news stories
Bishop Webb listens and learns on Native American Ministries Sunday
April 22, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Native American Ministries Sunday (April 19), Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb visited the Hogansburg United Methodist Church located on the St. Regis Mohawk Territory at Akwesasne to listen and learn – an initiative to listen to indigenous persons discuss their history, pain, accomplishments, culture, beliefs, and more. Mark Garrow, the Iay worship leader at Hogansburg UMC, said it was a blessing to have Bishop Webb join …more
Council of Bishops to meet in Berlin
April 22, 2015 / By UMCom
Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb will join United Methodist bishops from Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States May 1-7 at the Hotel Palace Berlin in Berlin for a Council of Bishops meeting. Main topics on the agenda include the development of vital congregations, the implementation of the four areas of focus, preparation for the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, and the role of bishops …more
Baldwinsville First UMC issues ‘Stop Hunger Now’ challenge
April 22, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In response to the need for funds to support the Stop Hunger Now project at the 2015 Annual Conference session, the Administrative Council at the Baldwinsville First United Methodist Church has extended the following challenge: The Upper New York Annual Conference has established the goal of packaging 150,000 meals during the 2015 Annual Conference session for the Stop Hunger Now program and has committed itself to raise $43,500 to support this project. The Administrative …more
Donate now to help end worldwide hunger
April 14, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Hungry people around the world need your help. A goal has been set to package 150,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now at this year’s Annual Conference session. Each meal costs 29 cents and feeds one family. At this price, the Conference must raise $43,500 to reach the meal-packaging goal. "When you're writing a check to go to organization, you're a couple of arms' length away," said the Rev. Jeff …more
2015 Pre-Conference Workbook is now available
April 10, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The full booklet of Conference material for the sixth session of the Upper New York Annual Conference is now available for review and to download and/or print. The workbook includes the agenda for the session; reports, recommendations, and action items from Conference boards, committees, teams, and task forces; proposed petitions and resolutions; and the proposed 2015 budget. Download a color PDF (the size is 43.5MB) of the workbook here. …more
Upper New York Conference Center acquisition update
April 8, 2015 / By Wendy Deichmann
The Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees has released a statement regarding the potential purchase of property located at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd. in Liverpool that would serve as a new Conference Center. Read below the full statement from property acquisition task force chair the Rev. Dr. Wendy J. Deichmann: At a special session of the Upper New York Annual Conference held on Oct. 18, 2014, the trustees were authorized to obtain …more
Challenge pits districts against each other to raise funds for Imagine No Malaria
April 8, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The spring District Day challenges are complete, and each district rose to the challenge: to raise more money than the district before it. The challenges raise money for Imagine No Malaria, an effort to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2016. The $1 million campaign for Imagine No Malaria is one half of Upper New York Conference’s Africa 360 challenge, a holistic campaign to provide ministry to the people of Africa. …more
Take time to acknowledge importance of child abuse prevention
April 7, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse. The Safe Sanctuaries team of the Upper New York Conference’s Sexual Ethics Committee provides standard training about safe sanctuaries – “making congregations safe places where children, youth and elders may experience the abiding love of God and fellowship within the community of faith” …more
Spiritual leadership grants available
April 6, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Spiritual Leadership Ministry Oversight Team invites individuals, congregations, and groups within the Upper New York Conference to submit grant proposals that would address its stated mission of “encouraging and developing leadership within the laity and clergy that is diverse and unified by our love of Christ.” The vision of this ministry oversight team is to deepen the spiritual lives of individuals and, in turn, local congregations. The …more
Kingdom Kids: What it is, what it does, and what it means to the vitality of one church
April 1, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The staff of Kingdom Kids gathers in a circle for prayer, led by the Rev. Ellen Knight, before the children arrive. Then they leave to retrieve the youth awaiting them across the street at Lyons Elementary School. With a flurry of backpacks and winter coats, the children arrive, ready first for their snack, and then, more importantly, eager to learn about religion. Kingdom Kids – a Friday afterschool program that …more