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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    DiCocco to helm communications for New England Conference

    December 1, 2014 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar left Upper New York when he was elected to the episcopacy in July 2004; he was assigned to the New England Conference in 2012.

    The New England Conference Office will take another Upper New York transplant when Beth DiCocco begins her new role as that conference’s Director of Communications starting Jan. 5, 2015.

    “We are very proud of Beth, and I’m personally thrilled that she will be able to continue her ministry in this way,” said Stephen J. Hustedt, Upper New York Conference Director of Communications. “Beth is an extremely talented and passionate person. She will be a great gift for the New England Conference.”

    DiCocco has served as Upper New York’s Writer/Editor since April 4, 2011. Her initial duties for the Conference were writing and editing articles for the website and the Conference’s monthly print publication, the Advocate; she also served as the newsletter’s designer. As the Conference’s social media presence grew so has her role in writing and editing for multiple platforms.

    In her new role, DiCocco will be overseeing all facets of communications in the New England Conference. DiCocco’s team will include a data coordinator and a communications associate who oversees the New England Conference’s website and video lab.

    She is excited for the new adventure.

    “I am eager to take on a leadership role. As a member of the Extended Cabinet, I will be one of those helping to shape the vision and work of the conference,” she said. “That's definitely going to be a challenge, but it's also exciting to me.”

    She, along with former UNY Communications Director the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga and Multimedia/Web Coordinator Ashley Riddell, provided live media coverage from Florida during the two weeks of General Conference 2012, and in that same year was a significant contributor to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference’s Daily Christian Advocate produced by Rev. Mulenga, DiCocco, Riddell and UNY Communications Associate Christian Vischi. But the local stories are what interest her the most.

    “Even though it was exciting to cover General Conference and to see our new bishop elected at NEJ in 2012, I have to say that my favorite stories are about the work being done by clergy and laity in local churches,” DiCocco said. “One example that stands out is the late Rev. Fred Jackson, who started a house church at his nursing home at age 89. I was, and still am, amazed by the many VIM volunteers who helped communities recover from the flooding in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. There are many, many more people doing incredible things here; I am blessed to have helped tell these stories and remain inspired by them.”

    Rev. Mulenga, who now serves as Assistant to the Bishop for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, said DiCocco’s professionalism impressed him during his tenure with UNY, along with her “willingness to learn, hard work and dedication to the ministry.

    “Beth also showed that she has the ability to make decisions and be a leader, especially at deadline times where she was able to remain calm despite the constant updates and changes in the stories,” he said. “Her creativity and problem-solving skills made it easier for me to do my job effectively as a director of communications – a position that I believe she is will excel in as she moves to New England Conference. My prayers are with her and her family! You go Beth!”

    Between her solo articles and the Advocate, UMAC has awarded DiCocco more than a half dozen times in her short four years with the Conference.

    “Beth has been an important member of our Communications team and a great gift to the Upper New York Conference,” said Upper New York Bishop Mark J. Webb. “She is the consummate professional and it shows in her work, in her focus on telling the stories of the Upper New York Conference. Her keen attention to detail has garnered attention outside of our Conference, such as her UMAC awards. While Beth will be greatly missed in Upper New York, the New England Conference will be blessed by her leadership. Our prayers go with her and her family in this time of transition.”

    She won’t be a fish out of water in Lawrence, Mass. (the location of the New England Conference Center) since she went to Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts and honeymooned with her husband, Martin Lyons, in Rhode Island and Nantucket.

    “ … New England is a part of the country I really enjoy. I am looking forward to being close to Boston and its great art museums, food, etc. I am also looking forward to being near the ocean,” she said.

    That’s not to say she won’t miss Upper New York and its people.

    “I have worked with some amazing and talented people during my time in Upper New York. I learned a great deal during my tenure; and I see this new role, in many ways, as a continuation and expansion of my work here. I will always be grateful for the support and camaraderie I have felt as part of this Conference. And I won't be too far away, so please stay in touch,” DiCocco said.

    DiCocco has been a professional writer for more than 20 years. Prior to her time with Upper New York, she was a Features Editor with the Utica Observer-Dispatch and an Adjunct Instructor for Utica College.

    DiCocco’s final day with Upper New York will be Dec. 19.


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."