Conference News

Our Lenten Journey: As we move into the season of Lent, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi shared a letter from the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops. See what they have to say.  Ash Wednesday Pastoral Letter: Bishop Kenneth Carter, the president of Council of Bishops, has issued a pastoral letter that is posted on the Council of Bishops website. Read it. Real Life: Rev. Tony Fallisi, pastor of Holiday Park UMC, was featured in the closing segment of the Ash Wednesday edition of Real Life ... read more

Clergy and laity from senior high students through senior citizens are invited to help provide leadership to the 2020 Annual Conference session from June 11-13 at Grove City College by training to become a Section Leader. At each legislative section meeting, a team of one clergy and one lay person lead annual conference voting members as they review the legislation assigned to their section. Section leaders do not have to be voting members of the annual conference to serve in this ministry. ... read more

Delegation Endorses Two for Bishop: WPAUMC's 2020 General/Jurisdictional Conference delegation has endorsed the Rev. Robert Zilhaver and the Rev. Alyce Weaver Dunn as candidates for Bishop in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. Learn more. Lausters Compile Jones Lenten Devotional: Washington DS Brad Lauster’s life has been so impacted by the writings of E. Stanley Jones that he and his wife Karen compiled a daily devotional booklet with 18-weeks of daily entries drawn from Jones’ writing. Lauster ... read more

Western Pennsylvania’s 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conference delegation has endorsed two candidates for Bishop -- Alyce Weaver Dunn, Conference Director of Connectional Ministries, and Robert Zilhaver, Connellsville District Superintendent. Rev. Dunn is the first woman to be endorsed by a Western PA delegation.  The endorsements were made at the February 15 delegation meeting after candidates who had been nominated through a process the delegation set up last Fall were interviewed by three... read more

Camping Campaign Coordinator Named: As the Deeply Rooted, Upward Reaching campaign to support Western PA Conference Camping and Retreat Ministries enters its third year, Judy Barkus Meehan, an experienced non-profit executive and fundraiser, has been selected as the new campaign coordinator, effective Feb. 17. Read more At The Lake Ministries has released their open dates for the 2020 season! ATLM offers opportunities for persons with special needs to enjoy fishing and cruising on Lake Erie. To ... read more

As the Deeply Rooted, Upward Reaching campaign to support Western PA Conference Camping and Retreat Ministries enters its third year, Judy Barkus Meehan, an experienced non-profit executive and fundraiser, has been selected as the new campaign coordinator, effective Feb. 17.  She’ll step into the part-time position that has been vacant since November, when Jessica Gamache became executive director of the United Methodist Camping and Retreat Ministries Association.  “Judy demonstrated a passion... read more

Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, Director of Leadership for Congregational Vitality at United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, will be the keynote speaker at a Visionary Leadership event to equip local church leaders on Saturday, March 7 at the Crossfire Campus of Butler First UMC. The Butler District is hosting the event, designed for laity and clergy.  "Dr. King’s passion for helping churches to impact their communities is known throughout our connection, and her dynamism is nothing less than ... read more

New Camping Coordinator: Shane Hinderliter will begin serving as the new Conference Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries on March 1. Learn more Confirmation Class Events: Some scheduled sessions for Confirmation classes to visit the United Methodist Center are filling up. Register your group ASAP. Get details at wpaumc.org/Confirmation2020  Prayers Funeral Services will be held on Friday for Pastor Valerie Conrad-Dembinsky, who passed away on Wednesday. Join in offering thanks for her ... read more

Shane Hinderliter, a Western PA native currently serving as director of student ministries at a large-membership church in Houston, Texas, will be the new Conference Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries, effective March 1.  He follows Jessica Gamache, who left the camping coordinator position Nov. 4 to become executive director of the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Association. “I am excited to come home,” Shane said. “The camps have always been home to me.”  He was a coun... read more

Surprise! Our Conference website has a new look. It should be easier for you find what you are looking for using the dropdown menus across the top -- and the responsive features with the new design should make it easier to view on cell phones or tablets. Check it out at wpaumc.org. Sheraden Strong After Fire: About three months after  fire destroyed their church building, the people of the Sheraden United Methodist Church gathered together for a group picture before the church is torn down. ... read more

Pray for our Youth and their leaders attending SPARK, the big weekend youth event at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. It gets underway Friday. Registration is closed, but you can see details. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: During this (Jan. 18-25) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Christians worldwide are challenged to offer kindness and hospitality to others. Read story Abundant Health:  Celebrate Recovery! The Indiana Area Celebrate Recovery at Homer City UMC recently ... read more

The Poverty Team of the Annual Conference has resources to help fund local poverty ministries. The team has provided grants to multiple agencies and small-membership churches to be God’s people helping others in the world.  One of the agencies that received funding last year wasTHE REFUGE of the Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA). The Refuge is a 32-bed emergency shelter for families experiencing a housing crisis. The shelter is equipped to house up to nine families at a time, providing each... read more

--By Karen Geyer**-- On a cold day in December, about three months after a fire that destroyed their church building, the people of the Sheraden United Methodist Church gathered together for a group picture before the church is torn down. Plans are in the making for a new structure to be built on the same corner of Chartiers Ave and Citadel Street in Pittsburgh. It was about a month after the fire when a young member of the congregation said to his mother, “Mom, we should get t-shirts with “... read more

MLK Day Events: Several Western PA United Methodists will be involved in events to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during services and community events on Jan. 18, 19 and 20, 2020. Dr. King’s son, Martin Luther King III spoke in Erie last Saturday.  Read more. NOTE: The Conference Center will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 to observe MLK Jr. Day.  Faith Community Conversations about Race is a resource about race in America that may be used to help your... read more

Western Pennsylvania United Methodist leaders and churches will celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during services and community events on Jan. 18, 19 and 20, 2020. They'll honor the preacher who, in 1964 at age 35,  became the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He was selected for his nonviolent leadership of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, work which he continued until April 4, 1968, when he was assassinated in Memphis, TN.  Dr. King's belief in a '... read more