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2024 Open Churches

During the appointment season, on Wednesdays, the appointive cabinet posts a list of the open churches currently being considered. Upper New York clergy members interested in being considered for one of these churches are to inform their district superintendent exclusively via email by Thursday at 4 p.m. and share why they 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 and does not guarantee you will be considered for or 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).

Clergy from other United Methodist conferences must,

• alert their district superintendent or bishop of their intent before expressing interest in a UNY open church, following their conference’s protocols and practices.
• must email their interest to bishopsoffice@unyumc.org and include the name and email address of their current district superintendent and bishop.

The UNY Appointive Cabinet is currently considering the following churches:

Crossroads District

Skaneateles United Methodist Church, Full Time
26 Jordan Street
Skaneateles, NY 13152
Parsonage provided
 
Skaneateles United Methodist Church is a dedicated community-oriented worshipping family that is committed to living and serving in a Christlike manner. Our church offers regular Bible studies, small group experiences, Sunday School, relevant and engaging worship that is offered both online and in-person and monthly missional opportunities that help us to carry out our ethos of being Christlike in a Wesleyan fashion. Our Sunday morning worship experience contains traditional styled worship on the 1st and third Sundays of each month and contemporary styled worship featuring a praise band on the second and fourth Sundays. To fulfill our call to be witnesses for Christ in our community we have established many partnerships in our community including the Skaneateles Nursery School (housed in our building), the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce, Brown Memorial UMC, the Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry, the Skaneateles Rotary, the Cornell Glee Club, AA and Al-Anon, the VA, Meals on Wheels, the Onondaga Watershed, Bluebird Music and more! We also have a policy that all are open to experience Christ at our church and therefore all are always welcome!

Average Worship Attendance 2023: 92 (in person 42 online 50)
Professions of Faith 2023:1
Baptisms 2023: 3
2022 Ministry Budget: $163,000

Finger Lakes District

Geneva First United Methodist Church, Full Time
340 Main Street, Geneva, NY 14456
Housing Allowance

Geneva First United Methodist Church is a faithful and courageous congregation in a unique small city in the Finger Lakes region. The congregation prefers a somewhat traditional style of worship for our multi-generational congregation. Worship is also available by live streaming and is recorded. The congregation is committed to meeting needs, fostering relationships, pursuing justice, and making space for all to thrive. Geneva FUMC is pursuing this vision by way of discerning a call to establish a New Faith Community (not yet launched) and by being a part of the Reconciling Ministries Network. Geneva First hosts a community lunch program (run by Catholic Charities) and supports Family Promise of Ontario County, as well as other organizations and projects.

Average Worship Attendance in 2023: 50 (35 in person 15 online)
Professions of Faith in 2023: 0
Baptisms 2023: 0
2023 Ministry Expenses:  $250,000

Genesee Valley District

Elmgrove United Methodist Church, 50% of a full-time appointment
1500 Spencerport Road Rochester, NY 14606
Parsonage: Yes

Located in a Suburban Community.  Sunday mornings we gather for a blended worship experience that is also broadcast on Facebook for live and later viewing. We presently do not have any children's ministries but do have active ministries including Operation Christmas Child, coat drives, food shelf, back pack program and school supplies. We have a strong music presence in our worship.  

Average Worship Attendance 2022:  30
Professions of Faith 2022: 0
Baptisms 2022: 0
2022 Ministry Expenses: $106,846

Spencerport United Methodist Church, 50% of a full-time charge
32 Amity St., Spencerport, NY 14559

Spencerport UMC is a part of the United Methodist Church located in a suburban community.  Although our sanctuary was built is 1871 it is handicapped accessible and welcoming to all. We are known for our hospitality. Worship services are Sundays at 9 AM with a time for young Christians and Sunday School. On line worship is on Zoom, accessible with a link on the SUMC website. The music from the choir enhances the worship experience. Bible studies are held during the week. We’re known for the fundraisers we conduct - with 10% always donated to charity. During these events, we share the name of the targeted charity, why we do what we do and invite them to contribute and thus become part of the process. Some of our outreach ministries include; UMCOR, Red Bird Mission, Eagle Star, The Ecumenical Food Shelf, Crop Walk, Dress-a Girl, Narcotics Anonymous, Hats and Mittens for one of the city schools, and adopting a needy family at Christmas.   

Average Worship Attendance 2022:  46
Professions of Faith 2022: 0
Baptisms 2022:0
2022 Ministry Expenses: $73,008

Niagara Frontier District

Akron: First United Methodist Church, Full time
7 Church Street
Akron, NY 14001
Parsonage provided.

Akron is a multicultural small town church set in a rural/agricultural setting. The church lives, loves, and serves through Jesus Christ. Members of the church consider themselves as a family living out the gospel in a community. Weekly small groups and summer out door Sunday worship services provide an avenue for the people of the village to become part of the church. Akron is a church that welcomes new comers and offers radical hospitality to all. Akron offers an Akron Parents Association (APA) preschool. For the school year of 2023-2024 we currently have a waiting list. Our community ministries building houses Hearts and Hands Ministry of Buffalo.

Average Worship Attendance 2022: 45
Professions of Faith 2022: 0
Baptisms 2022: 11
2022 Ministry Expenses: $202,825

The following are part time appointments:

Albany District

• Broadalbin
• Gloversville: North Main Street
• Green Island: Church of t the Good Shepard

Adirondack District

• White Creek: Jermain UMC
• Fort Ann Protestant Church
• Salem UMC
• Whitehall UMC

Binghamton District

• Windsor/Sanitaria Springs
• Park Terrace Community UMC, Apalachin, NY

Crossroads

• Ira UMC, Cato, NY

Cornerstone

• Mayville UMC, Mayville, NY
• Forestville UMC, Forestville, NY
• Dunkirk UMC, Dunkirk, NY

Finger Lakes District

• Freeville UMC, Freeville, NY
• Harmony UMC, Harford, NY
• Seneca Castle UMC, Seneca Castle, NY
• Jacksonville UMC, Jacksonville, NY
• Yatesville UMC, Penn Yan, NY

Genesee Valley District

• Victor UMC, Victor, New York
• East Bloomfield UMC, East Bloomfield, NY
• Adams Basin UMC, Adams Basin, NY
• Dansville UMC, 
• Brockport UMC, Brockport, NY
• Holley Disciples/Albion
• Walworth
• Honeoye Falls

Mohawk District

• Bernhard’s Bay UMC
• Oneida: First UMC, Oneida, New York
• Florence
• Hawkinsville
• Middleville
• Ohio
• New London
• Trenton
• Trinity UMC, Whitesboro, NY
• Vernon
• Westmoreland

Mountain View District

• Arkport UMC, Arkport, NY
• Canisteo UMC, Canisteo, NY
• South Corning 
• Corning Grace 
• Addison – 
• North Cohocton 
• Burdett – 
• Risingville
• Wheeler – 
• Greenwood
• Erin UMC, Erin, NY

Niagara Frontier District

• Warrens Corners UMC, Lockport, NY
• Barker: Faith UMC, Barker, NY
• Collins Center UMC, Collins Center, NY
• Lyndonville UMC, Lyndonville, NY
• Newfane UMC, Newfane, NY
• Attica: Trinity, Attica, NY
• Johnsonburg UMC, Johnsonburg, NY

Northern Flow

• Carthage UMC, Carthage, NY
• Chateaugay
• Brainardsville
• Massena: Grace
• Degrasse
• Hermon
• Russell
• Heuvelton
• Lowville
• Martinsburg
• Norfolk
• Orwell
• Raymondville
• Sandy Creek
• West Stockholm

Oneonta District

• Edmeston 
• Fly Creek and Schuyler Lake 
• Esperence-Sloansville and Delanson
• Bouckville/Oriskany Falls 
• Poolville UMC
• Unadilla
• Mount Upton
• Guilford