news stories
Conference Leadership shares advice on COVID-19
March 12, 2020 / By Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s Note: The following message was sent by the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Director of Connectional Ministries/Executive Assistant to the Bishop for the Upper New York Conference. With the recent announcement by the World Health Organization that COVID-19 is now a global pandemic and the announcement of new cases in upstate New York, all leaders in the Upper New York Conference are actively discerning how best to balance …more
From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Should the 2020 General Conference approve the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation
March 12, 2020 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor’s Note: The following is a letter written by Upper New York Conference Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb that was sent to the UNY Conference on March 12, 2020. Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, For many years The United Methodist Church has attempted to be unified through our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world’, while experiencing deep disagreement about …more
The Coronavirus—Effective recommendations
March 11, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
You can’t open a browser, turn on the radio or television without hearing about more cases of the Coronavirus. Stores are running out of soap and Lysol. Yes, you need to wash your hands, the same as you should do to prevent the flu and yes you should stay home if you are sick so as not to get others sick. In addition to these common-sense recommendations, there …more
The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding chosen as AC2020 Memorial Service speaker
March 11, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding has been chosen to be the Memorial Service speaker for the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference, to be held May 28-30 at the Oncenter in Syracuse. Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb said, “The leadership of Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding has been a great blessing to Upper New York. His passion for Christ and the Church is unwavering. I know we …more
Anne Horton to serve as Interim Director at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
March 10, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York Conference is pleased to announce that Anne Horton will serve as Interim Director of Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center starting March 18, 2020. The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, UNY Director of Connectional Ministries and Executive Assistant to the Bishop said, “Mike Huber led Casowasco for almost two decades. After a long-tenured leader leaves a ministry, it is often a best practice to provide interim leadership to help …more
The UNY Regional Plan with District appointments and church assignments
March 9, 2020 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
On January 18, 2020, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Cabinet announced a Regional Superintendency Plan that will take effect on July 1, 2020. This plan will allow us to focus on our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, experimenting with new ways of living faithfully and fruitfully amid the uncertainty of our current reality. As of July 1, 2020, we …more
MOP2021 still accepting applications
March 5, 2020 / By Ted Anderson and Heather Stierheim MOP Co-ordinators
Editor's Note: The original plan for Mission of Peace 2021 was to travel to China; due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, this trip may or may not change. Please note that there will still be a Mission of Peace trip, but there may be a location and timeframe change. In the meantime, the NEJ MOP Co-coordinators are still accepting MOP applications; youth can click here to apply. The NEJCYM …more
Bishop Webb announces AC2020 speakers
March 4, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, has selected the speakers for the 2020 UNY Annual Conference, to be held May 28-30 at the Oncenter in Syracuse. The Study Session Leader will be the Rev. Dr. Kim Reisman; she is the Executive Director of World Methodist Evangelism (WME). The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Upper New York Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop, will be leading the …more
Join Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens to Grace in Action May 1-3, 2020
February 28, 2020 / By The Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, Director of Vital Congregations
The Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, UNY Director of Vital Congregations, is inviting all UNY pastors, staff, lay leaders, and denominational leaders to an action-packed weekend May 1-3 2020 at Grace Church in Cape Coral, FL. Grace Church is a Missional United Methodist Church using generative teams to reach their community with the love and hope of Jesus. Grace Church has grown from 400 to 2,700 in worship attendance, from one campus with …more
Lenten letter from the NEJ College of Bishops
February 24, 2020 / By Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops
Editor’s Note: The following reflection-on-Lent letter from the Northeastern Jurisdiction Bishops was sent on Feb. 20, 2020. Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! The season of Lent invites us, individually and collectively, to a deep assessment of and prayer filled reflection on our faithfulness and fruitfulness. At times, we use Lent to anticipate the coming of the resurrected Christ without taking the gift of these 40 …more