News Stories from January 2016
Task force to host forum on on ‘Human Sexuality and Biblical Interpretation’
January 28, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Rev. Dr. Spencer-Miller and Dr. ArnoldThe Upper New York Conference's Human Sexuality Task Force will host a forum on "Human Sexuality and Biblical Interpretation" from 1-4 p.m. on March 5 at the Liverpool United Methodist Church. In addition to on-site seating, the event will be live-streamed. Rev. Dr. Althea Spencer-Miller, professor at Drew Theology School in New Jersey, and Dr. Bill T. Arnold, professor at Asbury Theological Seminary in …more
UNY receives UMAC awards for media
January 27, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Each year, the United Methodist Association of Communicators recognizes excellence in communication through an extensive awards program. This year, the Upper New York Conference received two awards for its submissions. DalglishIn Class V – Video Production, Conference Videographer Mary Dalglish received a third place award for her submission of a video piece about the ministries at the Seneca Street United Methodist Church in Buffalo. The video highlights the congregation&rsquo …more
Africa 360 Lenten Devotional now available
January 26, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Inspired by the example set in 2012 by the North Texas Annual Conference and its Lenten Study Guide, “Seeds of Hope,” the Upper New York Conference decided to create its own Lenten Devotional for Africa 360 – the UNY Conference’s holistic plan for health and education initiatives in Africa that benefits Imagine No Malaria and Africa University. Clergy and laity from across the Upper New York Conference have …more
Missionaries respond to UMKR press release
January 25, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Last week, the Upper New York Conference posted a press release, which announced the decision by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church to direct Wespath Investment Management to divest from the two Israeli banks that it held in its portfolios and further, to declare the five largest Israeli banks off limits for investment. In response to this news, United Methodist missionaries who have …more
UM Kairos Response welcomes pension fund exclusion, diverstment to Israeli banks
January 21, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine/Israel is encouraging the sharing of a press release by United Methodist Kairos Response which announces the decision by General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) of The United Methodist Church to direct Wespath Investment Management - a division of the GBPHB that manages the denomination's $20 billion Pension and Health Benefits Fund - to divest …more
UNY Young Clergy Initiative featured in Interpreter
January 21, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The November/December 2015 issue of Interpreter magazine features an article about the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI), including a section about the Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministries' YCI at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia. General Conference 2012 created the $7 million YCI Fund to "increase the number of young clergy among the jurisdictional conferences" in the United States. UNY's YCI 16-month program involved 12 participants ages 17 to 26 and …more
Bishop Webb continues 2015-2016 District Days tour
January 15, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb kicked off his 2015-2016 District Days tour in late October last year and has since visited the Niagara Frontier, Cornerstone, Binghamton, Mohawk, and Crossroads districts. Bishop Webb will visit each of the districts in the Upper New York Conference during the tour, spending the morning and lunch with clergy and hosting an evening session open to both laity and clergy. The …more
A Letter to Martin Luther King Jr. - 2016
January 15, 2016 / By Bishop Woodie W. White
January/February 2016 Editor's Note: Each year, retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White writes a “birthday letter” to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which he offers his perspective on the state of race relations, particularly in the United States. White, now bishop-in residence at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, was the first general secretary of the General Commission on Religion …more
Conference Office closed today, Jan. 13
January 13, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Due to the inclement weather, the Conference Office in Syracuse will be closed today, Jan. 13. We will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 14. …more
CCRM announces summer camp changes at Findley Camp & Retreat Center
January 12, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In a letter to families, the Upper New York Conference’s Committee on Camp and Retreat Ministries (CCRM) and the Executive Staff Team note that after spending “spent significant time in prayer and conversation regarding our current situation at Findley Camp & Retreat Center, … we will not be offering traditional summer camp programming for the 2016 season. Although this was a difficult decision, we believe it is the …more