news article
Trustee report presented, Trustee election delayed
June 6, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The trustees shared their report in the morning plenary on June 6, 2019 at the tenth session of the Upper New York Annual Conference.
President of the Upper New York Board of Trustees Rich Barling began by discussing how successful the work of mission and ministry has been at both the Conference Office and the Camp & Retreat Centers throughout the Conference. He then shared some financial highlights, including the fact that the net assets (these are defined as assets less liabilities, Trustees maintain oversight for) declined slightly more than 2% between 2017 and 2018.
The net of the revenue and expenditures resulted in a surplus of $526,775 prior to transfers. After the transfers, there was a net deficit of $276.457. The transfers included $404,038 to New Beginnings Fund and $399,194 to Camp & Retreat Ministry.
Rich said, “The total of these transfers, $802,232, were more than three times greater than the 2017 transfers.”
Jack Keating reported on Conference properties, which resulted on a net revenue to support the New Beginnings Fund.
The Church Mutual insurance program was renewed. As a result of the renewal with Church Mutual, there were slight increases in the Commercial Multi-Peril premium for 2019. Churches also received a safety group dividend from Church Mutual which should have helped offset any premium increases.
In addition to continuing the insurance program with Church Mutual, the insurance committee also recommended to the Board of Trustees that we continue with Walsh Duffield as our risk management partner and insurance consultant.
Due to two major fires for UNY churches, one at Schroon Lake and the other at Stannards. The trustees expect that these major losses may have an impact on pricing for 2020.
The insurance committee is considering whether we may need to go back out into the market to obtain new pricing from other companies, plus Church Mutual, to ensure that our 2020 pricing is competitive.
Church Mutual is focusing on loss control, active shooter training, and the installation of water sensors.
Despite a resolution passed at the 2018 Annual Conference, requesting that the Trustees pursue lead coverage for churches from Church Mutual, he Insurance Committee found that lead coverage is not available from Church Mutual, or any other company.
The District Superintendents of Districts with closed churches each asked members touched by the ministries of the specific churches to stand.
- For the Adirondack District, the Rev. Debbie Earthrowl prayed for Newcomb UMC and Peasleeville UMC.
- The Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood, District Superintendent of the Cornerstone District prayed for Catttaraugus UMC and Open Meadows UMC.
- For the Finger Lakes District, the Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell prayed for Friend UMC and Palmyra UMC.
- For the Genesee Valley District, The Rev. Vonda Fossitt prayed for Rochester: Grace UMC and Rochester: West Ave. UMC as well as South Byron UMC.
- For the Mohawk District, The Rev. Abel Roy prayed for Utica: Asbury UMC.
- For the Mountain View District, the Rev. Nancy Adams prayed for the Elmira Riverside UMC.
- The Rev. Mike Weeden of the Northern Flow District prayed for Watertown: Bethany UMC.
- For the Oneonta District, the Rev. Everett Bassett prayed for McDonough UMC, Plymouth UMC, and Smithville Center UMC. All closures were supported.
When it came time to elect trustees, Sara Baron motioned to have the ballot postponed until the Nominations Committee can bring other nominees representing more diversity. The Rev. Beckie Sweet amended Sara’s motion to postpone until two people of color are included on the ballot to be ex officio members. The Rev. Scott Johnson amended the amendment to the motion to postpone by removing the word “two.” This amendment was supported after which, the Rev. Ruth Rosa Warner, amended the amendment by changing the wording to a more diverse slate. A motion was made to indefinitely postpone the amendment. Sam Smith mentioned that the Robert Rules would make the postponing out of order until the amendment is voted on. Bishop Webb noted that Sam was right and invited him to the stage as parliamentarian. The voting devices were used to vote on Rev. Rosa Warner’s amendment and the amendment was supported by a mere six votes.
Update: The trustees election took place on Friday June 7 in the afternoon plenary. It began with Jack Keating describing the many duties that trustees are responsible for including overseeing at least two properties, working long hours, and dealing with both real estate and legal issues.
Bios were provided on all the candidates, which included:
- The Rev. Stephen Crowell, Clergy, Native American
- Benjamin Hill, Laity, White
- The Rev. Pamela Klotzbach, Clergy, White
- Harold Schmidt Laity, White
- Sanjay Solomon Laity, Indian
- Tracy Jackson-Adams Laity, African American
- -The Rev. Patience Kisakye, African