Susquehanna LINK, July 2022
View or download PDF at susumc.org/link
Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church
Monday, July 11, 2022
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Remembering Our Heritage
Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist
July – 100 years ago.
On Sunday, July 2, 1922, the parishioners of Harrisburg’s Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church marched from the large temporary wooden tabernacle at 20th and Derry Streets in which they had been meeting to their new stone church building. The congregation had begun in 1890 when 88 persons met in the East End School House on 21st Street to organize a Sunday School. A church building was dedicated at 21st and Derry in 1891, and added to in 1899 and 1902. The original frame building was razed to make way for the new stone sanctuary on the same site. Formally dedicated in September by Bishop McDowell, the structure was modeled after First Church, Altoona, home church of the then current pastor Homer C. Knox.
Epworth’s membership peaked at 891 in 1963. In 1986 Epworth and Derry Street (formerly United Brethren) formed a two-point charge in the Allison Hill area, and in 2005 the church was closed. The building was sold and now houses the Bethany AME congregation.
August – 50 years ago
The Mt. Pleasant Church in Rosecrans, on the three-point Sugar Valley charge, was formally sold to the Mt. Pleasant Community Church in August 1972. The building had been erected by the Evangelical Association in 1893, and the pastor and congregation left the denomination in 1968 – although it would be almost four years before all the arrangements were completed. The congregation continues today as the Mt. Pleasant Bible Church.
Located in southern Clinton County, Sugar Valley became an Evangelical stronghold in the 1830’s and contained seven Evangelical Association church buildings in at the time of the 1894 denominational split – after which the United Evangelical dissenters erected six church buildings of their own. The two groups re-united in 1922 and combined congregations until the 1968 Sugar Valley charge consisted of three churches. Mt. Pleasant was the only surviving Evangelical Association congregation, as the two remaining United Methodist congregations at Greenburr and Loganton had originally been United Evangelical.
A New Reconciling Ministries Congregation
On May 22, 2022 the Church of Christ Uniting (COCU) in Kingston, a merged United Methodist and Presbyterian USA congregation, approved an historic vote to become a Reconciling Ministries congregation.
Reconciling Ministries Network equips and mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves (www.rmnetwork.org).
We are the third church congregation in the Susquehanna Annual Conference (www.susumc.org) and the first congregation, out of approximately 107, in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre District (www.swbdistrict.org/) to become a Reconciling Ministries congregation.
Only the General Conference of the United Methodist Church (www.umc.org) —which next meets in 2024—can change official policy, which at present does not allow LGTBQ+ individuals to be ordained pastors or couples to be married in their sanctuaries. While this vote does not change anything in the polity of COCU presently, it proclaims openly and publicly our desire to affirm all people.
As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.
Discovery Place Resources: Studies Focused on Dismantling Racism
It was so great to see many of you at the Discovery Place Resource Center table at Annual Conference! I enjoyed meeting people I have corresponded with regularly and catching up with folks I hadn’t seen in a while. We also appreciated those who stopped by to pick up the books and resources we were giving away on Thursday.
Right after Annual Conference about 40 of us from Susquehanna Conference embarked on a Civil Rights Journey to the deep south, in which we visited sites that were significant in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in America. We gained so much valuable information but also realized that we as a Conference have a long way to go in dismantling racism. As we live into the vision of Building the Beloved Community, I’d like to call your attention to several books and DVD studies that will be helpful to your church. The DVD studies can be borrowed for whatever length of time you need them to complete them. They are:
Vital Conversations: Racism and the U.S. Church – Subtitled “Vital Conversations on Race, Culture, and Justice,” this was published by the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) of the United Methodist Church. Those of you who stopped by our table received a free copy of this DVD and workbook. If you didn’t get one, contact me and we’ll be sure to send you a copy, or you can borrow a copy from Discovery Place.
In addition to these videos, we have several books that your small group or Sunday School Class may want to consider studying. Since we have very limited copies of each, these may be borrowed for a one-month preview:
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo
- White Awake: An Honest Look at What It Means to Be White, by Daniel Hill
- How To Be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X Kendi
- Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, by Monique W Morris
- I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m United Methodist., by Rudy Rasmus and 9 others
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson
- Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity, by David W Swanson
- Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism, by Drew G I Hart
- Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation, by Latasha Morrison
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, by Austin Channing Brown
- Waste: One Woman’s Fight Against America’s Dirty Secret, by Catherine Coleman Flower
If your group would like to study a book, copies may be purchased from Cokesbury (www.cokesbury.com).
Full descriptions of each of these resources can be found in the online catalog on our website, www.discovery-place.org. (Search by title and click on the resource number.) Place an order directly from the online catalog, call 717-766-7968 (your voicemail will send me an email), or email discovery@susumc.org. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Serving Christ together,
Joni Robison
Finding your “What” in the “Why”
By Sandii Peiffer
Smashed Hopes, Confusion, Tragedy, Loss. Most of us have experienced at least one of these, and some of us have experienced it all. The recent global COVID-19 pandemic multiplied these experiences. And many of us are left wondering, “Why?”
Ron Reitz, a member of Halifax UMC, has had many reasons to ask, “Why?” during the course of his life. His experiences led him to write a book, “Why vs. What: One Man’s Spiritual Journey Through Tragedy by Embracing God’s Plan.” The book tells how his faith in God helped him ride the storms and overcome his challenges to discover “what” God was and is doing in and through him.
“We will suffer greatly if we constantly seek answers to unanswerable “why” questions,” says Reitz in the book. “This is where our faith and God’s grace come into play, as we try to shift our thinking and focus on “what” God can accomplish through all of this,” he said, referencing Romans 8:28 among other Scriptures.
In 1984, Ron lost his first wife of 15 years, and her mother, in a tragic car accident. They had three young children; 8, 11, and 14 years old. In the bedlam and grief at the news of their mother’s and grandmother’s deaths, they were filled with “why” questions. Unanswerable “why” questions. Then one child asked, “What are we going to do now?”
Faith has been the foundation of Ron’s life since he was 12, and carried into his marriage and family life. Through prayer, Bible study, discernment, and with the help of pastors, friends, and family, he and his children focused on “what” God could accomplish in and through them in the wake of this tragedy. And Ron kept notes throughout their journey.
His youngest son, Adam, expressed himself through controlled physical activity, that included weightlifting and sports. His daughter, Heather, developed organization and helping skills, and his eldest son, Bryan, developed artistic skills he had shared with his mother. These skills carried into their adult lives and chosen careers, demonstrating God’s grace and honoring their mother’s memory.
As for Ron, his “whats” were expressed in many ways, including sharing the Gospel and the assurance of God’s salvation through pulpit supply/cover as a Certified Lay Leader and Certified Lay Minister; sharing his testimony with several thousand people at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event; marrying again and continuing to grow his blended family adding four more sons.
Then, in 2004, Ron’s 29-year-old son, Adam, committed suicide after exhibiting signs of schizophrenia. In the midst of his grief and even more “whys”, God had more “whats” to accomplish. With encouragement from his father, and referencing the notes he had taken over the years, Ron wrote this book 10 years later, hoping to help others.
“Why vs. What” was published by Sunbury Press in July 2020 – some might say with ‘Divine timing’ – just as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold and creating more challenges and “why” questions than ever. In August 2020, it was their #1 best-selling non-fiction book.
“Why vs. What” is filled with “why” questions that have touched Ron’s life and the lives of family members and friends. “Time and time again, we are faced with the challenge of getting off the human focus of “why”, when tragedy occurs, and getting onto the divine focus on “what” does God want to accomplish,” says Reitz.
“When Jesus was on earth, God demonstrated His powerful miracles through Jesus. When Jesus returned to heaven, God provided those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior, with power in the form of the Holy Spirit residing inside us. Through this book you will see how God accomplishes the “what” parts of His plans through His children. You will also see how even devoted Christians need to be pushed, prodded, and challenged, at times, in order to accomplish “what” God needs to accomplish through us.”
In June 2022 a “Why vs. What” Leader Guide was published. It was co-written by Rev. Brendan Hock, Senior Pastor at Halifax UMC, Pastor Su Rider, Associate Pastor at Halifax UMC, Rick Stence, Certified Lay Minister at Halifax UMC, and Reitz, also a CLM. It contains 12 small-group study sessions, each with an accompanying video, and questions to initiate thoughts and discussions. An ideal small group size would be 6-12 participants, but one church that studied the book had a group of 25 people. The 12 sessions would fill the weeks of Fall small groups or can be broken down into blocks of 4-6 weeks.
Reitz has received positive feedback from a number of readers. One lady wrote that she was very sad at his experiences but trying out some of the ideas in her own life. Another reader now gives a copy of “Why vs. What” to others he knows who are experiencing tragedy. A former college roommate ordered 10 copies, and sent 9 of them to others. A friend who lost a brother and son in 2021 was helped by Ron’s book to “…see things differently…”
Ron’s greatest desire is to point people to God in sharing his life experience and testimony. He hopes that, “When I am in heaven one day, [to] have people walk up behind me, place their hand on my shoulder, and say “Thank you. Because of your book I am in heaven today!”
There are no limits to the challenges we might face in our lives. There are also no limits to the grace of God and the things He wants to accomplish in and through us if we stop focusing on the unanswerable “why” questions and instead ask God, “What now?”
Find out more and order the “Why vs. What” book and Leader Guide at www.halifaxumc.com/why-vs-what/ (in time for Fall Bible study groups.)
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These educational experiences, along with 40+ years of experience in the Human Resources Management, Consulting, and Lay Ministry fields, have enabled him to effectively interact with a variety of people. Ron’s approach as he interacts and shares the Gospel is to plant “seeds” of truth into their minds and then waits for watering and harvesting instructions.
By staying in close contact with God through prayer and Bible reading, Ron continues to receive direction from God. This enables him to stay connected with God as He helps people get off the “why” questions and get on with the “what” questions and seeing how God works!
Hands and Feet in Service and Outreach
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By Darlene Thomas
Hands and Feet is a ministry that came to life in August of 2017 at Shiremanstown United Methodist Church (SUMC). The title for this ministry came from our church’s vision statement to “be the hands and feet of Jesus.”
Hands and Feet volunteers are comprised of not just members of SUMC but include youth and adults from several area churches. We meet monthly on a designated Saturday and form teams comprised of adults and youth to serve the community. The workday starts with a hot breakfast for the volunteers, followed by a worship service to help us focus on why God has called us into missions.
The projects are identified through various referral sources and each site is assessed for viability prior to the workday by our Sites Manager. Materials, tools and supplies are organized ahead of time, so each team is ready for work at the beginning of the day. Each team has a leader who is experienced in the Hands & Feet procedures. Various leadership team members visit the sites throughout the day to ensure the teams have what they need and or troubleshoot any problems. We undertake projects such as: painting, yard work, repair, clean up/organization, small construction, etc.
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We feel the work is important; however, we know God calls us to each of these homes for a purpose that sometimes isn’t visible to the human eye. We trust God has us there for a reason! Building relationships with the people we serve is part of what God calls us to do. We invite them to share lunch with us and have a devotional during lunch. This is a wonderful time of fellowship for the team and the neighbor they serve.
If your church is within the local community of SUMC, we invite you to join us on an upcoming Saturday. Adults and youth are welcome!
If you know of someone who could use our help within approximately 20-30 min drive of Shiremanstown, please contact us. We would love to show God’s love to these neighbors.
If your church is outside of our designated radius and you are interested in starting up a similar ministry, we would be happy to share our processes to help you build a similar ministry in your area.
We look forward to being in service with your church in whatever capacity God has planned! There is plenty of need in this hurting world. Won’t you partner with us to serve others and share God’s love??
For more information, contact Darlene Thomas, Director Hands & Feet at gabrielt0303@gmail.com or call Shiremanstown UMC at 717-737-6621.
This ministry is a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) ministry of the Susquehanna Conference. Key leadership positions of the ministry participated in VIM training several years ago and we report our monthly workday information to the conference for record keeping.
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Is There More to the Disaster Response Ministry?
At Annual Conference this year, I had the opportunity to speak with attendees about the Disaster Response Ministry. It was a joy to share all the opportunities the ministry has to offer. During one of those conversations, after explaining to connection to UMCOR and how we respond to “headline” disasters, I was asked whether there was more to the ministry. My reply was an emphatic “YES!”
The mission of UMCOR and the Disaster Response Ministry is to provide assistance to alleviate human suffering as the result of disaster. And, most people associate that with helping people after they have been the victims of a natural disaster, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. While this is true in the traditional sense, human suffering can occur on so many levels in so many places. All we need to do is watch the news every evening to know our neighbors are hurting as the economy continues to slow down and inflation continues to rise. The everyday problems we face as a result are becoming problematic and these problems present an opportunity for the church to help.
In the last issue, I explained that the ministry works during “blue skies” and “gray skies.” And, part of that process involves training congregations to recognize the needs of their neighbors and doing something to meet them. The ministry does this through the Connecting Neighbors: A Disaster Ready Congregations Curriculum of the United Methodist Church program. This UMCOR developed program was created inspire congregations and communities to be better able to minimize the harm caused to people by disasters. To encourage them to respond to our neighbors’ needs in helpful, cooperative and caring ways on behalf of the church and in the spirit of Jesus Christ. And, it enables them to practically and proactively support the most vulnerable, while honoring cultural and faith values and differences within the community.
Attendees learn how to identify types of disasters likely to impact the community, assess the immediate needs of their neighbors, and identify resources the church may have to meet those needs, while connecting the church with the community.
The modules in this training focus on preparing congregants for disasters and guiding them through a process to help others. It also addresses how churches can protect its property and people before and immediately following a disaster, as well as how to appropriately use church property in disaster response. Finally, the training encourages churches to explore their capacity for various disaster response ministry opportunities and to consider ways to become engaged in, and become an integral part of the fabric and culture of the community.
What if America’s greatest asset—its faith-motivated and God-centered people—rose up to embrace the belief that protecting people, places and ministry is our responsibility? What if we saw preparation and planning to be equal partners with building projects and new fellowship halls? What if we understood that stewardship of our bodies (eating healthy foods and exercising) and stewardship of our gifts (teaching, praying, tithing) are twin pillars supporting stewardship of our church family and church home to become the best gifts we have to give to our communities when trouble comes? As one attendee described it, disaster response is about “RESPONSE-ABILITY.”
Scripture tells us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10: 23-24). And, “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11: 1).
As followers of Christ, we are all called to be engaged in strengthening our communities, making them resilient, and being the hope and comfort in time of need. We are encouraged to earnestly live out our faith in ways that can transform communities—and the lives of those who are our neighbors—to alleviate suffering, including disaster response. As the visible presence of the body of Christ, the local church is well equipped to minister. And, when it gets involved, the door is opened to more ministry opportunities than the headlines will ever reveal.
Congregants and churches that are prepared to respond to their neighbors needs have an opportunity to restore hope, be a caring, Christian presence, and, share the love of Jesus to a world (and community) that is desperately searching.
For more information about the Disaster Response Ministry and the Connecting Neighbors program, contact me.
Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator
Email: drc@susumc.org
Phone: 717-766-7441, ext. 3402
Website: www.susmb.org
Facebook: @SUSDisasterResponse
Twitter: @UMCDisasterResp
Disaster Response Ministry Blog: susdisasterresponse.blogspot.com/
Camp Hill UMC Strengthens Ties in Panguma, Sierra Leone
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By Beth Notarfrancesco
Recently, a team from the Camp Hill United Methodist Church returned to their sister church, Lower Bombara UMC, in Panguma, Sierra Leone, West Africa to rejuvenate the relationship that suffered a 3-year break due to the COVID pandemic. The relationship between the two communities was developed from the partnership the church had with the Sierra Leone Initiative www.susmb.org/sierra-leone-initative/) and grew with yearly voyages to the village.
The five-person team for 2022 consisted of Jim Clahane, Marsha Curry-Nixon, Beth Notarfrancesco, Denise Paran and Mark Vickrey. Confirming the commitment to the community was the primary focus for the trip although they were also able to spend time with the church, schools, hospital, and dedicating a community market.
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The team also spent time revisiting a long-standing scholarship program in which the church has raised and invested more than $340,000 over 12 years to assist in the education of students within the UMC schools in Panguma. Changes in educational funding in recent years as well as changes in leadership determined the need for this re-evaluation. With the wisdom and assistance of Josepha Pormai, Secretary of Secondary Education for the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, the team was able to gather the information necessary to bridge the educational partnership between the two communities into its next season. This partnership is helping to improve the education and opportunity for education to children living in Panguma with the hope of bettering the lives of families one child at a time.
The team returned home encouraged by the many ways they saw God at work throughout their journey and credits the Sierra Leone Initiative for opening the door of opportunity for the development of this relationship which has changed lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to and for the glory of God.
God is good all the time. All the time God is good!
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For the Transformation of the World: Meditations from the Civil Rights Journey
Rev. Kevin Witt, Director of Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders
In June, 41 leaders from the Susquehanna Conference visited key sites within the Civil Rights Movement. We spoke with people directly involved and heard first-hand the struggles and suffering they willingly endured to dismantle racism and transform the world through the power of love. Repeatedly, we discovered the active role of people of faith inspired by God.
Powers confronted were not simply individual acts of racism against people of color. With non-violent resistance and creative alternatives, they challenged structures and perspectives weaved into the very fabric of community life. They called for new ways of relating by doing good and avoiding harm. They shed light on and resisted laws unequally and unfairly applied, disparity in access to health care, devaluing of people of a different race, efforts to hinder economic and educational opportunities, blaming victims for brutality and injustice inflicted upon them, and denial of voting rights for vast numbers of African Americans.
Courageous, everyday people asked what love calls for, spoke truthfully, marched peacefully, went to jail, worked to build Beloved Community in America, risked ridicule and beatings, and even died side by side with others suffering. Stiff opposition came not only from those wanting to maintain the status quo but also from those uncomfortable with any discord, difficult conversations, or targeted reactions by people bullying others into submission. Fear and conflict avoidance impeded love and justice.
What wisdom can we glean as we tackle racism and injustices in our own time and join God in the transformation of the world?
Jesus clarifies the core of faith and life.
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-39
Let us not relegate justice to law and politics, as if it has nothing to do with spiritual practice. Cornel West says so well – “Justice is what love looks like in public.” Remain keenly aware that love involves more than compassion – “feeling with or for people”. Justice, also, calls for intentional relationships with people being harmed. It means suffering with those who suffer at some level to bring about change. There is no way to love and work for justice without giving and sharing of ourselves in some real way. It can be joyful, but it isn’t passive.
For perspective, here is a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King
“We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws, because noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. Throw us in jail, and we shall still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we shall still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our community at the midnight hour and beat us and leave us half dead, and we shall still love you. But be assured that we will wear you down by our capacity to suffer. One day we shall win freedom, but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory.”
Becoming the Beloved Community: Our Covenant Against Racism
A Covenant of the Susquehanna Conference Cabinet
We acknowledge racism is sin. It is the opposite of the commandment Jesus identified as the greatest of all: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Racism contradicts love, causing great harm and a profound disconnect with others and with God.
We acknowledge our failing as a church and as disciples of Christ in not taking sustained and deliberate action to eradicate the sin of racism that continues to oppress African Americans and people of color in our country and around the world.
Therefore, as members of the Cabinet of the Susquehanna Conference, we covenant with God and with each other to take the following steps to correct our errors of faith and practice:
- We humbly acknowledge our roles in perpetuating the sin of racism within ourselves, our families, our churches, and our world.
- We lament the harm our actions and inaction have brought to millions of people Christ called us to love as our neighbors.
- We commit to gracefully support and hold each other accountable for taking actions that dismantle racism and join with God in growing the Beloved Community.
- We commit to prayerfully encourage each other, and to offer and receive honest feedback as brothers and sisters in Christ. We also will include critical reflection in our annual one-on-ones, as well in our yearly goal setting and evaluation as a Coordinating Cabinet.
- We also commit to evaluate our progress towards specific goals towards Becoming the Beloved Community at each Coordinating Cabinet meeting.
In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus counsels: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Lamentations:
As people of faith, we acknowledge our lack of love and failure to respect the dignity of every human being. Often, we have fallen short of the glory of God, corporately and individually. We now honestly name aspects of our lament:
Some of us have benefitted greatly from our nation’s founding which included the genocide of Native American and the suffering of enslaved people. Generations of white Americans have enjoyed unparalleled freedom and prosperity, while generations of descendants of African American slaves have faced unspeakable brutality and oppression. This system of racial domination has hurt many people of color, including Asian Americans and those of Hispanic heritage.
- Our history clearly shows some of us have courageously worked to eradicate slavery, segregation and oppression, risking ridicule, condemnation, injury and death. But, we lament that too often we have stood by or helped to perpetuate a system that hinders a fullness of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for people of color. Too many of us have benefitted and continue to benefit from a system that blocked generations of African Americans and other people of color from enjoying quality education, decent housing, employment, and access to healthcare without taking any real action to address those inequalities. Too many of us still do not want to examine or acknowledge the ongoing damage caused by our tolerance of racial injustice within our communities, our churches, our families, and within our own hearts.
- We lament our Church’s history in denying the value and humanity of people of color by disparaging their language, cultures, and achievements. And too often, we joined others in deliberately placing obstacles to block their success.
- We lament our history shows too few church leaders displayed the moral courage to stand with persons and communities who are marginalized and oppressed, when it meant they had to share in the suffering to change what was happening. We lament that is still true today.
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in... Matthew 25:35
We covenant to meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus, who called on His followers to stand with those in need; to stand with those who are suffering and with those who are oppressed.
We covenant to attend to our own growth in anti-racism and building the Beloved Community by spending time in each Coordinating Cabinet in follow up on recommendations based on the Intercultural Development Inventory process.
We covenant to re-examine the full history of our nation, our communities, and our church to educate those in our communities about the role white communities of faith have played in hurting others, so we can see and intentionally turn in the direction of love.
We covenant to reject willful ignorance and to educate ourselves on how some have benefitted from a system that has oppressed millions of people from the founding of our country.
We covenant to create and implement within the Cabinet and in our districts standards, policies, programs, and relationships that make our commitment to fighting racism a visible reality.
We covenant to use whatever privilege we have to work with and for people of color to overcome systems of institutional racism that continue to deny them equal access to a more bountiful life offered to white citizens.
We covenant to show courage and to devise loving ways to counter the daily acts of racism and exclusion many of us regularly witness, including within our Cabinet and within our social circles.
We covenant to use the influence of our office to encourage pastors and laity under our charge to work against racism and to welcome people of all races, cultures and ethnicities by providing them full equality, value and voice within our congregations and within the body of Christ.
This covenant is made in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior... and in keeping with our pledge to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.
Hearts Strangely Warmed - Pastor Elizabeth Jackson
“While the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” — John Wesley, May 24, 1738
God calls us to tell our story so that others may come to know Jesus Christ. “Hearts Strangely Warmed” was created to share these stories about transformational encounters with the Living God.
Pastor Elizabeth Jackson
Commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2022
I always grew up in the church, but never liked going. When my grandfather died and I lost my best friend, I questioned everything in life, including how a loving God would take him away. I couldn’t believe a loving God would do something like that, so I gave up on God. Yet, God never gave up on me. God kept sending people into my life who showed me more of who God is.
When my friend in high school invited me to youth group, everything changed. It brought me to a place where I accepted God as my Savior. A year later when I lost my grandmother, it brought me to a very dark place. But through my pastors at Bethany UMC in Red Lion, Charlie Salisbury and Cathy Boileau, I took that first step out of that dark place and started to believe that God had something better for me.
Memorial Day weekend of 2003, the high schoolers of the youth group held a special event for the junior high youth. It was at this event, that I knew God was calling me to serve him, I was just unsure of how. In college, I realized that God was calling me to pastoral ministry. I started the process, but it terrified me. I had great examples of pastors, but felt that I couldn’t be like them, so therefore, couldn’t be a pastor.
I dropped out of the candidacy process, convinced God made a mistake, and instead pursued the career of mental health counseling. My goal was to become a licensed professional counselor and serve as an outpatient therapist. Through years of hard work, I arrived. The work I was doing was valuable and necessary, but I felt unfulfilled. It felt like something was missing, but I couldn’t put it into words at the time.
When I attended Bible study around that time, at Church of the Good Shepherd (Lebanon, PA), discussion with a retired UM pastor made me realize something; I had been neglecting my call to ministry.
Over the years my call had never changed, even though almost a decade had passed. Still, God used this time to further prepare me and equip me to serve him. When I started the process over again to become a pastor, there was a calm reassurance that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing. While I still questioned if I had what it would take, I held firm to the words of Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God has grown me in ways I could have never imagined possible, and I am excited to continue serving God as pastor. It is my hope that I can help those who struggle with mental illness to feel a sense of belonging, welcome, and understanding in the church. Like I experienced in my youth, I hope to help others to find hope in the midst of whatever darkness they are facing. After all, the church is a place where we can go with all our hurts, and lay them at the foot of the cross, experiencing the healing only Jesus can bring.
Seedling's Wind-Up Plan
On June 3, 2022, The Susquehanna Annual Conference voted to wind up and terminate Seedling Financial Ministry over the next few years.
Here are answers to some of the questions you may have:
Why is seedling proposing a wind-up plan?
As we look forward to seeing the viability of Seedling Financial Ministry, we see uncertainty as to the volume of new construction and additions to existing structures for many churches due to Covid and other issues impacting in-person attendance at Church Services as well as other meetings and activities.
As membership decreases, so does the need for loans. Our mission states that we extend loans to churches. but our last new loan closed in January 2020. If we are unable to make new loans and replace maturing loans in the future, we could experience a significant reduction in our cash flow available to pay principal and interest on our outstanding investment certificates when due.
Additionally, if we continue down this path, we may be subject to increased scrutiny from our securities regulator. Under the current circumstances, we believe that the timing is right to wind up this ministry over the next few years.
Why now?
The Board of Trustees, CF&A, Seedling’s Board of Directors, and Cabinet have reviewed and considered all of the relevant information and deem it advisable and in the best interests of the Conference that now is the time for Seedling to wind up and terminate its operations.
Seedling is currently in a financial position to be able to pay our investors at maturity without having to have church’s payoff their loans immediately. This is a win-win situation in that our investors will receive their funds and our churches can continue making regular payments to their loans.
What happens to my money that I invested with Seedling?
If you have a term certificate, your investment will automatically redeem and be paid out with interest on its maturity date.
If you have a Savings or Demand Certificate, you can choose to withdraw those funds at any time as long as it is done prior to December 31, 2024. Please contact us to redeem your investments prior to the above date. Any Demand or Savings Certificates still open on December 31, 2024, will be automatically redeemed.
Interest will no longer be able to be compounded, so an interest check will be issued for those who currently have their interest compounded.
What happens to my church’s loan?
Your church’s loan will remain the same. The terms will remain the same and the payments will remain the same. In fact, you will see no change at all. Your church will still be required continue to make payments on their loan until it is paid off.
After Seedling’s investors have all been paid out, the Finance Office will take over the administration of the loans (accepting payments, generating statements etc.). The only change is that we will no longer be able to refinance existing loans or extend new loans to churches.
What is the time frame for winding up?
Since the proposal was approved at Annual Conference on June 3, 2022, the plan will go into effect immediately. We expect that the majority of the investments will be paid out by December 31, 2024, with only the longest-term investments remaining. The last investments to mature will redeem in 2027.
What is the benefit to Seedling winding up?
We view this as refocus on mission. After repayment in full of all of Seedling’s outstanding investment certificates, and all current loans have been paid back in full, the entire capital account of Seedling will be available to the Conference in which CF&A will oversee and recommend usage for available monies to support existing and/or new ministry opportunities.
We anticipate the value to be more than $8 million. If that’s the case, Seedling will be able to provide the “seed monies” to fund existing ministries and/or start new mission opportunities.
I will be remaining at Seedling for the next few years to ensure that the Wind-Up plan is facilitated appropriately. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 717-591-4099 or at csims@susumc.org and I will be happy to speak with you. Through the years we have helped hundreds of churches grow their ministry and you can be proud of the ministry you have partnered with.
Sincerely,
Christine Sims, Executive Director
Honoring Our 2022 Retirees
Thank you for your faithful leadership.
“Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand...”
—2 Corinthians 10:15b NIV
Pastor Richard Anderson
11 years
Pastor Matthew Armstrong
22 years
Rev. Nancy Dawson Firestone
31 years
Pastor Richard “Rick” B. Fluke II
17 years
Pastor Deborah H. Harvey
5 years
Pastor Terry L. Hughes
22 years
Pastor James L. Jacobs
11 years
Rev. Jeffrey A Levy
13 years
Pastor Dennis McCleary
27 years
Rev. Sharon Kay Miller
19 years
Pastor Donald B. Perry
10 years
Pastor Chris E. Pfleegor
16 years
Pastor Kimberly L. Phillips
14years
Rev. Susan O. Rogutsky
20 years
Rev. Gary Alan Shockley
40 years
Rev. Mark R. Shover
28 years
Pastor Fredrick C. Snyder II
14years
Pastor Dorothy “Dolly” L. Tarreto
20 years
Rev. H. Janet Tiebert
17 years
Rev. David W. Trostle
39 Years
Rev. Howard T. Woodruff
20 Years
2022 Annual Conference Awards Recipients
The Bishop D. Frederick Wertz Award
Recipient: Bishop Neil L. Irons
Lycoming College grants this award annually in memory of Bishop Wertz, president of the college from 1955 to 1968. It recognizes a clergy or lay person who has rendered exceptional service to God through the church.
The Flying Dove Award
Recipient: Grace United Methodist Church, Hanover
The Peace with Justice Committee of the Conference Board of Global Ministries grants this award to the church that has made the largest financial donation to the Peace with Justice Fund.
The Howard and Elizabeth Brinton Award
Individual Recipient: Laura Inlow
The Brinton Award is in memory of the Brintons, missionaries in Congo and mission interpreters with the General Board of Global Ministries. Howard Brinton established and served as executive director for The Advance.
Church Recipient: Calvary United Methodist Church, Lawrenceville
The Brinton Award is in memory of the Brintons, missionaries in Congo and mission interpreters with the General Board of Global Ministries. Howard Brinton established and served as executive director for The Advance.
The Rev. Dr. Maud K. Jensen/Rev. Dr. Karen E. Layman Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Pastor Kelly Kocher-Ross
The Susquehanna Conference Women in Ministry grant this scholarship to a female seminarian in memory of Maud K. Jensen and Karen E. Layman. Maud Jensen was the first woman to receive full clergy rights in the Methodist Church in the United States in 1956, and she did so through the former Central PA Conference. She then became a missionary to Korea. No other women were ordained in our conference for many years until a class of women in the 1970s that included Karen Layman.
The Harry Hosier Award
Recipient: The Journey Church, Harrisburg
Given by the Commission on Beloved Community to an individual or congregation that best emulates the characteristics of Harry Hosier, and early Black Methodist preacher.
The J. Marlene Atanasoff Spiritual Formation Award
Recipients: Revs. Kristopher and Hannah Sledge
The Center for Spiritual Formation grants this award annually in memory of Marlene Atanasoff, a graduate of the two-year Ministry of the Spiritual Direction program. It recognizes an outstanding advocate of John Wesley’s principles of mercy, justice, and piety.
The Marty Cox Award For Christian Unity
Recipient: Carlisle United Methodist Church
The Bishop’s Committee on Christian Unity and Interfaith Relations annually recognizes an individual or congregation that demonstrates outstanding involvement in ecumenical ministry.
The One Matters Award
Recipient: Harrisonville Charge - Asbury, Ebenezer & Siloam UMCs
Discipleship Ministries annually recognizes the congregations in each annual conference that reported increases in baptisms and professions of faith (as reported in the previous year’s statistical reports). The award celebrates the power of intentional discipleship development and community engagement.
The Thomas K. Cartwright Scholarship
Recipient: Pastor Daniel Havrilla
The Enlistment and Interpretation Committee of the Susquehanna Conference Board of Ordained Ministry annually awards this scholarship to a young adult who is called to ordained ministry. The award honors the memory of Rev. Dr. Thomas Kevin Cartwright.
2022 Commissioned as Provisional Elders
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| 2022 Commissioned as Provisional Elders l-r Elizabeth Jackson, Christopher Weems, Adam Miller |
Elizabeth Grace Jackson
was born in Red Lion, PA and graduated from Red Lion Area Senior High School. She earned a BA in Christian Ministries from Messiah College, an MA in Counseling from Biblical Theological Seminary and an MDiv from United Seminary. She is married to Gregory. They have two daughters, Sadie and Callie. She was recommended for ministry by the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lebanon PA (Eastern PA Conference) and currently serves the Lycoming Parish in the Williamsport District. Her favorite scripture is Joshua 1:9. She says “it reminds me of God’s presence as I boldly step into what God has called me to do.”
Adam Wesley Miller
was born in Williamsport, PA. He graduated from Jersey Shore Area High School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College and an MDiv from United Theological Seminary. He is married to Lauren and they are the parents of a son, Grant Wesley Miller. He was recommended for ministry by Trinity UMC, Jersey Shore in the Williamsport District. He is currently serving the Catawissa Parish in the Lewisburg District. His favorite scripture verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. He says “It is a reminder to me of the joy we have as followers of Jesus Christ and the comfort Christ brings.”
Christopher Edward Weems
was born in Atlanta, GA and graduated from Pebblebrook High School. His undergraduate work was completed at Paine College. He earned his MDiv from Gammon Theological Seminary. Chris is married to Brianna and is the father of Kamien Jordon Smith. He was recommended for ministry by the church he is currently serving, Balls Mills United Methodist Church in the Williamsport District. His favorite scripture is Romans 8:38-39. Chris says, “Because Jesus never did anything that wasn’t dipped down in and dripping with love for human beings.”
2022 Class of Ordained Elders
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| 2022 Class of Ordained Elders l-r David McElwee, John Bondhus, Hannah Pratt Sledge, Tammy Blose, Todd Christine |
Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Tammy Jane Blose
was born in York, PA and is a graduate of Red Lion High School. She graduated from Millersville University and earned an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is married to Chad. They have five children, Nathan, Joey, Sarah, Joshua, and David. She was recommended for ministry by Barts Centenary UMC, York District and is currently serving as their pastor. Her favorite scripture is “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7). Tammy says, “This has been the story of my journey of faith, Christ has led me, one step at a time, one moment at time.”
John Wesley Bondhus
was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He graduated from Cedar Brook Academy. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Baltimore. John earned an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. John is married to Stephanie and they are expecting their first child. John was recommended for ministry by Glen Mar UMC in the Baltimore Washington Conference. He currently serves the United Methodist Church of Wellsboro, Williamsport District. His favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 5: 16-19. John says, “Paul rightly speaks of the churches need to work toward a common good for all of God’s children, by being reconciled to each other through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. It is now our job to make sure all of God’s children know that they are loved for the beautiful creation that they are.”
Todd Andrew Christine
was born in Altoona, PA. He graduated from Tyrone Area High School and earned his undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University. His MDiv was earned at Wesley Theological Seminary. Todd is married to Autumn. They are the parents of Paytyn and Tristan. He was recommended for ministry by Bald Eagle UMC, Altoona District. Todd currently serves Grace UMC, Hanover in the York District. His favorite scripture verse is Ephesians 4:1. Todd says “It is a call to live in every way to love God through holiness of heart and life and in doing so participate in building Christ’s Kingdom on earth.”
David Ronald Andrew McElwee
was born in Chambersburg, PA and graduated from York Suburban Senior High School. He attended Lycoming College and Cochise Community College. He earned an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. David is also a military veteran. David is married to Samantha. They have two children, Abigail and Andrew. David was recommended for ministry by Park Avenue UMC, Chambersburg PA. David currently pastors East Salem/Otterbein Charge, State College District. His favorite scripture verse is Psalm 91:1-2. He says, “These are verses in which I took comfort while deployed overseas, and a reminder of God’s presence at all times and in all situations.”
Hannah Pratt Sledge
was born in Franklin, PA and is a graduate of Franklin Area High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Messiah College, and an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. She is married to Kristopher, and they have a daughter, Lydia. Hannah was recommended for ministry by Harrisville UMC, Western PA Conference. She is currently serving Hope UMC, Mechanicsburg in the Harrisburg District. Her favorite scripture verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, says “pray continually.” She holds onto this verse because “Prayer is not something we do on occasion; prayer is a way of life that changes us and the world around us.”
2022 Susquehanna Annual Conference archive
The 2022 Susquehanna Annual Conference was held in Hershey PA, June 1-3.
The livestreamed session videos of the 2022 Susquehanna Annual Conference can be viewed at www.facebook.com/SUSUMC/videos
The news and events of the 2022 Susquehanna Annual Conference can be viewed and downloaded from the Annual Conference website at susumc.org/annual-conference/
Susquehanna Daily LINK (PDF)
The daily publication of the Annual Conference:AC 2022 T-Shirts are Available
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