Lay Ministry

Upper New York Conference Lay Leader

 

Dr. Scott L. Johnson, Lay Leader

The Conference Lay Leader for theUpper New York Area is Dr. Scott Johnson, Dean of University College and Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education at Buffalo State College. A member of First United Methodist Church in Buffalo, Johnson is the President of the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders of The United Methodist Church and previously served as the Lay Leader of the Western New York Conference. He has served on the Western New York Conference Commission on Religion and Race, Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry and the Urban Ministry Strategy Team, and has led several diversity trainings for the annual conference.

Associate Lay Leaders

The Upper New York Conference has named three Associate Lay Leaders. They are:

Kristen Dart

A resident of Saratoga Springs, Kristen Dart is a substitute teacher, assistant field hockey and girls' lacross coach at Saratoga Springs High School, and currently the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dart holds a BA in Spanish and History from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., and is a member of Newtonville United Methodist Church where she serves as a member of the Staff-Pastor Relations Committee. Dart was also a member of the New Area Conference Team.
   

Paul Reed
 

Ilah Sisson Walser

Ilah Sisson Walser was the Troy Conference Lay Leader and will continue that ministry as Associate Lay Leader for the Upper New York Conference. Walser is a member of the Ballston Spa United Methodist Church and has held a variety of leadership positions, including serving a term as Vice-President of the Troy Conference United Methodist Women.  She was a member from Troy Conference of the General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2008 and in June, was presented the Denman Award for Evangelism at the closing session of Troy Conference.