Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference

Members of four annual conferences in the U.S. Northeast cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., where police attacked peaceful marchers on March 7, 1965, on what is known as Bloody Sunday. The visit was part of the group’s July 12-19 Civil Rights Journey, a tour of sacred sites of the Civil Rights Movement. Photo by Jeannie Schott, Western Pennsylvania Conference.

United Methodist tours explore civil rights struggles

Churches, conferences and universities are promoting advocacy against racism and encouraging reflection on the ongoing struggles for racial justice by sponsoring pilgrimages to historic sites.

Theology and Education

The Rev. Bob Zilhaver (left) is a theological traditionalist and Tracy Merrick is a progressive, but they have worked closely on Western Pennsylvania Conference matters for more than 20 years. That’s continued even in this season of disaffiliations from The United Methodist Church. Photo by the Rev. Rich Pearson, courtesy of the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Progressive, traditionalist link arms

Tracy Merrick and the Rev. Bob Zilhaver have a long history of overcoming their theological differences to get work done for the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Mission and Ministry

Tapiwanashe Nhunhama helps lead worship at Cranborne United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, during a program to help support people living with albinism. The United Methodist Church’s Harare East District in partnership with the Johnstown District in the Western Pennsylvania Conference gave gifts of sunscreen, hats and food to people living with the condition. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Zimbabweans with albinism ‘feel remembered, loved’

Through a partnership between The United Methodist Church’s Harare East District and the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 73 Zimbabweans living with albinism recently received sunscreen, hats and food baskets.

Social Concerns

Anoziva Sisimayi and her son Kudzai Gombakomba receive a goat from the Rev. Austern Chepiri in Mujaji, Zimbabwe. A goat breeding program sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church has helped more than 100 orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. Photo by Pastor Hillary Mukahanana.

Goat-breeding program benefits vulnerable children

Partnership between Western Pennsylvania and Zimbabwe East conferences has empowered more than 100 toddlers through teens since 2015.

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