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2025 Appointments

After the prayerful discernment of the UNY cabinet, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez announces the following appointments. All appointments, otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2025.

Appointment announcement as of April 16, 2025

• Jennifer Grimes from Allentown UMC to Allentown UMC and adding on addition of Bolivar UMC, Cornerstone District.

• Virginia Pantle from unappointed to Little Meadows UMC, Binghamton District.

• Sundar Samuel from Vestal to Owego UMC, Binghamton District.

• Michele Clark from North Fenton & Green to Vestal Center UMC, Binghamton District. 

• Charlie Cheol-Hee Yang from Binghamton: Boulevard UMC to Greater New Jersey Conference, First United Methodist Church, Scotch Plains, NJ.

• Florence “Flo” Wojcik from not appointed to Olean: Trinity & Rivers Edge UMCs, Cornerstone District.

• Rev. Kim Reed from Hudson Falls to Corinth: First UMC, Adirondack District.

Appointment announcement as of April 9, 2025

• Jason Proctor from Middle Grove, Salem, Ballston Spa, to Camden & Cleveland UMCs, Mohawk District.

• Brett Johnson continues at Canton UMC and adding additional of Massena: Grace UMC, Northern Flow District.

• Alan Kinney from Oswego: Trinity to Auburn UMC, Finger Lakes District.

• Phil Richards is currently at Plattsburgh, Champlain: Three Steeples, Saranac, and Mooers UMC and adding additional of Peru Community Federated Church, Adirondack District.

Appointment announcement as of April 2, 2025

• Paul Sweet currently at Troy: Christ UMC to adding on the addition of Troy Pawling Ave UMC, Albany District.

• Wilson Jones from Cooperstown, Sherburne, Fly Creek & Schyler Lake UMCs, to Rochester: Aldersgate UMC, Genesee Valley District.

• Carolyn Stow currently at Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial to adding on the addition of Binghamton: Boulevard UMC, Binghamton District.

Appointment announcement as of March 26, 2025

• Tanya Spencer from Orchard Park UMC to Emmanuel UMC in Lockport, Niagara Frontier District.

• Robyn Hays from Dryden & Ithaca: Forest Home UMC to East Aurora: Baker Memorial UMC, Niagara Frontier District.

• Sherry Mahar from Rome & Delta UMCs to Jamestown: Christ First UMC, Cornerstone District.

• Judy Lieber-Butler from Apple Valley UMC to Seneca Falls UMC, Finger Lakes District.

• Aaron Carlson from unappointed to Syracuse: University UMC, Crossroads District.

Appointment announcement as of March 19, 2025

• Glenn Ferguson from another AC to Vestal UMC, Binghamton District.

• Patricia Hubman from Elmira: New Beginnings UMC to Greene & North Fenton UMCs, Binghamton District.

• Peggi Eller from Peru Community Federated Church to Norwich: Broad Street UMC, Oneonta District.

Appointment announcement as of March 5, 2025

• Sam Smith from unappointed to Fairport, Genesee Valley District.

• Matthew Stengel from retirement to interim at Lockport: Emmanuel, Niagara Frontier District (eff 1/12/2025-6/30/25).

Appointment announcement as of February 26, 2025

• Nancy Adams from Owego to Endwell, Binghamton District.

• Raquel Alston from North Tonawanda First & Empowerment Ministry to Buffalo Central Park UMC, Niagara Frontier District.

• Doug Childress from personal leave of absence to Christ United Methodist Church of Locke and Moravia, Finger Lakes District.

• John Loeser from East Aurora: Baker Memorial to Boston: Churchill Memorial/Colden, Niagara Frontier District.

Appointment announcement as of February 19, 2025

• Dawn Quesenberry from Olean: Trinity, River’s Edge, Bolivar, and coordinating pastor at Allentown and Friendship to Olean: Christ UMC, Cornerstone District.

• Lyn Ende from Lockport: Clinton Street to both Lockport: Clinton Street and North Ridge UMC, Niagara Frontier District (2/23/2025).

• Theresa Eggleston from program director at Casowasco to new Site Director of Manidokan Camp & Retreat Center in the Baltimore Washington Conference (3/11/2025).

• James Barnes II from retirement to interim at Sherrill: Christ (3/1/25-6/30/25).

• Wendy Morrison from Camden/Cleveland UMCs to Sherrill: Christ UMC, Mohawk District.

Appointment announcement as of February 12, 2025

• Rebecca Richards is appointed to Wilmington: Whiteface Community UMC effective July 1, 2025.

• Ian Urriola is appointed as a full-time local pastor to Burnt Hills UMC as associate January 15, 2025.

• Alan Kinney is appointed as a retired elder to Oswego Trinity UMC effective January 1, 2025.

• Ray Lessaongang is appointed as a part time local pastor to Apulia & Onativia UMCs effective January 15, 2025.

• Alicia Wood is appointed to Ithaca: St. Paul’s UMC effective July 1, 2025.

• Evelyn Woodring is appointed to Boston: Churchill Memorial and Colden UMC effective February 1, 2025.

• Deborah Coatsworth is appointed to Asbury Camp and Retreat Center effective January 29, 2025.

• Cori Louden is appointed as coordinating pastor for Raymondville in addition to her current appointments at Massena First and coordinating pastor at Hogansburg and CP @ Massena Grace effective January 23, 2025.

• Jennifer Stamm is appointed a coordinating pastor for Sulpher Springs UMC in addition to her current appointment at Watertown: First UMC effective January 23, 2025.

• Melissa McCarthy is appointed as coordinating pastor for Adams in addition to her appointment at Pulaski UMC effective January 23, 2025.

January 8

Click here to read about the appointment of the Rev. Richelle Goff and as the new District Superintendent of the Genesee Valley and Mountain View Districts, effective July 1, 2025.

Click here to read about the appointment of the Rev. Yohang Chun and as the new District Superintendent of the Northern Flow and Mohawk Districts, effective July 1, 2025.

• Melissa Weatherwax is appointed to North Cambridge: The Stump in addition to her current appointments at Eagle Bridge, South Cambridge, Easton, Greenwich: Centenary effective November 1, 2024.

• Ann Robinson is appointed as a retired elder to Holley: Disciples UMC in addition to her appointments at Warsaw: First and Warsaw: Immanuel UMC’s effective January 1, 2025.

• Jeri Kober is appointed as a retired local pastor to East Bloomfield once a month effective December 1, 2024.

• Tricia Barnes-Garback is appointed as a part-time local pastor to Lyons in addition to her current appointment at Gorham effective January 1, 2025.

• Joelle Faulks is appointed as coordinating pastor for Middleville UMC in addition to her current appointments at Herkimer and Coordinating Pastor at Paines Hollow effective January 1, 2025.

• Jean Edmister is appointed as a retired local pastor to Lancaster: Faith UMC effective January 1, 2025.

• Harold “Hap” Skellen is appointed as a part-time local pastor to Fillmore Chapel UMC effective December 17, 2024

October 16, 2024

Click here to read about the appointment of Rev. Mary Kelly as the new District Superintendent of the Cornerstone and Niagara Frontier Districts, effective September 1, 2024.

• Rev. Chad Sayers is appointed to personal leave of absence effective September 1, 2024.

• Rev. Laura Calos is appointed as a retired elder as coordinating pastor for Waterloo UMC effective September 1, 2024.

• Rev. Diane Walker is appointed as a retired elder part-time to Wolcott: Faith UMC in addition to her coordinating pastor at Varick UMC effective September 1, 2024.

• Rev. Brian Rotach is appointed as a retired elder to Buffalo Central Park UMC effective September 1, 2024.

• Rev. Olga Gonzalez-Santiago is appointed to personal leave of absence effective October 1, 2024.