(Nominations Form)
Growing the Body of Christ
As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow,
so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)
There are a variety of opportunities within the Annual Conference in which clergy and laity may become involved. Below are brief descriptions of each group to which nominations are made. Please review each committee description and prayerfully consider where God may be leading you to serve. Personal business costs incurred by required overnight accommodations and travel, both to and from meetings, are available for reimbursement. Travel is reimbursed at IRS volunteer travel rate.
- COUNCIL ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Description: Develop, maintain, and administer the fiscal and administrative policies, procedures and management services for the Annual Conference. Also, provide a hearing for all budget requests.
Meetings: 4 - 6 time per year (one overnight) - STUDENT AID FUND BOARD OF MANAGERS
Description: The purpose of the Board is to support the proclamation of the Christian Faith by assisting persons who are preparing through higher education to fulfill their call to pastoral ministry in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church in meeting the financial cost of such preparations. The Board manages endowment funds for pastoral education and sets the policy and amounts available for awarding scholarship grants and loans to Elders and Deacons who are preparing for ministry.
Meetings: 2 full Board meetings a year (March/April and October)
3 Committees of the Board meet in July - BOARD OF PENSIONS AND HEALTH BENEFITS
Description: Works to care for and contribute to “the support, relief, assistance, and pensioning of clergy and their families, other church workers, and lay employees, organizations, and agencies” within the Susquehanna Annual Conference. (BOD, Paragraph 639). The Board explores and recommends health insurance coverage and cost, benefits education, retirement seminar and oversees other areas pertaining to pensions and health insurance.
Meetings: 2 full Board meetings a year (January and August). Additional in-person and online board meetings are scheduled, as needed. Board members often serve on subcommittees which
meet as needed. - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Description: The Board of Trustees are the Board of Directors for the Corporation of the Susquehanna Annual Conference. Oversee the purchase, maintenance, and sale of district and staff parsonages; the disposition of abandoned churches and parsonages; ensure adequate property and liability insurance coverage for church and Conference-owned property; assist local
church personnel with safety issues; and manage budgets for district parsonage maintenance, capital improvements, and investment accounts.
Meetings: 4 main meetings a year, with frequent electronic meetings required. These are usually short in duration and require a phone or computer connection. All meetings require at least a 7-day notice. - COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Description: Assumes responsibility for the Conference Archives and cooperates with local churches and groups in preserving and maintaining Conference-authorized historical sites.
Meetings: 2 times annually (a Thursday in February/March and a Thursday in September/October) Sub-Committees work on several projects and meet occasionally during the year - COMMISSION ON EQUITABLE COMPENSATION
Description: Paragraph 625 of the 2016 DISCIPLINE that outlines our responsibilities as follows:
The Commission on Equitable Compensation is to support full-time clergy serving as pastors and those clergy members appointed to less than full-time serving charges of the Susquehanna Conference by:
- Recommending standards for pastoral support
- Administering funds for pastoral support
- Providing counsel and advisory material on pastoral support
- Arrearage Policy Adopted by the Annual Conference
Funding for Equitable Compensation comes from the funds approved by the Annual Conference by the conference Committee on Finance & Administration.
Meetings: 2 times a year (January and June) - COMMITTEE ON EPISCOPACY
Description: Support and provide feedback to our Episcopal leader and family; assess needs for what strengths are needed in our Episcopal leader; and welcome / say farewell to Episcopal leader.
Meetings: 3 - 4 times a year - SEEDLING FINANCIAL MINISTRY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Description: Manages the money received from investors, reviews and makes determinations regarding churches that request a loan, and ensures loans are repaid.
Meetings: 4 times a year - BISHOP’S COMMITTEE ON CHRISTIAN UNITY & INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONSHIPS
Description: The committee's job is to encourage connection and cooperation between churches. They are still a young committee and are exploring new ways to practically do this, so they welcome members with vision and ideas.
- Term are 4 years, to begin on July 1 with the appointment year.
- Members must be able to communicate via email and attend ZOOM meetings.
- Members are expected to attend meetings regularly, respond to emails, and assist with an information table at Annual Conference
Meetings: 4 times a year - THE UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
Description: Helps churches and related agencies through investments, stewardship education, planned giving, and leadership training.
Meetings: 2 full board meetings (summer/fall) and 1 annual meeting with in-person in Bedford with lodging/meals provided
Description: Develop, maintain, and administer the fiscal and administrative policies, procedures and management services for the Annual Conference. Also, provide a hearing for all budget requests.
Meetings: 4 - 6 time per year (one overnight)
Description: The purpose of the Board is to support the proclamation of the Christian Faith by assisting persons who are preparing through higher education to fulfill their call to pastoral ministry in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church in meeting the financial cost of such preparations. The Board manages endowment funds for pastoral education and sets the policy and amounts available for awarding scholarship grants and loans to Elders and Deacons who are preparing for ministry.
Meetings: 2 full Board meetings a year (March/April and October)
3 Committees of the Board meet in July
Description: Works to care for and contribute to “the support, relief, assistance, and pensioning of clergy and their families, other church workers, and lay employees, organizations, and agencies” within the Susquehanna Annual Conference. (BOD, Paragraph 639). The Board explores and recommends health insurance coverage and cost, benefits education, retirement seminar and oversees other areas pertaining to pensions and health insurance.
Meetings: 2 full Board meetings a year (January and August). Additional in-person and online board meetings are scheduled, as needed. Board members often serve on subcommittees which meet as needed.
Description: The Board of Trustees are the Board of Directors for the Corporation of the Susquehanna Annual Conference. Oversee the purchase, maintenance, and sale of district and staff parsonages; the disposition of abandoned churches and parsonages; ensure adequate property and liability insurance coverage for church and Conference-owned property; assist local church personnel with safety issues; and manage budgets for district parsonage maintenance, capital improvements, and investment accounts.
Meetings: 4 main meetings a year, with frequent electronic meetings required. These are usually short in duration and require a phone or computer connection. All meetings require at least a 7-day notice.
Description: Assumes responsibility for the Conference Archives and cooperates with local churches and groups in preserving and maintaining Conference-authorized historical sites.
Meetings: 2 times annually (a Thursday in February/March and a Thursday in September/October)
Sub-Committees work on several projects and meet occasionally during the year
Description: Paragraph 625 of the 2016 DISCIPLINE that outlines our responsibilities as follows:
The Commission on Equitable Compensation is to support full-time clergy serving as pastors and those clergy members appointed to less than full-time serving charges of the Susquehanna Conference by:
- Recommending standards for pastoral support
- Administering funds for pastoral support
- Providing counsel and advisory material on pastoral support
- Arrearage Policy Adopted by the Annual Conference
Funding for Equitable Compensation comes from the funds approved by the Annual Conference by the conference Committee on Finance & Administration.
Meetings: 2 times a year (January and June)
Description: Support and provide feedback to our Episcopal leader and family; assess needs for what strengths are needed in our Episcopal leader; and welcome / say farewell to Episcopal leader.
Meetings: 3 - 4 times a year
Description: Manages the money received from investors, reviews and makes determinations regarding churches that request a loan, and ensures loans are repaid.
Meetings: 4 times a year
Description: The committee's job is to encourage connection and cooperation between churches. They are still a young committee and are exploring new ways to practically do this, so they welcome members with vision and ideas.
- Term are 4 years, to begin on July 1 with the appointment year.
- Members must be able to communicate via email and attend ZOOM meetings.
- Members are expected to attend meetings regularly, respond to emails, and assist with an information table at Annual Conference
Meetings: 4 times a year
Description: Helps churches and related agencies through investments, stewardship education, planned giving, and leadership training.
Meetings: 2 full board meetings (summer/fall) and 1 annual meeting with in-person in Bedford with lodging/meals provided
- GROWING SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS TEAM
Description: The Grow Team serves the Susquehanna Conference as an "umbrella" ministry by partnering with Camp and Retreat Ministries, Young People's Ministries, Lay Servant Ministries,
and other related groups, including resourcing the local congregations throughout the Conference. Our main responsibility is growing spiritual transformational leaders who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go. For 2022 we are discerning a call to impact the ministries of local church Lay Leaders by offering training so that they understand their role to grow spiritual transformational disciples! Another way that the Grow Team impacts SUSUMC is through materials written for Lay Servant Ministries. GROW! Living as Spiritual Transformational Leaders has been well launched
throughout the Conference. By fall of 2022 we will offer Growing the Beloved Community. Revising a Discipleship Pathway that focuses on Discipleship as Relationships of Love will also
be developed.
Meetings: We meet quarterly by Zoom or in person (Conference Office) as we are able. - CAMP & RETREAT MINISTRY BOARD
Description: Our primary responsibility is to ensure the financial security of the long-term ministry. We assist the Director in carrying out vision and strategic planning for the Camp and
Retreat Ministry at our 4 Susquehanna Conference operated sites. We are also the primary "Policy" makers for the ministry.
We are currently working on a much larger strategic planning exercise that we believe will set up the ministry for success for years to come. We hope to be working with a professional
consultant, who specializes specifically with camp and retreat centers. Over the past few years, we have written policies that make sure everyone is included in our ministry, we have been
forward thinking in approving a responsible forestry plan that provides ecological value to our centers. We run four-year terms, with the mutual option of serving for a second term. After two terms, we have a mandatory 2-year "off" time. Our terms run via conference year, July 1 to July 1.
Meetings: The CRM meets quarterly in person (and as needed via Zoom in between). - YOUNG PEOPLES MINISTRY COUNCIL
Description: Applicants can be teens or adults. The mission of YPMC is to raise up students in leadership who engage, educate, and empower others to follow Jesus! We are a group of youth
and youth workers from around the Susquehanna Conference. We develop a variety of leadership skills that enable us to lead in our Conference, local congregations, and communities. Our goal is
to be the leaders that empower our peers to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are committed to transforming the world one teenage leader at a time. Spiritual Pathways to Leadership include
the following five task areas: Youth Discipleship, Connectional Leadership, Missions, Youth Worker Development, and Lead Now.
Meetings: 4 times a year (2 in-person, 2 via Zoom) - EQUIPPING VITAL CONGREGATIONS TEAM
Description: The team helps to create new places for faith connections, revitalize churches, and assist congregations serve their communities by support the director/office of Equipping Vital Congregations and conference churches/congregation as described in the mission and vision.
Some skills desired: Coaching, Church Planting, Grant Processing and Follow up, Fresh Expressions, Training in Discipleship Systems, Evangelism, Leadership Development (laity and Clergy), Managing Transitions, Church Revitalization, and Strategic Ministry Planning
Meetings: As needed for grant cycle or at the request of the EVC Director. Pre-COVID meetings were held in the conference office with those unable to be there in person zooming in. - BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
Description: Our mission is to assist congregations to create opportunities for discipling relationships through missions, outreach, justice, and service. We function as the conference board of global ministries and the conference board of church and society on a discipline level.
Our board consists of five committees. You can learn about them here: About Us – SUSUMC Global Ministries (susmb.org). The committees meet at the discretion of their respective chairs. We are seeking people who have at least one gift and/or passion in the following areas: Missions, Justice, Discipleship, Leadership, Administration, Finances, Accounting, Teaching, and Communications
Meetings: We typically meet in January/ February, March, May, September, and December. We will schedule additional meetings as necessary. Some of our decisions are made over email.
Before the pandemic we met at the conference office with the option to join the meeting via video conference. Since the pandemic started, we have been meeting via Zoom. We envision a future where we have hybrid meetings to come in0person or join via Zoom (or some similar platform). - DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM AND COORDINATORS
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON - VIM GRANT COMMITTEE
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON - COMMISION ON THE BELOVED COMMUNITY
Description: We live out the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, including great intentionality in living toward God’s vision of Beloved Community represented by those of all tribes, tongues, and nations. We actively work with our conference, congregations, and communities to establish more inclusive relationships and environments of deep valuing. In the end, living as disciples of Jesus Christ will produce mutually fruitful growth in dismantling what harms and collaborating in the common good among all who come from diverse backgrounds, races, and cultures. We keep the call of love, societal justice, healing, and dignity for every child of God at the forefront helping to equip faith communities and individuals to take real steps of faith and action that move them forward into Beloved Community together.
The Commitment of Those Applying to Serve on the Beloved Community Commission must include:
1. A genuine passion for dismantling racism and growing the Beloved Community.
2. An open heart to listening and being transformed by love.
3. The zeal for making the work of the Beloved Community Commission a top priority
4. Helping to implement the initiatives and vision of the BCC
5. Living out the way of love and Beloved Community everywhere you go. Some facets of our collaborative work together.
• Establish resources and strong support for fruitful Cross Racial/Cross Cultural Appointments in partnership with the Cabinet, Congregations, and leaders.
• Provide training, inspiration, and enrichment that nurtures reconciliation and healing, a wider embrace of all, and a deep, abiding way of life that follows the lead of love, avoids harm, and works for the common good.
• Genuinely confront evil and act to dismantle racism in all its forms to free both the oppressed and the oppressors from the damage it brings on us all.
• Live in gratitude to the Creator by cherishing the presence of God in all people and the whole creation.
Meetings: 6 gatherings per year (a mix of in-person and Zoom) - COMMISSION ON INCLUSIVENESS
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON - DISABILITIES MINISTRY TASK FORCE
Description: The Disability Ministry Task Force of the Susquehanna Conference was established by a resolution that was approved at Annual Conference in 2018.We are grateful to anyone who wants to assist us with our work, and we welcome more members to our committee.Anyone who wants to join is welcome. We can use as much help as we can get. Since we do NOT have a budget, one of our main goals is to raise awareness about the many disability resources that are available. We work closely with the Disability Ministries Committee for the entire United Methodist Church. They provide grants to churches who want to become more accessible. Any money donated on Disability Awareness Sunday goes directly to Disability Ministries for the entire connection. We work to provide written resources for churches to use in worship and to connect churches with the already existing resources that exist within the United Methodist Church.
Members of our committee can either be full members AND/OR resource persons. Resource persons are available throughout the conference to provide specialized assistance in their area of disability expertise. Currently, we are working alongside the Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC to create an Advent Resource that provides practical ways we can welcome more people with disabilities into our congregations. We are also working to raise awareness about grants that are available to churches through the Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC. A church of the Susquehanna Conference in the Williamsport District received one such grant last year and was able to install ramps.
Meetings: Kept to a minimum. Twice yearly updates are provided through email. Because travel is an issue for some members of the committee due to various disabilities, there is always a digital option to attend meetings. - COMMISSION ON NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRIES
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON - COMMISSION ON CHILD ADVOCACY
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON
Description: The Grow Team serves the Susquehanna Conference as an "umbrella" ministry by partnering with Camp and Retreat Ministries, Young People's Ministries, Lay Servant Ministries, and other related groups, including resourcing the local congregations throughout the Conference. Our main responsibility is growing spiritual transformational leaders who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go. For 2022 we are discerning a call to impact the ministries of local church Lay Leaders by offering training so that they understand their role to grow spiritual transformational disciples! Another way that the Grow Team impacts SUSUMC is through materials written for Lay Servant Ministries. GROW! Living as Spiritual Transformational Leaders has been well launched throughout the Conference. By fall of 2022 we will offer Growing the Beloved Community. Revising a Discipleship Pathway that focuses on Discipleship as Relationships of Love will also be developed.
Meetings: We meet quarterly by Zoom or in person (Conference Office) as we are able.
Description: Our primary responsibility is to ensure the financial security of the long-term ministry. We assist the Director in carrying out vision and strategic planning for the Camp and Retreat Ministry at our 4 Susquehanna Conference operated sites. We are also the primary "Policy" makers for the ministry.
We are currently working on a much larger strategic planning exercise that we believe will set up the ministry for success for years to come. We hope to be working with a professional consultant, who specializes specifically with camp and retreat centers. Over the past few years, we have written policies that make sure everyone is included in our ministry, we have been forward thinking in approving a responsible forestry plan that provides ecological value to our centers.
We run four-year terms, with the mutual option of serving for a second term. After two terms, we have a mandatory 2-year "off" time. Our terms run via conference year, July 1 to July 1.
Meetings: The CRM meets quarterly in person (and as needed via Zoom in between).
Description: Applicants can be teens or adults. The mission of YPMC is to raise up students in leadership who engage, educate, and empower others to follow Jesus! We are a group of youth and youth workers from around the Susquehanna Conference. We develop a variety of leadership skills that enable us to lead in our Conference, local congregations, and communities. Our goal is to be the leaders that empower our peers to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are committed to transforming the world one teenage leader at a time. Spiritual Pathways to Leadership include the following five task areas: Youth Discipleship, Connectional Leadership, Missions, Youth Worker Development, and Lead Now.
Meetings: 4 times a year (2 in-person, 2 via Zoom)
Description: The team helps to create new places for faith connections, revitalize churches, and assist congregations serve their communities by support the director/office of Equipping Vital Congregations and conference churches/congregation as described in the mission and vision.
Some skills desired:
Coaching, Church Planting, Grant Processing and Follow up, Fresh Expressions, Training in Discipleship Systems, Evangelism, Leadership Development (laity and Clergy), Managing Transitions, Church Revitalization, and Strategic Ministry Planning
Meetings: As needed for grant cycle or at the request of the EVC Director. Pre-COVID meetings were held in the conference office with those unable to be there in person zooming in.
Description: Our mission is to assist congregations to create opportunities for discipling relationships through missions, outreach, justice, and service. We function as the conference board of global ministries and the conference board of church and society on a discipline level.
Our board consists of five committees. You can learn about them here: About Us – SUSUMC Global Ministries (susmb.org). The committees meet at the discretion of their respective chairs.
We are seeking people who have at least one gift and/or passion in the following areas:
Missions, Justice, Discipleship, Leadership, Administration, Finances, Accounting, Teaching, and Communications
Meetings: We typically meet in January/ February, March, May, September, and December. We will schedule additional meetings as necessary. Some of our decisions are made over email.
Before the pandemic we met at the conference office with the option to join the meeting via video conference. Since the pandemic started, we have been meeting via Zoom. We envision a future where we have hybrid meetings to come in0person or join via Zoom (or some similar platform).
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON
Description: We live out the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, including great intentionality in living toward God’s vision of Beloved Community represented by those of all tribes, tongues, and nations. We actively work with our conference, congregations, and communities to establish more inclusive relationships and environments of deep valuing. In the end, living as disciples of Jesus Christ will produce mutually fruitful growth in dismantling what harms and collaborating in the common good among all who come from diverse backgrounds, races, and cultures. We keep the call of love, societal justice, healing, and dignity for every child of God at the forefront helping to equip faith communities and individuals to take real steps of faith and action that move them forward into Beloved Community together.
The Commitment of Those Applying to Serve on the Beloved Community Commission must include:
- A genuine passion for dismantling racism and growing the Beloved Community.
- An open heart to listening and being transformed by love.
- The zeal for making the work of the Beloved Community Commission a top priority
- Helping to implement the initiatives and vision of the BCC
- Living out the way of love and Beloved Community everywhere you go.
Some facets of our collaborative work together.
- Establish resources and strong support for fruitful Cross Racial/Cross Cultural Appointments in partnership with the Cabinet, Congregations, and leaders.
- Provide training, inspiration, and enrichment that nurtures reconciliation and healing, a wider embrace of all, and a deep, abiding way of life that follows the lead of love, avoids harm, and works for the common good.
- Genuinely confront evil and act to dismantle racism in all its forms to free both the oppressed and the oppressors from the damage it brings on us all.
- Live in gratitude to the Creator by cherishing the presence of God in all people and the whole creation.
Meetings: 6 gatherings per year (a mix of in-person and Zoom)
Description: The Disability Ministry Task Force of the Susquehanna Conference was established by a resolution that was approved at Annual Conference in 2018.We are grateful to anyone who wants to assist us with our work, and we welcome more members to our committee. Anyone who wants to join is welcome. We can use as much help as we can get.
Since we do NOT have a budget, one of our main goals is to raise awareness about the many disability resources that are available. We work closely with the Disability Ministries Committee for the entire United Methodist Church. They provide grants to churches who want to become more accessible. Any money donated on Disability Awareness Sunday goes directly to Disability Ministries for the entire connection.
We work to provide written resources for churches to use in worship and to connect churches with the already existing resources that exist within the United Methodist Church.
Members of our committee can either be full members AND/OR resource persons. Resource persons are available throughout the conference to provide specialized assistance in their area of disability expertise.
Currently, we are working alongside the Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC to create an Advent Resource that provides practical ways we can welcome more people with disabilities into our congregations. We are also working to raise awareness about grants that are available to churches through the Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC. A church of the Susquehanna Conference in the Williamsport District received one such grant last year and was able to install ramps.
Meetings: Kept to a minimum. Twice yearly updates are provided through email. Because travel is an issue for some members of the committee due to various disabilities, there is always a digital option to attend meetings.
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON
Description & Meetings: COMING SOON
You are encouraged to take a spiritual gift test now such as this ONE. But here’s the twist. Please also ask at least one friend (not a family member or your pastor) to take the test to assess you. Remind them not to fill it out as they think you would but how they see you.
Please note these agencies are in “workbook order.” Administrative agencies tend to manage and deploy conference structures and resources for the support of its churches while Program Agencies tend to provide and connect ministries to equip structures and resources in churches.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting Teryl Cartwright, Conference Nominations Chair,
at tcartwright@susumc.org