Perspectives from July 2016

Upper New York goes to Jurisdictional Conference

July 25, 2016 / By Rev. Cathy Hall Stengel

In June, the UNY Annual Conference endorsed two candidates for the position of Bishop in the United Methodist Church.  I was honored to be one of those two. I feel that I can speak confidently that we both felt affirmed and encouraged by the endorsement of our colleagues in the delegation and the annual conference.  Thank you. Monday night, July 13, all of the endorsed candidates gathered for prayer, …more

My Perspective of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference

July 25, 2016 / By Rev. Rebekah ("Beckie") Sweet

Greetings to the precious family of the Upper New York Annual Conference! I am so grateful for your loving, caring, and prayerful support during the 2016 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference held in Lancaster, Pa. As one of the candidates for the episcopal office endorsed by UNYAC, I entered into the interview and election process assured of your desire for the Holy Spirit to guide the Conference, and affect the elections needed for …more

Hope for the Church

July 18, 2016 / By Rev. Colleen Hallagan Preuninger

I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining I believe in Love, even when I don’t feel it I believe in God, even when God is silent - “I Believe” by Mark Miller Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. - “Blessed Be the Tie that Binds …more

Burned Out: Reflections on Thursday of Jurisdictional Conference

July 15, 2016 / By Stephen Cady

“The college of bishops will never be the same.”  These were the words of Bishop John Schol in response to the election of our two new general superintendents—new bishops Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and LaTrelle Easterling. I celebrate this historic moment with the rest of the jurisdictional conference, both for the historic nature of the election (this is the first time a jurisdictional conference has elected two …more

NEJ Day 1 Summary from a Reserve Delegate’s View

July 14, 2016 / By Rick LaDue

The first official day of the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference certainly seems like Day 3, but who’s counting?  As a reserve delegate, I sit outside the bar of the conference. Actual delegates receive the perk of a table, more elbow room, and a special book highlighting the ministry of the jurisdiction (available to the rest of us for only $10!). Our opening worship was a memorial service starting promptly at 8:30 …more

How many different ways can YOU answer the same question?

July 13, 2016 / By Holly Nye, Clergy Delegate

Episcopal candidates put in a very long day on Tuesday. Each nominee meets with 8 different interview teams, between 9 am and 9:30 pm. Each time, they answer some of the same questions, along with one or two additional questions devised by interview teams. Nominees rely on the Spirit for the stamina to travel through the day.  Each of the eight teams, made up of people from across the NEJ, interviews all 11 …more

And so it begins… but not quite yet.

July 11, 2016 / By Ashley Riddell / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

While NEJ hasn’t “officially” begun until Monday evening, committees have already started their work! Myself, Ian Urriola, Rick LaDue, and Bishop Webb began this morning with the Nominations Committee, which is responsible for nominations to The United Methodist Church (UMC) General Boards and Agencies, as well as nominations for the Northeastern Jurisdiction Standing Committees. While I thought this would be an informative and fun task (which …more

NEJ 2016 begins Monday!

July 7, 2016 / By Bill Allen

Next week, July 11-15, 2016, the UNY Conference will be sending 28 delegates to the the NEJ Conference in Lancaster, PA. While there we will work with delegates from the other Annual Conferences in the NEJ to vote on resolutions, affirm a budget, and, most importantly, discern two new bishops for our Jurisdiction.  We have been hard at work as a delegation over the last 12 months.  We met together six …more