News and Views

In late February, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling met with clergy and laity at three district gatherings in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference. The bishop focused on listening as she joined church leaders in worship, celebrated the vitality of local churches and looked to a future of renewed ministry.

The bishop acknowledged some of the concerns raised about the 92 conference churches that disaffiliated from the denomination. However, she stressed, those who remain are committed to the vision of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The conference will move forward with hope and strength.

At the meetings of the Delaware, Upper Shore, and Lower Shore Districts, she acknowledged the challenges many church leaders are facing in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic and ongoing changes in the church and culture.

The time for dwelling on the past and for blaming and complaining is over, said the bishop, who praised those present for their good work of healing together and cautioned against taking the work and the potential of the church casually. The work we share is holy work, she said.

The bishop recounted her strong opinion that people in ministry are not volunteers. They are disciples. “It is time we start being disciples together,” she said.

In the season ahead, on April 23-May 3, the church will meet in its global gathering at General Conference. This meeting may bring about changes in church polity and practices. However, the local church must continue to be intent on relationships, worship, and revival.

This is an opportunity, said the bishop, to reset – reset our identity as children of God; reset our focus that the church is people in relationship, not buildings; and reset our priorities, certain that money will follow mission as we move out, with a vibrant and vital spirit of revival, to serve our communities and the world.

Paul Eichelberger, Pen-Del's chief financial officer, also addressed district leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing the church as it moves ahead in faith.