news stories
Young Clergy Initiative: Young people discerning God’s call to ordained ministry
September 8, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Through the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI) 12 young people from across Upper New York have begun an exciting journey to discern how and where God is calling them to serve. As a first step in their 18-month journey, these seekers have been individually matched with mentors and have attended the 2014 Director’s Invitational, a leadership development program held at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. The YCI will …more
Bishop Webb reflects on passing of Bishop Martin D. McLee
September 8, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bishop Martin D. McLee, leader of The United Methodist Church's New York Area, died Sept. 6, 2014 at 58. He had been on leave of absence due to illness since July. Bishop McLee was elected at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 2012, at the same time as Bishop Mark J. Webb and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. "Bishop McLee was a passionate follower of Jesus and both shared and lived his faith boldly," …more
Rev. Jacob Armstrong talks about good preaching
September 5, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Effective preaching is the focus for the 2014 Bishop's Retreat, and United Methodist pastor the Rev. Jacob Armstrong, founder and pastor of Providence Church in Mount Juliet, Tenn., will lead the retreat. Rev. Armstrong was born and raised in Mount Juliet. Following seminary, he and his wife, Rachel, served for 10 years at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The couple has three daughters: Mary, Lydia, …more
Finance Team member Leah Robinson to retire
September 3, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Leah Robinson, Finance Team Support, will retire from the Upper New York Conference on Sept. 5, 2014. She's been with the Conference since it formed in 2010, having worked for the former Troy Conference. Much of her work here centered around Annual Conference registration and collecting data from local churches for the statistical reports. Robinson said she regularly fielded questions on a variety of topics from statistics and insurance to how to …more
Get to know UNY’s newest District Superintendents
September 3, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
We asked the Upper New York Conference's newest District Superintendents – the Rev. Jeff McDowell of the Finger Lakes District and the Rev. Nancy Adams of the Mountain View District – a few questions to help folks get to know them. A Welcome Service for Rev. Adams will be Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 A Welcome Service for Rev. McDowell will be Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 Read the original announcement of their appointments. …more
Four-legged friends invited to ‘AdironDog Retreat’
August 29, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
They say dogs are man's (and just as often woman's) best friend; and for many folks, their dogs are their family. But the Rev. Garrie Stevens says dogs can also be a way to see God's faithfulness. That's what the first AdironDog Retreat at the Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center in Greig is all about. The three-day retreat, Sept. 5-7, 2014, invites dogs and their people to …more
From Ohio: Thoughts on ‘Walking with Palestinian Christians’ event
August 18, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The subject at hand could not be more timely, nor more urgent: this week, concerned United Methodists from all over the U.S., including friends from the larger church universal, are meeting to discuss how to work with Palestinian Christians in the ongoing struggle for peace. As Israeli and Palestinian leaders begin to negotiate peace after their most recent round of violence, there is tension between the three Abrahamic religions …more
Join the Africa 360 Challenge
August 14, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
During the recent Upper New York Annual Conference session, an overwhelming vote to contribute $1 million to the Imagine No Malaria campaign of The United Methodist Church was celebrated. In 2011, members of the Upper New York Annual Conference pledged to raise $1 million for Africa University to fund eight scholarships. The passion and commitment to be a part of what God is doing among, within and through the people of Africa is …more
UMM to hold annual gathering at Casowasco
August 14, 2014 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
United Methodist Men from across the Upper New York Conference will once again converge at the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia for its annual gathering. This year marks the fifth annual gathering of the UNY UMM and the 68th annual conference-wide UMM fall gathering under prior and current Conference names. The event will be held Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7. "Lead Like Jesus" is this year’s …more
NEJ delegates reflect on 2014 Global Young People’s Convocation
July 31, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The 2014 Global Young People's Convocation & Legislative Assembly in the Philippines was attended by more than 300 young people and observers. Among other business, the young people urged leaders of the denomination to “seek solutions that promote our global unity” and not be divided by issues such as homosexuality, adopting a unity statement the night before ending its quadrennial gathering on July 20, 2014. Click here to read the statement. …more