news stories
Laity celebrated at Annual Conference 2023
June 6, 2023 / By Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations, United Women in Faith
Lay members to the 14th gathering of the Upper New York Annual Conference attended the Conference laity session held June 1 at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York. Conference Lay Leader Jessica White welcomed laity to the gathering and named the session’s speakers. The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding then introduced Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, resident bishop of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Area and interim bishop of the Harrisburg Episcopal Area, who …more
Petition and Resolutions results at the 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference
June 6, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Discussions and voting for the petitions and resolutions brought to the 2023 Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference session took place on June 3, 2023. The Conference petitions can be found on pages 31-53 of the 2023 Pre-Conference Workbook except for UNYAC2023.11, which can be found in the updates to the Journal addendum page on the Conference website. Of the 11 petitions, only four were voted on because time expired …more
Retirees honored and appointments named
June 6, 2023 / By Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations, United Women in Faith
Retiring clergy were recognized and appointments were named at the Service of Passage on the final day of the 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference. The Rev. Mike Weeden, Dean of the Cabinet and District Superintendent of the Northern Flow District, opened the service by thanking retirees for their years of ministry. “The world and the church have always needed faithful ones who answered the call. Thank you, retirees, …more
The Leadership Report inspires collaboration at AC2023
June 2, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The United Methodists of Upper New York (UNY) Leadership Report was presented during the afternoon plenary at the 2023 UNY Annual Conference. Jessica White, Conference Lay Leader, presented the laity portion and the Rev. Mike Weeden, Northern Flow District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet, presented the Superintendency portion. Jessica White used the term claity to describe collaborative ministries between clergy and laity that work to discover, develop, and deploy Christ-following …more
Board of Pension & Health Benefits report presented and two recommendations carried at AC2023
June 2, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Sara Baron presented the Board of Pension & Health Benefits report during the June 2 afternoon plenary at the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference. She spoke of the increasing cost of healthcare. She said, “Moving into 2023, there was an increase in cost of 12 percent. That is a concerning amount, one that we did not think either churches or participants could absorb. The increased cost to churches was 3 …more
Board of Equitable Compensation recommendation carries after much debate
June 2, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Friday, June 2, in the afternoon plenary, the Rev. Rich Weihing Jr., and Teddi Urriola presented the Equitable Compensation Report. Teddy shared a story of a little boy named Ernesto. Ernesto struggled to see words on the blackboards. He saw a sea of green from trees and grass. When his family finally bought him glasses, he was amazed at how he could see. Teddy said, we all need Jesus glasses; …more
Loved ones remembered during Memorial Service
June 2, 2023 / By Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations, United Women in Faith
Clergy and clergy spouses who have died since May of 2022, were honored and celebrated during a service of remembrance Friday morning at the Upper New York Annual Conference. “We take this special moment to give thanks to God for the lives of those who have come to be with the lord,” said Bishop Héctor Burgos Núñez to open the gathering. “We …more
Episcopal address speaks of needed shifts and unveils new Conference logo
June 2, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Disorientation and uncertainty. “This is the context we are living in,” said Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez during his Episcopal Address on June 2 at the 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference. “We will not wait for the disorientation and uncertainty to end to move forward,” Bishop Héctor said, “We are going to continue to …more
New Leaders Approved for 2024
June 2, 2023 / By Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations, United Women in Faith
The Upper New York Conference Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development report to the 2023 Annual Conference was presented by Ian Urriola, chair of the committee, who opened his report by singing the hymn “Are We Yet Alive.” He reminded attendees of the Conference’s mission to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places. “These …more
2023 Conference Advance Specials celebrated and supported
June 2, 2023 / By Tara Barnes, Director of Denominational Relations, United Women in Faith
The Rev. Jeff Childs, chair of the Conference Global Ministries Team, presented the 2024 Conference Advance Specials to the Upper New York Conference during the Thursday afternoon plenary. The projects and ministries are listed on page 24 of the 2023 Journal. Twenty-three ministries were included on the list. The Rev. Childs explained that the Global Ministries teams was reactivated in the past year, and that the team plans to raise awareness of …more