news stories
Rev. Manry received 2014 Chaplain of the Year Award
July 28, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
It was 9 a.m., and Chaplain Captain the Rev. Keith Manry received an email from his supervisor notifying Rev. Manry of a meeting in the commander’s office in one hour. When he entered the office, he saw his commander standing with a piece of paper, a letter from the Chief of Chaplains stating that Rev. Manry was the 2014 Chaplain of the Year. Two weeks later, he received the …more
Customer service survey results are in
July 28, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference released a brief customer service survey in June to better gauge its service to Conference members and local churches. The Rev. Bill Gottschalk Fielding, Conference Director of Connectional Ministries and Executive Assistant to the Bishop, said a sub-team seeking to implement recommendations of the FACT report – specifically those related to increasing trust levels between the Conference office and leaders and the local churches – …more
Binghamton District’s UM Night at the Ball Game a home run
July 24, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Binghamton District’s United Methodist Night at the Ball Game on Thursday, June 25, was the most successful event in eight years. Approximately 500 people went to NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton to catch a Binghamton Mets game, and the event raised $2,329 – eclipsing previous years’ tallies by more than $100. Of that money, $300 will go to the Upper Room Living Prayer Center, and more than $1,600 will go to the Society …more
Willow Mission: From pew to pulpit
July 23, 2015 / By Susan Hollowell Hardy
Susan Hardy is a member of the Reaching Our Neighbors Ministry Oversight Team (RON MOT). She has toured some of the ministries that received grants during RON MOT's 2014 round of funding. The following is the story of one of the ministries she has visited. Photos courtesy Susan Hardy The current pastor at the Dunkirk First United Methodist Church is one example of someone transformed by a mission that grew …more
Transformational leadership is the focus of NEJ conference
July 17, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
HERSHEY, Pa. – It’s not church as usual at the See, Know, Love Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) Transformational Leadership Conference, Oct. 2-4 in Hershey, Pa. United Methodists are invited to join with bishops, cabinets, emerging leaders and others to experience a high-energy training opportunity to become “Church 2.0,” in the words of Bishop Marcus Matthews, co-chair of the NEJ Vision Table that sponsored the NEJ Transformational Leadership Conference. …more
Update: Letters related to UNYAC resolution have been sent
July 13, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference, members supported Resolution UNYAC2015.9, which called for the Conference to support the people of Ganienkeh Territory and the Turtle Island Trust in their ongoing efforts to establish peace with justice. It also called for the Conference to send a letter with a copy of the resolution to both New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York State Attorney General …more
Upper New York missionaries headed to Estonia
July 13, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Douglas Childress and his wife Dr. Kulli Toniste received a contract from the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) to do missional work in Estonia. They will have an orientation on Aug. 5 and 6 in New York City and will leave for Estonia by mid-August. Rev. Childress graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2004, where he and his wife met. Through his wife, he developed an interest in the Estonian …more
Grant cycle open to support ministries with the poor
July 10, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
All ministries affiliated with the Upper New York Conference that are doing ministry with the poor are invited to apply for program funding through the Reaching Our Neighbors Mission Oversight Team (RON MOT). The application form can be downloaded here; the deadline to submit is Aug. 15. Two copies must be submitted: an electronic copy to reachingourneighbors@outlook.com and a print copy to Susan G. Hardy, 8840 Harmon Hill Road, Fredonia, …more
UMCMarket gets upgrade and re-launches July 13
July 10, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Nashville, Tenn. – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) announces that the online shopping portal, UMCMarket, will be re-launched Monday, July 13, using more advanced technology and faster delivery of donations. Working with Tribute, Inc., the re-launched UMCMarket will provide an enhanced user experience, quicker access to status reports, regular distribution of micro-donations, and the addition of hundreds of savings offers for participants. Doug Spear, Tribute President, said, …more
Jesus changes students, students change the world
July 6, 2015 / By the Rev. Colleen Preuninger / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Because of the time constraint during the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference, Rev. Preuninger did not have the opportunity to present the following report on the status of ministry on campus. It is an honor and a joy to stand as a representative of Jesus Christ on behalf of the Upper New York Conference at the intersection of faith and identity formation for the students on campus. …more