news stories
Potatoes distributed throughout UNY
November 19, 2019 / By Betty Houg and Crystal Dauback
Editor’s Note: This past fall, The Society of St. Andrew with the help of over 100 volunteers distributed well over 150,000 pounds of potatoes throughout Upper New York with potato drops at Rose UMC, Endwell UMC, Boonville UMC, and the UNY United Methodist Center. Each location had 35,000-50,000 potatoes picked up by food pantries, churches, community organizations, families, and individuals. Below is a story of Boonville UMC’s …more
Friendship UMC: The story of the Friendship AWANA Club
November 19, 2019 / By By Clara E. Wilder, Licensed Local Pastor, First UMC of Friendship and River’s Edge UMC
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2019 Issue II of the Advocate, which zeroed in on the theme of Discipleship Systems: Beyond Sunday services. Click here to read the issue. “Where are all the children?” Is the most-asked question in one of the rural churches that I serve. I serve First United Methodist Church of Friendship in Friendship, NY. The town is in the beautiful southern …more
INR continues
November 19, 2019 / By Blenda Smith
The Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) is excited to share the results of a busy summer! We worked with the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) to revise the Imagine No Racism (INR) curriculum to reflect the excellent evaluations and feedback of those who experienced INR in 2018. All clergy are expected to complete the full six weeks of the INR curriculum, and many did this last year. …more
NYS wage and salary increases
November 14, 2019 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
State and federal laws establish minimum wages for non-exempt employees and minimum salary levels for some exempt employees. Non-exempt employees must receive at least the higher of the state or federal hourly minimum wage for hours worked. Exempt employees must receive at least the higher of the state or federal salary levels. New York State Minimum Wage Increase for Non-Exempt Employees Effective December 31, 2019, New York State minimum wage …more
Faith Journey UMC’s Mission Central Campus opens
November 13, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In April 2016, Mike Jordan, the chairperson of Crossroad District’s Faith Journey UMC’ s trustees, convinced members of his church that it was possible to transform a dilapidated, closed-down veterinary building into a beautiful space to be the new home for their Cradle & Beyond thrift shop that had been part of St. Andrew’s UMC until the church closed. And that this could also be a …more
How generous is your church?
November 12, 2019 / By UNY Communications
Editor's Note: In the 2019 Issue II of the Advocate, we asked members of the UNY conference to tell us about how their church is generous. Below are some of the responses we received. “We have just received permission from the village board to start a ‘Worship Without Walls’ in our downtown. We are excited and will move forward from here. We held an annual Thanksgiving …more
No way to treat a child
November 12, 2019 / By Rev. Merle Showers, UNY Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine/Israel
Editor’s Note: Approximately 2.9 million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank, of which 45 percent are children under the age of 18. Palestinian children in the West Bank, like adults, face arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment under an Israeli detention system that denies them basic rights. Below is an example of the mistreatment these children face with action you can take on Nov. 20 to help prevent such treatment. Learn more …more
Change in insurance carrier beginning Jan. 1, 2020
November 12, 2019 / By Jack Keating and Richard Barling
Editor's Note: In early Nov. 2019, the UNY Board of Trustees sent the following letter to all churches in the UNY Conference to inform them of the plan to change the Conference's insurance carrier from Church Mutual to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. To: All Churches in the Upper New York Annual Conference, Each year, your Annual Conference Board of Trustees reviews our Conference-wide insurance program. The Board looks …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: A letter upon returning from the Council of Bishops
November 8, 2019 / By Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: After returning from the Council of Bishops meeting in Lake Junaluska, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb shared the following letter with the Upper New York Conference on Friday Nov. 8. Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! I continue to give thanks to God for each of you and for the many ways you are offering the good …more
Welcome Shari Mudge as UNY Part-Time Weekend/Evening Welcoming Specialist
November 7, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The UNY Conference United Methodist Center prioritizes hospitality to all visitors who use the facility. Our Full-Time Welcoming and Support Specialist, Chris Lupini, provides top-notch hospitality to all visitors; however, his hours are weekdays and we welcome UNY Conference members to use the facility during weekends and evenings as well. We are pleased to announce that we have hired Shari Mudge to fill the Part Time Weekend/Evening Welcome Specialist …more