Perspectives from September 2019

Spiritual directors—a support team for everyone in the UNY Conference

September 30, 2019 / By Rev. Nancy Dibelius, Associate Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life in the UNY Conference / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / 1 Comment

The Upper New York Conference has a team of spiritual directors. Spiritual directors are trained to be the non-anxious presence that can hold a safe, sacred space for others.  We believed that these were gifts and skills that could support, nurture, guide the unfolding of God’s deep desire for us as a people and as a Conference. Individuals trained in spiritual direction bring gifts and skills in …more

Meet the DLTs: Pastor Brandin Greco

September 25, 2019 / By Pastor Brandin Greco / 1 Comment

Many blessings family, I am Brandin Greco, pastor of the Lycoming United Methodist Church, located in the shadow of the Nine Mile power plant cooling tower in beautiful Oswego county on the shores of Lake Ontario. Pretty much a hometown boy raised in the town of Mexico, a short distance from my church family, I spent the first third of my adult life touring with the Army Band all over …more

Meet the Deacons: Rev. Vivian Ruth Waltz

September 23, 2019 / By Rev. Vivian Ruth Waltz / 1 Comment

I am Deacon Vivian Ruth Waltz, appointed by Bishop Webb to an extension ministry as fulltime Director of the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence in Buffalo. The mission of the Sister Karen Center is to eliminate violence in ourselves, in our society, and in our world. We work to create a nonviolent community in our thinking, our acting, and our relationships. Our primary training program is the Alternatives …more

Meet the DLTs: Rev. Susan Ranous

September 18, 2019 / By Rev. Susan Ranous

My name is the Rev. Susan M. Ranous. I am a Deacon in Full Connection and I have been a member of the Crossroads District Leadership Team since its formation. There have been times when I have wondered why. As I considered that question recently, and also have been working on an intentional discipleship plan for a local church, it struck me that there has been a pathway that I …more

Meet the DLTS: Judy Craigmile

September 11, 2019 / By Judy Craigmile

I am Judy Craigmile, First United Methodist Church of Phoenix Lay Leader. I was raised as a United Methodist from birth. I experienced the joyful love and faithful teachings about God and Jesus from caring, dedicated disciples within my family and childhood faith community. Their willingness to follow Christ in love and action provided memorable, foundational examples that impact how I live my adult life as a disciple of Jesus …more

Meet the Deacons: Rev. Susan Ranous

September 9, 2019 / By Rev. Susan Ranous

I am Rev. Susan Ranous, a Deacon in Full Connection, called to a ministry of word, service, compassion, and justice, with a specialized ministry of stewardship, church, finance, and clergy tax. My call to ministry utilizes my education and experience as a Certified Public Accountant. I have served various churches as treasurer, bookkeeper, finance chair, and stewardship coordinator over the years. As the current Chair of the Conference Council on …more

Meet the DLTs: Crossroads District

September 3, 2019 / By Rev. Nola Anderson

Winston Churchill said, “Excellence is caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical; expecting more than others think is possible.” The Crossroads DLT is made up of both laity and clergy. Our team meets monthly, except July and August. Over the past year, the Crossroads District Leadership Team (DLT) has been using the L3 model …more