Fifteen members of the WPAUMC Ethnic Clergy Caucus gathered October 14-15 for a retreat at the Hilton Garden Inn, Cranberry Township, PA. heard the Rev. Dr. Kendrick Weaver discuss the meditative practices of Jesus.  Dr. Weaver, who is himself a contemporary mystic, drew on scripture, the writings of Howard Thurman, and his own book Meditate like Jesus: Uncover the Meditative practices of Jesus, in his presentation. In addition to his teaching, he led the clergy  through meditative practice ...

Jessica Gamaché, camping coordinator for the Western PA Annual Conference, has accepted a position as Director of the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Association, effective November 4.  The position is new, made possible by a foundation grant awarded last spring.  Jessica was recommended by the Director Search Task Force after a 3 ½-month process that began with more than 300 initial applicants, was narrowed to 50 who completed essays and video requirements, and ended after three ...

Deadline for Mission Support Grants Near! The deadline to apply for Mission Support Grants is October 21. Grant amounts vary, with half of the funds designated for WPAUMC Regional Mission Agencies. The remaining grants are available for new outreach ministries started by local churches; ongoing local church outreach ministries; mission churches, and outreach ministries of ecumenical agencies affiliated with UMC.  An evaluation form must be submitted if the applicant received a grant in 2019. ...

Whew! Despite 96 degree temperatures on the C&O Canal trail, our 27 Campership Bike-a-Thon cyclists and support team made it to Hancock, MD today. Two more days to go on the 315-mile trek--with slightly cooler weather predicted. The team includes Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, Pittsburgh DS Dawn Hand and several pastors. Support them with daily prayer and donations. Learn more Camping Sunday: Whether you have a rider in the Bike-a-Thon or not, local churches are encouraged to celebrate Camping ...

About 25 United Methodists from around Western Pennsylvania completed the last leg of their 315-mile journey by bicycle from McKeesport, PA to Washington DC just after dark on Friday, Oct. 4. They started their trek on the Yough Trail at Boston United Methodist Church near McKeesport on Monday, Sept. 30 in a drizzle. During the journey things heated up -- to 96 degrees on the third day--but they enjoyed the scenery and camaraderie as they kept their goal in mind. They're raising funds so any ...

Congratulations to Bishop George and Carolyn Bashore, who celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on Friday, September 20. That same day, President Kent Millard of United Theological Seminary awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree to the Bishop in Baum Chapel at Asbury Heights. Learn more Religion and the First Amendment: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi was on a panel of leaders who discussed the role of religion in the public arena on Monday at the JCC in Pittsburgh. Addressing divisions ...

“Honoring our Past, Engaging our Present, Looking Forward to the Future” is the theme of this year’s Western PA Conference UMW Annual Meeting which will be held Saturday, October 26, from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park.   Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Pittsburgh District Superintendent Dawn Hand will lead morning and afternoon worship.  UMW members and friends will “Honor our Past” with remembering their foremothers’ call to action 150 years ago.   ...

Dr. Belinda Forbes, center, is shown with WPAUMC Mission Engagement Coordinator Sandra Matoushaya, left, and the Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn, director of connectional ministries at the UM Center in Cranberry Twp.  Dr. Belinda Forbes, a dentist and United Methodist missionary serving with Acción Médica Cristiana (Christian Medical Action or AMC) in Managua, Nicaragua, will speak at several Western PA churches during November.  AMC is a Nicaraguan Christian ecumenical organization specializing in ...

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi was among dozens of key African-American laity, clergy and episcopal leaders who met in Chicago on Thursday and Friday to discern and map out the future of the Black Church in The United Methodist Church as a prelude to the 2020 General Conference. Organized by the Ebony Bishops and facilitated by the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), the meeting brought together leaders of the different constituencies of the Black Church for a time of prayer, ...

On September 20, the day that Bishop George and Carolyn Bashore observed their 62nd wedding anniversary, President Kent Millard of United Theological Seminary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree on the Bishop in Baum Chapel at Asbury Heights in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon. Bishop Bashore served as episcopal leader of Western PA United Methodists from 1988-2000 and currently is bishop-in-residence at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church.  "Bishop George W. Bashore has long ...

Nominations for Bishop: At least one new bishop is expected to be elected at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July. The WPAUMC General/Jurisdictional Conference delegation is seeking nominations of ordained elders to consider as it begins a process of endorsing a candidate or candidates. Learn more.   Support Our Bikers! Nearly 30 bikers and a few support crew members will set off Monday, Sept. 30 on the 2nd Annual Campership Bike-a-Thon, a 315-mile ride from Pittsburgh to ...

Fire Destroys Pittsburgh Church: The congregation of Sheraden UMC, devastated by Monday’s four-alarm fire that burned through and collapsed the roof, will hold a 9:45 a.m. worship service on the lawn Sunday, Sept. 15. It will be a service of healing and celebration of ministries. Read more and see photos.  March to Unite: United Methodists led by "John Wesley" joined with people from other Methodist denominations, Christian organizations and a mosque in a March to Unite in Pittsburgh last ...

At its Sept. 7 meeting, Western Pennsylvania’s General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation members adopted a set of guiding principles under which it will work, heard presentations about the work of the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) Episcopacy Committee and the process for members of the Conference to nominate potential candidates for bishop, and adopted a nomination form that will be made available in time for submission by an October 25, 2019 deadline. Sharon Gregory Following ...

A four-alarm fire caused extensive damage to the Sheraden United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon, Sept. 9. With much of the roof burned away, a city inspector on the scene said the building would be condemned. The blaze, which was reported at 2:37 p.m., sent smoke and flames shooting from the roof as firefighters used aerial booms to direct water on the fire. Despite their valiant efforts, much of the the building's roof was gone by the end of the day.  No one was inside ...

The Washington District of the United Methodist Church will host six weeks of Vital Conversations small group discussions around race, racism, and cultural competency in four locations. The sessions begin the week of Sept. 22, 2019. Topics are: Week #1 (Week of September 22): Welcoming New People to Church and Asking ‘Where Are you from?’ http://www.gcorr.org/…/welcoming-new-people-to-church-and-…/ Week #2 (Week of September 29): Contrasting Current Activism with Civil Rights Movements of the ...