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Fresh vision for ministry takes root at Greenhouse Days
September 24, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On September 20 and 21, United Methodists from across the Upper New York Conference came together for UNY Greenhouse Days, with gatherings held at Kenmore UMC near Buffalo and the United Methodist Center in Liverpool. Greenhouse Days are annual one-day events hosted by the Upper New York Conference’s New Faith Communities and Innovation Initiative. Clergy and laity joined in a shared experience of learning, conversation, and visioning as they explored creative ways to connect with their communities and bring new expressions of church to life.
Greenhouse Days are designed to equip individuals and churches to reach new people in new places and in new ways. Through practical tools, collaborative learning, and creative inspiration, participants explore how to cultivate Fresh Expressions of Church—innovative ministries that meet people where they are.
Both sessions were led by the Rev. Dr. Michael Beck, Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary. Based in the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church, he and his wife Jill serve traditional congregations and lead innovative ministries in places like tattoo parlors, dog parks, restaurants, and online spaces.
During Sunday’s session, Rev. Dr. Beck showed a slide showing a church within a maze to illustrate the challenge churches face in connecting with nearly 40 percent of the population who are unlikely to attend Sunday worship. “What we're really saying is, hey, here's this maze of this thing called church. Yeah, you're welcome. But you're welcome if you can come on Sunday at 11 o'clock to the corner of Maple and Main where our church is. The only way the church is going to become more accessible is if we take it out of the maze and bring it out into the world,” Rev. Dr. Beck shared.
The session combined teaching with interactive group work, as participants identified places in their communities where people naturally gather—like parks, libraries, and coffee shops. They also discussed potential “persons of peace” who could help build relationships and open doors for ministry, brainstorming practical ways to bring Fresh Expressions to life by connecting with people in their current place or situation.
The Rev. Bryant Clark, pastor of Marcellus UMC, said, “Fresh Expressions is something that I've just been really interested in almost naturally, before I knew there was a name for it. My experience with church—we've always struggled to ask, ‘How do we get outside of our church? How do we try new things?’ Sometimes you just have to try stuff, and it doesn't even have to be this formal thing, or you don't need 12 committees to sign on. You just need to find a few people to go try something.”
Rev. Clark added, “To me, this was a great opportunity to not only hear what's going on down in Florida, but also to just learn from somebody who's really stepped in these waters and is really familiar.”
For Gabriella Wilson, Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Olean: Christ UMC, the event was deeply inspiring and opened her mind to new possibilities for ministry. “I was really excited because I saw the different ideas like the Burritos and Bibles and the Tattoo Parlor Church, and I’m not necessarily conventional to what church looks like,” said Wilson.
She summed up her experience simply: “This is the best thing I’ve experienced this year, specifically for learning opportunities.”
Key Takeaways from UNY Greenhouse Days
- Fresh Expressions is about meeting people where they are, creating spiritual communities in everyday spaces like parks and coffee shops.
- Lay leadership is vital. Everyday disciples—not just clergy—are empowered to start and sustain Fresh Expressions in their own contexts.
- Churches don’t need committees or large programs to begin; small, faithful experiments can grow into thriving ministries.
- Fresh Expressions doesn’t replace traditional church—they extend its reach to connect with those who may not attend Sunday worship.
- This work is about building relationships first, trusting that transformation and discipleship will naturally grow out of authentic community.
As churches across the Upper New York Conference reflect on Greenhouse Days, the work is just beginning. By taking bold steps and trusting God’s guidance, congregations can plant seeds of innovation and grow new expressions of church that reach people beyond traditional walls. Moving forward in faith and creativity, we step into a future filled with hope and possibility.
For more information or questions, contact the Rev. Abigail Browka, Director of New Faith Communities and Innovation in Upper New York, at AbigailBrowka@unyumc.org.