Mountain View District Newsletter
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Dear Friends,
It seemed SO far away. After General Conference in 2016, the Commission on the Way Forward was formed and a Special Session of General Conference was scheduled for February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. Well, it is now February 2019, and the Special Session begins a week from this coming Saturday!
The focus of the Special Session is on matters of human sexuality: whether our denomination will keep or change its stance on homosexuality, including whether UM pastors can officiate at same sex marriages in the church, ordination of homosexual pastors, etc.
Please continue to have important, respectful conversations with each other, and know that regardless of what is decided, our mission has not and will not change. We are to be making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Continue to pray daily for our Conference delegates to the Special Session: Dr. Scott Johnson, Bill Allen, John Martin, Colleen Preuninger, Beckie Sweet, Marthalyn Sweet, Blenda Smith, Gregg Forrester, Riley O’Flynn, Carmen Vianese, Bill Mudge, Thom White Wolf Fassett, and for Bishop Webb and the Council of Bishops. Be reminded that the delegates vote. The Bishops preside, but do not vote.
For more information, please go to our Conference website, unyumc.org, type “Special Session of General Conference” in the search bar and read about the 3 plans being brought forward and lots more information.
Friends, we’re all in this together. May each of us know the peace of Jesus Christ that passes all understanding and may our delegates and Bishop Webb experience the peace of Christ as well.
With You in the Journey,
Nancy
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Statistical Reporting as of Feb. 14th
Not started-36 %
In Progress-27%
Completed-38%
Tomorrow is the day
February 15th deadline!!!!
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
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Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced eight new appointments pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes
here
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Corning First UMC is Looking for an Organist for Their
Easter Sunday Service
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For more information and details please call:
607-962-4608 or 607-684-6239
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Allegany County Fairground
Ministry Need:
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There is a current and immediate need for a person or persons in leadership to step forward in order that this ministry, a long standing and vital outreach within our county during its yearly gathering at the Fairgrounds in Angelica, NY, might continue.
If you are being Spirit-led to serve in this way, please contact Max Shay at 585-593-5141 or by email at
maxonshay@hotmail.com
. He has gathered a wealth of information and history which will be so valuable in continuing forward into its next phase.
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The Upper New York Conference College Ministry Team invites high school and college undergraduate students to apply for the Lottie Brown Grant. The application deadline is
April 10
.
Click here
for more information and to apply.
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Bishop Webb offering DS extensions
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Paragraph 418 of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church states that "the normal term for a District Superintendent shall be up to six years, but this may be extended to no more than up to eight years at the discretion of the Bishop, in consultation with the cabinet and the district committee on superintendency." After, following this process of consultation, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has chosen to extend the term of two of Upper New York's District Superintendents.
The Rev. Rich Weihing will be extended to an eighth and final year as Superintendent of the Albany District and the Rev. Dr. David Kofahl will be extended to a seventh year as Superintendent of the Binghamton District.
Click here
to read Bishop Webb's Letter to the Conference.
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Access free Black History Month shareables
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A new set of social media graphics is available from United Methodist Communications to help you celebrate Black History Month with your congregation and social media followers. The free downloads can be used as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter posts throughout February. The graphics can be used on their own or posted alongside invitations to events and worship services, celebratory messages, inspirational words from a pastor and more.
Click here
to download them.
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Regional Gatherings with Bishop Webb after Special Session
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We do not know what to expect at the 2019 Special Session of General Conference (The Way Forward) taking place Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, MO and this uncertainty can be uncomfortable. Whatever the outcome of Special Session is, our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world will continue. There may be a new reality that we will have to acclimate to so that we can continue to fulfill our mission as United Methodists.
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb invites you to attend a clergy gathering and/or one of six regional gatherings happening this March. These gatherings will include a time of worship, prayer, and Bishop Webb's explanation of decisions and actions that took place at Special Session.
I
t is expected for all clergy to attend the clergy gathering
, which will be held at
Rochester: Asbury First United Methodist Church
on
Saturday March 9
from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. This location was chosen as opposed to a centrally located church because of the venue’s ability to host the large number of clergy members who will be attending.
Click here
to see the dates and locations where the gatherings will be held.
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Resolutions & Petitions for 2019 Annual Conference session due no later than March 15th, 2019
The Committee on Petitions and Resolutions is charged with overseeing the submission, review, and presentation of petitions and resolutions to the Annual Conference.
All resolutions and petitions for the 2019 Annual Conference session must be submitted to the Committee no later than
March 15, 2019
. Submissions should be emailed to the Petitions and Resolutions Committee at
petitions@unyumc.org
.
Click here
for writing and submission guidelines as well as a petition and resolution template and sample document.
All reports and materials to be published in the Journal Vol. I are due on February 15, 2019. These items should be submitted to the Connectional Ministries' office at
DCMOffice@unyumc.org
.
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Training Day in the Cornerstone District March 16th
If you live in the western part of the Mountain View District....this location might be closer for you to attend. This information is for those you that would like to take the opportunity to learn more and be more active in your local church.
Click here
to see what all is being offered and for the registration information.
Safe Sanctuaries® Training of Trainers
is being offered
March 16
As part of our 5th annual Learning Day for Laity & Clergy, Carol Barnes, Safe Sanctuaries coordinator for the Upper New York Conference, and Roberta Anderson, a member of Cornerstone's Safe Sanctuaries Training Team, will lead a Training of Trainers. The all-day training (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) is open to those who have completed the basic 3-hour Safe Sanctuaries Training since 2016 in the standard learning station format facilitated by a certified UNY Safe Sanctuaries trainer.
There is no cost for the training; advance registration is required. The training is limited to 20 participants and priority is given to those who wish to serve on the District's Safe Sanctuaries Training Team.
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Mountain View District
Lay Servant Ministries
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Presents:
2019 Spring Weekend Training
To be be held at:
WATSON HOMESTEAD
Retreat and Conference Center
9620 Dry Run Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Friday March 29 -31, 2019
Tuition $225.00 per person
Registrations Ends Feb. 28, 2019
There is a price for Commuters of $115.
(Please write "commuter" on top of registration form)
516-314-1994.
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Binghamton District's training day announced
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A Binghamton District Day Apart will take place on
March 30, 2019
in Founder's Lodge at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center, 501 William Law Rd. in Windsor, NY. from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
"Praying with the Wesleys: Foundations of Methodist Spirituality" led by John R. Tyson. This day-long enrichment event that will focus on the spiritual lives of Susanna, John, and Charles Wesley as practitioners and shapers of a distinctive approach(s) to prayer.
The cost is $25 per person and includes dinner and snacks. Space is limited.
Click here
for more information and
click here
for a registration form.
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There is still space for
YOU
at one of our fall, winter, or spring gatherings – explore the opportunities available at our Camp & Retreat Centers. Head to
www.campsandretreats.org
for more information or to sign up/register, contact the site directly, or contact the CRM Central Office at 315-898-2026 with any questions.
Casowasco:
March 1-3, 2019: Women’s Chocolate Getaway (Women)
April 11-14, 2019: Quilt by Faith: Spring (Women)
May 12, 2019: Mother’s Day Brunch (Families & Adults)
Sky Lake:
February 15-18, 2019: Family Winter Weekend II (Families & Adults)
April 5-7, 2019: Church Family Getaway (Families & Adults)
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An invitation to all Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta College Students to join in to be a part of the 2020 Jamaica Mission Team
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Click here
for more detailed information and contact information.
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UNY BOM Endorses 2019 Shenandoah University
Youth Theology Institute
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The Upper New York Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry has endorsed this summer's
Shenandoah University Youth Theology Institute
(SUYTI), a 14-day institute (July 14-27, 2019) where high school students explore the exciting intersection of faith and justice. Upon completion of the institute and a self-identified justice project in their local context students receive 3 college credits from Shenandoah University. At SUYTI, students spend one week at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA and one week at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C.. Both Shenandoah and Wesley are United -Methodist-related schools. Each day includes worship, class time with world-class professors, compelling afternoon immersive experiences, and mentoring from undergraduate and seminary students. The cost for students in 2019 is only $200.
SUYTI is open to current 9th-12th grade students. If you would like to nominate a student,
click here
for a 2019 nomination form.
For more information, please contact Rev. Colleen Hallagan Preuninger at
cpreunin@su.edu
or 540-665-5453.
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Wesley Heritage tour scheduled for February 2020
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Join Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and his wife Jodi on a Wesley Heritage tour in England Feb. 11-19, 2020. This journey will take you through England where you will learn about the roots of the early Church and the ministry of John Wesley. Visit London, Oxford, Epworth, the Old Rectory where John Wesley grew up, and much more.
The earlier you register, the bigger the discount. Details about any potential available scholarships will be determined soon.
Click here
to learn more and to obtain a registration brochure with all the details about this exciting opportunity.
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SPECIAL SESSION INFORMATION
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Pastoral letter from Bishops
of the Northeastern Jurisdiction
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During the Northeastern College of Bishops meeting, Jan. 28-30, the Bishops prayed for the Church and particularly the clergy and laity of the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) of The United Methodist Church. The NEJ Bishops wrote a letter to all members of all NEJ Conferences inviting everyone to join them in deeper and more fervent prayer as the Special Session of General Conference approaches from Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, MO.
Click here
to read the letter.
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Special Session of General Conference
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The Special Session of General Conference will be held from Feb. 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri at The Dome, part of the America's Center Convention Complex . Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has created a series of videos that can help prepare you for what will be taking place at General Conference. The videos review the report created by the Commission on a Way Forward that will be presented at General Conference-they can be viewed individually, used for group discussions, and more-each video can be downloaded as well.
In addition to Bishop Webb's videos, the Upper New York Conference has also compiled other resources to help you prepare for Special Session, including Bishop Webb's Way Forward PowerPoint Presentation, an overview of the three church plans, and more.
Click here
for all resources.
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From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Wespath FAQ
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On Thursday Jan. 17, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb sent a letter to the Upper New York Conference regarding Wespath and the Special Session of General Conference.
Click here
to learn more about Wespath's clergy benefit plans depending on the results of the Special Session of General Conference next month.
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IT Tip of the Month:
Identifying an email phishing scam
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Have you ever received an email from someone you know explaining that they urgently need money or a gift card? There's a good chance that the email is not actually from your friend or acquaintance at all-it could be an email phishing scam!
An email phishing scam is:
- Email phishing comes in many forms
- It is usually is disguised as someone that you may know
- If someone is asking for money, gift cards, credit card info, or passwords is to most likely phishing
What to do when you receive an email in this form and asking for this kind of information:
- Look closely at the email address
- It may look authentic at first glance but look closely
- Never provide any of the information being requested especially passwords, money, gift cards, credit card info
- Delete it
If you have any further questions about email phishing scams, contact the UNY Conference IT Manager at
DougThomas@unyumc.org
.
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Social Holiness Concerns: Working to dismantle racism beyond Imagine No Racism
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In this month's Social Holiness Concerns article, Pastor Evelyn Woodring explains the importance of continuing to be committed to dismantling racism beyond completing the Imagine No Racism study sessions. She reminds us that it is a United Methodist obligation to educate, support, sacrifice for, and hold ourselves to account for those whom society has marginalized.
Click here
to read the full article.
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Continuing Education Requirements for Clergy
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Attention:
All clergy under appointment or assignment are required to complete 2 CEUs (20 contact hours) per year or accumulative 8 CEUs (80 contacts hours) per quadrennium and will provide documentation to the District Superintendent, unless enrolled and attending Course of Study or Seminary Degree Program.
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A January Devotional from CCYM
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The Upper New York Conference's Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) publishes a monthly devotional that is posted on our Conference website.
Click here
to learn about the great events that CCYM has planned for 2019 and to read January's devotional, provided by Charley Miller, Joseph Sumner, Amelia Elmen, and Chevy Sumner, who attend
Queensbury UMC
in the
Adirondack District
.
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How to help Schroon Lake church
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Donations for the Schroon Lake Community Church can be made through our website:
Click here
or checks may be mailed to:
Schroon Lake Community Church
P.O. Box 276
Schroon Lake, N.Y. 12870
Donations for Pastor Lynnette can be made through this Go Fund Me page:
Click here
, or Checks and gift cards can be mailed to:
Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center
c/o Pastor Lynnette Cole
1884 E. Schroon River Rd
Warrensburg, NY 12885
If you have furniture, old photos, memorabilia or anything physical to donate please contact Ashtin Loy at
RebuildSLCC@gmail.com
. We are not currently taking any items as we have no space to store them, however we are making a list of donations.
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Click here
for an updated UMCOR cleaning kit supply list.
Click here
for more information about the challenge, which runs through May 25, 2019. All UMCOR cleaning buckets will be used to help our neighbors near and far who are affected by natural disasters.
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Changes in how we share our story
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Upper New York Conference Communications has continually evolved over the last five years or so. Examples include, introducing new elements like the Bridge and the Weekly Digest, changing the audience and the format for the Advocate, more fully embracing social media, and putting the resources necessary into video ministry to make that platform more impactful.
In that spirit, Conference Communications will be making a change once again, this time by adjusting the number of issues of the Advocate we publish annually and adding a new website compilation called "Focus On," which will feature several stories and resources on a particular topic.
Click here
to learn more.
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New issue of the Advocate available
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Volume 11, Issue I, of the Upper New York Advocate focuses on creative and inspiring worship with specific
examples of congregations who excel at worship throughout the Upper New York Conference. Learn about the tools and strategies that produce awesome worship services. This issue includes several resources as well.
Click here
for the latest issue of the Advocate on the Conference website; the printed version of this newsletter will be available in your local church. The Advocate is the Conference's ministry magazine.
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The February 2019 copy of the Bridge is now available for download. It is available in both color and black & white formats.
Click here
to select the version you prefer and make copies as necessary. This issue focuses on our delegates who are going to the Special Session of General Conference, which will be held Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, Mo.
Read this issue to access the links to video prayers from Upper New York (UNY) delegates leading up to Special Session. Also, learn how to be connected to Special Session through livestream, blogs, and vlogs from our delegates as well as Facebook Live and photos they will be posting on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This issue also includes news about UNY paying 100 percent of our General Church apportionments for the third year in a row! This issue also includes an inspiring story entitled, "Hope in the midst of tragedy."
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2018 UNY Conference Journal Vol. II Now Available
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Please view or download the
2018 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. II
for free by first visiting the Conference website
here
.
To purchase it for $16.86 (plus shipping and applicable sales tax) from Lulu.com,
click here
.
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Rev. Nancy Adams
District Superintendent
Patti Gridley
Administrative Assistant
PO Box 706
35 Wilkes Ave., Suite 101
Bath, NY 14810-0706
(607) 962-8047
Check out our Facebook Page
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The United Methodist Center of Upper New York
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 898-2000
Toll-Free (855) 424-7878
Fax (315) 898-2150
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Camps & Retreat Centers
or call toll free- 855-414-6400
Safety & Security for your Organization:
Click here
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Mountain View District Office|607-962-8047
mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org |
Website
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