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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church Volume 9 Number 6 July/August 2009 NEW Making Disciples of Jesus Christ Annual Conference Summary 2009 Yvette Davis symbolic cleansing of the space of the spirit of violence and to be Director A worship took place on Monday, June 15, prior to the opening of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. of Urban Bishop Peggy Johnson joined mem- bers of the Methodist Federation for Social Action and Heeding God’s and Global Call, a faith-based campaign to stop gun violence, at the Greater Philadel- phia Expo Center, where, only days Ministries before, a gun show was held. BY SUZY KEENAN Meeting June 16-18, 2009, with a theme of Sharing the Connection, ishop Peggy Johnson has ap- Eastern Pennsylvania was the first pointed the Rev. Yvette Davis to conference to ever offer skilled Bbe director of Urban and Global American Sign Language interpret- Ministries for the Eastern Pennsyl- ers, real-time text captioning, assis- vania Conference. She will begin in tive listening devices, a large print that role on July 15, 2009. reader for persons with low vision, In the year 2000, Yvette went and video streaming for persons through a period of questioning who could not physically attend her purpose in life. “I was stand- conference because of physical chal- ing in my mother’s kitchen when I lenges. “We are not fully the body of sensed God speaking to me, calling Christ unless we include the gifts of me to be a United Methodist pas- Denita Connor (kneeling) is ordained a deacon by Bishop Peggy Johnson and Bishop Violet Fisher. Her tor,” she said. “I didn’t pursue my Continued on page 6 sponsors lay hands on her shoulders: Joyce Wilson, left, and Susan Worrell, right. call for two years. I was attending another church in New York with my former husband. Then the Lord drew me back to the United Method- ist Church, to Hanson Place Central Ellis-Killian to be Philadelphia Area UMC.” So Yvette started the process to become a pastor in New York, only to then relocate to Philadelphia. Ecumenical Offi cer That move brought her to John- son Memorial UMC, where, in the BY SUZY KEENAN the Philadelphia Area of The United East District, she again became a Methodist Church. He began on July 1, certified candidate for ministry. At ishop Peggy Johnson has selected 2009, after three years of being retired, Johnson Memorial, Yvette’s ministry the Rev. Dr. Daniel Ellis-Killian and will serve part-time in this newly included serving the church as lay Bto be Ecumenical Officer for created position. leader and as a Christ Servant Min- Dan grew up in The United Method- ister. As a Christ Servant Minister, ist Church. As a youth, he was deeply Yvette helped with planning and influenced by the pastor of his home implementation of a new Chinese church, the late Rev. Andy Schultz, ministry outreach in Philadelphia, of Parkside UMC in Parkside, PA, who coordinating efforts between the confirmed his call to ministry. As General Board of Global Minis- a philosophy and fine arts student tries, the East District, and the host at Edinboro University, Dan’s call to church. ministry was deepened, and he pro- In a volunteer capacity, Yvette ceeded shortly thereafter to Colgate served as collection supervisor for Rochester Divinity School to obtain Continued on page 9 his M.Div. And so, his interest in ecumenical concerns was born in an Rev. Dr. Daniel Ellis-Killian ecumenical school of theology. In 1974, Coalition of the National Conference of Dan received a D.Min. from Vanderbilt Christians and Jews. During that time, University, formerly a Methodist-related he conducted district workshops on school, and was ordained an Elder. Christian Unity and Interreligious Con- Throughout thirty-six years of ap- cerns, and also wrote and presented pointmentsSpirit in local churches, Dan was resolutions to the Annual Conference involved in many ecumenical activities on inviting Pan-Methodist representa- in the communities in which he served, tives to attend Annual Conference. as well as on the conference level. Un- Dan represented the Eastern Pennsyl- der the leadership of Bishop James M. vania Conference at several National Ault, Dan led the Eastern Pennsylvania Workshops on Christian Unity. Conference Commission on Christian “One of the most memorable events,” Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Dan said, “was being asked! to be the often accompanying Bishop Ault to speaker at the Bucks County Jewish ecumenical events or representing Veterans of Foreign Wars, 50th Anni- the office to the Greater Philadelphia Continued on page 8 Rev. Yvette Davis 2 July/August 2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS www.epaumc.org NEW July Glen Camp and Retreat Center. Visit WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 www.epaumc.org or call (610) 666-9090 Interfaith Environmental Sympsosium: In Memoriam for more information. 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Dinner will provided. FRIDAY, JULY 31 SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Wayne UMC. Spirit! 2009 Academy for Laity: Park Ridge Hote SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 and Conference Center, King of Prussia, Prison Ministry MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 ˜˜˜ PA. Contact Brenda Tildon at (302) 836- Workshop: Trinity Clergywomen’s Retreat: 9:30 am - 4:30 Rev. David W. Powell Jr. 8553 or [email protected]. UMC, 8th & Butler pm @ Rehoboth UMC in Rehoboth Streets, Chester, Beach, DE. This event is open to the Word has been received of the death of Rev. PA. Student Center Women in Professional Ministry of the David Powell, Jr., who passed away at his at the rear of the Eastern PA Conference. The cost is $10 home in Parksley, Virginia on Friday, May 29, church. 8:30 a.m. and includes lunch. Contact Dawn Taylor- 2009. - 12:30 p.m. For Storm at [email protected] Rev. Powell served the following appoint- additional informa- or Mandy Stanley Miller at mandylstan- ments beginning in 1956: Swiftwater; New tion, contact Rev. [email protected]. Hope; Allentown: Asbury; Phila: Holmesburg; Hilda Campbell at Extension Ministry: Evangelical Manor, Asst. 610-666-9090, ext. 224. FRIDAY, OCT. 23-SUNDAY, OCT. 25 Director; Extension Ministry: Phila: Ralston Healing the Wounds of Racism: Pocono House; Extension Ministry: SNJ Annual Con- TUES., SEPT. 29 - WED., SEPT. 30 Plateau Camp and Retreat Center. Visit ference Admin. of Home in Ocean Grove. Rev. Hitchhiker’s Guide to Evangelism www.epaumc.org or call (610) 666-9090 Powell was appointed to extension minis- Seminar: The Church on the Mall, for more information. try to Simpson House in 1987 as Executive August Plymouth Meeting, PA. Registration: Director and remained with the organization $95 (register by Sept. 8 and save until his retirement as President and CEO of SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 $10). Register online: http:// November Simpson Senior Services in 2003. Servant or Sucker: Hope Church, UMC, churchconsultations.com/upcoming- A memorial service was held on Tuesday, at 117 North Monocacy Creek Drive, events/hitchhiker-tour-2009. Or Fax: 866- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 June 9 at the Jane Henry Chapel at Simpson Douglassville, PA. No registration is 834-1938; Phone: 573.234.4374; Mail: Clergy Day Apart: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lunch House, 2101 Belmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA required and there is no cost to partici- 21st Century Strategies, PO Box 780, Port Provided No charge for the day. Pocono 19131; www.simpsonhouse.org. pants. For more information feel free to Aransas, TX 78373. Plateau Camp & Retreat Center; RR2 Box Rev. Powell is survived by his wife, Juliett, contact the Hope Church offi ce at 610 2747, Cresco, PA 18326. 570-676-3665; a son, two daughters, five grandchildren and 385 7141. www.poconoplateau.org, email: camp@ two great-grandchildren. October poconoplateau.org. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Julie Powell, P.O. Box 276, Parksley, VA 23421. To FRIDAY, OCT. 2-SATURDAY, OCT. 3 FRIDAY, NOV. 6 - SUNDAY, NOV. 8 express your condolences or sign the guest The Big Event: Youth and Young Adult 2nd Annaual MEN’S RETREAT at book online, visit: www.thorntonfuneral- Event at Eastern University. Cost is $50 Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat home.net. which will include food for Saturday and Center:This retreat is for men of all ages. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that registration. For more information con- Cost is $95 per person and covers lodg- donations in David’s name be made to the tact Lydia Munoz at [email protected]. ing, three meals on Saturday, breakfast Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 and lunch on Sunday, snacks, beverages, N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601or FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 & all activities. Hiking, fi shing ((bring your Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Children’s Fall Retreat: Grades 3-6. own equipment & fi shing license), and Shore, Attn: David Marco, 165 Market Street, Check-in is Friday evening at 7 p.m. boating are available at no additional Suite 3, Onancock, VA 23417. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21-SUNDAY AUGUST 23 Check-out on Sunday at 2 p.m. Cost is charge. Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Healing the Wounds of Racism - Level $85/person. www.poconoplateau.org. Center, RR2 Box 2747, Cresco, PA 18326. II: Daylesford Abbey. Visit www.epaumc. 570-676-3665; www.poconoplateau.org; org or call (610) 666-9090 for more SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 email: [email protected]. Mr. Harrie G. Schimmel information. Planting Seeds for Ministry Growth 2008: Saturday, October 3, 2009, 3:00 Word has been received of the death of Mr. MONDAY, AUG. 24-WEDNESDAY AUG.26 - 6:30 p.m. Hopewell UMC, Downing- Harrie G. Schimmel, who passed away on Healing the Wounds of Racism: Dayles- town. www.hopewellumc.org. Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Cornwall Manor at ford Abbey.