Communications: Jumpstarting Ministry: The Power and Promise of Pastoral Onboarding

By Matthew Shineman, Director of Communications

Every year, the Appointive Cabinet of the Susquehanna Conference undertakes the sacred and strategic work of matching pastoral leaders with congregations. Whether due to retirement, a requested change, or a desire to better align gifts with needs, each pastoral transition represents both a risk and an opportunity. It’s not enough to simply make a good appointment on paper - the success of a new pastoral relationship depends on how that transition begins. And that’s where the Onboarding Process makes all the difference. 

The Birth of a Vision

The Susquehanna Conference’s Onboarding Process was born from the insight of lifelong United Methodist and seasoned HR professional Claire Bowen of Atlanta. Since 2013, Bowen has refined this process to address the specific needs and dynamics of the United Methodist Church’s appointment system. Encouraged by a pastor to imagine what intentional onboarding would look like in the church, she designed a structured, relationally focused model that is now helping transform how pastors and congregations begin their ministry together.

“This is one of the best gifts we can offer to a pastor and a congregation moving into a new appointment,” says Rev. Dr. Kathleen Kind. And it’s easy to see why.

A Process Rooted in Intentionality

The Onboarding Process is far more than a checklist. It’s a spiritual and relational investment. It brings together key lay leaders, staff members, and the incoming pastor to share hopes, challenges, stories, and expectations - all in one room, at one time.

Here’s how it works:

• After a pastor is notified of a new appointment, they are connected with a trained onboarding facilitator.
• The facilitator spends time with the pastor to understand their gifts, styles, and needs, and then coordinates a gathering with the church’s leadership.
• During this gathering, the laity engage deeply with guided questions - while the pastor steps out, allowing honest reflection without fear or flattery.
• The facilitator collects responses in real time, sharing them with the pastor to help them prepare for what lies ahead.
• Then, the pastor returns to the room to reflect on what was shared, seek clarification, and begin building relationships rooted in transparency and trust.
• The session ends in prayer, laying a foundation not just for ministry, but for a holy partnership.

It’s structured. It’s spiritual. And it works.

A Model for This Moment in the Church

There was a time when pastors could spend a year simply “getting to know” a church before making changes. But in today’s church - amid cultural shifts, shrinking budgets, and urgent spiritual needs - we no longer have the luxury of waiting.

“The process reflects the urgency of our time,” says Rev. Rachel Wong, who experienced onboarding at Linglestown Life. “It was great. I wish they would do it in every church with a new appointment.”

Indeed, onboarding accelerates connection. It opens the door to healing and clarity. It surfaces unspoken assumptions and old wounds, names golden calves, and points to influential leaders - sometimes before the first sermon is preached.

Pastor Randy Zeiler, who went through onboarding at Fishing Creek Salem UMC, agrees: “It’s incredibly worthwhile. Yes, it’s a time commitment, but it opens up important conversations so much quicker and focuses on trust building… I would highly recommend it for any and all moves.”

Broad Benefits - and a Big Vision

While the program created by Claire Bowenhas already trained more than 230 facilitators across the U.S., we’ve only just begun to tap into its full potential in the Susquehanna Conference. Facilitators - both clergy and laity - undergo rigorous hands-on training. Each onboarding session is tailored to the size and context of the church, whether it’s a single congregation or a multi-point charge. And while costs vary, the Conference currently covers the entire expense as an investment in healthy, thriving pastoral transitions.

Already, Conference staff including Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez and Director of Communications Matthew Shineman have participated in the process. Upcoming sessions are planned for incoming Superintendents Rev. Dr. Lyssette Perez and Rev. Dr. Michelle Bodle - a testament to how valuable this model is not just in the local church, but throughout our entire connection.

Administrative leaders like Shari Bellish, from Middlesex UMC, report that onboarding helped spark honest and hopeful conversations among staff and lay leaders alike. It’s not just about a new pastor; it’s about the whole community getting clear on its vision and values.

What’s Next - and How You Can Help

Today, the Appointive Cabinet identifies a handful of congregations each year for onboarding. But the dream is to grow our capacity so that even more churches and pastors are able to experience onboarding as a part of their transition.

Why? Because onboarding doesn’t just help pastors start well. It helps congregations trust sooner, share openly, and embrace the future together.

It’s a model of effective communication where all voices are heard and respected. It’s an antidote to speculation, triangulation, and slow-burning conflict. It’s efficient, spiritually grounded, and transformational.

To build that future, we need your support. Help us grow awareness, and in times of pastoral transition, support this process in your local church and district. Together we can ensure that every new pastoral appointment begins not with uncertainty, but with clarity, courage, and connection.

Because the way we begin shapes everything that follows. And onboarding ensures we begin with grace, trust, and shared purpose.

Communications: Making Our Values Visible: The Susquehanna Conference Branding Initiative

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Matthew Shineman, Director of Communications

As Director of Communications, I’ve been leading a rebranding initiative designed to reflect our theological identity, shared values, and collective mission more clearly and consistently. This process has not been about reimagining ourselves from scratch, but rather about faithfully expressing what already exists - our identity rooted in Christ, discerned in community, and shaped by our Wesleyan heritage. At its heart, this initiative is about witness.

Wrestling with Words: Faithful Language for a Faithful Purpose

Throughout this journey, I’ve heard some honest concerns about the term “branding.” One colleague put it plainly:

“I hate the words ‘branding’ and ‘brand identity.’ Jesus didn’t care about marketing—he cared about truth, relationships, and transformation.”

I understand the concern - “branding” can sound corporate or manipulative, clashing with the gospel’s call to humility and authenticity. Here’s my “yes, and”: When done with theological integrity, branding can be a form of faithful witness - Spirit-led communication that expresses who we are in Christ and invites others into that journey.

Jesus didn’t use the word “brand,” but he was intentional in how he communicated - through parables, symbols, and relationships. The early Church developed a recognizable identity that helped spread across cultures.

So whether we call it “Expression of Mission” or “Branding,” what we’re really doing is making our values visible - clearly, consistently, and in ways rooted in faith and discipleship.

A Theologically Grounded Identity

Our identity is, first and foremost, rooted in Christ. But it is also shaped in community - discerned through our theology, our context, and our collective call. The rebranding initiative has sought to express that identity with clarity and coherence - not to reinvent our values, but to live into them more fully.

Part of this expression includes naming what makes us distinctly United Methodist. It’s not about being better than other denominations - it’s about being clear. How do we understand grace, community, discipleship, and justice in ways that are uniquely shaped by Wesleyan theology? How do those values guide our ministries and mission?

When used thoughtfully, tools like branding can help us answer those questions. Not in opposition to our witness, but in service of it. Thoughtful communication isn’t a threat to discipleship - it’s part of how we embody it.

An Inclusive and Discernment-Led Process

This rebranding initiative has been deeply collaborative. Rather than a top-down directive, it’s been a journey of listening and dialogue. We’ve gathered insights from:

• Key Staff and Ministry Leaders – to understand how different parts of the Conference perceive our current identity.
• The Missional Cabinet – to ensure alignment with our strategic vision and the needs of our congregations.
• Clergy Focus Groups – to capture on-the-ground perspectives from those leading local churches.
• The Board of Laity – to center the voices of lay leaders who embody our mission in everyday discipleship.

All of this has shaped the development of brand guidelines that are not about control but about coherence. When our communications - from email newsletters to social media posts - share a common tone, style, and look, we build trust and clarity across our connection.

Why Brand Guidelines Matter

While it is mostly an internal tool, our brand guidelines will help us:

• Enhance recognition – so people can easily identify and trust communications from the Conference.
• Support engagement – by creating a consistent and welcoming presence across platforms.
• Reflect our mission – so our materials speak authentically to who we are and what we stand for.
• Evaluate programs – by offering a framework to test whether new initiatives align with our values and identity.

Moving Forward with Integrity

This isn’t about adopting a corporate mindset. It’s about committing to clear, consistent, and faithful communication - so that the mission of the Susquehanna Conference is not just heard, but understood. When we make our values visible, we open the door to deeper connection, more effective ministry, and a more compelling witness to the world.

Together, we’re not just branding—we’re bearing witness. And that makes all the difference.

Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Communications Team Launches New Monthly Series Titled “Living Hope: Faith in Action”

 

Matthew Shineman, Director of Communications

We are excited to introduce a new monthly series on our website, “Living Hope: Faith in Action.” This inspiring series will showcase the countless ways our congregations and communities are living out their faith and bringing the Good News of Christ to the world.

Each month, we will feature stories from each District of groups who are making a difference - whether through acts of service, innovative ministries, or everyday moments of kindness and compassion. “Living Hope: Faith in Action” will provide a platform to celebrate these powerful expressions of faith and to inspire others to take part in their own unique ways.

Our goal is to foster a sense of connection and shared mission, reminding us all that every effort, big or small, contributes to the greater purpose of sharing God’s love. We invite you to engage with these stories, reflect on how you see faith in action in your own life, and even share your own experiences to encourage others.

Stay tuned each month for new stories that will warm your heart, spark ideas, and deepen your faith journey. Together, let us continue to live out the hope that is found in Christ and make a lasting impact in our communities and beyond.

Stories: susumc.org/living-hope-faith-in-action/

Communications Ministry: Portico & Lighthouse Congregations

By Liz Lennox, Director of Communications SUSUMC & WPAUMC

In order to better equip our leaders, our Conference has partnered with the West Virginia Conference to launch an online learning platform called Portico. Portico is an easy to use learning tool that allows both clergy and laity to take courses online and at their own pace. 

We are partnering not just with the West Virginia Conference, but multiple other Conferences throughout the connection to share resources and learning opportunities. Through this partnership, we have access to courses that are focused on discipleship, communications, connection building, and so much more! 

Portico is easy to use, with courses organized by topic and progress saved. Additionally, our staff has the ability to build courses that are specific to our Conference. This platform gives us the opportunity to more effectively provide educational opportunities that cater to busy schedules. 

Registering for Portico is easy. You can sign-up by going to susumc.org/portico and following the instructions listed. Once you’re registered, you can immediately begin enrolling in courses. 

Take a look, explore the catalog, and register for courses that appeal to you! If you have any questions, feel free to contact my office and we will be happy to guide you. 

717-766-7441 ext.
llennox@susumc.org

Lighthouse Congregations are local churches in the Susquehanna Conference that are particularly equipped to welcome anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated and who wish to remain in the United Methodist Church. These congregations will act as a resting place for those seeking a new United Methodist faith community, with people who will care for and provide a haven of peace and grace.

Congregations in our conference are currently going through the process to become Lighthouse Congregations - four have already completed the steps! If you are interested in becoming a Lighthouse Congregation or have questions, please email Rev. Dr. Kathleen E. Kind at kkind@susumc.org. 

See more, including an up to date map of our Lighthouse Congregations, at susumc.org/lighthouse-congregations/

Communications: The Power of Storytelling

By Liz Lennox, Director of Communications SUSUMC & WPAUMC

In February of 2016, I sat facing a group of eight kind faces as I interviewed for a part-time church secretary job at the local United Methodist Church. This was not a job I particularly wanted, but I had recently moved back to the area from a city I loved and missed and I was desperate. I was adrift and College Hill United Methodist Church tossed me the life raft I desperately needed. For the next year and a half, I walked into the wood-paneled church office every morning to answer phones, print bulletins and chat with the church members who would drop in to say hello. I could have never imagined where that job, begrudgingly accepted out of desperation, would lead me. 

Six years and a few months later, I walked into my office in Mechanicsburg as the new shared Director of Communications for the Susquehanna and Western Pennsylvania Conferences of The United Methodist Church. On my desk was a signed welcome poster from the wonderful staff at the Susquehanna Conference. As I stood there reading the kind greetings from my new colleagues, I reflected on the time I’ve spent serving The United Methodist Church and the path God sent me down when I accepted that church secretary position. 

Even as a part-time secretary for a small church, I recognized the vital importance of strong communication. My time spent working at the local church made me deeply value the critical role that communication plays and the relationship between local and conference communicators. I moved on from the local church to work for the Western Pennsylvania Conference as the social media and visual communications coordinator, but I carried with me that deep respect for the local church and the work they do. In my new role, I had the opportunity to work with numerous administrators, pastors and councils to strategize and strengthen their communication plans. It is my hope that I can continue to empower the local churches in the Susquehanna Conference by providing guidance and training around communication. 

Above all, I consider myself a storyteller. I recognize there’s a lot of power in the ability to tell stories—we use storytelling as a way to share news, inform and educate, preserve history and make a difference. Stories have the power to evoke hope, break hearts, speak truth and change lives. The most important stories are often deeply personal. 

Story from District Six Museum in South Africa

One of the more profound experiences of my life was reading the stories at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. The museum, coincidentally located in the former Buitenkant Street Methodist Church, is dedicated to a Black neighborhood that was razed during apartheid. The people who lived in that neighborhood were removed from their homes and the entire neighborhood was destroyed. All that was left were various objects and stories. Some of those stories are written and displayed and some are shared verbally by the guides who once lived there. The museum and the stories stand as a gut-wrenching and powerful testament to the horrors of racism. Those profound stories changed my life and made me realize how important storytelling is. 

In my time as a communicator in Western Pennsylvania, I have had the privilege to tell many stories of those I’ve encountered. I profiled the oldest living retired clergy person in the WPA Conference and introduced Quinn, the service dog the conference supports. I shared the heartbreaking story of a Puerto Rican man who lost everything in Hurricane Maria and had been unable to clear the wreckage of his home until our team assisted him. I highlighted an antiracism event that showcased the music of Paul Robeson. All these stories have demonstrated to the world who we are as United Methodists and what we represent. 

Helping in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

My ability to tell stories is a gift and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share that gift in the Susquehanna Conference. My path has led me here, to this conference, to tell your stories. And I am blessed.