Annual Conference Wrap-Up: The June 6-8, 2019 Annual Conference session ended about 6:45 p.m. on Saturday evening. Only about one-third of the voting members remained through the late afternoon on Saturday. Read wrap-up story.
Delegate Elections: A report on the balloting for 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates, with a list of those elected, is on the Conference website here.
Annual Conference photos are available on the Conference Flickr pages or at revrichpearson.com/Annual-Conference-2019/
Conference videos, the Daily Proceedings, and other information are available through links at wpaumc.org/AC.
Annual Conference 2020?!? The dates for the 2020 annual conference were not announced at AC2019 because they have not yet been finalized. We will post information in the enews when confirmed.
AC19 in the News: Peter Smith of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette attended the Thursday session of annual conference, heard the Bishop’s State of the Church address, listened in on legislative section, and interviewed the Bishop and others. Read his report.
Smith wrote on the delegate elections this week. Read story
Clergy Communities of Practice will begin in August. These covenant-type groups focus on engagement with peers, help to counteract isolation among clergy, and encourage movement toward the next steps in ministry as participants put learning into practice. The cost to participate is $100. Read more and register.
Exploration 2019, an event for young adults (age 18-26) considering a call to ministry, will be at Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL from Friday, November 1 - Sunday, November 3. The cost of the event and travel is covered by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. If you or someone you know, is interested, contact Rev. J.R. Virgin at 814-244-5654. Registration is open until Sunday, September 1, 2019. Learn more about Exploration 2019
Duke Scholarships: A $5 million gift will create an endowment for scholarships to Duke Divinity School, a United Methodist seminary. The gift comes from Duke University alumnus A. Morris Williams Jr., a former chair of the divinity school’s Board of Visitors, and honors the memory of Stuart Henry, who taught at the school. The scholarships will support students planning to enter parish ministry. Read press release
UMW Backs Paid Parental Leave: United Methodist Women launched a nationwide paid parental leave campaign as a kick-off for annual Mission u events. This year's action campaign is paid family leave. Mission u will occur in more than 50 locations around the country from June through October, including in Western PA. Read story
Get details on WPAUMC’s July 18-21 Mission u
Youth Mission u begins July 16. Get details and register
UMCOR and Migration: Migration is an issue the United Methodist Committee on Relief has addressed since 1940. Then, as now, people fleeing war, civil unrest, poverty, violence and natural and man-made disasters seek to relocate for a better and safer future. They seek refuge. Today, 258 million people are part of the largest migration in human history. Pray and visit umcmission.org to learn more.
Advocate for Affordable Housing: Housing is a profound and even holy good, rooted in deeper notions of home, says an Atlanta minister. “Christians are called to re-create communities where people of every income level and race can make our homes together,” he writes on Duke Divinity’s Faith and Leadership website. Read more
Want to Focus on Evangelism? Author and Conference Evangelist Ken Wilson is available to speak during worship or a training event. Download flyer with details and contact info.
At The Lake Ministries: Do you have a friend or family member with special needs? Are there organizations in your community that support those with special needs? Let them know about At the Lake Ministries, which provides specialized fishing/boating experiences to people with special needs who otherwise may not be able to enjoy Lake Erie on the water. The captains and crew have been trained according to U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and the Jo-Ann M is wheelchair accessible and therapy dog friendly. Fishing gear and bait are provided for the trip, along with U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets. Space is available on many upcoming trips. Read more.
See pictures on Facebook.
Addiction Response Ministry Workshop: One of the most powerful moments of the 2019 Annual Conference was the testimony of a woman who is a recovering alcoholic/addict involved in ministry at Connect Church in the Blairsville Area. If you want to explore how you or your church can help to save lives through ministry with those who are addicted and/or in recovery, attend our Addiction Response Ministry Workshop on Saturday, June 22 at Butler First UMC. Get details and register now.
Juneteenth Gala: Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will be one of the honorees at a June 28 Celebration of Life Black Tie Gala at the Pittsburgh City Center Marriott. It’s the start of a Juneteenth Celebration weekend in the City. Juneteenth observances date back to 1865 and commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States (June 19th). Download Gala Flyer
Faith and the Movies: Sitting in a movie theater can be a great escape from the routine (and heat) of summer. The Rev. Joe Iovino offers a preview to summer movies that have themes that can help United Methodists reflect on faith. Read story