New Social Principles and Advocacy Training

By Rev. Ryan Gephart, SUSUMC Peace with Justice Coordinator, Preaching Faith & Justice Fellow

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, fifty-seven people of the Susquehanna Conference came together to learn about our new Social Principles and receive advocacy training at Calvary UMC, Harrisburg, PA. Rev. Dr. Lillian Smith, Freedom Trail (Altoona) District Superintendent, started our day with a sermon reminding us of the call from Micah 6 along with our United Methodist history to justice work. Dr. Smith stated that we need “to remember who we are” as followers of Jesus Christ.

Colleen Moore, director of Peace With Justice at the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), then led four sessions on various topics throughout the day. The topics included the new Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, Christian Nationalism, Israel/Palestine, Gun Violence Prevention, Advocacy Training, and other issues like Immigration. We participated in various exercises helping us explore the new Social Principles and how we could teach & relate them to our churches. The new Social Principles can be found at www.umcjustice.org and contain an index of topics from “The Community of All Creation” to “The Economic Community” to “The Social Community” to “The Political Community.“

One of the features of the day was building community for justice work. We are looking to build a peace with justice network for the conference using new resources from the General Board of Church & Society. GBCS has just created a new electronic resource for coordinators to be able to equip people faster for justice & advocacy work. Our new network will leverage this resource for justice & advocacy work. 

We need to remember from the call of the prophets: 

“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). 

If you are interested in joining justice work in our conference, please contact Rev. Ryan Gephart at rgephart@susumc.org or call 814-224-2815.

The United Methodist Foundation of PA: Laity Leadership Academy

In 2019 the United Methodist Foundation of Pennsylvania launched a Laity Leadership Academy designed to empower laity to lead the churches of our region in the ever-changing landscape of congregational life. Participants read some of the greatest books currently available on the topic, experience seminars led by the finest leaders in our conference, engage with one another in dialogue, and build relationships that provide support for the journey.

Each one of the Academies is structured around two modules. The first module is one year long, experienced together in several weekend retreats held at Mount Asbury in Newville. During these retreats, topics relevant to congregational leadership in the current culture are covered.

The second module is custom designed for each participant, allowing her or him to explore an area of leadership individually for which she or he is especially well equipped. That determination is made after an assessment of the participant’s spiritual gifts and strengths. That module is open-ended; it can be accomplished at whatever pace makes sense to the individual participant.

In total, the entire experience provides 100 hours of training.

JoAnne Konick-McMahan, Lay Pastor of Mosaic Community Church, Halifax, was part of the fourth class to experience the Laity Leadership Academy, in the first group of participants from the Susquehanna Conference after the merger of our foundations. JoAnne is aware that ministries of caring do not belong to the pastor only, that laity need to be more involved in visitation and support to those who are experiencing the vulnerability that accompanies health crises or aging. People who are in clinical settings and their families often experience anxiety and fear, especially those who are traveling closer to the end of life. JoAnne is no stranger to the needs of vulnerable people. She served many years as an acute and critical care nurse and served our connection as a certified lay servant. 

Through her participation in Module I, JoAnne became convinced of the need of the church to encourage laity to be more involved in caring ministries, especially in hospitals and nursing homes. During the Laity Leadership Academy, her spiritual gift assessments pointed out that God has called her to a life of faith with a positive approach to living. And she heard in the Academy that the church needs to live out our mission, vision, and core values more intentionally; and that the day is upon us when we need to rethink the ways in which we recruit, train, and deploy volunteers.

All these dynamics came together as JoAnne planned her project for Module II. It took two forms. First, she enrolled in a training program at a hospital in Harrisburg to become a chaplain’s assistant, a course that was supervised by the hospital’s full time, professional chaplain. She not only completed the training, but also attended several additional meetings and workshops offered by the chaplain’s department. By so doing, she far exceeded the number of hours required by the Laity Academy. 

But she still was not done. JoAnne designed a four-hour course for church lay volunteers which introduces the process of hospital and nursing home visitation. The course provides a general overview of the visitation process, with special consideration for issues that emerge at the end of life. The course draws not only from JoAnne’s vast experience and insight, but also from resources used by professionals in the field.

JoAnne has been on quite a journey. Not only has she heard to call to serve and to empower others to serve, but she did so at a time when congregational life has been disrupted by cultural change, the pandemic, and the dynamics within our denomination. But she realized, amid all that change, that our call to serve the least among us needs to be paramount; that Jesus himself reminds us that our care of those on the margins reflects our faith in him. Many aspects of the Christian church have changed and will continue to change, but our call to care will not. 

Betty Ann Berry, a member of Mifflinburg United Methodist Church, was also part of the fourth class to experience the Laity Leadership Academy. 

Through her participation in Module I, Betty Ann became convinced of the need for congregations to be more fully in touch with their unique vision, mission, and core values. So often, congregations seek to be like every other congregation, without being aware of the ways in which the Holy Spirit gives them, as a group, a very specific role to play in the Body of Christ. And so, Betty Ann developed a project that would help folks be more aware of the work of the Spirit, especially focused on the gifts that the Spirit gives.

But Betty Ann also learned clearly that leaders in the current season of congregational life need to be ready to adapt and adjust on a moment’s notice; that the same Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual gifts also calls us to new ventures as the needs of the church change over time. The Holy Spirit spoke to Betty Ann, and she listened. She became convinced that pastors in the church of today are dealing with profound stress. She became convinced that she needed to use one of her own spiritual gifts, the gift of encouragement, to find a way to encourage pastors who are serving in these difficult days.

Each one of the participants in the Laity Academy is asked to submit a report to the Dean of the Foundation School of Leadership summarizing their project. For her project, and her report, she wrote a devotional book designed to give courage to those who serve. It offers devotional thoughts for 52 weeks, an entire year of encouragement! And while Betty Ann intended to support the work of pastors, it could also be helpful to anyone who needs a word of encouragement to face the week ahead.

But the Holy Spirit was not quite done with Betty Ann. Through this journey, the cabinet of the Susquehanna Conference recognized that her gift of encouragement could be used in a broader context as a pastor. They approached her about that possibility and invited her to serve as the pastor of Lincoln Chapel United Methodist Church. Betty Ann recognized the voice of the Holy Spirit calling her to yet another new venture and accepted their invitation!

On December 31 at Mifflinburg UM C, Rev. Barry Robison, Director of Relationships and Stewardship Development at the Foundation presented Betty Ann with a Certificate of Completion on behalf of Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and the Board of Directors. Her pastor, the Rev. Bob Rice, also took part in the presentation.

The Laity Leadership Academy has been retooled to meet the needs of congregations who are experiencing hardship in this season. Now known as the Empowered Church Project, the program is designed to assist churches who struggle due to cultural shifting, the effects of the pandemic, and the dynamics within our denomination. Recruitment for the 2025 cohort will begin soon. If you would like to enroll your congregation, or if you simply want more information, please contact the Dean of the Foundation School of Leadership, Dr. Joseph Patterson at jpatterson@umfoundation.org.

To find out more about the funds management, education, and strengthening ministries provided by The United Methodist Foundation of Pennsylvania, visit umfoundation.org.

Spring Grants

The UM Foundation awards a limited number of grants to local churches and affiliated agencies of the Western Pennsylvania and Susquehanna Conferences of the United Methodist Church. These grants are intended for (but are not limited to) funding for ministries, programs, consultant and auditing services, stewardship resources, conference or meeting attendance or hosting costs, and emergency needs, among others.

Applications for funding may come from any church or ministry of or related to the Western PA or Susquehanna Conferences of the United Methodist Church and must be for a need consistent with the mission of the UM Foundation. Grants are made possible by funding from the Stewart Endowment and the Paul D. Taylor Ministry Opportunity Fund. Before completing an application, please carefully review both our Grant Guidelines and How to Apply to ensure that the ministry or need for which you are applying meets the requirements of the Foundation’s grant program. Applications must be received during the grant application window: February 23 - March 18. All applications for Foundation grants must be submitted electronically via email to grants@umfoundation.org using the Grant Application Form. Be sure to watch the on-demand webinar called “Ten Tips For A Successful Foundation Grant Application.”

Board of Child Care Offering FREE Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Trainings

Board of Child Care in Mechanicsburg, PA (formerly United Methodist Home for Children) understands the vital role that churches and church groups play in nurturing the well-being of our young community members. It is with great pleasure that we announce the availability of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training at no cost to our church and community partners, thanks to a generous grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

What is Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)? 

YMHFA is an 8-hour training program designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in youth aged 12 to 18. Our aim is to empower you to reach out and provide initial help and support to young individuals who may be navigating mental health challenges or experiencing a crisis.

Why is this Training Crucial for Church Communities? 

Churches and church groups often serve as pillars of support for youth in our community. The YMHFA training introduces common mental health challenges faced by youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and provides a 5-step action plan for both crisis and non-crisis situations. Armed with this knowledge, you can play an even more impactful role in the lives of the young people you encounter.

The Board of Child Care (BCC) Advantage: 

As a proud YMHFA training site, we are committed to creating a comfortable and respectful learning environment. Our courses, led by certified instructors, maintain an intimate class size of 30 people or less, ensuring a personalized experience for all participants.

What Will You Learn? 

Topics covered in the training include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders with potential psychosis, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. This comprehensive curriculum is designed to empower you with the insights needed to make a positive difference in the lives of the youth you encounter. After completion of the training course, participations will receive a 3-year certificate from the National Council of Wellbeing.

How to Register:

In-person training is available to any organization or location within a 1-hour drive from our Baltimore (MD), Martinsburg (WV), or Mechanicsburg (PA) campus locations. Alternatively, we are happy to host your training at any of these three locations. Please visit the Contact Us page to see our specific location addresses. To get started, please visit the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training page of our website, or complete the YMHFA Community Partner Training Application. 

Thank you for your dedication to the well-being of our community’s youth. Together, let’s create a network of support that ensures every young person feels heard, understood, and valued.

Donna Phillips
Youth Mental Health First Aid Coordinator
dphillips@boardofchildcare.org
(443) 615-3151

Communications: The Power of Connection

Liz Lennox, Director of Communications SUSUMC & WPAUMC

During the second week of January, the extended cabinets from the Susquehanna, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Conferences will come together at Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center in Hopwood, Pa., for their third annual joint cabinet retreat. The group will participate in professional development and strategic planning and while I can only speak for myself, I sense that others also might feel that the value of the time spent together goes beyond just the educational training we will receive. 

The ability to learn, fellowship, and worship with our colleagues outside of our own conference is a gift. When we do so, we deepen the connection that is a core value of The United Methodist Church - the Book of Discipline even tells us that our connectional system “enables us to carry out our mission in unity and strength.” When we come together, we’re granted the opportunity to see different perspectives and other ways to do ministry. We leave our time together with fresh ideas, renewed vision, and an awareness that we have a team of people beyond our conference boundaries. 

Last October, I had the opportunity to come together with other United Methodist communicators from around the country for the United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting, my first as a director of communications. I quickly recognized when talking to other communicators that we had all experienced similar challenges and frustrations, joys and triumphs. My soul felt lighter realizing that there were people I could relate to within the denomination, who knew exactly what I was experiencing and feeling. I came away assured that there are so many people who I can lean on and seek help from. 

Recently, our tri-conference collaboration went beyond Conference leadership. In early November, participants from the three conferences came together for Level Up, a learning and equipping event focused on new places for new people. The seed for this event was planted in the minds of the tri-conference congregational developers (Rev. Dr. Kathleen Kind, Ken Willard, and Rev. Rob Wilson), who have been a collaborative team for over two years. The three recognized the benefit of collaboration and mutual support because of their own continued work together, and dreamt up an event that would bring local church leaders together from all three conferences.

The two-day event involved keynote speakers, workshops, worship, games, and a dinner. Participants had the opportunity to get to know new people and many took advantage. At the end of the event, the three developers anointed and sent forward the participants. Rev. Wilson recounted that some came up in groups of two and three, joining together as they took the next steps in their ministry. He shared that two women from different conferences who had just met the day before also came up to be anointed together. This moment speaks to the relationships that can be built and perfectly demonstrates the power of our connection.

Embracing your own connection doesn’t have to be across conference or jurisdictional boundaries. You can urge your congregation to take intentional steps to connect with other churches nearby; join together for worship, create a Bible study or hobby group, or develop a shared ministry. Get creative! Additionally, you may consider connecting more fully with conference-level ministries like United Women in Faith or Volunteers in Mission. There are countless opportunities to more fully live into our United Methodist connection - you never know what you might discover about yourself, your neighbor, or our beloved denomination. 

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders: New and Improved Opportunities for All!

By Kim Shockley, Coordinator of Lay Excellence

After my experience with our Annual Conference in May, I came away with a renewed sense of hope, especially for the lay people of the Susquehanna Conference. I spoke with many of you about our Lay Servant Ministry processes and felt great enthusiasm from you about discovering how God wants to use you now! While I continue to be the Coordinator of Lay Excellence, this is what gets me out of bed each morning - connecting lay people to mission and ministry!

We are offering a third Coach Approach Training on August 26, 2023 at First UMC Muncy, 602 S Market St, Muncy, PA 17756-1628, for $15 which includes lunch. The instructors for these 6-hour training events are ICF Certified Coaches in our Conference who are currently active members of our Susquehanna Coaching Network – Ron Doverspike and Kim Shockley. The purpose of Coach Approach Training is to learn the skills of coaching and how to put it into practice. Anyone who leads a group or team will benefit from this training because the end result of a coach approach is greater accomplishment of goals and engagement of people in those goals. 

The posture of a coach approach is curiosity, listening well, and asking powerful questions that lead to committed action steps. Come join us as we learn the basics and several different ways that a coach approach can be used within your local congregation’s ministry. .6 CEU will be offered. The flyer and registration can be found here: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=754045

The third opportunity in our Refresh series happens on September 30, 2023 at Christ Community UMC, 3939 Park Rd, Selinsgrove, PA 1787). Ken Willard, from the West Virginia Conference Development Office, will be with us to Refresh Our Plan! Our time with Ken will be to discuss how to create and/or refresh your ministry plan. He will offer training around how to have a strategic ministry focus. This event is open to everyone, and we especially encourage ministry teams to attend this training together! .6 CEU will be offered. The deadline to register for the third experience of Refresh is Saturday, September 23, 2023: https://susumc.org/refresh/

Don’t forget to check the Lay Ministry page on the SUSUMC website - https://susumc.org/lay-ministry/. Throughout the summer our District Lay Servant Ministry Committees will be developing their roster of courses for Fall 2023. Remember, Lay Servants and Lay Speakers must take 1 CEU (10 hours of instruction) every three years to stay certified. Certified Lay Ministers need 1 CEU every other year to stay in compliance. 

Our District Committees are working well to encourage and keep our laity engaged in mission and ministry! The One Matters Awards presented at Annual Conference showed us how fruitful this work is as we developed new and improved ways of seeing our communities and building relationships!

God is with us all!

Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders - Ministry of Lay Excellence

Kim Shockley, Coordinator of Lay Excellence

It has been my great joy to work with wonderful lay people throughout the Susquehanna Conference to grow spiritual transformational leaders who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go! This has been evidenced through the testimonies of those who have completed “GROW! Living as Spiritual Transformational Leaders.” Each person is able to articulate a growing sense of personal calling for the work that God has for each to do, and awareness of the needs within everyone's communities. God is doing great work through our Lay People!

In the past two years our Lay Servant Ministries throughout the Susquehanna Conference have experienced quite a transformation! Each district now has an active Committee on Lay Servant Ministries that is planning and implementing regular training courses for Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, and Certified Lay Ministers. The chairpersons of each District Committee have joined together to become the Conference Committee on Lay Servant Ministries, and are responsible for final approvals for Lay Speakers, Certified Lay Ministers, and curriculum development beyond what is offered through Discipleship Ministries. To learn more about Lay Servant Ministries, click on this link to our Lay Ministry page: https://susumc.org/lay-ministry/. Right now we are adding new information regularly about Lay Servant Ministry classes that are available in Spring 2023!

Our annual Certified Lay Minister School has started and looks forward to two more weekends of training at Wesley Forest! This year seven participants are working toward their CLM status and the possibilities of serving local churches as lay ministers. We are learning about our United Methodist history and theology, how to build a covenant for the work we are called to do, and leading worship. In March we look forward to learning more about congregational care, faith formation and discipleship! As a participant myself, it is so exciting to see and hear how God is working through each of these persons! 

What is God placing on your heart? Have you been hearing the still, small voice that is nudging you to a closer walk with Jesus, or a way to use your skills to the benefit of your local church and community? How do you see God working among others in your family or congregation? How will you share an encouraging word to help them take their next faithful step? It takes all of us to pray for and support each other as we make disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world!

Is There More to the Disaster Response Ministry?

Douglas Hoy, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

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/

Connecting With Your Community

By Doug Hoy, SUSUMC Disaster Response Coordinator

Growing up, I spent many hours watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and learning life lessons that have formed who I am today. Fred Rogers was a pastor and, through his ministry and television show, he emphasized the importance of kindness, community, and friendship.

He once said, “All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.”

When we think of disasters, what comes to mind? Hurricanes…Flooding…Wildfires…Earthquakes? Have we considered the homeless, the hungry, single parents, seniors, or that forgotten population between 18 and twenty-something? While the needs of survivors of the former certainly should occupy our thoughts, prayers, and actions, the latter also suffer. They are our neighbors and friends. They live in our communities. They have needs!

And, while it is not about the numbers, research confirms this. Fifty seven percent of Americans surveyed indicated they only know some of their neighbors. Sixty nine percent of 13 to 25 year olds say they have three or four meaningful interactions within a day. Forty percent say they have no one to talk to and that no one really knows them well.

Our younger population is suffering as well. One in four young people say they have one or fewer adults in their lives they can turn to if they need to talk. Twenty-four percent of young people indicated they have no adult mentors and feel like their life has no meaning or purpose. 

In a world so fraught over the impact of a pandemic, troubled by social and political discord, and divided by racial and social injustice, there are people in our communities who are hurting, lonely, and in search of someone who cares. They want to connect, talk, and find meaning and purpose in their lives.

Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” This verse reveals that our God is an abundantly loving, caring, and giving. When we keep our eyes focused on Him, He will work in our lives and communities and give us opportunities to meet every need. He will supply us with the ability to be a caring, Christian presence to someone in need. And, according to the numbers, all we need to do is reach out.

So, who are those people in our neighborhoods? And, how can we identify their needs?

The Disaster Response Ministry offers the Connecting Neighbors program, which provides church leaders, laity, and congregations with ideas about how to do mission in our own back yards. Equipping Vital Congregations offers the Mission Insite program that can help congregations identify those areas of need within our community. Using these resources will help us to learn more about our communities. Through these programs, we can discover new, tangible ministry areas where we can connect and engage with them.

As your congregation works to identify opportunities and develop a plan, consider Mister Rogers’ advice. 

“What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”

Ephesians 4 tells us we have all been equipped “for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Everyone has something they can contribute. And, by keeping our focus on God, prayerfully considering the needs of our community, and acting on the opportunities He provides, we can meet the needs of our neighbors and build the kingdom of God.

For additional information on these programs:

Connecting Neighbors – Visit the Disaster Response Ministry webpage at www.susmb.org/drm and click on the Connecting Neighbors Training link under Resources.

Mission Insite – Visit the Equipping Vital Congregations webpage at www.susumc.org/evc-mission-insite

Contact Doug Hoy at 717-766-7441, ext. 3402 or email drc@susumc.org