news stories
UNY Young Clergy Initiative featured in Interpreter
January 21, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The November/December 2015 issue of Interpreter magazine features an article about the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI), including a section about the Upper New York Camp & Retreat Ministries' YCI at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia. General Conference 2012 created the $7 million YCI Fund to "increase the number of young clergy among the jurisdictional conferences" in the United States. UNY's YCI 16-month program involved 12 participants ages 17 to 26 and …more
Bishop Webb continues 2015-2016 District Days tour
January 15, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb kicked off his 2015-2016 District Days tour in late October last year and has since visited the Niagara Frontier, Cornerstone, Binghamton, Mohawk, and Crossroads districts. Bishop Webb will visit each of the districts in the Upper New York Conference during the tour, spending the morning and lunch with clergy and hosting an evening session open to both laity and clergy. The …more
A Letter to Martin Luther King Jr. - 2016
January 15, 2016 / By Bishop Woodie W. White
January/February 2016 Editor's Note: Each year, retired United Methodist Bishop Woodie W. White writes a “birthday letter” to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which he offers his perspective on the state of race relations, particularly in the United States. White, now bishop-in residence at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, was the first general secretary of the General Commission on Religion …more
Conference Office closed today, Jan. 13
January 13, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Due to the inclement weather, the Conference Office in Syracuse will be closed today, Jan. 13. We will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 14. …more
CCRM announces summer camp changes at Findley Camp & Retreat Center
January 12, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In a letter to families, the Upper New York Conference’s Committee on Camp and Retreat Ministries (CCRM) and the Executive Staff Team note that after spending “spent significant time in prayer and conversation regarding our current situation at Findley Camp & Retreat Center, … we will not be offering traditional summer camp programming for the 2016 season. Although this was a difficult decision, we believe it is the …more
Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center receives $10,000 from Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes
January 11, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
CST Brands Inc. presented representatives from the Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center with a $10,000 gift that will be used to assist in renovations at the site. CST Brands Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is owner of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes. CST Brands held 10 Corner Store Country Runs across the United States during 2015, boasting 37,000 participants and generating $1.4 million that were donated to children’s charities. “We are …more
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with acts of service
January 11, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to the realization of God’s beloved community, where every person would have access to the basic necessities of life and have unfettered opportunity to reach their fullest potential. He further believed everyone could and should play a role in making this bold dream a reality. He championed the responsibility and value of service. “Everyone can be great …more
Bishop Webb names new district superintendents
January 11, 2016 / 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. Vonda Fossitt, pastor at the High Street United Methodist Church in Binghamton, will be superintendent of the Genesee Valley District. The Rev. Everett Bassett, pastor at the Cicero UMC, will be superintendent of the Oneonta District. The appointments are effective July 1, 2016. “Both Rev. Fossitt and Rev. Bassett …more
Women in the pulpit: UNY’s number nearly four times national average
January 5, 2016 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference is significantly ahead of the national curve when it comes to women serving in the pulpit. According to a new analysis of Duke University’s National Congregations Study, women serve as senior or solo pastoral leaders at just 11 percent of congregations in the United States – indicating essentially no overall increase from when the study was first done in 1998. Further, these women-led communities …more
Conference District Superintendents urge churches to ‘share the love of Christ’
December 28, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The District Superintendents of the Upper New York Conference have written an open Christmas letter to the congregations of the Conference. In the letter, they point out that, “During this season of Christmas, we open our hearts and lives to welcome the newborn Christ,” and so they call upon all United Methodists to “open our hearts to share the love of Christ.” They are asking pastors …more