The National Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors (NFAMLP) 2025 Annual Gathering was held September 9-11 at Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Western Pennsylvania Conference | Sept. 12, 2025
HOPWOOD, Pa. — The ministry of licensed local pastors and associate members plays a unique and valuable role in the United Methodist Church’s mission and new, fresh vision to form disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
Christi Murray, Indiana Conference, enjoys fellowship time with other attendees of the NFAMLP annual gathering at Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center.
The National Fellowship of Associate Members and Local Pastors (NFAMLP) 2025 Annual Gathering, held September 9-11 at Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, was an opportunity to experience support, connection, learning, and fellowship vital to equipping these uniquely called spiritual leaders.“Gatherings like this remind us why connection matters so much,” said Rev. Bev Roscoe, who was installed as the new chair of NFAMLP’s Executive Committee on Thursday, September 11. “We have pastors here from four jurisdictions and 13 annual conferences, each bringing their own stories, challenges, and joys. When we sit together and share openly, we realize just how much we have in common and how much we can learn from one another.”
Trip Lowrey, Assistant General Secretary of Ministry & Formation for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, leads a pre-conference session on crafting legislation for conference collaboration and General Conference.
The three-day conference, titled “The Clergy Toolkit: Nuts and Bolts of Local Pastoral Ministry”, featured pre-conference classes on prayer and legislative needs, led by General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) representatives Amie Stewart and Trip Lowery; a panel discussion with leaders from across the denomination; and numerous breakout sessions on various aspects of clergy life and ministry, led by local pastors.
“The physical being together and experiencing learning and worship together in community really enlivens people's understanding of their own sense of call,” said Amie Stewart, GBHEM Director of Conference Relations, who led several prayer workshops and facilitated the panel discussion. “When [local pastors] are able to come together every year and continue learning together, it just strengthens those relationships. There's just a sense of partnership that is very unique to the fellowship of local pastors and associate members.”
The conference officially opened with an evening worship service as Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball welcomed the group to Western Pennsylvania and delivered a sermon titled “Building the Church with What You’ve Been Given” before serving communion.
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball delivers the message at opening worship of the NFAMLP annual gathering, inside of Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center's Whyel Chapel.
“I want you to know just how valuable and important you are,” Bishop Steiner Ball said to the group.
“You’re an important piece of this whole body of Christ, because you work together with our lay leadership, with our certified lay ministers, with the rest of our licensed people, with the deacons and with the elders. The rest of the components of ministry and leadership is lost when they don't have this piece of the body. So thank you for being here, for seeking how to support one another better, for seeking to grow together, and for continuing to multiply the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is what it's all about.
”From worship to fellowship around meals to customized breakout sessions covering self-care and sustaining passion and purpose in ministry, the challenges of bi-vocational ministry, building strong crew conflict resolution and administration, and more, the conference worked to equip and inspire local pastors and associate members for their ministry journey ahead.
“Ministry can feel isolating at times, but in spaces like this we are reminded that none of us serves alone. We’re part of something bigger—a community that supports, encourages, and walks with us,” commented Rev. Roscoe.
Tracey Ivy, a full-time local pastor in the Oklahoma Conference, introduces herself to the group during the Wednesday morning session of the annual gathering.
First-time attendee Tracey Ivy added, “This being my first time coming, learning about other people's experiences really is very encouraging, because that helps you to know that you're not alone in your space and where you're serving.”
“The National Fellowship is just a great link to other local pastors, because sometimes even in your own conference, it's very difficult to have any quality length of time together,” observed Gwen Wolford, immediate past chair of NFAMLP. “Most local pastors are in very small communities, kind of remote communities, and often are bi-vocational. So it's very difficult to get together. So this national gathering has been for me, an intentional get together to hear what others are experiencing, to hear what others are doing, what might be possible in my area that I've not thought of. We’ve had some great presenters, and many of them have given us things to take away and put into practice right away at home. That’s very important, I think, to the work that we continue to do to strengthen not only the local pastors, but also to strengthen the United Methodist Church.”
On the final day of the conference, the Fellowship elected and installed new officers, including: chair, Bev Roscoe (Western Pennsylvania, AM); vice-chair, Kenny Lee (Arkansas, AM); treasurer, Jerry Colbert (Baltimore-Washington, RLP); secretary, Clark Clark (Louisiana, RLP); registrar, Deanna Lynch (North Georgia, FTLP); assist. secretary & social media, Marikay Green (Eastern Pennsylvania, FTLP); Assoc. Member representative, Gary Allshouse (Susquehanna, AM); membership, Will Clark (Florida, FTLP); past chairs, Dave Owsley (Florida, RLP) and Gwen Wolford (West Virginia, RLP).The Executive Team also appointed a legislative writing team, which will be partnering with other agencies to begin drafting legislation for the 2028 General Conference.
The gathering concluded Thursday mid-afternoon, with many leaving Jumonville feeling energized and refreshed for ministry.
Reflecting on this year’s event, Rev. Roscoe said, “We are deeply grateful for the leaders from our annual conferences and from GBHEM who continue to support us. Many times, local pastors feel unseen or unheard, but gatherings like this remind us that our voices matter and that we are an important part of the church’s mission.”The NFAMLP Executive Committee is available to assist any Annual Conference or fellowship chair who would like help organizing a fellowship or finding ways to strengthen their current fellowship. Leaders’ individual contact information can be found at www.NFAMLP.org. For questions or additional information, email to NFAMLPcommunications@gmail.com.
Jeannie Schott is communications director of the Western Pennsylvania Conference.