news stories Tagged “Connectional Ministries”
UNY’s UM Historical Society seeks interested members
October 27, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
One of the actions taken during the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference was a vote to authorize the Conference’s Commission on Archives and History (UNYCAH) to organize and administer – while it gets up and running – a United Methodist Historical Society for the Conference. This historical society will focus on the history of The United Methodist Church and its antecedents within the bounds of …more
Why it’s important that our neighbors want to be our neighbor
October 20, 2015 / By the Rev. Anne Bey Canfield
Our Upper New York Annual Conference was blessed the week of Oct. 12, when we had gifted evangelist and church planter the Rev. Jorge Acevedo in our Empire State. With humility and humor, Rev. Acevedo – who is the lead pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, Fla. – reminded us that as a conference our primary purpose is to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of …more
Conference Leadership Team embraces role as custodians of the culture
October 20, 2015 / By Steve Hustedt / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On Oct. 10, the Conference Leadership Team (CLT) gathered for its first meeting of the fall. This meeting followed an Annual Conference year spent discerning the purpose of the Conference. That discernment has brought about clarity and energy around tasks. As the team reviewed the work of the prior year, there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation. Together, the CLT built a model that defined the previous year’s …more
Update: What’s been happening with the FACT process?
October 16, 2015 / By Susan Ranous
I hope you have had the opportunity to read the full FACT report, which has been available on the Upper New York Conference website. As you may recall, five teams were created based on five basic categories of concerns that were identified in the FACT report. Those teams have been busy meeting over the last several months. Some work has been done by the FACT teams and others in our …more
UNY Media Resource Center releases VBS survey results
October 13, 2015 / By Diane Miner
First, thank you to those who took the time to fill out the online survey with feedback on your Vacation Bible School (VBS) program this year. Below are the aggregated results from the survey along with some of my own suggestions. Survey participants were divided evenly between those who purchased and those who borrowed the program kits. Most churches tend to use either Group or Cokesbury for their program. I …more
Staples rebate program exceeds $17,000 contribution to UMCOR for 2015
September 28, 2015 / By the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) and Staples introduced a purchasing program at the end of 2012 with a financial component that would benefit ministries of The United Methodist Church. Through Staples Advantage, United Methodists can use the many services and products offered by Staples and generate donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) – the general agency that reaches people in more than 80 …more
Furniture program in Troy continues, in part, due to RON MOT grant
September 28, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
What do these groups of people have in common? Families who have lost their home to a fire Women leaving a violent situation People who were homeless and have found a place to live People who have been released following time served in jail Anyone starting out in a new home So, what’s the common thread? These individuals usually lack a furnished place to live. Through various means, …more
Jurisdictional bishop count could be reduced in two US jurisdictions
September 28, 2015 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) notified the leadership of the North Central and Northeastern jurisdictions that the number of bishops representing the two areas could be reduced based on reported membership numbers. GCFA – responding to the responsibilities and membership formulas outlined in ¶404.2 of The Book of Discipline as well as its responsibility for the administration of the Episcopal Fund that pays …more
Face-to-face conversation: Another way people are learning about AU
September 23, 2015 / By Shirley Drake Byers
Are you the “U” in Africa University? The Albany and Adirondack districts invite congregations from across the Upper New York Conference to its Africa University event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham. The event is a day for United Methodists to get together with something great to celebrate: the United Methodist relationship with Africa University (AU), and AU living …more
Columbus Day resources now available
September 22, 2015 / By Ashley Riddell / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference, eligible voting members approved Resolution UNYAC2015.10: Fruits of Repentance: An End to the Celebration of Columbus Day. Among other items, the resolution called for Conference members to no longer recognize Columbus Day, by which the Conference offices and local churches “will either not observe this holiday or will initiate organizational conversations designed to rename and re-purpose this holiday in …more