News & Publications

College Scholarships Committee announces 2013-2014 recipients

In eighth grade, Kathleen Emmons was bedridden for months with a serious illness. Today, she is nearly fully recovered, but admitted "those months were among the darkest of my life." But she didn't pray to get out of the situation, she prayed for strength to get through it. "God became the one I could rely on. That was when I realized that so many people do not have God in their lives, and have nothing to fall back on in times of trial. That was when God called me to the...

Rev. Wolfe named president at Denver's Iliff School of Theology

After 23 years at Syracuse University, the Rev. Dr. Thomas V. Wolfe will be heading west, into a new position, but not new territory. Rev. Wolfe On Aug. 1, 2013, Rev. Wolfe will begin serving as Iliff (pronounced eye-liff) School of Theology’s 14th president. Founded in 1892, Iliff is a graduate theological school related to The United Methodist Church, serving more than 38...

Leaving well: Workshop provides transitional guidance

In the April 14, 2013 e-Advocate, the Benefits Office announced its newest webpage addition: a "Clergy Move Checklist." The rationale is that "appointment changes can be a stressful time for clergy and their families, especially when it comes to moving." In another effort to help transitioning clergy, the Upper New York Annual Conference invited the Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems, Jr. to lead a trio of workshops in the Albany, Crossroads and Niagara Frontier districts. Rev....

CCYM claims title of top YSF supporter in NEJ

More than 400 youth and advisors were on hand at the Conference Council on Youth Ministries' (CCYM) annual UP!WORD 2013 event to hear four exciting words: we contributed the most. The Youth Service Fund (YSF) is a ministry that is completely by, with and for youth. Youth contribute to the fund and decide what projects the fund will support, and all of the projects are youth-designed, youth-led and benefit youth. During UP!WORD 2013, held April 26-28, 2013 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool,...

Camp & Retreat Centers host open house events

For many, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. For those in Camp & Retreat Ministries, the summer season starts with an open house. Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center On Sunday, May 19, 2013, the Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center will host an open house from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the West and East Shores. In addition to boating, crafts and a hayride, you will also be able to meet the site's directors and register for...

Bishop provides clarity on voice and vote for clergy attending AC

Dear Clergy of the UNY Annual Conference: Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! On Thursday, May 30th, the clergy members of the Upper New York Annual Conference will gather as required by The Book of Discipline.  I expect every clergy member of the Upper New York Annual Conference as identified in ¶ 602 to attend.  There is often confusion regarding who is to attend and who has voice and who has voting privileges.  Clergy, as identified in The 2012...

Reminders for offerings, robes, BAC for upcoming AC Session

Members of the upcoming Upper New York Annual Conference Session are reminded of the four offerings to be taken: During the May 30, 2013 Clergy Session, an offering will be received for the Clergy Care Fund, a fund to assist clergy who are in need of additional financial support; A Helping Hand offering will be received during the opening worship service, a new fund being established that will be used by the Cabinet to assist members of our congregations who are in...

Conference now accepting applications for 2013-2014 seminary grants

Full- and part-time students pursuing ordained ministry are now eligible to apply for seminary grants from the Upper New York Annual Conference; in previous years only full-time students were eligible. To be eligible, you must be a certified candidate in the Conference, attend a University-Senate-approved school, and pursue a degree appropriate for ordination as a deacon or elder. The deadline for the 2013-2014 academic year is June 30, 2013. For more information, click here and download the...

Burke UMC blankets village with Easter baskets

If you had driven through Chateaugay, a small village in Franklin County, last June, you would have seen hundreds of people lining the streets, handing out free soda, water, hot dogs and performing free blood pressure checks. The Burke United Methodist Church (Northern Flow District) partnered with other Chateaugay area churches for Love Chateaugay, a Love Your City event − the national movement that encourages community-based Christian servant evangelism. For two hours, more...

Celebrate Older Adult Ministries this month

The U.S. Administration on Aging recognizes May as Older Americans Month. This month, The United Methodist Church celebrates Older Adult Ministries that are going on at the local, district and Conference levels. Local churches are encouraged to host an Older Adult Recognition Sunday, which provides the opportunity for a congregation to celebrate the gifts, contributions, traditions and legacy of older adults. This Sunday could also serve as a...

Erwin UMC, Crossroads District host showing of hunger documentary

How is it possible that people in the U.S. continue to go hungry, despite an abundance of food? That question is the central premise of "A Place at the Table," a new documentary that will be shown on Wednesday, May 29 at The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse. The 7 p.m. showing is sponsored by Erwin First United Methodist Church and the Crossroads District, and all members of the Annual Conference are invited to attend; many...

Rare condition: Rural medical clinic housed at Geneseo UMC

Each day registered nurse Linda Weaver dons her scrubs and stethoscope and heads to the office where she averages about 35 hours of work per week. Sounds pretty typical, but Weaver's a volunteer and the free rural clinic she works at is a rarity − only 10 such clinics exist in the state. Linda Weaver and her husband...

Tapping into family tradition for a homemade fundraiser

High school freshman Caleb Smith tapped into family tradition and turned it into a fundraiser. Rev. Steven Smith and his family made maple syrup using the maple trees near the parsonage at Newtonville UMC (Albany District) 2013. Caleb Smith, 14, sold some of the syrup to raise money for the CCYM...

Need Peace with Justice Sunday resources? Order today

Peace with Justice Sunday is May 26, 2013, and if you would like free offering resources, there is still time to order. Peace with Justice Sunday “witnesses to God’s demands for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world." Fifty percent of the offering stays with the Upper New York Annual Conference to support local efforts; the other 50 percent is distributed by the General Board of Church and Society. You can order Special Sundays resources here. In 2012, the GBCS awarded...

Dresden UMC raises (the funds for) an ark

When Noah was instructed by God to build an ark 450 feet long out of cypress wood, he might have had some trepidation. When the Sunday School program at the Dresden United Methodist Church (Finger Lakes District) wanted to raise the funds for an ark, the Rev. Marilyn Wood, local pastor at the Dresden and Dundee UMCs, too, thought the endeavor may be too daunting. ...

Workshop planned for clergy in transition

Spring signifies many things; gardeners, college students and baseball fans all look forward to the season for different reasons. Dr. Weems In the life of The United Methodist Church, spring is the season of...

2013 Golden Cross Sunday offering supports Conference chaplaincy programs

Each year, the Upper New York Annual Conference celebrates Golden Cross Sunday, a special offering collected to provide support for chaplaincy programs at six United Methodist-associated facilities within the Conference. This year's offering will be taken on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013. The six chaplaincy programs that are supported by Golden Cross Sunday funding are: ...

Meet Northern Flow District Administrative Assistant Jennifer Terrell

This profile is part of an ongoing series on new Conference staff members. We are blessed to have these recent hires aboard, and we hope you will welcome them to the Upper New York Annual Conference. Jennifer Terrell is the Northern Flow District administrative assistant. We asked her some questions to better introduce herself to the district and the Upper New York Annual Conference. What career path brought you to this position? In June 2012, my husband − who is a pastor − was...

Dr. William Abraham to speak on "Fearlessly and Lovingly Feeding Souls"

The Binghamton District Evangelism Committee is sponsoring an event designed to  encourage, inspire and inform laity and clergy to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The event is open to all. The event will be held on May 29, 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 701 East Genesee St., Syracuse.   Guest speaker is the Rev. Dr. William Abraham of Southern Methodist University's...

Bishop Webb to commissioners and ordinands: Remember your call to love Jesus

When Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb gathered with the 2013 class of commissioners and ordinands for what he called "a day of retreat ... (and) getting to know one another" at the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia, he asked them to reflect on their call. But not their call to ministry; instead, Bishop Webb asked them to remember when they first felt called to follow Jesus. "That’s the only call that matters," he said. "It's...