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200 2014 Pre-Conference Booklet Table Of 200 2014 Pre-Conference Booklet Table of Contents Reports Board of Laity ................................................................................................................ 201 Conference Youth Coordinator ...................................................................................... 202 Director of Connectional Ministries ............................................................................... 202 Judicial Council .............................................................................................................. 203 The Poverty Team .......................................................................................................... 208 Justice Reform ................................................................................................................ 209 Uganda Christian Solutions ............................................................................................ 212 Russia Initiative .............................................................................................................. 214 Eastern German Partnership ........................................................................................... 215 Nicaragua Partnership .................................................................................................... 217 Erie United Methodist Alliance ...................................................................................... 218 Connellsville Area Community Ministries ..................................................................... 219 Connectional Witness Team ........................................................................................... 220 Evangelism ..................................................................................................................... 220 Commission on Status and Role of Women ................................................................... 222 Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns ........................................ 222 Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania ........................................................... 223 Pennsylvania Council of Churches................................................................................. 224 Camping and Retreat Ministries Corporation Committee .............................................. 225 Camp Allegheny............................................................................................................. 226 Jumonville ...................................................................................................................... 228 The United Methodist House at Chautauqua Institution ................................................ 229 Commission on Archives & History .............................................................................. 230 Commission on Equitable Compensation ...................................................................... 231 Council on Finance and Administration ......................................................................... 232 Board of Pensions .......................................................................................................... 233 United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania ................................................ 234 General Board of Higher Education & Ministry ............................................................ 235 Allegheny College .......................................................................................................... 236 Africa University ............................................................................................................ 238 Boston University School of Theology .......................................................................... 239 Candler School of Theology .......................................................................................... 240 Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary .................................................................... 241 Wesley Theological Seminary ....................................................................................... 242 United Theological Seminary ......................................................................................... 244 Report of the Site Selection Task Team ......................................................................... 244 Episcopal Residence Committee .................................................................................... 246 Conference Center Renovation Project .......................................................................... 250 Board of Global Ministries ............................................................................................. 252 Advance Special List ...................................................................................................... 253 Western PA Conference 201 Reports BOARD OF LAITY On behalf of the Board of Laity of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, I greet you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Board of Laity is committed to promoting the importance of the role of the laity within local congregations and cultivating lay leadership that will work in partnership with clergy to fulfill the mission of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference in new and creative ways. During the 2012 Annual Conference you elected me as your Conference Lay Leader, since then, I have been committed to the call by being a connecting Sparkplug with lay leadership within WPA and beyond. Let me share… Serving as Chair of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Annual Conference Lay Leaders (NEJACLL). I coordinated with the support of the Robert Penrose, DLL Indiana and Guinevere Gregory, DLL Pittsburgh the NEJACLL annual meeting which was hosted by the Western Pennsylvania Conference Board of Laity. Under the theme, “Disciples Called to a New Direction”, Sandy Jackson, former director of Laity Development-General Board of Discipleship, talked about the importance of lay leadership and the roles and responsibilities of laity. Special thanks to the J. LaVon Kincaid who extended radical hospitality by opening the doors of Laketon Heights United Methodist Church for workshop sessions, meals and fellowship. February 2013, our District Lay Leaders and Associate Lay Leaders gathered together for an overnight time of re-connecting, bonding and assessing the needs of district and local church lay leaders to better support their services. Our discussion moved us forward in planning a conference wide laity event which will be held September 2014. Our linking with other WPA Conference Committees and Agencies is important for strengthening ministry and mission. In April 2013, the Board of Laity invited Rita Platt, Chair of Parish and Community Development to share how lay persons can be a part of this growing ministry. We will continue to be in dialogue to create a plan of action were ministries can be more supportive of one another. In October 2013, Don Blystone, DLL- Erie-Meadville and Guinevere Gregory, DLL Pittsburgh traveled with the Conference Lay Leader, Sharon Gregory to attend the Northeastern Jurisdiction Annual Conference Lay Leaders (NEJACLL) annual meeting hosted by the Greater New Jersey Conference. The theme for this event was “Developing Effective Lay Leaders”. The invitation was open to all Conference Lay Leaders, District and Local Lay Leaders of the Northeastern Jurisdiction. The Laity Scholarship program continues to financially help those lay persons who are eligible to attend training events, participate in mission services and to receive other resources. Since July 2013, the Board of Laity has awarded approx. $7,100. Some recipients were SPARK, Clergy Women Retreat, VIM, Walk to Emmaus, Global Leadership Summit. In closing I would to thank the dedicated and faithful Laity (Sparkplugs) who are looking at ways to develop a more fruitful and effective Laity that will bring us together as the church of Jesus Christ. Sharon Gregory, Conference Lay Leader 202 2014 Pre-Conference Booklet CONFERENCE YOUTH COORDINATOR Youth Ministry Team (YMT)—Guided and lead 32 youth and 10 adult advisors to plan conference youth activities and to “Spiritually Equip and Empower youth to SEE and follow Jesus”. Youth Service Fund (YSF)—Prepared and received grant applications, worked with YSF Task Team in selection process, vouchered monies, promoted YSF awareness. In recent years, the WPA conference has consistently placed in the top ten for YSF fundraising. Youth Caucus—Directed the servant leadership of 72 youth pages, 21 delegates, and 21 adult advisors to assist at the WPA annual conference. SPARK—Seeking And Preparing a Renewed Kingdom. A youth gathering held in Pittsburgh with 600 participants. Coordinated speakers, entertainment, worship and other activities for this event with over 200 commitments or recommitments to Christ and 17 commitments to the ministry. Confirmation Tours—facilitated confirmands touring the conference center and giving them instruction on the connectionalism of The United Methodist Church. Mission of Peace Trip—Interviewed youth for Northeast Jurisdiction trip to South Africa and supported through process. Western PA had two youth participants. Uth 4 missions—led a youth mission trip in the Johnstown area coordinating worksites, activities, and spiritual formation for attendees. Consulted with youth leaders and local church youth ministries. Northeast Jurisdiction Youth Council—coordinated youth delegation to these events in New York and New Jersey. Renaye
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