Annual Conference Approves Strategic, Mission-Focused Resolutions by SUS Communications Members of the Susquehanna Conference took action on a series of resolutions during the 2026 Annual Conference session, addressing matters ranging from strategic planning and financial stewardship to global mission, social witness, creation care, and mental health ministry. Nine resolutions were approved by the conference body, while one resolution was withdrawn. The first resolution approved by Annual Conference affirmed the Susquehanna Strategic Missional Path Forward. Presented by the Missional Cabinet, the resolution asked members to embrace the strategic vision and covenant together to support and live into the shared direction outlined in the plan. The action marks a significant step in the Conference’s ongoing effort to align ministries, resources, and leadership around a common … Read more

Helping People Take the Next Step: Learning Session Focuses on Evangelism and Witness by SUS Communications The Learning Session on the morning of Friday, June 5, challenged clergy and laity to rethink how churches share the good news of Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing world. Ken Willard, Director of Faith Communities reNEWal for the West Virginia Annual Conference, led the session on evangelism and witness, drawing from his new book, Beacon of Hope. Throughout the presentation, Willard encouraged participants to move beyond common misconceptions about evangelism and embrace it as a natural part of Christian discipleship. “Anything you do to help another person move closer to a relationship with God, or into Christian community,” Willard said, quoting author Martha Grace Reese’s definition … Read more

Celebration of Life & Resurrection Honors Faithful Witness and Enduring Hope by SUS Communications Members of the Susquehanna Conference gathered Friday morning for the Celebration of Life & Resurrection service, a sacred time of remembrance honoring clergy and laity who entered eternal rest during the past year. Through prayer, scripture, music, and the reading of names, the service offered the conference an opportunity to give thanks for lives marked by faithful discipleship, service, and witness. The service began with the singing of “The Day of Resurrection” and an opening prayer grounded in Romans 5, reminding worshipers that Christian hope is rooted not in human strength but in the grace and love of God poured into believers through the Holy Spirit. Throughout the service, … Read more

Celebration of Ministry – Rising Up to Love Boldly by SUS Communications The Susquehanna Conference gathered Friday evening, June 5, for its Celebration of Ministry service, honoring retiring clergy and celebrating those taking the next faithful step in their journey of ministry. The service embodied this year’s Annual Conference theme, “Rise Up! Love Boldly,” as clergy and laity joined together in worship, thanksgiving, and commitment to God’s call. The evening began with joyful worship and a reaffirmation of the Church’s shared baptismal calling. Led by Bishop Hector A. Burgos-Núñez, the congregation renewed its commitment to ministry and prayed for the courage to rise up and serve Christ with faithfulness, diligence, and holy boldness. A moving portion of the service was the recognition of … Read more

Finance Report Highlights Continued Stabilization Amid Long-Term Decline in Shares of Ministry by SUS Communications The Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) presented its report to the Annual Conference, using a series of comparative graphs to illustrate long-term financial trends in Shares of Ministry (SOM), spending patterns, and allocation shifts among local churches. While the data continues to reflect a significant multi-year decline in overall giving capacity, it also points toward emerging stabilization in how SOM allocations are distributed across the connection. Long-Term SOM Decline Graphs presented showed that Gross Shares of Ministry have continued a steady decline since 2020, falling from just over $12 million to just under $7 million projected in 2027. A parallel trend was seen in SOM spending, which … Read more

Laity Session Celebrates What It Means to Love Boldly by SUS Communications Before the formal opening of Annual Conference 2026, lay members from across the Susquehanna Conference gathered for the annual Laity Session around a simple but powerful invitation: Love Boldly. Throughout the morning, speakers, music, and personal testimonies explored what it means for laypeople to embody Christ’s love in their churches, communities, and everyday lives. The session reflected the broader Annual Conference theme and the new vision of The United Methodist Church, emphasizing that discipleship is not limited to clergy or church programs, but is lived out through the witness and service of God’s people wherever they are called. Conference Lay Leader Joyce Davis welcomed those gathered, while worship and prayer centered … Read more

“Rise Up, Love Boldly” – 2026 Annual Conference Opens with a Call to Love God, Love Neighbor, and Transform the World by SUSUMC Communications photo: Fernando Jimenez Annual Conference 2026 opened yesterday with a vibrant worship service centered on the call to “Rise Up and Love Boldly.” Grounded in Matthew 22:36-40 and the new denominational vision for The United Methodist Church, the service invited members and guests to deepen their love for Christ and widen their love for neighbor through faithful, courageous discipleship. In his opening sermon, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez reminded the gathered body that Jesus distilled the entirety of faith into two commandments: love God and love neighbor. “Everything depends on love,” the Bishop proclaimed. Not rules, perfect theology, or institutional … Read more

Many Eyes, One Story Welcome to the 2026 Session of the Susquehanna Annual Conference. Annual Conference is many things at once. It is a time of worship and prayer. It is a gathering of old friends and new connections. It is a place of discernment, decision-making, and shared ministry. It is also a moment in the ongoing story of our Conference – one that will become part of our collective memory and history. Because so much happens here, no single person can experience it all. No one can attend everything gathering, hear every testimony, witness every act of service, or participate in every conversation. Yet together, we share in something larger than ourselves. That is one of the roles of the communications team … Read more