Meet the Spiritual Directors: Pastor Cheryl Hine
November 18, 2019 / By Cheryl Hine
My name is Cheryl Hine. While reading books, I often came across the phrase “spiritual direction.” I wondered, “What exactly is spiritual direction!?” Then I had an opportunity to be a student in the UNY Conference’s Tending the Soul spiritual retreat program, and my relationship with God brought me to remarkable, unexpected opportunities! The first change I noticed in myself is that I approach …more
Meet the DLTs: Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Quick
November 12, 2019 / By Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Quick
I’m Beth Quick, and I’m a member of the Northern Flow District Leadership Team. I’ve served as the pastor of the North Gouverneur and Gouverneur: First UMCs since 2016. I’ve been in pastoral ministry for 16 years, and I, like you, have seen the role of the church in society change significantly in that time. For pastors and congregations, we must learn new ways …more
Meet the DLTs: Northern Flow District
November 5, 2019 / By Brenda Shelmidine
My name is Brenda Shelmidine and I’m a member of the Northern Flow District Leadership Team as well as serving the Northern Flow District as their Lay Leader. I am also a member of the Lorraine United Methodist Church and serve as a lay speaker. I am the least experienced member of our DLT, and I am continuing to learn a lot on our journey together. Our meetings …more
Meet the DLTs: Peter Lagueras
October 29, 2019 / By Peter Lagueras
My name is Peter Lagueras and I am the lay leader of the Genesee Valley District. As the District Lay Leader, I have been a part of the District Leadership Team (DLT) because of my position. This is my second year serving on DLT. We have helped plan and organize many different events for the District including the Inform to Transform and the recently finished Bishop’s Retreat. The …more
Meet the Spiritual Directors: Rev. Tim Phelps
October 24, 2019 / By Rev. Tim Phelps
Hi; this is Tim Phelps and I offer this brief introduction as a Spiritual Director in the UNY Conference. My wife Liz and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary this past summer. We have two young adult children. Liz and I live in Falconer, New York in the Cornerstone District Across the years, I have been aware of the presence of the Living Christ in my life. Attending Tending the …more
Meet the DLTs: Jan Rothfuss
October 21, 2019 / By Jan Rothfuss
My name is Jan (Janet) Rothfuss. I am a member of Aldersgate UMC: Greece, where I have been a member for fifteen years. My son, Aaron, now lives in North Carolina. He and his wife Diana have three children. I am blessed with grandchildren Alex, 6 ½, and twin girls Sophia and Madalyn, 2 ½. I was born into Methodism, fondly remembering my extended family sitting in the same pew every week. …more
Meet the DLTs: Deb Clyde
October 14, 2019 / By Deb Clyde
Many years ago, I was invited to attend a Lay Speakers Retreat at Asbury Retreat Center. Fast forward and now I am the GVD Lay Servant Ministry Director, who planned this past fall’s Lay Servant Retreat at the Asbury Retreat Center. With that title came the opportunity to be on the GVD Leadership Team. I was somewhat overwhelmed at first because I wasn’t sure what was …more
Meet the Spiritual Directors: Bonnie Kreutter
October 10, 2019 / By Bonnie Kreutter, Geneseo UMC / 1 Comment
Tending the Soul (TTS) is s a program designed to train individuals in Spiritual Direction and Congregational Formation. When I took the TTS training , I was focused on spiritual direction and thought “I’m not really interested in congregational formation.” At that point, I can now picture the Lord chuckling to Himself! Since completing the program, my work has been congregational formation pretty much, although I do …more
Meet the Deacons: Rev. Becky Guthrie
October 8, 2019 / By Rev. Becky Guthrie / 1 Comment
I have two half-time appointments: First UMC New Hartford and St. Luke’s Hospital, Utica. I have a Masters’ in counseling with a specialty in grief and certified by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC.org). I am available for my congregants and the community. Many pastors and community members in my area reach out for guidance and support. At First UMC, I am entrusted with …more
Meet the DLTs: Genesee Valley District
October 7, 2019 / By Rev. Vonda Fossitt / 1 Comment
The Genesee Valley District Leadership Team meets monthly to pray together, discern together, and strategize ways to assist the local church in ministry to the world. Several years of risk taking and faithful attempts at initiating new ideas and action plans, has resulted in a prosperous annual schedule of programming for the District. Our DLT hosts several main events, the Inform To Transform, a Fall Training event, and the Summer …more