news stories
Meet the new Niagara Frontier District AA-Beth Holdridge
October 20, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Please extend a warm welcome to Beth Holdridge, the new Niagara Frontier District Administrative Assistant. She begins her training on Monday Nov. 2. Beth is the daughter of Fred Holdridge, Licensed Local Pastor at Collins Center UMC. Beth grew up in the Forestville UMC congregation, where her father became a lay minister. Beth studied art and art history at Robert Wesleyan college. Her major was in painting and sculpture. Beth said, …more
Monitoring at Annual Conference 2020
October 19, 2020 / By Commission on Religion and Race and Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Annual Conference 2020 was one like no other. Yet it remained vital to have a variety of voices at the table—actually, at computers and phones. Our worldwide United Methodist Church values healthy conversations. To that end, the Commission on Religion and Race, and Commission on the Status and Role of Women monitor who is speaking at Annual Conference in terms of clergy, laity, race, and gender. The rules and …more
Red Bird Shoe Box drop off locations for 2020 announced
October 9, 2020 / By Dave Alexander / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
It is that time of year to think about the shoebox mission for the Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. I realize that things are tough for a lot of churches, but the Red Bird Mission is still in need of shoeboxes filled with personal hygiene supplies, new backpacks filled with school supplies, and new sheets, blankets, towels and washcloths. They also are in need of diapers, wipes, …more
Closed churches and trustees report supported at AC2020
October 5, 2020 / By Tara Barnes
The Rev. Richard Barling offered the 2020 report of the Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees at the Conference’s Oct. 3 virtual annual meeting. The report can be found on pages 102 and 103 of the 2020 Journal. Via video, Rev. Barling shared the work of the trustees managing the Conference’s properties, investments and insurance, and he thanked committee members, supporting staff and building and location teams for their work. …more
Three of Four Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits recommendations accepted at AC2020
October 3, 2020 / By Tara Barnes
The Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits report and recommendations were presented by chair Mary Rublee and Susan Latessa, Conference Director of Human Resources and Benefits. The board brought four recommendations, three of which can be found in Journal pages 97-98 and the other in updates to the journal. The first recommendation was for acceptance of the 2021 housing/rental exclusion resolution designating 100 percent of United Methodist pension, severanc …more
CF&A budget, report, added motion, and declaratory decision supported
October 3, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Oct. 3, 2020 at the UNY 2020 virtual Annual Conference, Holly Roush, Chair of the Conference Council on Finance & Administration (CF&A) presented the 2020 CF&A report via video. She explained that CF&A worked diligently on the 2021 budget, revisited the 2020 budget, and continued to provide resources on the Conference website. To prepare the budgets, Ministry Areas were asked a series of questions. Descriptions of Ministry Areas can …more
Nominations report presented at AC2020
October 3, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
This year’s nominations report, presented at the Upper New York Annual Conference, held Oct. 3, 2020, was different than prior years due to the pandemic. The Rev. Tony Hopes brought forth the nominations report, encouraging people to submit nominations using this form. Because of the pandemic, General Conference 2020 was postponed until September of next year. This change also shifted the beginning of the new quadrennium from January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022. …more
Four equitable compensation recommendations supported at AC2020
October 3, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In the Equitable Compensation Report, Paula Kuempel, current chair of the Commission on Equitable Compensation brought forth four recommendations at the 2020 virtual Annual Conference on Oct. 3. The first recommendation for 2021 was that the standardized minimum base compensation that was established for the Upper New York Conference effective Jan. 1, 2017 stay the same. Those minimum base salaries are set according to credential level, for all full-time clergy persons (see salaries on page 61 …more
UNY Leadership works toward increasing vitality in a new season
October 3, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The 2020 virtual Annual Conference, held on Oct. 3, opened with the leadership report. Via video, the Rev. Drew Sperry, Pastor at Calvary: Latham UMC, member of the Conference Leadership team and the member of the Bishop’s Operational Team, introduced the report. Rev. Sperry said, “One thing I think you’ll witness throughout this report is God’s faithfulness to us and our faithfulness to God and …more
2020 UNY Service of Ordination and Commissioning takes place at Liverpool UMC
October 2, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In order to prioritize the safety of all attendees during the COVID pandemic, the Upper New York Conference Service of Ordination and Commissioning was held on Oct. 2, 2020 at Liverpool U.M.C. with a limited number of invited guests. The service was livestreamed on the Conference website for the public to view. In keeping with New York State and Conference COVID guidelines, all guests and worship participants were screened prior …more