news stories Tagged “Annual Conference 2015”
Equitable Compensation recommendations adopted
May 29, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The power of amendment is infectious. Judy Craigmile, a lay member at First United Methodist Church in Phoenix, proposed two amendments for the first time – and on the spot. The amendments were related to the Housing Policy under the recommendations from the Commission on Equitable Compensation. The first resolution was a change of linguistics; the second added language to the resolution to include the potential replacement of damaged contents …more
Election results through Thursday’s lunch period
May 28, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
With 24 hours of plenary session behind them, members at the 2015 Annual Conference session were less than one-sixth of the way toward electing 28 representatives needed for conferences in 2016. Three laity – Dr. Scott Johnson (elected on Wednesday), Greg Forrester, and Riley O’Flynn – and one clergy member – the Rev. Bill Allen – have been elected to date. The first six clergy and laity elected are delegates to the …more
Young Adults ‘Pass The Baton’ at Thursday morning worship
May 28, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Young Adult Ministry led morning worship on Thursday, May 28, at the 2015 Annual Conference session. As Laurel O’Connor, field coordinator for Africa 360, said, “It’s all about how we tell the story … a Biblical story told not as much by words but by actions.” So that’s exactly what one young adult did: took action. Theresa Eggleston acted out the stories of Moses and …more
Healing and repenting at AC ’15
May 28, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett, retired, member of the Seneca Nation, led the Act of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons (AOR) Wednesday, May 27, at the 2015 Upper New York Annual Conference session. He focused on a theme of unity throughout the evening. “Ultimately we are here to bind ourselves together in unity as we continue our journey on the trail to repentance with Native American …more
AC ‘15 news briefs for Wednesday, May 27
May 28, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The following is a round up of news items from the Upper New York Annual Conference session on Wednesday, May 27. Clergy, laity session offering top $5K Just prior to dinner on Wednesday evening, the total offerings received during the morning’s laity and clergy session were announced. The Helping Hand Fund offering, received during the laity session, totaled $1,740. The Clergy Care Fund offering was 59 cents shy of $3,300, but Upper …more
Conversation starter: Organizational Motion approved
May 28, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Save for an amendment that “strongly urges” participants in the conversation circles to refrain from wearing objects that indicate their preference on the topic of human sexuality, the Organizational Motion was adopted as originally presented by a super majority vote. The approved motion means that seven resolutions for the 2016 General Conference session and one resolution for this Annual Conference session will be discussed during conversation circles when the …more
AC ’15 welcomed to Syracuse by SU chancellor
May 28, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On behalf of 21,000 students and thousands of faculty and staff at Syracuse University, University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud welcomed the members of the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference to his university’s backyard. Syverud, who assumed the university’s leadership post from Nancy Cantor in January 2014, said United Methodism and the school have deep roots, dating back to the university’s founding in 1870. …more
Bishop Webb tells the Church, ‘It’s our time’
May 27, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
As the “It’s Our Time” video began to fade, one voice called out, “It’s our time, Church … It’s our time to fully and completely, passionately, and boldly live the purpose for which we have been created and called … it’s our time to partner with Holy Spirit power to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of …more
Rev. W. Lea Harding speaks at Extension Ministries Luncheon
May 27, 2015 / By Kathleen Rubino / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. W. Lea Harding, Director of Pastoral Care at United Methodist Homes’ Hilltop Campus in Johnson City, spoke at the Extension Ministries Luncheon on Wednesday, May 27, at the 2015 session of Annual Conference. She emphasized that her role is not to ensure all residents are professing Christians before they die, but instead to lead Bible studies, offer worship, and provide services to anyone who wishes to come. She illustrated …more
Voting 101: UNY members use handheld keypads for delegate elections
May 27, 2015 / By Christian Vischi / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Practice makes perfect. Members at the 2015 Upper New York Annual Conference session on Wednesday took their first ballot in the early afternoon, voting separately for laity and clergy delegates for the General and Northeastern Jurisdictional conferences in 2016. And on the first ballot, the laity had a successful election, casting 479 ballots of which Dr. Scott Johnson garnered 269 votes; 239 were needed to elect. The full session had two practice ballots in the …more