news stories Tagged “Finance”
Apply for the 2026 Cady Grant
February 27, 2026 / By Dr. Blenda Smith, Cady Grant Committee Chair / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
It is with joy that we announce the time to apply for Cady Grants is here. Continuing the memory and legacy of Ercil Cady, an annual granting of up to $5,000 is open in Upper New York. The Cady Grant is an opportunity to benefit those in the Upper New York Conference. Ercil Cady’s vision was for “the benefit …more
Auburn UMC paying it forward
February 17, 2026 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Beginning this year, Auburn UMC will sponsor one student at Africa University (AU) each year through a fully endowed scholarship. The church will not select the recipient; instead, AU will choose the student annually based on its own criteria. The endowment is funded through the Starbucks Foundation—unrelated to the coffee company—which awarded Auburn UMC money to use not for …more
Building Unity and Vision: SUS and UNY Missional Cabinets Gather for Joint Retreat
September 22, 2025 / By Shelby Winchell, Upper New York Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Missional Cabinets from both the Susquehanna (SUS) and Upper New York (UNY) Conferences gathered in Corning, NY, in early September for a multi-day retreat. Over four days, leaders from both conferences engaged in worship, learning, and collaboration with a focus on team building and moving forward together. The last time the Missional Cabinets from both conferences met was January 2025. You can read about that collaborative missional meeting here. …more
Flood Insurance: Is your church protected?
July 29, 2025 / By Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States—impacting 99% of U.S. counties since 1998. Yet many property owners, including churches, remain uninsured against this major risk. The Upper New York (UNY) Conference Board of Trustees is urging all congregations to assess their flood risk and consider whether they have adequate coverage. Many churches are surprised to learn that typical policies do not cover …more
Gratitude and generosity: AC 2025 giving update
June 3, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
During the 2025 Upper New York Annual Conference (AC), United Methodists of Upper New York once again demonstrated deep generosity and a heart for ministry by giving to four vital funds. These offerings support people, programs, and communities in need—extending the impact of the Church beyond the gathering itself. As of now, a total of $15,851.59 has been collected through gifts given during AC and those that continue to …more
2024 CVA Allocation Update: A testament to stewardship and faith
May 6, 2025 / By Bob Flask, Conference Treasurer / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At the 2024 Upper New York Annual Conference (UNY) session, conference members passed a resolution to allocate $7.8 million from the Child Victims Act (CVA) costs to the reserved fund for the UNY Board of Pension and Health. At that time, UNY was conducting the 2023 annual audit, leading auditors to allocate this cost to the operating year of 2023 based on incurred expenses and completed settlements. Initially, concerns arose about allocating such …more
Clergy Care Fund: A lifeline for clergy in crisis
April 8, 2025 / By Shelby Winchell, Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The demands of ministry are many—and sometimes, life’s unexpected financial burdens can make it difficult for clergy to be fully present to both their appointment and their families. That’s where the Clergy Care Fund steps in. This fund exists to assist active clergy under appointment who are experiencing an unforeseen financial crisis. The Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry’s (BOM) …more
Caring for God’s Creation at Buffalo University UMC
April 8, 2025 / By Rev. Merle Showers, Creation Care Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
University UMC in Buffalo has chosen to be concerned about being a GOOD Steward of God's Creation. We want to do all in our power to do as little harm and as much good to the great gift God has given us. In 2013, our gas bill for the year was $10,179.82 and our electric bill was $3,706.53. That was very alarming as far as our budget was concerned, but for …more
Upper New York welcomes Chelsea Connor
March 12, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Chelsea Connor joins Upper New York as a part-time Administrative Services Assistant, supporting the Finance, Benefits, and Human Resources Ministries. Chelsea began her new role on Monday, March 10. A graduate of Keuka College with a degree in Communication, Chelsea brings a wealth of administrative experience to UNY, most recently as an Office Administrator in Rochester. With years of experience managing schedules, coordinating logistics, and ensuring smooth office operations, …more
What are Ministry Shares?
February 12, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Do you know the strength in the United Methodist Connection? When several Upper New York churches were severely damaged after the “Blizzard of the Century” in December 2022, a church in Cape Cod, Massachusetts collected $30,000 and split it evenly among three churches in the Buffalo-area to help with the clean-up efforts. This church is not part of the Upper New York Conference, but members felt compelled to help. This …more