Susquehanna LINK - January/February 2011


PA United Methodists focus on combating poverty


By Stephen Drachler


More than ninety participants and speak- ers focused on what Pennsylvania United Methodists should be doing to combat poverty during the two-day United Meth- odists Uniting-Pennsylvania Anti-Poverty Summit.


PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHEN DRACHLER


Bishop Jane Allen Middleton, Harris- burg Area, led panels focused on the “Faces of Poverty - People, Not Stereo- types,” and “Our Poverty Response: Justice or Charity.”


nual


Representing Pennsylvania’s three an- conferences, attendees


committed


themselves and their local churches to: • Create new, effective ministries with persons living in poverty. • Organize locally to influence state legislators. • Educate their congregations and con- cerned persons of faith of the biblical call to seek justice for persons affected by poverty.


Bishop Felton E. May, former bishop of the Harrisburg and Washington Areas, led the summit. He challenged participants to build relationships with persons living in poverty, and to organize in order to effec- tively influence public policy. The U.S. Census Bureau recently re-


Stephen Drachler, executive director of United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsyl- vania, led “Grass Roots Advocacy – a Lobbying Tool Kit.”


ported that more than 1.6 million Pennsyl- vanians live in poverty. Under its defini- tion, a family of four earning $22,050 or less lives in poverty. Bishops Jane Allen Middleton of the Harrisburg Area, and Peggy Johnson of the Philadelphia Area, led panels focused on “Faces of Poverty — People, Not Ste- reotypes,” and “Our Poverty Response: Justice or Charity.”


Stephen Drachler, executive director of United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylva- nia, led “Grass Roots Advocacy – a Lob- bying Tool Kit.”


Perhaps the keys to the session’s suc-


cess were the contributions of five persons from across Pennsylvania who have expe- rienced living in poverty. They told how their lives have been affected by poverty, and what they are doing to change their circumstances. Three panelists described their partnership with the Circles initia- tive. The group also learned of another ef- fective initiative, the Poverty Simulation, advocated by the Community Action As- sociation of Pennsylvania. “We haven’t solved any of the prob-


lems — yet. But we know, with God on our side, we can make a difference. We can change the world,” Drachler wrote in a post-summit letter to participants. “Our task now is to raise awareness: Educate, engage and inspire our brothers and sisters in Christ to organize and begin taking action.”


United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsyl-


vania represents the three United Method- ist Conferences at the state Capitol. It is one of two statewide United Methodist Advocacy groups in the U.S. who have a paid professional serving as a non-partisan coalition-builder, organizer, and registered lobbyist.


For more information, visit www.unit- edmethodistadvocacypa.org.


Rev. Ryan Gephart leads a discussion.


Summit leader Bishop Felton E. May, retired, challenged participants to build relationships with persons living in poverty, and to organize in order to ef- fectively influence public policy.


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VISIONING - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4


• How best can the conference resource our local churches to help them in their disciple-making mission and ministry?


• What kind of transformational leader- ship is needed to effectively lead in our churches today?


• What does it look like when a congrega- tion is “growing in Christ?” How do we measure growth?


• How do we make disciples rather than members?


• What kind of flexible, supportive struc- ture is needed to undergird the mission and primary task of the annual con- ference assuring vision is our driving force?


• What financial resources will be re- quired to live out this new vision?


Graduates and visitors are pictured in back row: Rev. Karen McCachren, Pastor Mi- chael Wilson, Pastor William Muldoon III, Rev. Mark Brower, Pastor Peter Dittman, Rev. Rosamond Mason. Front row: Rev. Cecily Eisley, Rev. Dr. Pamela Ford, Dr. Dil- ip Abayasekara, and Rev. Kathryn Mercado. Absent: Pastor Mary “Cass” Harbach.


Preaching with power


“Congratulations to each of you who will graduate today,” were the words of Bishop Jane Allen Middleton to seven pas- tors completing the Preaching with Power course at First UMC in Lewistown on De- cember 7. “As a conference we have in- vested in you because we believe you are a gifted pastor, and we want your preaching to reflect that gift. I challenge you to be powerful, prophetic, and passionate. “I am especially grateful to Dr. Dilip, who offers a wonderful blessing to our conference as he shares his expertise and skill as a communicator.”


Dr. Dilip Abayasekara developed the coaching course called “Preaching with Power” for working with clergy of the conference. The course has been offered several times across the conference. The seven graduates are Rev. Mark Brower, Clearfield Parish; Pastor Pe- ter Dittman, Curtin; Rev. Cecily Eisley, McClure; Pastor Mary “Cass” Harbach, Millheim Charge; Rev. Kathryn Mercado, Beavertown; Pastor William Muldoon III, Lewistown, Grove Memorial; and Pastor Michael Wilson, Reedsville/Church Hill.


PHOTO: JERRY WOLGEMUTH


Your comments, suggestions and ques- tions are always welcome and will be so-


licited by the team in the months ahead. Please feel free to speak with a team mem- ber and share your thoughts. We are mov- ing bravely into God’s future and will need your creative, bold, and original thoughts as we continue this time of transition and re-formation.


In the coming days you will be hearing


about some of the fundamental changes that have already taken place and will soon take place. The Board of Ordained Min- istry, the Mission Board (formerly Global Ministries) and the Young People’s Min- istry Council (formerly the Conference Youth Council) have been recreated from a blank sheet of paper into newly focused and revitalized entities around the mis- sion and vision. Watch for more on these groups.


The Visioning Leadership Team will continue to keep the conference aware of its work as it moves forward. Updates will be shared following each Team meeting.


New site director at Greene Hills


Anne Horton, Director of Camp & Retreat Ministry for the Susquehanna Conference, has announced that Mr. Charles C. Renner will become the new site direc- tor at Greene Hills Camp in Alexandria, Pa., begin- ning the middle of January, 2011. Renner has a B.S. from Penn State in Recreation and Park Management. He has worked on summer staff at Mount Asbury and Greene Hills. He presently works with Cumberland Geoscience Consultants in Carlisle, Pa., serving as a construction field technician. Renner and his wife and son presently reside in Me- chanicsburg, Pa. If you are in the Greene Hills area, stop by and say hello.


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