April 2015


THE CHURCHES OF THE SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE, THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A WITNESS TO MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD


2015 Susquehanna Annual Conference approaches


D


ear sisters and brothers in Christ, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, Healer of our Brokenness, and Hope of the World, as we anticipate gathering at Messiah College, Grantham, Pa., from June 11 thru June 13 for the Sixth Session of the Susquehanna Annual Conference.


PHOTO: STACY ECKERT


Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, Episcopal leader of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church.


I am often reminded of the words from John Wesley’s hymn: “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!” What a joy it will be to see each other’s face, to rekindle old friendships, and to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ as one Body of Christ. What a privilege it will be to join in the commissioning and ordination of this year’s class in celebration of who we are and whose we are.


This year we will be coming together in the third year of our quadrennial theme, Alive in Christ Together


… Equipping organizing Vital


Congregations. We come yearning for all of our congregations to be vital in ministry and in reaching out into our communities with God’s grace and hope.


Once again we have several individuals from our conference who will lead us. The Rev. Dr. Dennis Keller, in his last year as Harrisburg District Superintendent, will be the preacher for the Memorial Service. The Rev. Jennifer Thomas, pastor at Dover New Creation, will be the speaker for Ministry Night. The Rev. Arun S. Andrews, pastor at Trinity Church, New Cumberland, will


present


Bible study. Pastor Janet Durrwachter, First Church, Williamsport,


the is


a presentation around


our Conference theme of Equipping Vital Congregations. I am especially pleased that Bishop Neil Irons has accepted my invitation to preach at the Ordination Service. One of the highlights of the Ordination Service will be the opportunity for presenting the offerings to Bishop’s Partners in Mission. I am excited by the additional missions and ministries to be made possible because of the generosity of our faithful people. Each Annual Conference is unique and special. Yet this year we have the added privilege of electing delegates for the General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2016. Please be in fervent prayer that we might be led by the Spirit throughout the election process and each session.


CONTINUED ON PAGE 6


Morgan to lead UM Advocacy in PA R


ev.


area pastor who serves on the


Dai Morgan, Pennsylvania


Council a


Pittsburgh of


Churches’ Public Witness Commission, has been selected as coordinator for United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania. Morgan is pastor of Swissvale Methodist


United Church, a multi- PHOTO: REV. DAVE NORRIS


Jean Norris (pictured) and her husband, Rev. David Y. Norris, represented Susquehanna Conference and Mission Central at the recent 75th anniversary celebration of UMCOR, held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.


UMCOR celebrates 75th Anniversary By Susan Kim (UMCOR) and LINK staff


“... that this Conference create a Methodist Relief


Committee T on Overseas .... We urge our Methodist


people to participate fully, heartily, and sacrificially ....”


hese words, excerpted from the proceedings of the First General Conference in Atlantic City, New


Jersey, in 1940, represent the start of the journey of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) — a journey that has helped millions of people across the world. Seventy-five years later on March 15,


2015, approximately 500 people gathered to celebrate the creation of UMCOR during a service at Asbury United Methodist Methodist


Church (formerly Church), the location


Central in


Atlantic City where UMCOR first came


into existence. Congregations from Asbury, Venice Park, and Hamilton United Methodist Churches, as well as friends from across the


country, including


from many conferences, UMCOR staff, folks involved with Hurricane Sandy recovery, and the mayor of


service


and future vision. lasted


about two representatives


City, gathered with a sense of historical appreciation celebration


Atlantic The


hours, which was followed by a reception. March 15 was One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, during which churches across the globe collected an offering that enables UMCOR to continue its 75 year legacy of responding to those in need. Donations to One Great Hour of Sharing fund UMCOR’s administrative costs and allow 100 percent of all other donations to be spent on programs specified by the


CONTINUED ON PAGE 14


cultural mission church just outside the City of Pittsburgh. He also chairs the Commission on Christian Unity of the Western Pennsylvania UM Conference. As the denomination’s advocacy coordinator in the state, Morgan will bring together advocacy leaders from the Eastern Pennsylvania, Susquehanna, and Western Pennsylvania


Conferences to


develop an integrated, collaborative plan for advocacy ministry, including building awareness among United Methodists and others throughout the state. “Dai Morgan brings passion and the gifts essential to promote the importance of advocacy in living out our faith. Dai will work tirelessly to create a sense of collaboration, cooperation, and awareness among the people called United Methodist throughout Pennsylvania,” said Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton of the Pittsburgh Area, speaking for the three United Methodist bishops in the state. In addition


to creating avenues to


build relationships with legislators and public officials, Morgan will work to train United Methodists in advocacy and increase practical possibilities for them to get involved.


“Because I have been sitting on the Pennsylvania


Council of Churches


Commission on Public Witness for the last three years, I am familiar with the work of the church and political advocacy,” Morgan said. “As a gospel


Dai Morgan


and Wesleyan mandate, I believe that promoting advocacy is a critical element for fuller expression of our faith.” In addition to his appointment as a


pastor, Morgan is the lead administrator of a large food pantry, secretary of his local Rotary Club, and coordinator of the ministerium in the Borough of Swissvale. Morgan is married and the father of


four adult children. He is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, and earned a Master of Divinity degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.


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