news article
Petition and Resolution Results at the 2017 Upper New York Annual Conference
June 21, 2017 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Discussion and voting for the petitions and resolutions brought to the 2017 Annual Conference session began in the afternoon plenary on June 2 and continued through the June 3 morning plenary.
After a few resolutions had been brought to the floor, discussed, and voted on during the June 3 plenary, there was a motion to suspend rules and eliminate discussion for the remainder of the resolutions. This motion was supported.
Here are the results of each resolution.
UNYAC2017.A, not supported
This resolution called for the Upper New York Annual Conference to select a new slate of delegates for the 2019 special session of General Conference.
UNY2017.SGRec-1 Avoid Purchase of Hewlett Packard Products, supported
This resolution called all Conference boards, agencies, offices, local congregations, campus ministries, and individual United Methodists to refrain from purchasing HP products until this family of companies ends its involvement with the Israeli occupation.
UNY2017.SHRec-2 Protecting the Right to Peacefully Address Injustice through Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions, supported
This resolution called for the UNY Conference to oppose any state or federal legislation that seeks to restrict the right to address injustice through boycotts, divestment, and sanctions, and to join the Rabbincal Council of Jewish Voice for Peace in calling on elected officials to resist efforts to stifle the movement toward justice for Palenstinians through the current wave of anti-BDS legislation or Executive orders. This resolution also called to write to the NYS Governor to rescind the Anti-BDS Executive Order; it also called to have the UNY Secretary to write a letter to the NY Conference Secretary to do the same. Lastly, this resolution called to communicate to other UM Conferences, churches, etc. to advocate against anti-BDS legislation appearing anywhere in this country.
UNY2017-Rec-3-Consider Investing in Wespath’s Equity Social Values Plus Fund (ESVPF), supported
This resolution for UNY Conference clergy and lay employee participant and the Conference to consider ESCPF for the portion of their accounts invested in equities.
UNY2017.SHRec.4 – Permission for a special offering to Support Prison Chaplains Certification through the New York State Council of Churches, supported
This resolution called that the Social Holiness Committee of UNY be granted permission to invite all congregations to receive a special offering to help support and fund the prison ministries through the NY State Council of Churches. It also called for resources that support and pertain to Prison Ministries for this special offering be made available to all congregations to help educate and involve them in the vital ministry.
UNY2017.SGRec.5-Special Sunday Offering, supported
This resolution called for UNY congregations to discuss and become educated about the Special Sunday Offerings and commit to supporting each offering.
UNY2017.1 - Spiritual Gifts, amended and supported
This resolution called for all churches in the Conference to receive training in the Spiritual Gifts in this coming year of 2017-2018.
The resolution was amended to “This resolution called for all churches in the Conference be invited to receive training in the Spiritual Gifts in this coming year of 2017-2018.
UNY2017.2 - Support the 2017 Criminal Justice Reform Act, supported
This resolution called for the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to heartily and emphatically support the passage of the 2017 Criminal Justice Reform Act (https://www.ny.gov/2017-criminal-justice-reform-act/2017-criminal-justice-reform-act). It also called for members of the UNY Conference to boldly petition New York State lawmakers to pass the 2017 Criminal Justice Reform Act. Additionally, it called for NY State assembly members and senators to be notified of the passing of this resolution.
UNY2017.3 - Support to Raise the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction to Age 18, supported
This resolution called for that the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to publicly support a change in the law raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction to age 18 and process all 16 and 17 year old youths accused of crimes as juveniles and customize sentencing for all but the crimes of violence. Additionally, it called for access to programs and services tailored to support rehabilitation for all minors under the age of 18 and implementation of polices that both promote public safety and improve outcomes for court-involved youth.
UNY2017.4 - New Headquarters Operations Budget, withdrawn
This resolution called for the Treasurer and the Trustees of the UNY Conference provide to this 2017 session of the Annual Conference the proposed annual 12-month costs of operating the headquarters building with the following details and line items:
Salaries (Building manager, accounting, custodial, including payroll taxes, benefits)
Utilities (gas, water, electricity, sewer)
Custodial supplies (equipment, supplies, service contracts)
Snow removal
Grounds upkeep
Insurance
Reserve for future major replacements, i.e. heating, parking lot paving, roof repair/replacement, air conditioning, etc.
Miscellaneous expense
In lieu of invested income from cash assets, 4% of capital investment in real estate, renovations and furnishing
It also called for future budgets to provide detailed projected expenses for the operation of the headquarters building with the heading, “Conference Building Operations Expense” and for the Treasurer and Trustees to provide this Annual Conference with an analysis of the difference in costs for 2017 over 2016. Lastly, this resolution called for the Treasurer and Trustees provide this Annual Conference with a comparison of Conference headquarters operations costs with the average office occupancy costs in the region.
UNY2017.5 - Speaking Out for Compassion: Transforming the Context of Hate in the United States, supported
This resolution called for United Methodists in the Upper New York Annual Conference be encouraged to end complicity with hate by speaking out when jokes, disparagements, and stereotypes are based on differences. It also called for the creation of opportunities to hear from excluded groups about the reality and impact of hate and partner with them to act for justice. Additionally, it called for members of the UNY Conference to collaborate with interfaith organizations in developing community activities to unite religions in an effort to end hate as well as for the UNY Conference members to be active participants in civic or religious organizations that promote unity and diversity. It called for the need to end cyber bullying as well. Lastly, it called for the use of language of responsibility and healing rather than blame and punishment.
UNY2017.6 - Resolution on Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies, supported
This resolution called for the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and any of its agencies to not knowingly make investments in any company or entity whose core business activity involves the production of petroleum, natural gas, or thermal coal. Also, it called for that the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church to join the New York Annual Conference in requesting and urging that the United Methodist Frontier Foundation to add a similar investment screen to its holdings and investments related to any and all funds held on behalf of the Upper New York Annual Conference. (Note: this request has also been made by the New York Annual Conference).
UNY2017.7 - Health Care for All in the United States, supported
This resolution called for swift passage of legislation that will entitle all persons within the borders of the United States to the provision of health-care services, the cost of such services to be equitably shared by American taxpayers, and the government to distribute the funds to providers in acoordinated and comprehensive manner.
UNY2017.8 - Health Care, supported
This resolution called for the Upper NY Conference of the United Methodist Church encourage its members to petition their federal representatives to preserve the Affordable Care Act unless and until
they have a better plan that the ACA, to insure that every American, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, financial condition, mental, or physical health has access to affordable health insurance; and to unequivocally adopt the policy of resisting all efforts to abort or curtail the present plan as it has been implemented without guarantee.
UNY2017.9 - Human Sexuality, withdrawn
This resolution called for that the Upper New York Conference to fully support the United Methodist Church’s stand on sexual ethics and its teaching on marriage, encouraging its boards and agencies to abide by them, and its Bishop to enforce them.
UNY2017.10 - Support for New York Health Act – A.5062/S.3525, supported
This resolution called for the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church to support the New York Health Act (A.5062/S.3525) and to autherize the Conference Secretary and Bishop Webb to band with others to organize and work toward passage of the NYHA by taking the necessary steps for the UNYAC to join the Campaign for New York Health (www.nyhcampaign.org) and endorse the NYHA. It also called for the Conference Secretary, on behalf of the UNYAC, to express its support for the NYHA to the sponsors of the NYHA, which include Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried, chair of the Assembly Health Committee, and Senator Bill Perkins.
UNY2017.11 - Resolution Endorsing Equitable, Just, and Environmentally and Fiscally Responsible Carbon Pricing, in Conjunction with the Removal of Fossil Fuel Subsidies, supported
This resolution called for the UNY Conference to endorse carbon pricing that: is equitable, just, and environmentally and fiscally responsible; does not hurt persons of low income; is assessed at the point of import or extraction; rises briskly at a steady, predictable rate; and is implemented in conjunction with removal of fossil fuel subsidies.
UNY2017.12 – A Rejection of Schism, not supported
This resolution called for the UNY Conference to affirm an understanding of God’s nature as one of love, justice, and compassion, and identifies this as a core element of the Christian faith. It also called for the UNY Conference to reject the misuse of Wesleyan teachings by the WCA and related individuals and groups.
A new resolution presented by Doug Mackey of Tully United Methodist Church on Maintaining Unity and Not Supporting Division Efforts, supported
This resolution called for the UNY Conference to support ways to maintain Unity of the UMC and to do not support plans that include division or schism efforts.