News Stories from April 2020
Stations of the Cross guided spiritual practice
April 7, 2020 / By UNY Communications
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time. The spiritual practice this week is specifically designed for Holy Week; it is Stations of the Cross. If you are not familiar with this practice, it focuses on the …more
July Wesley Course of Study program canceled
April 7, 2020 / By Sara Sheppard and Doug Tzan
Editor's Note: On April 7, the UNY Conference was notified, in the following letter, that the Wesley Course of Study program scheduled for July at the United Methodist Center is canceled. Good Afternoon, I am sorry to write and tell you that we are canceling Wesley's 2020 July session (all 20 classes). We struggled with this decision, but here is ultimately why we have decided to cancel: 1. This pandemic is clearly …more
COVID-19 virus and xenophobia
April 3, 2020 / By Inter-Ethnic Strategic Development Group
A Statement from the Inter-Ethnic Strategic Development Group (IESDG), a coalition represented by the five racial ethnic caucuses of the United Methodist Church. IESDG unequivocally denounce the disturbing and continual use of the term “China or Chinese Virus,” correctly known as the COVID-19 virus. The term “China/Chinese Virus” is racially loaded and inaccurately depicts the global nature of the disease's threat and the …more
You are invited to join Bishop Mark J. Webb for a time of prayer
April 3, 2020 / By UNY Communications
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, is inviting all Upper New York (UNY) Conference clergy and laity to join him in prayer next week. He said, “In the midst of Holy Week and the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, I invite clergy and laity to join me for a time of connection and prayer for one another and our world. We know we cannot fix …more
The CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Plan
April 3, 2020 / By Bob Flask and the Rev. Susan Ranous
Editor's Note: The following message eas sent to the Upper New York Conference on Friday April 3 on behalf of Conference Treasurer, Bob Flask, and CF&A Chair, the Rev. Susan Ranous. We hope you are caring for yourselves, your churches, congregations, and community during this difficult and unusual time. As you know, the Conference has a COVID-19 resource section on its website. As things have changed so …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: COVID-19, Holy Week, and Easter
April 3, 2020 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, sent the following letter to the Upper New York Conference on Friday April 2, 2020. "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but …more
Upper New York Annual Conference Session postponed until Oct. 3
April 3, 2020 / By UNY Communications
Due to the ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Thursday, April 2, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, after consulting with the Sessions Committee and the executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry, recommended to the Upper New York Cabinet that the Upper New York Annual Conference session, originally scheduled for May 28 – 30, 2020, be postponed. This recommendation was approved unanimously. October 3, 2020, a date previously …more
Three Ecumenical Organizations Release Unprecedented Letter
April 1, 2020 / By National Council of Churches
The National Council of Churches (NCC) joins with Christians Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and Christian Churches Together (CCT) in sending a letter to congregations across the United States. The letter issues “an invitation to join together in witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus for all in the United States to see.” The letter states, “Holy Week is April 6-12 for Western Christians and April 13-19 for Orthodox …more