News Stories from December 2018
Three men on a mission
December 14, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Power tools echo throughout the entire first floor of 473 Birr Street, located in the Northwest quadrant of Rochester, NY. This neighborhood is home to hundreds of refugees from Burma, Nepal, Somalia, Ethiopia, Togo, South Sudan, and several other countries. Walt Mathias of Honeoye Falls UMC is using a jigsaw to cut a hole into what will become a kitchen sink counter; Leon Perkins of Rush UMC is drilling screws into …more
Order of Elders Gathering, a wonderful experience
December 12, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Thursday Dec. 6, 175 Ordained Elders across the Upper New York Conference joined Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb for the Order of Elders Gathering at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, NY. The event included spirited worship and fellowship. The featured speaker was Bishop Grant Hagiya from the California-Pacific Annual Conference. He introduced attendees to two ideas that could help them understand how to continue to be united …more
First UNY Korean Caucus prayer concert includes dozens of prayers
December 11, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Dec. 7, clergy and laity from across the Upper New York (UNY) Conference gathered together for the UNY Korean Caucus of Prayer at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool. The event included praise and worship, led by Yohan Moon and Jee hye Song, a message shared by Moon Ho Kim, and a long period of beautiful Tongsung Kido. Tongsung Kido is popular in Korean congregations among others—it involves …more
Celebrate the UNY Mission Central HUB’s one-year anniversary on Jan. 12
December 11, 2018 / By UNY Communications
Save the date of Saturday Jan. 12 for an event you and your entire family will not want to miss-the Upper New York (UNY) Mission Central HUB Homecoming! This a one-year anniversary to celebrate one year of success and hard work at the Upper New York Mission Central HUB. All are invited to attend. The event will take place from 1- 4 p.m. at the Mission Central HUB, located in the …more
Bishop Webb names Peter Abdella as Upper New York Conference Chancellor
December 10, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Last month, Scott DelConte was elected to the New York State Supreme Court. With this new commitment, he will no longer be able to serve as Chancellor to the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. Effective December 15, Peter Abdella, current Vice President of the UNY Board of Trustees, will be the new Chancellor of the UNY Conference. UNY Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb said, “Scott has been a blessing …more
CLT maps way from now to 2025
December 5, 2018 / By Stephen J. Hustedt / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the Upper New York Conference Leadership Team (CLT) once again gathered for a time of Loving, Learning, and Leading at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool. On the evening of Nov. 30, they focused on Loving God and each other, worshiping together, and sharing stories. With Advent beginning the next Sunday and knowing they would not be together again until after Christmas, they talked about the season …more
Bishop Webb educates UNY on what to expect at the Special Session of General Conference
December 5, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Forty-six years—that is how long the debate on human sexuality has been taking place in the United Methodist Church. The 2016 General Conference gave a specific mandate to the Council of Bishops to lead The United Methodist Church in discerning and proposing a way forward through the present impasse related to human sexuality and the consequent questions about unity and covenant. After this mandate was given, the Council of …more
Why I am trained as an ERT
December 4, 2018 / By Mary Lou Buck
Why would anyone want to be part of an Early Response Team? You get to travel a distance, work all day getting very dirty, and sleep on a cot or airbed in a room with strangers. You give up the comforts of home and your routine. Why would anyone choose that? I can assure you it is a wonderful, inspiring experience and one I choose to do several times a …more
Social Holiness Concerns: Supporting Assault Survivors in New York
December 3, 2018 / By Angela Eardley, President f the United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church in Oneonta,
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on page 14 in the November 2018 issue of the United Methodist Women’s publication, Response. The pastor mentioned in article is the Rev. Dr. Teressa Sivers, at that time the pastor of First UMC Oneonta, now Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s UMC, Ithaca. I work for a domestic violence shelter. I recently spent nine hours in the emergency room …more
Wesley Heritage tour scheduled for February 2020
December 3, 2018 / By UNY Communications
Join Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and his wife Jodi on a Wesley Heritage tour in England Feb. 11-19, 2020. This journey will take you through England where you will learn about the roots of the early Church and the ministry of John Wesley. Visit London, Oxford, Epworth, the Old Rectory where John Wesley grew up, and much more. Take advantage of this time to enrichen your …more