news stories Tagged “New Faith Communities”
Crossings brings new connections to South Dayton
November 11, 2024 / By Craig Buelow, Pastor at Northern KonXions / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Curiosity led many South Dayton residents to explore a new gathering spot on Main Street, thanks to an invitation from Crossings, a New Faith Community. Seizing the opportunity to connect on Halloween, the one night when families naturally venture out together, Crossings introduced itself to the community in a warm and inviting way. The mild weather encouraged families and neighbors to stroll along the sidewalks, porches, and in the streets, …more
UNY Greenhouse Days: Sparking innovation and reimagining ministry
September 24, 2024 / By Rev. Abigail Browka, UNY New Faith Communities Initiative / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Last weekend, 100 people gathered for UNY Greenhouse Days both at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool and at Penn Ave UMC in Pine City. Local church leaders came together to explore new ways of reaching people and reimagining ministry for today’s world. Michael Beck, a dynamic pioneer in Fresh Expressions, served as the keynote speaker. He shared real-life examples of how small, inherited churches can spark fresh …more
BeLoVeD is moving to Liverpool UMC
September 10, 2024 / By BeLoVeD Core Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Starting Sunday, September 15 from 6-8 p.m., BeLoVeD is moving to a new home at Liverpool First United Methodist Church, located at 604 Oswego St. in Liverpool and continuing under the leadership of the Rev. Bill Mudge. BeLoVeD is a New Faith Community serving United Methodists of Upper New York. Whether you’re already part of a church or just curious about faith, you’re invited to be …more
Missional Excellence and staffing
July 25, 2024 / By Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, Director of Missional Excellence / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Nearly eighteen months ago, I was invited to serve as the Director of Missional Excellence for United Methodists of Upper New York. In that time, some have asked what it means to be Director of Missional Excellence, or more specifically what is Missional Excellence? In short, Missional Excellence is about equipping leaders and congregations so they can make a missional impact in their communities and around the world. Missional …more
The future vision for New Faith Communities
April 3, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Join Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, the Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, and the Rev. Abigail Browka as they share the exciting developments in New Faith Communities (NFCs) across Upper New York. For 14 years, United Methodists of Upper New York have been committed to planting NFCs, reaching new people in new places. The New Faith Communities of Upper New York are diverse ethnically, economically, and in …more
Nominations and Leadership Development team seeking nominations
March 15, 2024 / By Ian Carlos Urriola, Nominations and Leadership Development Chair / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For three days, United Methodists of Upper New York gather for a time of prayer, worship, and holy conferencing to conduct the business of our Annual Conference. And yet, the work of our connectional ministry to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places is a 365—or, when it’s a leap year like 2024, 366—day affair. …more
Lilly Endowment grant taking shape in Upper New York
March 4, 2024 / By Rev. Abigail Browka, Associate Director of Missional Excellence / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Upper New York (UNY) Conference was granted $1,250,000 from the Lilly Endowment Inc. Compelling Preaching Initiative in October 2023. The Compelling Preaching Initiative is part of UNY's clergy leadership development focus called "Thrive," designed to support and enhance the preaching practices of pastors in Upper New York. The initiative will provide pastors with immersive experiences, curated workshops, and intentional space for rest, work, and play. These activities, set in …more
What to expect as we prepare for AC24
February 7, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Planning is underway for the 2024 Upper New York Annual Conference session, to be held May 30-June 1 at the SRC Arena, on the campus of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Administrative team leaders met virtually last week to iron out details regarding the upcoming session. Participants included chairpersons from the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, Conference Finance and Administration, Commission on Equitable Compensation, Nominations, and Trustees working in conjunction …more
Reflections on 2023 Cady Grants and new applications being accepted
February 2, 2024 / By Dr. Blenda Smith, Chair of the Cady Grant Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Each year, Cady Grants are awarded to projects and programs that seek to be used for the “benefit or education of minority groups, preferably black or American Indians,” as directed by Ercil Cady, the originator of the Ercil Cady Grant. The committee is pleased to share an update on how the grants were used by the 2023 recipients: Church in the Wild: As this New Faith …more
The importance of church statistics
January 19, 2024 / By Autumn Wells, Administrative and Accounting Services Specialist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
There are many reasons why church statistics are so important and why they need to be up-to-date. First and foremost, they are there to help your church mission. Statistics allow a church to see trends such as growth or decline in membership, revenue, expenses, attendance, membership makeup, amount of youth, and more. These trends can help a church plan for the future. There are many distinct groups who view and …more