news stories
Conference retirees learning about new health insurance
September 16, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Conference Benefits Officer Vicki Putney has been traveling around the Conference to help retirees and their spouses prepare for a significant change to their health benefits. As of January 2015, Conference retirees – clergy and lay – age 65 and older will receive health insurance through Medicare along with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to help them pay for their insurance and health-care expenses. Since there are a number …more
Bishop Webb issues new call for special session
September 16, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced that a special session of the annual conference will be convened as outlined in The Book of Discipline, paragraph 603.5. The purpose and call of the special session is to discuss and vote on a recommendation from the Conference Board of Trustees to purchase the property located at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd. in Liverpool as a new Conference Center. The special session will be held from …more
DS Adams: We are all apple pickers
September 14, 2014 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
"Friends, it’s time to go apple-picking.” With that last line the Rev. Nancy Adams, giving the sermon during a Welcome Service in her honor as the new superintendent for the Mountain View District, received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 100 in attendance. Members of the Upper New York Cabinet lay hands on the Rev. Nancy Adams during her Welcome Service as the Mountain View …more
Thirteen Upper New York ministries awarded 2014 RON MOT grants
September 12, 2014 / By
The Reaching Our Neighbors Mission Oversight Team (RON MOT) has awarded $59,776 in grants to 13 Upper New York Conference ministries in its latest round of grant funding. RON MOT members met on Sept. 4, 2014 at the Fayetteville First UMC along with four members of the Spiritual Leadership MOT and the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Director of Connectional Ministries. After fixed costs were paid, RON MOT had $60,000 of 2014 funds available to …more
Africa 360 Challenge: Some creative ideas
September 12, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
In August 2014, Bishop Mark J. Webb challenged the congregations of the Upper New York Conference to raise $1 million for Africa 360, a combined effort to support the ministry of Africa University and Imagine No Malaria. For the Africa 360 Challenge, churches are asked to raise $1,000 each and bring those donations to the 2015 Annual Conference in Syracuse. Ministry with our brothers and sisters in Africa is on the hearts of many across the …more
Conference Council on Youth Ministries seeks Co-Coordinator
September 8, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Attention adults who work with youth: The Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) is seeking applicants for the position of adult co-coordinator. If you love working with teenagers, guiding them as they learn and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, encouraging their leadership skills, and exploring opportunities for youth in The United Methodist Church, then this might be the role for youThe CCYM team is a partnership of youth and …more
Young Clergy Initiative: Young people discerning God’s call to ordained ministry
September 8, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Through the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI) 12 young people from across Upper New York have begun an exciting journey to discern how and where God is calling them to serve. As a first step in their 18-month journey, these seekers have been individually matched with mentors and have attended the 2014 Director’s Invitational, a leadership development program held at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center. The YCI will …more
Bishop Webb reflects on passing of Bishop Martin D. McLee
September 8, 2014 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bishop Martin D. McLee, leader of The United Methodist Church's New York Area, died Sept. 6, 2014 at 58. He had been on leave of absence due to illness since July. Bishop McLee was elected at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 2012, at the same time as Bishop Mark J. Webb and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball. "Bishop McLee was a passionate follower of Jesus and both shared and lived his faith boldly," …more
Rev. Jacob Armstrong talks about good preaching
September 5, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Effective preaching is the focus for the 2014 Bishop's Retreat, and United Methodist pastor the Rev. Jacob Armstrong, founder and pastor of Providence Church in Mount Juliet, Tenn., will lead the retreat. Rev. Armstrong was born and raised in Mount Juliet. Following seminary, he and his wife, Rachel, served for 10 years at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The couple has three daughters: Mary, Lydia, …more
Finance Team member Leah Robinson to retire
September 3, 2014 / By Beth DiCocco / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Leah Robinson, Finance Team Support, will retire from the Upper New York Conference on Sept. 5, 2014. She's been with the Conference since it formed in 2010, having worked for the former Troy Conference. Much of her work here centered around Annual Conference registration and collecting data from local churches for the statistical reports. Robinson said she regularly fielded questions on a variety of topics from statistics and insurance to how to …more