Dear United Methodists of Western Pennsylvania,
What an incredible, God-inspired, Spirit-led gathering of holy conferencing and ministry celebrations we experienced at the Western Pennsylvania 2026 Annual Conference last week! This final Annual Conference special edition E-News includes highlights, stories, updates, and a highlight video to watch and download for your congregation, for those who will be reporting on Annual Conference news in their respective local churches. Keep an eye out for the regular WPAUMC E-News, which will resume next week on Wednesday, June 17.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO:
OPENING WORSHIP:
The Thursday Opening worship service began with a warm welcome from Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. The service also featured a special greeting and blessing from Leon Sam Briggs, an Indigenous elder, educator, and spiritual leader of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s Hawk Clan; music from the Asbury United Methodist Church Fijian Ministry; A Liturgy of Gathering Our Soil and Our Souls; and a powerful sermon by Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, encouraging those gathered to see the current season not as an ending, but as “an opportunity to refocus, recenter, and reengage.” Rev. Drew Gordon has the story. Watch Opening Worship Service recording.
LAITY SESSION:
Laity Session featured Ken Willard, WPAUMC's new Executive Director of Congregational Equipping, and brought fresh inspiration to attendees. "It was a great morning spent together," said Conference Lay Leader Paul Huey. "I really appreciated the all the laity that came out." Watch Laity Session recording. Download presentation slides (PDF).
WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS, CELEBRATING RETIREES:
Thursday evening saw the newest members of our Annual Conference (Sally Bell, Rebecca Konegen, and Jacob Penvose), who were ordained on Friday, answer the historic questions that "come from Mr. Wesley and have been asked of all clergy who have ever served our church." This was followed by a Scripture lesson from II Timothy 4:1-8 and then a special time of recognition and blessing of sixteen retirees. Rev. Matt Price has the story.
MEMORIAL WORSHIP SERVICE:
Friday morning's memorial service provided an opportunity for Annual Conference attendees and the families of the honored saints to remember and give thanks for the faithful lives of these departed servants. Rev. Dr. Reneé Mikell gave the sermon before the names of the honored saints were read aloud. Also highlighting the service was the WPAUMC Ministers Chorus, who performed "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing" earlier in the service. Watch Memorial Worship service recording.
STATE OF THE CHURCH ADDRESS:
Another collaborative effort, this year's State of the Church address recalled the Conference's "wading in the water" from last year's address while looking forward to nurturing and fertilizing the soil of mission and ministry. Bishop reminded the body, "WE ARE, we are the Body of Christ, we are one in the Lord! WE ARE created to be one in the Lord, All of us part of God’s loving design for God’s creation," before singing "We Are One In the Spirit" which continued throughout the address. The theme of "We Are..." wove through the address, as each speaker highlighted different Conference ministries. Watch the State of the Church Address recording.
CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY:
The energy at the 2026 Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference was full of joyful anticipation on Friday evening, June 5, as clergy, laity, and families gathered for the traditional Celebration of Ministry Service. The evening served as a powerful reminder that ministry is a collective vocation, anchoring the conference in its rich history while sending forth a new generation of leaders to "throw God's seed" widely into the world. Rev. Jenny Gordon has the story. Watch Celebration of Ministry worship service recording.
LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS:
During the 2026 session of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, over twenty pieces of legislation were considered. While legislation may be viewed as “business,” it really does provide the financial and programmatic foundation for the mission and ministry of the Conference in the upcoming year. All legislation considered this year passed with a strong majority vote. Read the full story.
MISSION IMPACT:
This year's special offerings and mission impact projects were fruitful and demonstrated the faithfulness and commitment to mission, locally on-site at PennWest University, regionally around the western Pennsylvania Conference, and globally with beneficiaries around the world. As of Wednesday, June 10, the Opening Worship special offering that will go to the Mary Johnston Hospital in the Philippines totals $4,209, and the Celebration of Ministry offering received for the Bishop's Discretionary Fund totals $3,135.65. Online donations to the Annual Conference special offerings are open through June 30.
PennWest Pantry was overjoyed to accept 50 bushels of food and essential supplies donated by WPA Annual Conference attendees. At the on-site Mission Impact event in the vendor area, 516 menstrual kits were assembled, which the Mission Barn distributed throughout the Conference to food pantries and agencies. Between online donations and Bishop's $10 giving challenge, over $5,100 has been raised. Thanks to your generosity, we have met the goal of having 1,000 kits funded and made!
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- On Thursday morning, WPA Clergy Session convened and approved three candidates for full membership and ordination. A special part of this process is the opportunity for clergy members to share words of affirmation for each candidate. Additionally, the Session approved clergy status changes and retirements. Bishop Jonathan Holston gave an opening reflection, naming directly the challenges we have been facing. He urged clergy to remember that people out there in our communities are still searching for answers and need the hope in God that we can offer.
- On Thursday evening, Bishop Steiner Ball took time during the plenary session to offer a prayer and resources for faithfully observing the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Read the prayer here. Download resource flyer.
- A special thank you to everyone who purchased a 70th Anniversary of Women's Ordination t-shirt during Annual Conference. So far, we have raised over $500 for the Rural Women’s Development Society in the West Bank. Bev Roscoe is taking orders through the end of this week. Contact Bev at 724-466-2102 to order, for payment, or with questions about orders placed during Annual Conference.
Be sure to visit the 2026 Annual Conference webpage to find more livestream recordings, daily journal links, photos, and more.
In Christ,
WPAUMC Communications Team
