News & Publications

Rainbow is a sign of good fortune at Scotia UMC

You won't be able to miss the Rev. Megan Stowe at the Annual Conference Session. She will be the one with the hair that's orange ... ... and yellow. And red. And green. Rev. Stowe Rev. Stowe, pastor at the Scotia UMC (Albany District), will be dyeing her hair a rainbow spectrum − professionally, and by choice − because of a deal she made with the youth at her church. Her church is one of the 50...

UNY participates in Change the World Day 2013

The following Upper New York Annual Conference churches participated in Change the World Day, a denomination-wide effort in which churches participate in "a weekend of simple acts of kindness with our neighbors to our community – to truly change lives." To see submitted photos of some of the events, visit our Facebook page Saratoga Springs UMC May 14, 2013 Pastor: James Fenimore   Rush UMC  May 15 to May 29, 2013 Pastor: William Pegg Zululand Hospice...

Casowasco's Director's Invitational accepting nominations

Nominations of young leaders are now being accepted for the 2013 Director’s Invitational at the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia (Finger Lakes District). The five-day program begins July 21, 2013. Director's Invitational is a spiritual leadership seminar developed to help youth recognize their style of leadership and to develop their own unique God-given gifts. Youth will explore the many different ways they can use their talents in service. This Casowasco Center for...

Africa University awareness: Six head to AC 13 on foot and on bikes

Six clergy who are making their way to Annual Conference this year will not be taking the easiest or the fastest route.  But by cycling and walking to the 2013 Session, they are choosing a path they hope will raise awareness about Africa University and funds to support scholarships there. The Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell, pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham (Albany District), and the Rev. Bob Long,...

Disaster response: How you can help

As communities in Oklahoma, Texas and other U.S. states reel from the devastation of tornadoes, remember that The United Methodist Church has a system in place for responding. A member of the Oklahoma National Guard's 63rd Civil Support Team conducts search and rescue operations in response to the May 20, 2013, EF-5 tornado...

Africa University offers its thanks to Upper New York

"We are truly grateful for everything you do to support Africa University through the Africa University Fund. Your gifts create leaders for Africa," said James H. Salley, associate vice-chancellor for Institutional Advancement at Africa University Development Office. The Upper New York Annual Conference was one of 27 annual conferences that paid 100 percent of their 2012 apportionment giving for Africa University. Support of The Africa University Fund helps defray the...

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...