Network depots across the United States.
There are a variety of scholarships available at www.umc.org/resources/scholarships and at www.wpaumc.org/scholarshipforms.