A United Methodist Witness is an organization uniquely designed over 20 years ago by the four bishops in the Pa. conferences specifically to enhance the impact of the United Methodist faith and presence in the state.  We focus on facilitating cooperative advocacy on the state level and in educating United Methodists on the role their faith challenges them to assume.  Thus, all conferences are connected on multiple levels (board membership, financial support, shared ministry plans and goals with an expectation of mutuality in both undertakings and achievements).

The ministries conducted by A United Methodist Witness in PA are as follows:

• Public education – We anticipate one advocacy training and one healthcare forum in each conference.
• Lobby day opportunity – Each conference will have one day offered in Harrisburg to have appointments with their elected representatives, have lunch and visit the Witness office (to be arranged in conjunction with UM Women, UM Men and the Church and Society entity in each conference)
• We publish a quarterly newsletter with information on many issues of concern to United Methodists.
• United Methodist Witness provides lobbying efforts in Harrisburg on behalf of all United Methodists by our Executive Director in Harrisburg as well as by the board members.
• We work with the Church and Society entity in each conference as well as the Cabinets to sponsor one person for Advocacy Days in D.C. as well as one other conference during each calendar year (Rev. Chas. Otto is scheduled for a restorative justice conference in 2008).
• We provide information and coordination, by a variety of mechanisms, among the four Church and Society entities in the Pa. annual conferences.
• We offer the possibility to cooperate on the development of an Advocacy Camp for middle school youth as a part of your camping program or as part of the United Methodist School of Mission or as a separate youth weekend.