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2023 Open Churches

This year, the Upper New York (UNY) Cabinet is introducing a new practice to the appointment process. Starting on Jan. 25, on Wednesdays, the Cabinet will post on the UNY website a list of the open churches that are currently being considered. Clergy who are interested in being considered for one of these churches are to let their superintendent know exclusively via email by Thursday at 3 p.m. and share why you believe you would serve the congregation well. The Cabinet will prayerfully consider these requests during their discernment process.

Clergy communicating their interest in an open church,

• Must understand that requesting to be considered for an appointment is advisory in nature and does not guarantee you will be appointed to the open church.
• Cannot, in any way, communicate with the members or the pastor of the open church to advocate on their behalf.
• Can be assured that their request to the cabinet will remain confidential, will not affect their current appointment, and will not be shared with your current church’s staff parish relations committee (SPRC).

The UNY Appointive Cabinet is currently considering the following churches:

Northeast Region

Adirondack

The following are part-time appointments:

• Morrisonville UMC in Morrisonville, NY
• Mountain Community UMC in Speculator, NY
• Salem UMC in Salem, NY
• Whitehall UMC in Whitehall, NY
• Wilton: Trinity UMC in Wilton, NY

Albany

None

Mohawk

Richfield Springs United Church, Full Time
22 Church Street
Richfield Springs, NY 13439
Parsonage provided

Church of Christ Uniting is an ecumenically minded congregation with a strong Biblical foundation. Lay leadership is very important and works closely with the pastor in making decisions and serving the needs of the church. The administrative board and laity have a long history of working well with the pastor. The church's mission statement is to "show God's love by faithfully worshiping together, praying, studying God's word, caring for each other and reaching out to others with the Good News of Christ.” The congregation is friendly and active with a small-town atmosphere. The Richfield Springs community is very scenic with relatively inexpensive housing. There is an active community center and youth programs. The area boasts a large lake population and influx of tourists with Cooperstown, NY, nearby.

2021 Average Worship Attendance: 36
2021 Profession of Faith: 1
2021 Baptisms:1
2021 Ministry Expenses: $102,373

The following are part-time appointments:

• Broadalbin UMC in Broadalbin, NY
• East Schuyler UMC in East Schuyler, NY
• North Main Street UMC in Gloversville, Ny
• Lowell UMC in Lowell, NY
• Middleville UMC in Middleville, NY
• Ohio UMC in Ohio, NY
• Perryville UMC in Perryville, NY/Peterboro UMC in Peterboro, NY
• Poolville UMC in Poolville, NY
• Oneida First UMC in Oneida, NY
• Waterville UMC in Waterville, NY

Northern Flow

The following are part-time appointments:

• Sandy Creek UMC in Sandy Creek, NY
• Harrisville UMC in Harrisville, NY
• Naumburg: Beaver Valley in Castorland, NY
• Carthage UMC in Carthage, NY
• Woolworth Memorial UMC in Great Bend, NY
• Norfolk UMC in Norfolk, NY
• Brasher Falls UMC in Brasher, NY
• Martinsburg UMC in Martinsburg, NY 
• Brainardsville UMC in Chateaugay, NY
• Chateaugay UMC in Chateaugay, NY
• Hogansburg UMC in Hogansburg, NY
• Massena: Grace UMC in Massena, NY
• Potsdam UMC in Potsdam, NY

Lake Region

Crossroads

The following are part-time appointments:

• Minoa UMC in Minoa, NY

Finger Lakes

Cortland First UMC, Full Time
734 Route 222
Cortland, NY 13045
Parsonage provided

Cortland, as a community, has gone from being a manufacturing community to a service-oriented society. For example, leading employers are now SUNY Cortland and Cortland Regional Medical Center. Transient community; housing has gone from single-family homes to rental homes. Residential has moved out of the center of town—a higher percentage of people who live but don’t work here. Social services (medicare, etc.) are more accessible in our community than in surrounding communities. CUMC’s pastor leadership understanding: it should be a Partnership and collaboration. CUMC worship experience: Non-traditional/contemporary (not the 1940’s Methodist service). The service is designed in such a way as to reach out to a wide variety of people while connecting and God. To build on what is already started, fostering a more significant percentage of active participation in worship.

2021 Average Worship Attendance: 40
2021 Profession of Faith: 1
2021 Baptisms: 1
2021 Ministry Expenses: $157,391

The following are part-time appointments:

• Cuyler UMC in Cuyler, NY
• Jacksonville UMC in Jacksonville, NY
• Scott UMC in Homer, NY
• Varick UMC in Romulus, NY
• Varna UMC in Ithaca, NY
• Waterloo UMC in Waterloo, NY
• Ledyard UMC in Ledyard, NY

Genesee Valley

The following are part-time appointments:

• Carlton UMC in Waterport, NY
• Dalton UMC in Dalton NY
• Gainesville UMC in Gainesville, NY
• Hemlock UMC in Hemlock, NY

Niagara Frontier

The following is a part-time appointment:

• Medina: Abundant Harvest UMC in Medina, NY
• Attica: Trinity UMC in Attica, NY
• The Grove UMC in Medina, NY
• Johnsonburg UMC in Johnsonburg, NY
• Orchard Park: Emmanuel UMC in Orchard Park, NY
• Royalton UMC in Royalton, NY

Southern Tier Region

Binghamton

None

Cornerstone

The following are part-time appointments:

• Allentown UMC in Allentown, NY
• Caneadea UMC in Caneadea, NY

Mountain View

The following are part-time appointments:

• Addison UMC in Addison, NY
• Burdett UMC in Burdett, NY
• Chemung UMC in Chemung, NY
• Greenwood UMC in Greenwood NY
• Litchfield UMC in Sayre, PA
• North Cohocton UMC in North Cohocton, NY
• Oakwood UMC in Elmira Heights, NY
• South Canisteo UMC in Jasper, NY
• Wilawana UMC in Sayre, PA

Oneonta

The following are part-time appointments:

• First UMC of Bainbridge, Bainbridge, NY
• First UMC in Unadilla, NY
• Esperance-Sloansville UMC, Esperance, NY & Delanson UMC in Delanson, NY 
• Gallupville UMC in Gallupville, NY
• Huntersland UMC in Middleburgh, NY
• North Norwich UMC in North Norwich, NY
• Preston UMC in Oxford, NY

If information listed above needs to be corrected, please send an email to bishopsoffice@unyumc.org