news stories
How mission work led me to become a disciple
November 4, 2019 / By Greg Forrester, Layperson, Cortland: First UMC
Coming from law enforcement as a New York State Trooper and working on child abuse investigations with the Child Protective Service staff, I was wondering where God was and what He was controlling. God didn’t seem all-powerful to me. I was raised in the Catholic church and married a preacher’s daughter whose grandfather, father, and eventually, brother, were all United Methodist pastors. It led to some …more
Intentional Discipleship Systems: Creating pathways to make disciples of Jesus Christ
November 1, 2019 / By Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, UNY Director of Vital Congregations
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2019 Issue 2 of the Advocate, which focused on Discipleship Systems. Click here to read the entire issue. As Bishop Webb mentioned in the introduction to this issue, the mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Upon sharing this mission statement, a few questions arise, and usually …more
From the Desk of Bishop Mark J Webb: 2019 Issue 2 of the Advocate
October 29, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: This letter from Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb originally appeared in the 2019 Issue 2 of the Advocate, which focused on Discipleship Systems. Click here to read the entire issue. The mission of The United Methodist Church is to partner with God in “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The United Methodist Book of Discipline in paragraph 122 …more
New structure in UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries
October 28, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Camp & Retreat Ministries is one of the most effective ways to introduce young people to God, especially in current times with the decline in the number of youth members throughout the Methodist Church. Upper New York (UNY) wants to maintain thriving Camp & Retreat ministries and has made a decision that will help make this possible. Michael Huber, the current Director of UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries as well …more
Rev. Grace Imathiu helps revitalize your Advent sermon series
October 25, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Advent is just over a month away. Have you planned your Advent sermon series? Is it the same year after year? If so, the Rev. Grace Imathiu wants to change that. She was the featured speaker at the 2019 Upper New York Bishop’s Retreat held Oct. 22-24 at the RIT Inn in Rochester, NY. Dean of the UNY Cabinet, the Rev. Nola Anderson introduced Rev. Imathiu as “a …more
St. Croix mission trip—a moving experience
October 21, 2019 / By Roger Cullen
From Sept. 21-Oct. 5, 2019, eight people from Upper New York (UNY) joined a crew of 22 volunteers from throughout the Northeastern Jurisdiction and beyond on a mission trip to St. Croix. In all our Team 32 worked on six homes putting on finishing touches, starting new projects, and significant work on whole roofs. We worked in the Frederiksted area on homes for permanent residents who are seniors, or disabled, or dealing with significant …more
From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Pastor Appreciation
October 15, 2019 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. On Tuesday Oct. 15, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb, sent a letter to all pastors in the Upper New York Conference expressing his gratitude for their leadership and commitment to pursuing and living out God’s call upon their lives. Dear Friends, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus! During this month of Pastor Appreciation, …more
NEJ Native American Ministries Committee meets at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool
October 15, 2019 / By Kae Wilbert, UNY CONAM Chair
Upper New York’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) hosted the annual meeting of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee (NEJNAMC) Oct 10-12 at the United Methodist Conference Center in Liverpool. Guest speakers Rev. Dr. Thom WhiteWolf Fassett and Dr. Michael Martin brought new ideas, old ideas, common sense and Native traditions to a new level of understanding of the role we as CONAMs do play and …more
“AMENding through Faith”—an eye-opening event
October 14, 2019 / By Mark Jones, UNY UMM President
“AMENding through Faith” is a violence-prevention training initiative developed by the YWCA in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area. This YWCA currently operates one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the state of Tennessee. Operators of this shelter observed that the shelter had remained at 100% capacity much of the time. Education and self-awareness training were developed in response to constant flow of battered and abused women seeking …more
“New Places for New People” campaign update
October 8, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
“New Places for New People” is an Upper New York Conference campaign to raise funds for existing and new New Faith Communities. This campaign began last spring and gained a lot of momentum at the Upper New York Annual Conference in June. It’s not too late to become a “New Places for New People” Partner. The original deadline was November 1, 2019 and it has been …more