The six western Associations in the Keystone Conference (which comprised the former Penn West Conference) have been in a conversation for some time about merging. There was an “all-or-nothing” vote taken by our Associations in 2025 which failed in one Association by a few votes, so no merger has yet occurred. But, as per the proposal, we moved to the contingency timeline on it. That timeline called for two Town Halls early in 2026 along with an All Association Spring Meeting.
The first Town Hall is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, at 6:30 PM. The Rev. David Ackerman will be hosting the roughly one-hour meeting at Trinity UCC, 600 Main St., Berlin PA 15530 if you would like to come in person, and it will be a Zoom meeting. Zoom details for that meeting are here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84890924662?pwd=lmM6q9cAhplmJqy0kmd826dBbk2cqx.1
Meeting ID: 848 9092 4662
Passcode: 124104
+13092053325,,84890924662#,,,,*124104# US
+13126266799,,84890924662#,,,,*124104# US (Chicago)
The second Town Hall is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 PM. The Rev. David Ackerman will be hosting the roughly one-hour meeting at First UCC, 217 East High St., Ebensburg PA 15931 if you would like to come in person, and it will be a Zoom meeting. Zoom details for that meeting are here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83203409786?pwd=ekqVUbTEabBZajVdvHSBskhbAxauAW.1
Meeting ID: 832 0340 9786
Passcode: 738200
One tap mobile
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+19294362866,,83203409786#,,,,*738200# US (New York)
A Six Western Association Spring Meeting is also in the works for April. Please look for details on it soon.
The new proposal calls for several things that were different than what was proposed in 2025; here are some changes to highlight:
- We are framing it in a way that it is “opt-in” instead of “all-or-nothing.” In other words, those Associations that choose to merge may merge and those who don’t do not prevent those who choose to merge from doing so.
- While we are merging into the Pittsburgh Association because it is incorporated…
- We are planning to simultaneously change the Articles of Incorporation and name of the organization from Pittsburgh Association of the United Church of Christ, Inc., to Allegheny Association of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ, Inc.
- We want to be clear that Pittsburgh Association is not “taking over” the others. We are merging into Pittsburgh because it is already incorporated, but the Articles of Incorporation and Constitution & Bylaws will simultaneously be changed as it becomes the Allegheny Association.
- The Constitution & Bylaws will reflect a number of changes, including some that were directly named at the fall meetings, including (but not limited to)
- The inclusion of the autonomy clause word for word as it is currently in the Somerset Association Constitution.
- A change to the quorum section to require a minimum of 25% of the number of Local Churches in the Association.
- The Constitution & Bylaws will still be up for discussion during the Town Halls and Spring Meeting. At some point after the Spring Meeting, if changes are recommended by the Association Presidents (as per the discussion during that time), an additional final version will be created and distributed. Whether changes are made or not, copies will be distributed in accordance with the Constitutions/Bylaws of all six Associations.
- We will be considering a budget that has as an apportionment assessment of only $2.00 per member, as per the membership numbers reported in the most current version of the UCC Yearbook.
- Please also review the UCC Manual on Local Church, as we anticipate having a conversation about it at our Town Halls and at the Spring Meeting: Manual on Local Church – United Church of Christ.
Here are advanced materials for the Town Halls and the Spring Meeting:
Allegheny Association Case Statement
Allegheny Association Proposed Budget
Allegheny Association Constitution & Bylaws
Allegheny Association Merger Timeline
And last, but not least, here is the text of the proposed motion: “To merge into the Pittsburgh Association of the United Church of Christ, with the understanding that it will amend its Articles of Incorporation to become the Allegheny Association of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ (Allegheny Association) and that the Allegheny Association will at the outset use the proposed Constitution & Bylaws (or if one or more Associations opt out, a version amending out the Associations that have so opted) until such a time as the Allegheny Association can meet to officially approve them.”
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Association President.
