news stories
Churches in the Albany District help refugees and immigrants through a Mustard Seed grant
January 24, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Mustard Seed Migration Grants continue UMCOR's 80-Year tradition of welcoming the stranger. These grants of up to two-thousand dollars are funded to local churches in the United States to fund local projects that assist refugees and migrants. In 2021, Burnt Hills Church in the Albany District earned a two-thousand-dollar mustard seed grant from UMCOR. They collaborated with four other UMC churches in the Albany District (First UMC East Greenbush, First …more
How Endwell UMC lives out the mission of the United Methodist Church Part I
January 24, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When the Rev. Mark Kimpland and his wife Lynne Kimpland arrived at Endwell United Methodist Church for Rev. Kimpland’s appointment nine years ago, Endwell already had an active and thriving congregation. Rev. Kimpland said, “This congregation has been mission-minded for many years, long before I came here. I did not have to spend a single moment inspiring them or cheering them on to get them to do …more
CVA Report Jan. 2022
January 19, 2022 / By UNY CVA Committee
Background At last year’s Annual Conference, members of the Child Victims Act (CVA) Committee - comprised of leaders from the Board of Trustees, the Council on Finance and Administration, the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, and the Cabinet - reported to Conference members on the status of lawsuits filed against the Conference and several of its local churches under the Child Victims Act. In the eight months …more
Important dates for 2022
January 19, 2022 / By UNY Communications
Every January, we announce important dates for the year. As the COVID pandemic makes it difficult to know how the future will unfold, the dates related to Annual Conference are tentative and updates will be announced should there by any changes. Feb. 28: Final date to update statistics in Ezra system March 1: Deadline for submission of petitions and resolutions (from individuals, churches and unofficial bodies of UNY) as well as deadline …more
Update to UNY Conference: UMC settlement in BSA Bankruptcy Case
January 19, 2022 / By UNY Communications
Pending court approval of a settlement agreement in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bankruptcy case, United Methodists have agreed to contribute $30 million to a $3 billion Survivor Trust Fund that will receive contributions from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), insurance companies, and charter organizations. In exchange for the contribution of United Methodists, the intent of the agreement is that all United Methodist entities will be released from any claims …more
CenterPoint Church’s Culture of Call
January 18, 2022 / By Wayne Clemens, Senior Pastor CenterPoint Church
As we begin to think about and talk about the “Culture of Call” in the local church, the conversation usually revolves around the call to pastoral ministry within the church. At CenterPoint Church in the Mohawk District of the Upper New York Annual Conference, we believe that the call to pastoral ministry is only one aspect of the culture of call that God has established here in this …more
Stewardship Academy starts April 23 on Zoom
January 18, 2022 / By UNY COmmunications
Upper New York ordained deacon and Director of Christian Stewardship, the Rev. Susan Ranous, is offering a Stewardship Academy via Zoom over four sessions (April 23, May 21, June 18, July 16). Rev. Ranous will share all concepts of stewardship including self, time, talents, money, and more. This is an opportunity to read and learn about stewardship and all that it entails. Thie Academy qualifies clergy for CEU. Click here for a brochure about …more
Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood and Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell to become District Superintendents
January 17, 2022 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new District Superintendents. The Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood, pastor at Penfield United Methodist Church, will be appointed to the Southern Tier Region and assigned as Superintendent of the Mountain View District. …more
Keeping it beautiful with Rolling Nation
January 13, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The challenge of cerebral palsy has never prevented the Rev. Chris Wylie from pursuing his dreams. His faith has helped to reveal Godsends throughout his life. A banker for many years, in his mid-30s, he felt a call to ministry. Chris said, “All I knew is that I had to go to this place called seminary as a first step.” Chris pulled out the phonebook and called …more
Narratives of local church vitality 2022 series
January 11, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The statistics that a local congregation reports in Vital Signs or Ezra (such as worship attendance, professions of faith, etc.) provide a snapshot of a church’s vitality. Numbers are great, but what about stories that churches can share? Stories that inspire! Stories that motivate! Stories that can encourage churches throughout the Upper New York (UNY) Conference to try something new to live out the mission of the United …more