United Methodist Witness now United Methodist Advocacy in PA
Welcome to United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania. We represent more than 2,400 United Methodist congregations with more than 450,000 members across the Commonwealth.
United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania is the new name for A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania.
We believe our new name, and our vastly improved ability to communicate with United Methodists across Pennsylvania, will help us in our mission to advocate for the voiceless, and for open, transparent government.
In addition to this new Web site, we have a Facebook Page, United Methodist Advocacy PA, and a Twitter designation, PAMethodist.
One of the reasons for the name change is to make our mission clear. “Communication requires quick, clear messaging,” said the Rev. Keith Benjamin of Carbondale, PA, our board chair. “Changing our name from witness to advocacy removes any confusion about our role. We are advocates for the church and Jesus Christ.”
“We are very proud of the way United Methodists in Pennsylvania have responded to our calls to action on issues of vital importance,” Benjamin said. “With our new Web site, Facebook page, and Twitter, Pennsylvania Methodists can both receive and send information related to issues before Pennsylvania government.”
Technology is a vital communication tool. We have had to rely on the postal service, which by today's standards, is too slow to be truly effective.
“Last year, when our bishops issued a call to action on gambling, thousands of Pennsylvanians wrote letters and sent emails. It was a great response in a very short period of time,” Benjamin said. “It was done the old-fashioned way, by mail. Today, mail is often too slow. We need to communicate more quickly and more directly.
“Our new technology gives us the ability to mobilize more quickly. We can speak out for initiatives that reflect our church’s principles, and against proposals that are not in the best interests of Pennsylvania families,” he added.
Our name name change was unanimously approved by the board of directors in consultation with Pennsylvania’s four United Methodist bishops.
United Methodists have a history of involvement in justice and public policy that stretches back to its founder, John Wesley. United Methodist Advocacy in Pennsylvania was formed in the mid-1980s as A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania to give Pennsylvania Methodists a voice in state government.
Our office is at 216 State Street, Harrisburg, less than a block from the Capitol. Our executive director, Stephen Drachler, can be reached by email at sdrachler@umadvocacypa.org.
