Meet Superintendent Bronwyn Yocum

The Rev. Bronwyn E.  Yocum     

                                                                                 

It is my joy to serve the people of the Northeast District of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Phew!  That's a mouthful.  But it only seems appropriate for a district that is as diverse and gifted in ministry as the NE District. With churches in the Lehigh Valley, we are located in the third most populated urban area of the state.  And at churches in Hazleton and its suburbs, we struggle with issues like changing neighborhoods and immigration with increased need for help for those who do not speak English.  The Slatebelt on eastern edge of the district along the Delaware River is weighed down by serious financial woes as manufacturing and industry move out of the area.  Upper Bucks and the tip of Montgomery Counties have felt the pinch of the recession, with job losses among those who work in Philadelphia and its suburbs.  The Poconos are experiencing the changes that come with the large influx of people from New York and New Jersey, and the challenges presented by a population that is too tired by the time they get home from jobs in New York to attend evening meetings at church.  Other Pocono churches are responding to attendees who are tourists in town for a short time or those who own vacation homes in the Poconos as well as a main home with family church in another location.   And the center of the district, our heartland, offers a more rural setting.  

We are blessed with all of this diversity, and despite our differences, in spite of the differing needs of our regions, we come together as one Body of Christ to bear the love of God into the world.  Each area offers different opportunities to share God's love, whether it is teaching English as a Second Language at Diamond UMC in Hazleton, providing an enormous food and clothing pantry to the coal region at Meeds Memorial UMC in Nesquehoning, church volunteer crews banding together to help renovate the church parsonage for a Korean speaking congregation in the Lehigh Valley, or the restart of congregations that dwindled away in Catasaqua and Parryville.  La Trinidad, our Spanish speaking congregation in Allentown, has begun work to plant a new Spanish language church in Easton.  This is an ecumenical effort, with La Trinaidad working with Christ Lutheran Church in Easton.  Wesley Church in Bethlehem operates the Lehigh Valley Outreach Depot, providing furniture, appliances and household items to those in need.  

I hope that if you are looking for a church, you'll consider visiting a United Methodist Church near you.  Like our denomination, we in the Northeast District are "rethinking" what it means to be church, and seeking to live out our faith in daily life.  Come and experience the love of God, the joyful grace of Jesus Christ and the connecting fellowship of the Holy Spirit at a United Methodist Church near you.  For more information about churches near you, feel free to call the district office at 610-395-6661 or e-mail us at nesuper@rcn.com.

 

Rev. Yocum was appointed District Superintendent effective July 1, 2008.  Prior to coming to the Northeast District, she served as the Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Phoenixville, PA, from 2000-2008.  Ordained deacon in 1997 and elder in 1997, she also served as the Associate Pastor of Hopewell UMC in Downingtown, from 1997 to 2000, and as Discpleship Coordinator at Berwyn UMC from 1991 to 1997.  She will return to the local church on July 1, 2012, appointed as pastor of Grove UMC in West Chester, PA.  

 

A second career pastor, Rev. Yocum worked in the area of human resources with Fortune 100 companies before entering seminary.  She was Director of Human Resources and Employee Communications in the publishing division of CBS, Inc., and managed the MBA recruiting program for Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail).  

 

She is a gradauate of  Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass, with a B.A. in Philosophy, and pursued additional study in philosophy at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.  She received her M.Div. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, now Palmer Seminary, and is now comkpleitng studies in liturgy and worship at Drew Theological School.  

 

She and her husband, Gordon, have two children, Jenny and Douglas.  She is an avid reader, has taught courses in leadership and conflict management at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and led workshops in Christian clowning.  She loves to write liturgy and develop worship experiences.