News Stories from January 2020

UNY pays 100 percent of General Church apportionments

January 22, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Your church’s Ministry Shares enable the UNY Conference to pay General Church apportionments, which support the World Service Fund, the Ministerial Education Fund, the Black College Fund, the General Administration Fund, the Africa University Fund, and more. On Saturday Jan. 11, the UNY Conference Council on Finance & Administration (CF&A) voted to once again pay 100 percent of General Church apportionments for the fourth year in a row. …more

A new approach to the leadership of Superintendent: The Regional Superintendency Plan

January 18, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Upper New York (UNY) Conference will be instituting a Regional Superintendency Plan effective July 1, 2020. The plan was shared with District Committees on Superintendency at a Jan. 18 event. With the uncertainty of the future of the United Methodist Church as we approach General Conference 2020, it is imperative to keep focused on the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  The new Regional Superintendency …more

How churches should handle a donation from a member’s retirement account

January 17, 2020 / By The Rev. Susan Ranous, Conference Council of Finance & Administration

As many of you may know, the Internal Revenue Code allows a person who is at least 70½ years old to donate to a charitable organization (including churches) directly from their retirement account. It is known as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). If a member of your church authorizes their IRA or retirement custodian to make a direct contribution to the church from their retirement account, how do you handle …more

Complimentary tickets available to the Leading Today’s Church event

January 14, 2020 / By Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, UNY Director of Vital Congregations

Dear UNY leaders As we continue to confront challenges in our efforts to reach our neighbors in a post-Christian culture, it is more important than ever to be equipped with the information that will help us understand the people in our communities. That’s why I have decided to partner with Northeastern Seminary to offer you a complimentary ticket to the Leading Today’s Church event on Friday, …more

Cady Grant applications available

January 14, 2020 / By Blenda Smith

Applications for the Ercil Cady Grant are available now through January 31, 2020.  Grant(s) of up to $5,000 may be awarded to individual United Methodists, local UM churches, or UNY district and conference ministry teams. As directed by the originator of the Ercil Cady Grant, priority shall be given to educational proposals that benefit minority groups or individuals. Last year, the following exciting grants were awarded: “Cultural Preservation through Indigenous …more

UNY Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries pursues new role at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center

January 14, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mike Huber, the UNY Director of Camp & Retreat ministries has submitted his letter of resignation to the Upper New York Conference.  Mike has been offered an opportunity to become the Vice President of Group Sales and Programming at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Mike said, “After a great deal of prayer and discernment, I will be leaving my position in Upper New York at the end …more

Help restore hope for survivors of natural disasters

January 9, 2020 / By Mike Block, UNY Director of Missional Engagement

We have all heard of various natural disasters which have occurred across the country such as floods, tornados, and other severe storms.  What we often don’t hear about is how survivors struggle to recover during the following days, weeks and often months after the disaster.  We don’t think of people who have no power, no heat, no water, even though it is during winter …more

Bishop Webb responds to Bishops’ Protocol Statement

January 8, 2020 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb

On Jan. 6, 2020, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb sent a letter to the Upper New York Conference explaining how the media took an independent team of United Methodist Bishops’ Protocol Statement out of context, leading many people to ask the question, “has the United Methodist Church split? Has the decision been made?" Bishop Webb explained that the simple answer to those questions is no and …more

Exploring the intersections of my identity

January 6, 2020 / By Alonzo D. Turner

Editor's Note: The United Methodist Ecumenical Campus Ministry at Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University applied for and received the Ercil Cady Grant in 2019 and they put on a spirituality writing contest that was geared towards students of Black/African American and Native American descent.  Alonzo D. Turner won the contest with the following essay. One of the most rewarding opportunities that I have been afforded as a …more