News Stories from January 2018
Called to be a lay servant
January 31, 2018 / By Lucina Hallagan, UNY Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries
I became a lay servant in 1991 because I was encouraged by my pastor to attend a lay servant basic course held at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. I have always felt a pull to ordained ministry; however, I was never able to begin the process. All the while, for years really, I still had this deep longing and felt that God was calling me to something. I continued to lead …more
Laity Glossary
January 31, 2018 / By UNY Communications
An informal poll by the Upper New York Communications Ministry Area reveals the following 11 items as the least known Lay Ministry terms. Can you correctly identify the meaning? 1. Lay servant A. An active, supportive member of a United Methodist congregation who is eager to be in ministry through the church. He/she is well-informed on scripture, doctrine, heritage, organization and life of the United Methodist Church and is committed to …more
Commission moderators emphasize mission as key to way forward
January 31, 2018 / By Bishops David Yemba, Sandra Steiner Ball, and Ken Carter Moderator Team of the Commission on a Way Forward
The moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward are urging United Methodists to engage in reflections on where they see mission at the heart of the denomination as well as seeing mission as significant for resolving conflict. Below is the statement from Bishops David Yemba, Sandra Steiner Ball, and Ken Carter Mission and the Way Forward in the Season after the Epiphany At the conclusion of the …more
Imagine No Racism event to be held on Sat. April 21
January 30, 2018 / By UNY Communications Team
In July of 2016, the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church unanimously approved a resolution for every Annual Conference to confront the sin of racism in our own hearts, our churches, and our communities. Upper New York Area Resident Bishop created a taskforce, known now as the Bishop’s Taskforce on Eliminating Racism, to start strategizing ways to confront this deeply embedded issue across our Conference. The taskforce is …more
CF&A reports positive news about 2017 Ministry Shares
January 30, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference Council of Finance & Administration (CF&A) is happy to report that 638 churches have contributed 100 percent of their Ministry Shares in 2017; this is up from 632 in 2016. The amount of Ministry Shares collected is over $100,000 more than Ministry Shares collected in 2016 ($8,625,795 in 2017 compared to $8,507,208 in 2016). The Rev. Susan Ranous, chair of CF&A said, “It has been such a blessing to work on …more
Upper New York Conference 2019 Narrative Budget booklet available
January 26, 2018 / By UNY Communications Team
The first draft of the UNY Conference 2019 Narrative Budget booklet has been released. Click here to download a .pdf version of the booklet from our website. Click here to view the budget booklet on Issuu. As changes are needed, these digital copies of the budget booklets will be updated. When all updates are completed in the coming months, printed copies of the budget booklet will be available in the District …more
Special Sunday giving across the Upper New York Conference
January 24, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Do you have a heart for social justice? How about providing relief in the time of natural disasters? What about enabling disadvantaged youth to attend college through scholarship opportunities? While we can help these ministries through being the hands and feet of Christ, we can also support these ministries through offerings that the United Methodist Church collects on Special Sundays. The United Methodist Church has six Special Sundays church-wide. These …more
Social Holiness Concerns: Dissecting the meaning of “Black Lives Matter”
January 22, 2018 / By Evelyn A. Woodring
“Black Lives Matter.” We have all heard that chanted, shouted, and have even seen the words carried on posters and banners. And, we have our individual responses when hearing them. Before we settle on our response to this, perhaps a bit of learning is called for. February is Black History Month, so let’s look for a moment at the “matter” of black lives. When …more
My third day in Puerto Rico for Humanitarian Relief
January 22, 2018 / By Thaddeus Pinckney
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” John Wesley In a community called “Los Amigos” (which means “The Friends”) where people are very united, it&rsquo …more
United Methodists asked to join Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 22, 2018 / By Council of Bishops
WASHINGTON – The Council of Bishops is urging all United Methodists to join with other Christians throughout the world to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins tomorrow, January 18, 2018. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is promoted by the World Council of Churches, most regional councils of churches, and most mainline denominations, including The United Methodist Church. This year’s Week of Prayer (January 1 …more