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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    News Stories from October 2019

    From the Desk of Bishop Mark J Webb: 2019 Issue 2 of the Advocate

    October 29, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb

    Editor's Note: This letter from Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb originally appeared in the 2019 Issue 2 of the Advocate, which focused on Discipleship Systems. Click here to read the entire issue.  The mission of The United Methodist Church is to partner with God in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The United Methodist Book of Discipline in paragraph 122 …more

    New structure in UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries

    October 28, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Camp & Retreat Ministries is one of the most effective ways to introduce young people to God, especially in current times with the decline in the number of youth members throughout the Methodist Church. Upper New York (UNY) wants to maintain thriving Camp & Retreat ministries and has made a decision that will help make this possible. Michael Huber, the current Director of UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries as well …more

    Rev. Grace Imathiu helps revitalize your Advent sermon series

    October 25, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Advent is just over a month away. Have you planned your Advent sermon series? Is it the same year after year? If so, the Rev. Grace Imathiu wants to change that. She was the featured speaker at the 2019 Upper New York Bishop’s Retreat held Oct. 22-24 at the RIT Inn in Rochester, NY. Dean of the UNY Cabinet, the Rev. Nola Anderson introduced Rev. Imathiu as “a …more

    St. Croix mission trip—a moving experience

    October 21, 2019 / By Roger Cullen

    From Sept. 21-Oct. 5, 2019, eight people from Upper New York (UNY) joined a crew of 22 volunteers from throughout the Northeastern Jurisdiction and beyond on a mission trip to St. Croix. In all our Team 32 worked on six homes putting on finishing touches, starting new projects, and significant work on whole roofs. We worked in the Frederiksted area on homes for permanent residents who are seniors, or disabled, or dealing with significant …more

    From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Pastor Appreciation

    October 15, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb

    Editor's Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. On Tuesday Oct. 15, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, sent a letter to all pastors in the Upper New York Conference expressing his gratitude for their leadership and commitment to pursuing and living out God’s call upon their lives. Dear Friends, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus! During this month of Pastor Appreciation, …more

    NEJ Native American Ministries Committee meets at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool

    October 15, 2019 / By Kae Wilbert, UNY CONAM Chair

    Upper New York’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) hosted the annual meeting of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee (NEJNAMC) Oct 10-12 at the United Methodist Conference Center in Liverpool. Guest speakers Rev. Dr. Thom WhiteWolf Fassett and Dr. Michael Martin brought new ideas, old ideas, common sense and Native traditions to a new level of understanding of the role we as CONAMs do play and …more

    “AMENding through Faith”—an eye-opening event

    October 14, 2019 / By Mark Jones, UNY UMM President

    “AMENding through Faith” is a violence-prevention training initiative developed by the YWCA in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. This YWCA currently operates one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the state of Tennessee. Operators of this shelter observed that the shelter had remained at 100% capacity much of the time. Education and self-awareness training were developed in response to constant flow of battered and abused women seeking …more

    “New Places for New People” campaign update

    October 8, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    “New Places for New People” is an Upper New York Conference campaign to raise funds for existing and new New Faith Communities. This campaign began last spring and gained a lot of momentum at the Upper New York Annual Conference in June. It’s not too late to become a “New Places for New People” Partner. The original deadline was November 1, 2019 and it has been …more

    Rev. Suzanne Block offers hope through the unexpected at her installation service

    October 8, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    On Oct. 6, 2019, at the Christ UMC, Olean, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb officially appointed the Rev. Suzanne Block as the Cornerstone District Superintendent (DS). This year, Isiah 55 came to Bishop Webb’s thoughts in his prayers for the Cornerstone DS. He said, “This passage (from Isaiah) describes the kind of life we are called to live, but I also think it’s a …more

    UNY Delegation gathers at United Methodist Center

    October 1, 2019 / By Stephen J. Hustedt / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Members of the Upper New York Conference Delegation to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences gathered at the United Methodist Center on Saturday Sept. 28. Those who were unable to be physically present had the option of participating remotely. The morning was spent discussing how the delegation would continue to work together and learning about proposed changes to the clergy pension plan. The afternoon was spent planning their process for the potential …more


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."