news stories
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Prayers for Buffalo
May 14, 2022 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor’s Note: On the evening of May 14, 2022, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, sent the following letter to the Upper New York Conference after learning of the racially-motivated mass shooting that took place at a Tops market in Buffalo, earlier that evening. Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I join with the people of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Death of Genesee Valley District Superintendent Rev. Vonda Fossitt
May 12, 2022 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following was sent on behalf of Bishop Mark J. Webb to clergy in the Genesee Valley District on May 12, 2022. Dear Friends, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! As you have learned of the death of your District Superintendent, the Rev. Vonda Fossitt, I wanted to share with you my deep sense of loss and fervent prayers for each of you. Vonda …more
UNY Camp and Retreat Ministries to receive $118,000 in grant money
May 11, 2022 / By UNY Communications
The Upper New York (UNY) Camp & Retreat Ministry (CRM) sites will be receiving a total of $118,000 in grant money to impact sustainability for each site and foundation board development. An anonymous foundation initially offered $1,000,000 to UM Camp & Retreat Ministry sites across the United States through a Ministry Impact Grant application process. Members responded enthusiastically submitting requests totaling $4,000,000. Inspired by the wonderful requests, the granting foundation was able to …more
Passing on the faith
May 10, 2022 / By Rev. Carrie Wolfe, Deacon and Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, Olean: Christ UMC
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the UNY 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused onchildren and youth ministries. Click here to access this issue of the Advocate. From 2 Timothy 1:5 (ICB), “I remember your true faith. That kind of faith first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice. And I know that you now have that same faith.” Antoinette Abernethy …more
Building youth leadership throughout UNY
May 10, 2022 / By Kevin Clark, CCYM Publicity Chair
Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth. Click here to access this issue of the Advocate. The Conference Council on Youth Ministry, or CCYM, is an organization that plans events and promotes leadership among peers. The council is made of youth from across the Upper New York Conference, Each District elects 4-6 youth that …more
UNY Pastoral Wellness initiative launches
May 4, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Church leaders have busy lives and many demands. And the past few years have brought about more stress with COVID-19, racial unrest, and denominational uncertainty. Stories of burnout among pastors are everywhere. What can be done to assure that pastors are taking a Sabbath and a day off, taking time regularly to renew their souls? Upper New York (UNY) has developed a Wellness Team to determine what can be done …more
From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Focusing on children and youth
May 3, 2022 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” – Matthew 19.14 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these …more
Easter in Jerusalem—Reflection from a Zoom Room in Corning, NY
April 26, 2022 / By Dianne Roe
As I followed the Holy Week services this year, mostly on Zoom from a couch in my living room, I was also following news from Jerusalem and around the world as sacred holy days of Christians, Muslims, and Jews overlapped. The most important prayer service for me was the Holy Saturday one from Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem. I was especially interested to hear from the women …more
NEJCAH Annual Conference to be held virtually May 10-11
April 26, 2022 / By UNY Commission on Archives and History
The speakers for this year’s historical presentations for The Northeastern Jurisdiction Commission on Archives and History will be delivered through a Zoom gathering on the evenings May 10 and 11, 2022. This meeting, organized by the Upper New York Commission on Archives and History, was part of an originally planned onsite meeting in Auburn, NY. This two-night virtual meeting, with a welcoming message from UNY Area Resident Bishop, Mark …more
Upper New York Annual Conference postponed due to COVID-19 concerns
April 21, 2022 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Sessions Committee of the Upper New York Conference gathered by Zoom on the morning of Thursday, April 21 to discuss growing concerns about the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Upstate New York and throughout the United States. Members of the Committee shared both their own perspectives and what they have been hearing from others regarding the comfort level of gathering more than a thousand United Methodist from across Upper New …more