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C3 Tour 2025: Clergy gather across Upper New York to embrace chaos and cultivate hope
November 3, 2025 / By Shelby Winchell, Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
More than 200 clergy from across Upper New York came together last week for the 2025 C3 Tour—a three-stop worship and visioning experience at Clarence Center UMC, Saratoga Springs UMC, and Fayetteville UMC. Centered on the theme of navigating chaos with faith, the tour created sacred space for pastors to pause, connect, and imagine what a Spirit-led future for ministry might look like.
Worship Rooted in Creation and Pentecost
Each gathering began with a contemplative and poetic Call to Worship, drawing from Genesis 1:1–2. Clergy and congregational leaders were invited to enter into the mystery of creation—before clarity, before light—where God’s Spirit hovered over the chaos. Through responsive readings, clergy affirmed that worship is not reserved for moments of certainty but is a sacred act even in the midst of the unknown.
The liturgy emphasized God’s nearness in disorder and the Spirit’s ongoing movement in the swirling uncertainties of ministry. A communal prayer called on the Creator to “hover over our hearts, our churches, our visioning,” and to “shape new creation from our chaos.”
This opening moment set the tone for the day, grounding participants in the biblical truth that God speaks beauty into the void and brings light into darkness.
Message and Reflection
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez delivered a powerful message weaving together the Genesis creation story and the Pentecost narrative from Acts 2, emphasizing the Spirit’s transformative power in times of uncertainty.
Drawing from a moment when his GPS lost signal on unfamiliar Pennsylvania backroads, Bishop Héctor reflected on what it means to lead when “the map disappears.” He reminded pastoral leaders that true guidance often comes not from certainty but from trust. “Leadership begins not with perfect plans or predictable outcomes,” he said, “but with trust—trust that even in the mess, God is present and doing something good.”
Bishop Héctor urged clergy not to fear chaos but to recognize it as sacred ground where God works in surprising ways. “Chaos is not the absence of God,” he said. “Before there was light, there was darkness. Before there was structure, there was movement.” Just as creation and Pentecost emerged from disorder, he reminded the church that new life is being born even now through disruption. “Chaos always comes before creation,” he said. “Even in the swirl, God’s Spirit is hovering, and beauty is being born.”
In times of uncertainty, Bishop Héctor also called on pastoral leaders to care for themselves as they care for others. “Christ is not asking us to sacrifice our families, our meaningful relationships, or our health for the sake of the mission,” he said. Rather than rushing to fix what only God can heal, leaders are invited to rest, to prioritize what truly matters, and to trust that “our well-being, our rest, and our relationships matter—especially during chaotic times.”
As he concluded, Bishop Héctor offered a word of courage for those leading in turbulent seasons. “We are not lost; we are being led,” he said. “Let’s move forward not with fear but with faith, not with nostalgia but with holy imagination.” His invitation was clear: to live into the chaos with open hands and steady hearts, trusting that God is still creating beauty out of disorder.
Small Group Conversations
A central component of the tour was led by the Rev. Anna Blinn Cole, Chair of Order of the Elders; the Rev. Becky Naber, Chair of Order of the Deacons; and Pastor Donna Fitchette, Chair of Fellowship of Local Pastors. Participants engaged in small group conversations around five guiding questions, exploring:
- The sources of chaos in their ministry contexts
- Opportunities for the Conference to equip and resource leaders
- Faithful steps for the next three to five years
- Obstacles that are preventing progress
- The role of clergy support networks in fostering transformation
Resources to Strengthen Ministry and Leadership
Following internal reflection and small group conversations, Bishop Héctor shared the new vision statement of The United Methodist Church, unveiled in May 2025, and encouraged clergy to embrace it fully: to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. He emphasized that this vision expresses how we live into our enduring mission—“to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This is not a marketing slogan, he reminded the group, but a shared commitment to deepen our life together in the mission of the Church.
As President of Discipleship Ministries, Bishop Héctor shared a new brochure highlighting a wide range of resources available to congregational leaders. He reminded participants that Discipleship Ministries exists to equip churches for disciple-making and encouraged clergy to take advantage of the high-quality materials provided—not only by Discipleship Ministries and the other general agencies, but also through the resources curated by Upper New York’s Missional Excellence team.
Looking ahead, clergy were invited to participate in a 2026 Wesley Heritage Tour designed not just as a sightseeing trip, but as a spiritual journey to reconnect with the roots of Methodism. The pilgrimage to England with Bishop Héctor is scheduled to take place from September 30-October 8. He mentioned those ordained between 2021–2025 will receive special financial support through the Board of Ordained Ministry to make the trip more accessible.
Other tools introduced included the Amplify Media platform—available for Bible studies, sermon series, and small group content—and MissionInsite, which helps leaders understand demographic trends in their communities. A new online learning space called Portico was also launched, offering interactive, on-demand courses to equip clergy and laity for ministry. All three programs are free to UNY churches.
Finally, clergy were encouraged to stay connected through upcoming opportunities: a SUS & UNY online Advent clergy gathering on November 5 at 9 a.m. and the first Cross-Racial Cross-Cultural Summit on November 10 as spaces to build community, share wisdom, and strengthen the Church’s collective witness.
Sent Out in Hope
The tour concluded with a commissioning moment, sending clergy forth as “leaders of hope, midwives of mission, and stewards of a Spirit-led future.” The closing hymn, “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name,” served as a reminder that the task of transforming the world begins with each leader’s faithful response.
To view photo albums of the three stops as posted on the UNY Facebook page, click the following links: