On Saturday, February 25th we welcomed two United Methodist clergy to present different views on the issues facing the United Methodist Church around the world. The purpose of our gathering was to provide information regarding the latest changes taking place in our denomination and the different perspectives on the possible future scenarios.
Was there a vote? Not at this time. This session was to help us be better informed about the current situation in our denomination, should we take a vote in the future.
Our Presenters
Rev. Joe DiPaolo has been a clergy member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church since 1988. He currently serves as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a city congregation with a wide variety of ministries and missions, and a staff of more than 20. In Lancaster, he initiated a feeding ministry, Anchor Lancaster, now a 501c3 non-profit charity, which feeds 150 hungry neighbors, Monday through Friday, all year long. He has taught as an adjunct professor at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, and Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and published several books and articles, mainly relating to regional and national Methodist history. DiPaolo has served on a variety of boards and committees in The United Methodist Church, including as an elected delegate to three General Conferences and six Jurisdictional Conferences. In 2016, DiPaolo participated in the founding of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) and has served on its Global Governing Council since that time. He and his wife Susan have three grown children and one granddaughter.
Rev. Dr. John McEllhenney served churches in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church for 40 years. He taught Methodist Studies at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary for 17 years. In retirement, he wrote and taught the first online course in Methodist Studies for the Theological School of Drew University. He wrote or co-wrote books dealing with John Wesley and with Methodist history, doctrine, and church governance, and contributed more than 100 articles to several dictionaries of world Methodism.
Session One
Rev. Joe DiPaolo
Session Two
Rev. Dr. John McEllhenney
Session Three
Questions & Answers