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2026 Open Churches

During the regular appointment season (January to May), the cabinet will post a list of open churches under consideration on Wednesdays on the Conference website.

Clergy interested in being considered for one of these churches are to inform the episcopal office exclusively via email at bishopsoffice@unyumc.org by Thursday at 3 p.m. and share why you believe you would serve the congregation well. The appointive cabinet will prayerfully consider these requests during their discernment process.

Clergy communicating their interest in a church actively being considered by the cabinet,

• Must understand that requesting to be considered for an appointment is strictly advisory and does not guarantee you will be considered 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 conferences must notify their resident bishop and district superintendent before inquiring or expressing interest in an open church.

Reconsiderations
 
Pastors and congregations may ask for reconsideration of an introduced appointment for missional reasons (serious concerns about the pastor’s or congregation’s ability to contextually spread personal and social holiness and lead the congregation in nurturing the five core ministries of worship, evangelism, faith formation, hands-on missions, and generosity). The following will not be considered: race, ethnic origin, gender, color, disability, marital status, age, or educational achievement of a pastor or congregation, as well as the location and size of a congregation.
 
A pastor may request reconsideration by emailing their superintendent within 24 hours of being notified of the new appointment. A Staff Parish Relations Committee may request reconsideration by expressing their concerns at the introduction of the new pastor and then sending an email to their superintendent within 24 hours following the SPRC's introductory meeting with the new pastor. The email must identify the perceived missional reasons the appointment will inhibit the spreading of personal and social holiness and nurturing of new disciples in the community for the transformation of the world. Based on the pastor's reflections and prayer, the staff parish relations committee, and the superintendents, the bishop will decide on a request for reconsideration no later than 10 days after receiving it.

The UNY Appointive Cabinet is currently considering full time appointments for the following churches:

Adirondack District:

Albany District:

Jonesville United Methodist Church
963 Main Street
Jonesville, NY 12065
www.jonesvilleumc.org
Full-Time
Parsonage

Binghamton District:

Binghamton: Fairview United Methodist Church
254 Robinson Street
Binghamton, NY 13904
https://fairviewumcbinghamton.wordpress.com/
Full-Time
Parsonage

Cornerstone District:

Tri-Church Parish
P.O. Box R
41 East Main Street
Brocton, NY 14716
www.trichurchparish.com
Full-Time
Parsonage

 
Crossroads District:

 
Finger Lakes District:

Homer: First United Methodist Church
16 Cayuga St.
Homer, NY 13077
www.facebook.com/homerfirstumc/
Full-Time
Parsonage

Cortland: First/Freeville/Harmony United Methodist Churches
Full-Time
Parsonage

Cortland First United Methodist Church
734 Route 222
Cortland, NY 13045-9107
https://cortlandumc.net

Freeville United Methodist Church
37 Main Street, PO Box 166
Freeville, NY 13068
www.facebook.com/FreevilleUMC/

Harmony United Methodist Church
726 New York 221, PO Box 71
​​​​​​​Harford, NY 13784

Genesee Valley District:

Mohawk District:

Mountain View District:

Elmira: New Beginnings
300 E. Miller St.
Elmira, NY 14904
www.elmiranewbeginnings.com
Full-Time
Parsonage

Niagara Frontier District:

Northern Flow District:

Oneonta District: