news article

Resource Center Director, Diane Miner to retire

October 3, 2017 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Diane Miner, Director of the Upper New York Conference’s Resource Center will retire next month. She has played a very valuable role in the UNY Conference ever since its formation and prior to that, she served as the Resource Center Director for the Wyoming Conference.

When the four Conferences in Upper New York merged to become the Upper New York Conference in 2010, Diane, along with Sheila Rader facilitated the consolidation of all the resources from the previous Conferences into two central locations. This was followed by the move to one central location facilitated by Diane in 2012, which was initially in Endicott and eventually at the United Methodist Center in the spring of 2017.

Every day in her position, she filled requests for resources to be sent to congregations small and large across Upper New York. She regularly kept up-to-date on all of the latest books, DVDs, and study kits, looking for the best resources to make available to the local churches in the UNY Conference.

Diane truly enjoyed her position. She said, “The best part of my job over the years has been the people. I received many calls and notes expressing gratitude. I always got the warm fuzzy calls, very rarely a complaint.”

The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries, said, “When people ask me, “So how do our church’s ministry share payments help our local church,” I immediately point to Diane. She’s helped hundreds and hundreds of pastors and church leaders get ahold of the best resources for Sunday school classes, adult studies, VBS programs, and youth groups.  She’s made such a great contribution and done so with such personal warmth and dedication.  I just add my sincere thanks to the many people around UNY who so appreciate Diane’s incredible ministry.”

As Diane opens herself up to what God is calling her to do next, she is confident that the Media Resource Center will continue to grow and remain a vital part of the Conference.