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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    News Stories from October 2016

    Ministry with the Marginalized Training offered throughout UNY Conference

    October 31, 2016 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    The Social Holiness Team highly recommends the Ministry with the Marginalized Training to everyone. The Rev. Dana Horrell has developed this program and the accompanying videos with support from a Peace with Justice grant. Heather Smith, the Peace with Justice Coordinator says, “Along the way, we have reviewed materials and are thrilled with the professional results. This course is designed around principles of doing justice and being God's …more

    The Rev. Dr. Amanda Drury challenges UNY clergy to grow their faith

    October 31, 2016 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    The Rev. Dr. Amanda Drury wants to bring testifying back to the Church; she wants congregations to understand and feel God’s outrageous love. Rev. Dr. Drury, the featured speaker at the 2016 Bishop’s Retreat held in Niagara Falls, NY October 25-2, shared her desires in a series of powerful and thought-provoking lectures on Doubt and on God’s Outrageous Love to an audience of nearly 200 clergy …more

    ‘Grace in Action’ Vital Congregations Trip to Cape Coral, Florida – Jan. 20-22, 2017

    October 25, 2016 / By UNY Communications

    Vital Congregations, on behalf of the Upper New York Conference, has put together a package trip to Grace Church in Cape Coral, Florida, home church of Rev. Jorge Acevedo, to attend ‘Grace in Action’. In the words of Rev. Acevedo, “During this weekend, you and your team will experience and learn about how Grace Church builds healthy teams, establishes clear focus, develops fruitful strategies and structures and …more

    UNY Cabinet and other leaders gain tools to aid in diversity

    October 25, 2016 / By Stephen J. Hustedt

    On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Conference Committee on Religion and Race invited members of the Upper New York Conference Cabinet, the Executive Staff Team, and adult leaders of youth ministry to take part in a full-day diversity training provided by the Kaleidoscope Institute. The training was in response to the Northeastern Jurisdiction’s Call to Action about racism. The goal of the training was to give leaders in Upper New …more

    UNY Board of Ordained Ministry attend BOM training in Chicago

    October 24, 2016 / By Sue Russell

    Upper NY Board of Ordained Ministry representatives attended the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) Quadrennial Training, Oct. 3 – 6, 2016, held in Chicago, IL.  Matt Stengel, Sue Russell, Beckie Sweet, Bob Kolvick-Campbell, Heather Williams, Brooke Newell, Ann Cole, and Brian Fellows participated.  The BOM Quadrennial Training helps prepare new and seasoned BOM officers and members for the work of recruiting, developing, and credentialing ministerial leaders for the United Methodist Church. …more

    UNY’s Scott Johnson one of 32 people named to Commission on a Way Forward

    October 24, 2016 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    The United Methodist Council of Bishops has announced the membership of the Commission on a Way Forward. Dr. Scott Johnson,  the former UNY Conference lay leader, was one of the members chosen for the Commission. "After three months of diligent and prayerful discernment, we have selected eight bishops, 11 laity, 12 elders and one deacon to serve on the Commission," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough, President of the Council of Bishops. …more

    How ministry shares support youth at the jurisdictional level: The example of Mission of Peace

    October 19, 2016 / By Tasha Gottschalk-Fielding

    Editor’s Note: The next issue of the Advocate will highlight the importance of the United Methodist Connection and the impact that Ministry Shares can have on various ministries from the local church to the global level. This article provides a glimpse of how Ministry Shares work at the jurisdictional level. Through the giving of its ministry shares, the Upper New York Conference provides approximately 10 percent of the Jurisdictional …more

    Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey to visit UNY Conference Nov. 19-20

    October 18, 2016 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    On Saturday Nov. 19 and Sunday Nov. 20, UNY Conference clergy and laity have the opportunity to meet Bishop J. Lawrence McCleskey to learn more about Africa University (AU). J. Lawrence McCleskey retired as a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 2008.  He served for 45 years as an active United Methodist clergyperson, beginning as a student pastor in 1963, serving 27 years in pastoral ministry, six years as a district superintendent, and 12 years …more

    Gathering of NEJ Conference Lay Leaders in Buffalo

    October 12, 2016 / By UNY Communications

    The Northeastern Jurisdiction Association of Conference Lay Leaders gathered at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Buffalo on October 7, 2016. Hosted for the first time by UNYAC, the group of Conference and District Lay Leaders received gift bags assembled by Niagara Frontier DL Jessica White and friends, as guests were welcomed and directed to the meeting space. Drew Griffin, Associate UNYAC Lay Leader, offered a blessing prior to the buffet dinner …more

    CLT and DLTs discuss shared vision and shifting the center

    October 11, 2016 / By Stephen J. Hustedt, Director of Communications

    On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Conference Leadership Team (CLT) met with the District Leadership Teams (DLTs) at Casowasco Camp to form a shared vision of their work together in the coming year. The time started with a review of the work that had been done in previous years and the assurance that the teams will be building on that work and not starting from scratch. The graphic developed last year and …more



    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."