news stories Tagged “Advocate”
Reflecting on Confirmation
May 17, 2022 / By Rev. Alison Schmeid, pastor of Lansing United Methodist Church
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Advocate 2022 Issue I, which focused on children and youth in UNY. Back in the last century, I loved confirmation class because it met in a relaxed environment. Our pastor wore blue jeans and sat in a rocking chair and talked with us as if we were thinking adults, not children. Today, a pastor in blue jeans is not an anomaly, and …more
Passing on the faith
May 10, 2022 / By Rev. Carrie Wolfe, Deacon and Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, Olean: Christ UMC
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the UNY 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused onchildren and youth ministries. Click here to access this issue of the Advocate. From 2 Timothy 1:5 (ICB), “I remember your true faith. That kind of faith first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice. And I know that you now have that same faith.” Antoinette Abernethy …more
Building youth leadership throughout UNY
May 10, 2022 / By Kevin Clark, CCYM Publicity Chair
Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the 2022 Issue I of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth. Click here to access this issue of the Advocate. The Conference Council on Youth Ministry, or CCYM, is an organization that plans events and promotes leadership among peers. The council is made of youth from across the Upper New York Conference, Each District elects 4-6 youth that …more
From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Focusing on children and youth
May 3, 2022 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” – Matthew 19.14 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these …more
Mentors through the ordination process
January 11, 2022 / By Brian Lothridge
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 Issue II of the Advocate, which focused on the theme of mentoring. Click here to access this issue. The deacon’s stole was placed upon me in June by Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb. I was ordained, blessed, and sent out to do the ministry for which God had called me. It was a profound …more
Rev. Matsimbe attributes church-planting success in Tanzania to the Rev. Harold Wheat
January 4, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 Issue II of the Advocate, which focused on the theme of mentorship. Click here to access the full issue. When clergy across the Upper New York Conference were asked to share who has mentored them and helped them to become successful in their ministries, many responded with the upmost gratitude about the mentoring they received from the Rev. Harold Wheat. …more
My experience as a mentor
December 13, 2021 / By Rhonda Chester, MDIV, United Methodist Ecumenical Chaplain Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University
Editor's Note: The following article originally appeared in the 2021 Issue II of the Advocate, which focused on mentorship. Click here to access the issue. I am looking at a power outlet on the wall here in my office. Reflecting on mentoring, I realize that it is all about tapping into the power that is available to you. Mentoring is about plugging into the right sources to access the …more
From isolation ministry to collaboration in UNY
December 13, 2021 / By Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens
Editor's Note: The following article originally appeared in the 2021 Issue II of the Advocate, which focused on mentorship. Click here to access the full issue. It has been said being a servant who is leading in the church is lonely work. Often there is a hesitation to reach out to fellow leaders within the congregation and in neighboring congregations. This isolation breeds burnout and frustration with ministry. Over the …more
From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Why I encourage mentoring
December 7, 2021 / By Bishop Mark J. Webb
Editor's Note: The 2021 Issue II of the Advocate focused on how mentors help pave the way into individuals’ ministries. Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb introduced this issue with this article, sharing several examples of mentorship in the Bible. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the …more
Lincoln UMC’s bold health equity ministry
February 2, 2021 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 4 of the 2020 Advocate. Click here to access the issue. Buffalo, NY is the sixth most racially segregated metropolitan area in the nation. Most of the city’s Black residents live on the East side of the city. Racial segregation imposes a wide range of costs for People of Color, impairing their health, job access, education, and standard of living. …more