News Stories from June 2020
2020 Lottie Brown scholarships announced
June 29, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Each year the Upper New York Annual Conference College Scholarships Committee offers Lottie Brown Scholarships for undergraduate students who are intending to enter a career in Christian service. This year’s recipients are Katie Allen, Avery Burnsworth, Delena Castle, Nicole DelCante, Amethyst Gardner, Lorrine Glover, and Colin Weichenthal. Katie, a theology major at Houghton College, is not absolute certain of what her career will be, but she knows that …more
Back to mission at the Mission Central HUB: How you can help
June 26, 2020 / By Mike Block, UNY Director of Missional Engagement / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Praise God! Following New York State reopening guidelines, as of June 1, the Upper New York Conference Office has phased in a limited number of the Conference staff, including Mary Beth Ingalls and me at the UNY Mission Central HUB. While we are not yet able to have volunteers in the building, you can still help the UNY Mission Central HUB’s ministry. Here are a couple ways you can …more
DS changes effective July 1 as UNY begins its Regional Superintendency Plan
June 23, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
July 1 marks the beginning of Upper New York’s (UNY) new Regional Superintendency Plan. While UNY Conference will maintain the current 12 Districts, every District will be a part of one of three Regions. This will allow leadership and collaboration opportunities between Districts within each Region. Region 1 consists of the Albany, Adirondack, Northern Flow, and Mohawk Districts. Region 2 consists of the Crossroads, Finger Lakes, Genesee Valley, and Niagara …more
The Upper New York Conference District Administrative Assistant changes
June 17, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
July 1 marks celebratory retirements for two District Administrative Assistants (AAs), Pam Deckard in the Finger Lakes District and Maxine Getty in the Albany District. The Finger Lakes office’s new Administrative Assistant, Mary Tanner, began training on June 15. The current Adirondack District Administrative Assistant, Carrie Boyer, will be working as AA for both the Adirondack and Albany Districts. Pam Deckard considers herself a planner—always having one-year and …more
Red Bird Mission: More than shoeboxes
June 16, 2020 / By Judy and David Mott, Aloquin-Flint UMC
Editor's Note: Many people are familiar with Red Bird because of the shoe box ministry the UNY Conference supports each holiday season. Below is an article that originally appeared in the 2020 Spring issue of the Advocate; Judy and David Mott describe that Red Bird offers so much more than shoeboxes for the Appalachia community. Click here to read the Advocate that has more articles on Red Bird, …more
Agnes Sweets Jacobs-receives the 2020 CONAM Four Directions Humanitarian Award
June 15, 2020 / By Dan Cook, Hogansburg United Methodist Church.
Agnes Sweets Jacobs is the 2020 CONAM Four Directions Humanitarian Award recipient. Agnes Sweets Jacobs was born and raised on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation at Akwesasne. Sweets has three sisters and four brothers. Sweets and her loving husband Casey have four children and a foster son Louie age 1. Her parents Jerry and Angie were strong pillars in the church and community. Sweets learned at an early age strong family values, …more
Cady Grant awards for 2020
June 15, 2020 / By Blenda Smith
Editor’s Note: The Cady team has told awardees that they may be creative and flexible in using the grants. Due to COVID-19, programs have either been postponed or modified. The Upper New York (UNY) Cady Grant is an annual award is given as a bequeath from Ercil B. Cady in 1992 “for the benefit or education of disadvantaged minority group individuals, preferably black and American Indians.” …more
UNY clergy are eligible for 1 CEU from BOM
June 11, 2020 / By Bob Kolvik-Campbell
The Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) has approved the following motion: It is moved that all clergy, including local pastors, and all Certified Lay Ministers serving as leaders of congregations, shall be eligible to receive one (1) CEU from the Board of Ordained Ministry, for leading congregations through the COVID-19 pandemic in the Upper New York Conference. Eligible clergy would apply for the certification by Dec. 1, 2020 …more
Learning what mission means from Grandma Ruffo
June 9, 2020 / By Carmen Vianese, Chair of Finance for GBGM and UMCOR
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of the Upper New York Advocate, which focused on being the hands and feet of Jesus. Carmen Vianese has been engaged in impressive mission work in Africa. Carmen’s passion for mission stems from her Granma Ruffo, whose mission work took place in her own backyard in Western New York State. My first example of ministry &ldquo …more
Central United Methodist Church, Endicott launches hope@central
June 8, 2020 / By Rev. Dr. Michelle Michelle Bogue-Trost
Who says you can’t launch a New Faith Community in a pandemic? hope@central just did, and the story of it getting there is a wild ride—at least as experienced by its Core Team. First, the backstory: More than two years ago, the leadership of Central UMC in Endicott (Binghamton District) began talking with me, their pastor, about crafting a vision for the future. Located in …more