UMC Connections
Youth & Lay Members at Large Nominations Deadline
Friday, February 27
Each year, the hope is to equalize the number of clergy and lay persons attending Annual Conference, as well as to encourage a diversity of voices representing as many churches and places across the conference. To achieve this, we ask youth and lay persons who are interested in being considered to serve as a Youth or Lay Member at Large to register for consideration.
Click HERE to learn more.
Voting & Civil Rights Summit
Monday, March 2
7:00-8:30pm
Join Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights for the Global Board of Church and Society, for an evening on voting rights, election safety, and empowering voters. Topics include poll worker guidance, mail-in ballots, voter ID, young voter engagement, and more!
WHERE: Journey Church, 750 S 29th St, Harrisburg PA
COST: Free
RSVP: Pastor Ryan Gephart rgephart@susumc.org
Juvenile Justice
Reform Training & Advocacy Conference
Tuesday-Wednesday
March 3 - 4
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 from 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 10am - 4:30pm
WHERE:
Paxton United Methodist Church
3550 N Progress Ave, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Click HERE to register.
Contact: Pastor Ryan Gephart rgephart@susumc.org
For people of color (especially young women who are black or indigenous) an epidemic of harsh punishment in our schools, schools who function as a pipeline to prison, and unjust treatment in our juvenile court system is all too common. “While for some folks the conversation about the school-to-prison pipeline and school pushout (disproportionate suspensions & expulsions for students of color) might seem like a new issue, the reality is that it is a continuation of a long-lasting, unfinished struggle for racial justice and educational equity,” said Emily Jones, United Women in Faith Executive for Racial Justice. This conference will explore this prevailing issue while helping participants learn advocacy & grassroots skills that will help them in working for justice on this issue and other justice issues.
Presenters (Others will be added in the near future):
Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, UMC Director of Civil & Human Rights, General Board of Church & Society
Emily Jones, UMC United Women in Faith Racial Justice Executive
Amy Moritz, PA Attorney General's Office Educational Division
Joyce Davis, Susquehanna Conference UMC Lay Leader & Leader of UMC PA Advocacy
Rev. Ryan Gephart, Susquehanna Conference UMC Peace with Justice Coordinator
Sponsors: Susquehanna Conference UMC Peace with Justice & Advocacy Team and United Women in Faith
Co-sponsors: SUSUMC Commission on The Beloved Community, SUSUMC Commission on The Status & Role of Women, and SUSUMC Conference Board of Global Ministries.