News Stories from October 2023
NOMADS lend helping hands at Asbury Retreat Center
October 30, 2023 / By Rev. Sue Russell, Asbury Retreat Center Director
Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service, more commonly referred to as NOMADS, recently spent three weeks at Asbury Retreat Center. The NOMADS are volunteers with the mission of rebuilding lives, homes, and facilities with God’s love and their hands. Volunteers from across New York and Pennsylvania spent Oct. 2-19 at Asbury. The retired, or close to retired participants, enjoy traveling across the United States in an …more
Virtual retreats offer space for UNY women and beyond to find space and build connections
October 26, 2023 / By Krystal Cole, Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Doing something new can be scary. But the Upper New York Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) is full of people ready and willing to try something. We weren’t sure it was even achievable to hold a retreat for women over Zoom. The mere mention of the word “Zoom” for some people can elicit an internal eye roll, or perhaps …more
Special Session 2023: A recap of disaffiliations in Upper New York
October 24, 2023 / By the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Assistant to the Bishop
On Oct. 14, 2023, a special session of Annual Conference ratified a final docket of 57 requests from churches to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church (UMC) under ¶ 2553 of The Book of Discipline. According to an unofficial tally maintained by United Methodist Communications (UMCom), around 6,500 disaffiliation requests have been ratified by conferences across the United States to date. Several more conferences will meet in special sessions to consider other requests before the …more
Remembering Bishop Thomas B. Stockton
October 20, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Retired Bishop Thomas B. Stockton of Winston-Salem, NC died on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at the age of 93. Bishop Stockton was elected to the episcopacy on July 12, 1988. He was assigned to the Richmond Area, which encompasses the Virginia Annual Conference. He retired in 1996. He also served as Bishop in Residence at High Point University. He was born on July 26, 1930, in Winston Salem, NC. After receiving an A.B. …more
Korean-American faith leaders celebrate spirituality
October 19, 2023 / By Rev. Jee Hae Song, St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Warners United Methodist Church
In the beginning of October, 304 clergy and laity attended the Special Session of National Association of the Korean American United Methodists (KAUM) in Northbrook, IL. Four of those clergy attendees were from Upper New York (UNY). The Rev. Yohan Moon (Clarence Center UMC); the Rev. Sung Jun Park (Homer UMC); the Rev. Jin Kook Lee (Henrietta: Faith UMC and Korean Mission of Rochester UMC); and I all attended, representing …more
New Legislation regarding written notice of unemployment benefits and personal account information disclosure
October 19, 2023 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
There is new legislation regarding written notice of unemployment benefits and personal account information that takes effect in November 2023 and March 2024. Written Notice of Unemployment Benefits In relation to the notice of eligibility for unemployment benefits, New York State Senate Bill S4878-A/A. 398-A amends Section 590 of the Labor Law. Under this new legislation, employers must provide written notice of eligibility for unemployment benefits …more
Sneakers for students
October 16, 2023 / By Tim Rock, Harkness United Methodist Church
Harkness United Methodist Church turned meals into sneakers through the Michigans for Mission project. It all started in 2016 as a fundraiser to support the mission of the church. The Michigan hot dog is a North Country favorite and is a popular meal at the many restaurants around our tri-county area. Seven years ago, we offered the option of dine-in or take-out. All the money raised from selling hot …more
From the desk of Bishop Héctor- Closing remarks on disaffiliations
October 14, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript and video of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez' closing remarks following the Special Session of the UNY Annual Conference, which was held remotely on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 to ratify the fourth and last batch of church disaffiliations. “Friends, since I arrived in Upper New York in January, I have experienced United Methodists of …more
District Days: Informed to Transform
October 12, 2023 / By Carrie Boyer, Adirondack and Albany Districts Superitendency Administrative Assistant
The Adirondack and Albany Districts hosted their annual “District Day: Informed to Transform,” on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Saratoga Springs UMC. More than 80 people participated, with 10 facilitators offering a total of 16 workshops. Fifty-one churches were represented. Each participant was able to choose three workshops for the all-day affair, which included a worship service and a free lunch, thanks to the generosity of the Adirondack District Lay Servant Team. This …more
From the desk of Bishop Héctor- Violence in the Middle East (Palestine-Israel)
October 11, 2023 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following note was sent via email to United Methodists of Upper New York on Oct. 11 on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez about the violence in the Middle East. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 Dear United Methodists of Upper New York, This past weekend, we …more