Eastern PA Conference of the UMC

What Eastern PA Conference of the UMC does

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church is a regional non-profit governing body within The United Methodist Church denomination, headquartered in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The conference coordinates and supports nearly 400 member churches and over 80,000 members across 16 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania, operating under the episcopal leadership of Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, who was assigned to serve the conference jointly with the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference effective September 1, 2024 under the EPA&GNJ affiliation. The conference is organized into a district-based structure (North, South, East, West, and Delaware Bay districts), each led by a district superintendent who provides direct support and oversight to local congregations.

The conference's core "products" are ministry programs rather than technology platforms. These include three camp and retreat centers (Innabah, Gretna Glen, and Pocono Plateau) serving children, youth, and families; the quarterly NEWSpirit newspaper distributed to nearly 10,000 subscribers across EPA&GNJ; the Laity Academy and Tools for Ministry leadership development academies; the Pathways Bridges congregational development program; the Latino Commission's Holy Convocation and camp programs; advocacy ministries covering immigration, racial justice, disability, prison ministry, and domestic violence; and the Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) immigration legal services network. The annual conference office employs 11-50 staff who administer the connectional system.

The business model is funded primarily through the Connectional Ministries Fund (CMF) assessments paid by member churches, supplemented by camp and retreat center program fees, higher education scholarships distributed via the affiliated Mid-Atlantic UM Foundation, donations, and minimal advertising revenue from NEWSpirit. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization relies on conventional web infrastructure (epaumc.org), social media channels, email newsletters, and YouTube for content distribution. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The conference shares staffing and resources with the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference under joint episcopal leadership, creating a quasi-merged operating model for back-office functions.

Name

Eastern PA Conference of the UMC

Legal name

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

Website

https://epaumc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church is a regional non-profit governing body that coordinates and supports nearly 400 United Methodist churches and over 80,000 members across 16 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania through connectional giving assessments, camp and retreat ministries, leadership development, advocacy programs, and shared services with the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization / Church Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAB

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Religious conference services
• Church administration support
• Clergy leadership training
• Connectional ministry programs
• Camp and retreat ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Norristown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Connectional Ministries Fund (CMF): Conference-wide assessment paid by member churches to support connectional ministries, administration, and conference operations.
2. Camping and Retreat Ministries: Revenue from camp programs at Innabah, Gretna Glen, and Pocono Plateau retreat centers serving children, youth, and families.
3. Higher Education Scholarships: Scholarships and grants provided to students; may include endowed funds and conference-funded educational support.
4. NEWSpirit Subscriptions and Advertising: NEWSpirit newspaper is free to clergy and lay leaders; others may subscribe for $10 annually. Advertising rates from $45 to $400 per issue provide revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Eastern PA Conference of the UMC is a regional governing body of The United Methodist Church that provides administrative, ministerial, and programmatic support to nearly 400 member churches across 16 counties in Eastern Pennsylvania. Its core offerings include connectional ministries funding coordination, leadership development through Laity Academy and Tools for Ministry, camp and retreat programs at three sites, advocacy ministries, the NEWSpirit quarterly newspaper, congregational development programs such as Pathways Bridges, and Annual Conference governance sessions.

Product overview

The Eastern PA Conference of the UMC operates as a regional religious governing body within The United Methodist Church, providing a portfolio of ministry programs and publications rather than a technology product. Core offerings include: NEWSpirit quarterly newspaper serving EPA&GNJ conferences; Laity Academy for lay leadership training; Camp & Retreat Ministries at Gretna Glen, Pocono Plateau, and Innabah; Pathways Bridges congregational development program; Latino Commission programs including annual Holy Convocation and Latino Camp; Tools for Ministry leadership academy; and Annual Conference Sessions for governance. These programs serve nearly 400 churches and over 80,000 members across 16 counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEWSpirit: Quarterly newspaper providing news and information on churches, ministries, events and resources for leadership throughout the Eastern PA and Greater New Jersey conferences

Products and services

• NEWSpirit Newspaper A quarterly newspaper providing news and information on churches, ministries, events and resources for leadership throughout the Eastern PA and Greater New Jersey conferences. Free to clergy and lay leaders; $10 annual subscription for others.
• Laity Academy An annual lay training event offering courses for laity to develop leadership skills and deepen their faith; provides nourishment for the mind and soul.
• Camp & Retreat Ministries Conference-run camp and retreat centers including Gretna Glen, Pocono Plateau, and Innabah, offering faith-based camping experiences for children, youth, and families.
• Pathways Bridges Congregational Development Program A congregational development program that helps churches reimagine ministry, shift from inward-focused to community engagement, and build partnerships.
• Latino Commission Programs Programs including grant proposal writing workshops, Holy Convocation annual gatherings, and Latino Camp Week for Hispanic/Latino church members and youth.
• Tools for Ministry Annual online leadership academy offering diverse 90-minute courses on topics including fundraising, church marketing, youth ministry, and advocacy.
• Conference Journal Conference Journal and archived publications documenting conference proceedings, clergy records, and historical documents.
• Annual Conference Sessions Annual gathering for conference business, worship, ordination services, and connectional meetings including 2026 Annual Conference and Special Adjourned Sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 400 churches served across 16 counties
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Korean Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cabinet pilgrimage to South Korea in 2024 celebrated Henry Appenzeller's 1885 missionary legacy and forged deeper connections with Korean Methodist Church. Bishop Moore-Koikoi met with President Bishop Chung Suk Kim and President of Seoul Methodist University Dr. Kyoungdong Yoo. Over 100 Korean clergy serve in GNJ churches. Partnership focuses on shared mission, clergy collaboration, and ongoing relationship building across generations.
• Greater New Jersey Annual Conference (GNJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA&GNJ affiliation enables shared staffing, economies of scale, combined newspaper (NEWSpirit), and collaborative ministry programs. Conferences share key staff and resources under joint episcopal leadership.
• Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmigration legal services ministry sponsored by EPA providing consultations, legal representation, and advocacy for immigrants. Operated clinics in Dover DE, Millville NJ, and Norristown PA.
• Seoul Methodist UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Methodist Church university; Bishop Moore-Koikoi met with President Dr. Kyoungdong Yoo to explore future collaboration opportunities.
• POWER InterfaithminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaith-based civic network organizing advocacy campaigns; EPA churches participate in coordinated events such as affordability press conferences and voter mobilization efforts.
• United Methodist Church (General Church)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational connection providing doctrinal standards, General Conference governance, and connectional structures. EPA is one of many annual conferences within the global United Methodist Church.
• Conference Benefit Plans (Wespath)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational health and retirement benefits agency providing clergy pension plans (Compass), health insurance, and related benefits administration for conference clergy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mid-Atlantic UM Foundation: Wholly-owned subsidiary of EPA providing grants, scholarships, and financial support. Adjacent financial-services peer within the same UMC ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Greater New Jersey Annual Conference (GNJ): EPA's affiliated partner conference sharing episcopal leadership, joint newspaper (NEWSpirit), and shared staff. Most directly comparable regional UMC body, operating under the same bishop and connectional structure.
• Susquehanna Conference of the UMC: Neighboring Pennsylvania UMC annual conference with similar structure, scale, and member-church governance model. Operates across central/northern PA with comparable ministries and connectional giving.
• Western PA Conference of the UMC: Another PA-based UMC annual conference serving the western portion of the state, comparable in denominational structure, programs, and connectional assessment funding model.
• Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC: Mid-Atlantic UMC annual conference serving MD/DC/PA portion, with similar denominational governance, district superintendents, and camp/retreat ministry structure.

Broad incumbents

• Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania: Regional Anglican/Episcopal governing body in the same Philadelphia geography. Comparable in serving as a denominational middle judicatory but for a different tradition, providing useful cross-denominational comparison.
• Presbytery of Philadelphia (PCUSA): Regional Presbyterian governing body serving the same Eastern PA footprint. Comparable middle-governance structure for member congregations within a mainline Protestant tradition.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod: ELCA regional governing body covering the same Eastern PA geography with parallel synod structure, congregational support, and connectional giving mechanisms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epaumc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/epaumc
• Facebookfacebook.com/epaumc
• Instagraminstagram.com/epaumc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Eastern PA Conference of the UMC