Partnering with 141 Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and ethnic congregations, the Lehigh County Conference of Churches sponsors: The Annual Campbell Lecture focused on Christian unity.

• Over 30 churches participated in Allentown Crop Walk 2004 collected over $20,000 to fight hunger locally and around the world
• Ecumenical Noontime Lenten services. 2007 saw a stellar participation with an excellent lineup of speakers, music and attendance for the seven services.
• Ecumenical Service Award. This link provides a list of past recipients.
• "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" service, which in 2007 had the theme of, "ECUMENICAL DIRECTOR INSTALLATION"
• Faith turned feasting into caring with 70 churches designating their Souper Bowl of Caring
• "One Homeless Night" is a retreat for youth to provide youth with an experience of what homeless people deal with on a daily basis.
• The Justice and Advocacy Committee organized for letters to be sent to legislators opposing gambling, encouraged voter registration and a worship was held entitled: "Homelessness - Where can your congregation enter the conversation."

Annually, the Conference sponsors The Robert K. Campbell Memorial Lectures on Christian Unity.

In 1990 the Lehigh County Conference of Churches joined with other members of the community in mourning the death of Robert K. Campbell, Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. Not only was Mr. Campbell a leader in the corporate world, but he was highly regarded as a community leader, a humanitarian, and a man who acted out of his faith commitments. For the Conference of Churches in particular, Bob Campbell was the man who kept alive the dream for a new building to house our various ministries. He is probably the person most responsible for the reality that Alliance Hall became as it opened in February, 1992.

Mr. Campbell was an active Presbyterian while his wife and family are active Roman Catholics. He was a man who was extremely supportive of community efforts through which the religious communities could put their energies and motivation to work in serving the needs of less fortunate and underprivileged people.

In memory of Bob Campbell, the Committee on Ecumenism of the Conference of Churches has established these annual lectures to focus specifically on Christian unity. The expenses of this annual event are support by the income from a permanent endowment fund, and from small registration fees.

Here is a link to the Campbell Lecturers. You can read lectures from recent presenters in our archives.

Midweek Noontime Lenten Services are held at the historic Zion's Reformed UCC Church, 620 Hamilton Street, Allentown.

CROP is the fundraising arm of Church World Service, an international development and disaster relief organization of the interdenominational National Council of Churches. On the second Sunday of each October individuals, churches and organizations participate in a CROP Walk to raise funds to benefit local hunger relief efforts and to help communities in the United States and throughout the world when floods and other disasters strike, as well as with development and refugee resettlement efforts. 25% of the funds raised locally remain in the community and are divided between the Conference Soup Kitchen and the Ecumenical Food Bank.

WEEK OF PRAYER

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, usually during late January, the Conference has an ecumenical service with participation of many of the faith traditions that make up the Conference.

Since 1981, the Lehigh County Conference of Churches has recognized individuals within this community who have made outstanding contributions to Christian Unity. The Ecumenical Service Award, which is presented each year at the Annual Meeting in the Spring, has been awarded to:

Clergy and Laity

• to well-known and little-known individuals
  
• to people deeply involved in the life of the Conference and to those who have offered their gifts elsewhere.
  
• The intention of the Award is not to glorify the individual, but to give witness to the important work of affirming and strengthening Christian unity.

Qualifications include:

Be an active member of a congregation in Lehigh County.
Demonstrate an act of ministry extending beyond one’s own denomination in cooperation with other Christian traditions.
NOT be a previous recipient of the award.

The Justice and Advocacy Committee (J&A) of the Conference is looking for volunteers to join in researching issues of interest to the community of faith that affect the work and ministry of the Conference. J&A's purpose is to engage advocates for justice in meaningful, theologically-based discussions which may lead to public statements or action.

J&A has conducted a survey of opinions regarding the expansion of legalized gambling in PA. That survey, the first of its kind in PA, led to the Conference's adoption of a statement opposing the spread of gambling. Other issues examined have been the proposal to privatize state liquor stores and the conflicts that arise for young people when sports and other youth events are scheduled on the Sabbath. J&A will be calling together leaders of urban, suburban and rural churches to share joys and struggles in ministry and to address together community problems, such as violence, housing, education, drugs and poverty.

J&A is looking for both clergy and lay people from a wide variety of faith perspectives to join J&A. J&A will also be maintaining a mailing list of interested people and persons with expertise in social issues. If you are interested in joining J&A, adding your name to the mailing list or have a suggestion for an issue to explore, call the Conference office and a member of J&A will be in touch with you.