News Stories from February 2019
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Response to Special Session
February 27, 2019 / By
Editor’s Note: Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb sent the following letter to the Upper New York Conference on Wednesday Feb. 27, 2019. Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! The Special Session of the General Conference has concluded with the passage of The Traditional Plan. No matter where you stand on the decision and the direction …more
Getting connected to Special Session
February 22, 2019 / By UNY Communications
The Special Session of General Conference will be held Feb. 23-Feb. 26 in St. Louis, MO. There are many ways you can be connected to the prayers, worship, and sessions taking place throughout Special Session. The Upper New York Conference has you covered. Visit the front page of our website (unyumc.org) for access to the Special Session livestream. You can also access the Perspective blog, which will feature blogs as …more
Praying Our Way Forward Prayer
February 20, 2019 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's note: The following prayer was released Feb. 20 by the Council of Bishops and will be part of the worship liturgy at the opening of the 2019 Special Session of General Conference, held Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, MO. As part of the Praying Our Way Forward process, Upper New York Conference churches are invited to use this prayer during worship services on Sunday Feb. 24. Gracious and loving God, who …more
Port Byron UMC celebrates the lives of their centenarians
February 19, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Port Byron UMC has two centenarians in their congregation—and both of their names are “Ted.” On Sunday Feb. 17, 2019, the church held a 100th birthday party for Ted Eiben. Church member Ron Mills lit the birthday candles for Ted, mentioning how devoted Ted has been to the church. Ted has been a member of Port Byron UMC for 22 years, having been introduced by his late wife. …more
UNY members serve Special Session as Pages and Marshal
February 19, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Are you aware that beyond Upper New York delegates, we have members of our Conference who are serving as volunteers at the Special Session of General Conference (A Way Forward) on Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, MO? For example, the Rev. Patience Kisakye and lay person Angela Neal will serve as Pages and the Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell will serve as a Marshal. Pages assist delegates, staff, Bishops, members of the …more
Chenango Bridge UMC hosts Night to Shine
February 15, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Proms are often imprinted on people’s hearts for the rest of their lives, but some individuals aren’t fortunate enough to know what it feels like to attend a prom. This is especially true among the special needs’ community. However, the Tim Tebow Foundation has made the dream of a prom possible for those who are differently abled. Started four years ago, the Tim Tebow Foundation …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: District Superintendent Extensions
February 13, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: On Wednesday Feb. 13, 2019, Bishop Webb announced the extension of two District Superintendents' terms in the following letter. Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ! Paragraph 418 of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church states that “the normal term for a District Superintendent shall be up to six years, but this may be extended to no more than …more
COB President’s letter to United Methodists
February 12, 2019 / By Council of Bishops
Editor's Note: The Council of Bishops released the following note on Tuesday Feb. 12, 2019. The Bishops of The United Methodist Church are preparing to preside over the three-day Special Session of the General Conference set for Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, Missouri. In a letter to the United Methodists released Feb. 12, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter noted that the bishops will be bound by a covenant of …more
Social Holiness Concerns: Working to dismantle racism beyond Imagine No Racism
February 6, 2019 / By Pastor Evelyn Woodring
So, you finished the Imagine No Racism (INR) training. You checked off that box for your annual Church Conference. It’s going to be time to move on to the next “cause of the day.” Is that how the INR initiative of the Annual Conference has left you feeling? There are still challenges to be met, wrongs to be righted, and sins to be identified and repented …more
A message from the Bishops of the Northeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church
February 5, 2019 / By Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction
Editor's Note: The following pastoral letter written by the Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction was sent to the Upper New York Conference and all Conferences of the Northeastern Jurisdiction on Feb. 5, 2019. We bid you grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ: During the Northeastern College of Bishops meeting, January 28th – 30th, we your Bishops prayed for the Church and in particular the clergy and laity of the …more