A UNITED METHODIST WITNESS IN PENNSYLVANIA
2008 Report to Annual Conference

A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania (Witness) is a statewide nonprofit organization created by the four Pa. Bishops in 1984.  It is governed by a Board of Directors comprising bishops, clergy, and laypersons representing all four Pa. Annual Conferences.   The Mission of witness is to advocate on behalf of the United Methodist Church here in Pa., guided by the Social Principals of the United Methodist Church.  We represent the church’s position on issues of social justice.  Financial support comes from the four Pennsylvania Annual Conferences as well as memberships and donations.  We have one part-time Executive Director.

This past year has been very busy for Witness.  We have lobbied in Harrisburg on behalf of healthcare needs, joined in coalitions to stop the sale of guns by “straw purchasers”, continued our efforts to stop gambling expansion and joined a coalition calling for examination of the death penalty; being one of the sponsors of a Death Penalty tour throughout Pa. beginning on March 31, 2008.  We have been part of a coalition that was responsible for allowing for pretrial determination of mentally retarded persons charged with capital crimes.  We attended all annual conferences and presented a workshop at Annual Conference as well as one in conjunction with Church and Society on healthcare issues at the Laity Academy in August.  We submitted a plan for a Rock the World camp for middle-school youth and it has been accepted and will be at Gretna Glen in July.

Board members and staff are available to churches and groups to speak about the organization, and about the church’s role in providing an effective advocacy ministry.  You can contact the office of A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania at 216 State Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, by phone at (800) 511-4937, (717) 236-6363, or by e-mail at: umwitnesspa@epix.net. Website: www.umwitnesspa.org.  Our website is brand new and has lots of information and contacts.

Peggy Wood
Chairperson