news stories
UNY Conference hires Treasurer
July 24, 2018 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Susan Ranous, Chair of the Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) of the Upper New York (UNY) Conference, announces that CF&A has completed its search for a new Conference Treasurer and has recommended Robert (Bob) Flask for the position. CF&A took the selection process seriously; the process involved interviews by a primary interview team as well as conversations with the Conference Executive …more
Bishop Webb offering fall gatherings for A Way Forward
July 24, 2018 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
This fall, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb is hosting six gatherings around the Conference in preparation for Special Session of General Conference to talk about Commission on a Way Forward for The United Methodist Church. The gatherings will include a presentation of the plan and process of General Conference, a time to remember our mission, and worship and prayer. Click here to find the dates and …more
From the desk of Bishop Mark J Webb: Living Boldly
July 24, 2018 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of the Advocate, which shared stories on individuals and churches throughout the Upper New York Conference that are boldly living their call. Sarah, Abraham, Miriam, Moses, Sarah, Ruth, Joshua, David, Esther, Hannah, Solomon, Jeremiah, Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, and Paul. What do these individuals all have in common? What do their lives offer to ours? These women and …more
2018 UNY Lottie Brown Scholarship recipients announced
July 23, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Each year the Upper New York Annual Conference College Scholarships Committee offers Lottie Brown Scholarships for undergraduate students who are intending to enter a career in Christian service. This year’s recipients are Tristan Turner, Madyson Valeski, Kelly Thompson, Katherine Bobsein, Zachary Moyer, Emily Allen, and Katherine Allen. Tristan Turner will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology. He has chosen Chemical Engineering as a major. Already having done mission …more
Spotlight on Wesley’s Place, an UNY New Faith Community
July 17, 2018 / By Rev. Gregg and Rev. Heather Stierheim
Wesley's Place Faith Community is part of the Upper NY Conference New Faith Community movement. It is a unique expression of "church" that seeks to connect unknown people in unfamiliar places with God and with each other. We hope to be a diverse group and the areas around the Buffalo/ Niagara Medical Campus are a perfect environment for that to occur in. Over the past 1.5 years we …more
Upper New York New Faith Communities to be featured on podcast
July 17, 2018 / By UNY Communications
Reports from the Spiritual Frontier is a Path1-sponsored podcast that tells the stories of the day-to-day lives of the pioneers who are innovating radically New Faith Communities on the spiritual margins of our country. You will encounter the stories of the new church God is planting in the midst of our country’s changing religious landscape, told in the voices of the people who are actually doing the …more
Commission reduces GC Special Session registration fees
July 17, 2018 / By Diane Degnan / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: Following the passing of the 2019 budget at the 2018 Annual Conference session, a declaratory decision was requested from the Judicial Council about the reality of charging observers a fee to attend the special session of General Conference in 2019. Due to the actions described in this article, those fees will no longer be charged. Thanks to a $450,000 grant from United Methodist Communications (UMCom) and budget reductions identified by …more
Upper New York’s Imagine No Racism initiative off to a great start
July 13, 2018 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: In July of 2016, the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church unanimously approved a resolution for every Annual Conference to confront the sin of racism in their own hearts, churches, and communities. Upper New York Area Resident Bishop created a taskforce, known now as the Bishop’s Taskforce on Eliminating Racism, to strategize ways to confront this deeply embedded issue across our Conference. The taskforce …more
Preventing fraud at the local-church level
July 12, 2018 / By Conference Council on Finance and Administration
When you have your annual local church audit done, does your auditor make suggestions about policies or procedures? Have you wondered why this is? Many churches (and small businesses too!) have too few people involved in their financial systems. The suggestions aren’t made because we distrust your people but because we do trust them and want them to be protected as well, from someone else causing harm or …more
New District Superintendent Installations announced
July 10, 2018 / By UNY Communications
The District Superintendent installation services for the Rev. Carlos Rosa Laguer (in the Niagra Frontier) and the Rev. Deborah Earthrowl (in the Adirondack District) have been announced. Rev. Rosa Laguer’s service will be held on Sunday September 16 at Batavia First UMC at 4 p.m. Rev. Eartrowl’s service will be held on Sunday October 7 at Plattsburgh UMC at 4 p.m. Details about each service will be …more