news article
Introducing the Upper New York Conference Communication Hubs
October 24, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson
Shortly after the UNY Conference was formed, with the large geographical size of the Conference in mind, a promise was made to create Communication Hubs across the UNY Conference to strengthen our connection. And now this promise has been fulfilled.
In the beginning of 2017, the Conference Leadership Team (CLT) and the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) decided to designate some Conference funds toward creating Communication Hubs at churches that already had much of the equipment they needed to both receive and send Audio/Visual data electronically for distance learning, collaboration, and events.
The Rev. Susan Ranous, Co-Chair of CF&A, said, “CF&A was delighted, as a result of the historical payment of ministry shares by local churches in 2016, to set aside some of those funds to help provide the hubs with the necessary infrastructure in order to assist the hubs in having the capability to provide promised training of laity and clergy in our Conference.”
After much research and collaboration between District Offices, the Conference Communication Team, the IT team, and others the Conference Communication Hubs have been identified and equipped to assure optimal communication abilities.
The Rev. Drew Sperry, a member of CLT and also the Associate Pastor at Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, now a Communication Hub said, “These strategically located Hubs throughout our Conference are a great way to live into our connectionism. It will greatly increase our communication as well as promote community and growth with one another."
There are currently 12 hubs, one for each district. These hubs are all capable of using technology to enhance regional connections. That number is likely to grow in the coming months and years.
The Rev, Kristen Roth Allen, Co-Lead Pastor of Bemus Point UMC, also a Communication Hub, said, “We love this new opportunity to share our resources with our neighboring United Methodists, and we’re grateful to the Conference for creating this new way to easily connect with each other.”
The following UNY churches are communication hubs:
- Albany District: Shenendehowa UMC
- Adirondack District: Saratoga Springs UMC
- Binghamton District: Endwell UMC
- Crossroads District: UNY United Methodist Center
- Cornerstone District: Bemus Point UMC
- Finger Lakes District: Cortland First UMC
- Genesee Valley District: Rush UMC
- Mohawk District: New Hartford First UMC
- Mountain View District: Avoca UMC
- Niagara Frontier District: Clarence UMC
- Northern Flow District: Canton UMC
- Oneonta District: Oneonta First UMC
Click here for further details and contact information for each of these Communication Hubs.
If your Conference team would like to arrange for an event at some or all of the Communication’s Hubs, contact your Conference Team’s support staff. Questions about facilities and capabilities may be directed to the local sites.
If your church is interested in becoming a Communication Hub, contact UNY Conference Director of Communications, Steve Hustedt at stevehusedt@unyumc.org.