E-News from the Valley! April 3, 2019
Genesee Valley District

I am out of the office from March 18 to April 22. 
If you have an emergency please contact Betsy and if necessary she can reach the DS on call.
DS Vonda
Click here to go to the Genesee Valley District website.

Items you would like to see in the E-News should be submitted to the district office by Monday at noon.
CALENDAR EVENTS

 
Local Pastor Licensing School
May 5-11, 2019
Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
158 Casowasco Drive, Moravia NY 13118
Bishop Mark J. Webb announces the following appointments:

Genesee Valley:
  • Robin Blair as a full elder to East Bloomfield and Ionia UMC's effective July 1, 2019
  • Eric McHugh is appointed as a Supply Hire to Elba UMC in addition to his appointment at Stafford UMC
  • Philip Phaneuf as a full elder to North Chili UMC effective July 1, 2019
  • Jeffrey Nowak as a full elder to East Rochester & West Walworth Zion UMCs effective July 1, 2019
  • Sherri Rood is appointed as a full elder to Penfield UMC effective July 1, 2019
  • Todd Goddard is appointed as a full elder at Rush UMC effective July 1, 2019
  • Cathy Hall Stengel is appointed to attend school effective July 1, 2019


Adirondack:
  • Natalie Bowerman as a provisional elder to Salem UMC & Greenwich: Centenary UMC effective July 1, 2019.
Finger Lakes:
  • Mary Rublee is appointed as a full elder at Christ UMC of Locke & Moravia

Bishop Webb announces the following retirements pending approval of clergy session:
  • Daniel Carr
  • Jacque Ruth
  • Lauren Swanson
Regional Gatherings Announced for April / May

Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced regional gatherings that he will be hosting throughout the Upper New York Conference in April and May. 

These regional gatherings will primarily focus on unpacking the Judicial Council's decision regarding the constitutionality of the petitions that made up the Traditional Plan affirmed by the delegates of the 2019 Special Session of The General Conference. 

It will also be a time to help attendees to understand what becomes part of the Book of Discipline on January 1, 2020 and what does not.  These times will include an opportunity for questions and conversation about what God might be doing in and through The United Methodist Church in the future. 
There will be a brief time of worship at each gathering as well.
 
The dates, times, and locations of these gatherings are as follows:

Get the Details on Court Ruling for Clergy Housing Allowance

Wondering if your Clergy Housing Allowance will still be tax free in the future? United Methodist News Service has the story.

"In  a unanimous decision  released March 15, three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit reversed a 2017 federal court ruling. The lower court had found that the tax exemption amounted to an unconstitutional establishment of religion.

The appeals court concluded the 1954 law is constitutional, saying the law 'has a secular legislative purpose, its principal effect is neither to endorse nor to inhibit religion, and it does not cause excessive government entanglement.' The ruling also noted that Congress has provided federal tax exemptions for religious organizations as far back as 1802.

UNY Satellite School for Course of Study
Wesley Theological Seminary is proud to announce the opening of the Upper New York Satellite School for the Course of Study Program in the 2019 fall term. This school will be held at the Upper New York Conference Center, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY.
 
The UNY Satellite School will begin with three sessions, three courses each session:
  1. Fall - October 18 & 19, November 15 & 16, 2019
  2. Winter - January 17 & 18, February 28 & 29, 2020
  3. Spring - March 27 & 28, April 24 & 25, 2020
A course schedule for the first two years and registration information is available here. Click the drop down menu for the "Upper New York Satellite School." 
 
A fillable registration form is available here . Email the online form to the District office ([email protected]) or print and complete the form, then mail it to:
Genesee Valley District Office
1050 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
 
Once the District Superintendent has signed the form, the District office will give the registration form to the COS registrar:
COS Registrar Betsy O'Flynn
 
Betsy will forward the completed form on to Wesley Seminary. Wesley must receive the form, signed by the DS and the COS Registrar, by the deadline; 
the deadline for registration for the Fall term is September 30, 2019. 
 
Please click here to see the items posted on the conference website. 

If you have questions, contact COS Registrar Betsy O'Flynn at [email protected] or 585-340-9558.
 

GRCC Events for April

Friends,
   Here are four wonderful events in April to let people know about.
 

April 7: "Where Do We Go from Here?" sponsored by UCLM and featuring former Mayor Bill Johnson.  4:00 pm at Pentecostal Miracle Deliverance Church, 923 Portland Ave. Click here for flyer

 

April 10: Jewish/Christian Interfaith Bible Study on topic of Criminal Justice featuring Dr. Marvin McMickle and Rabbi Peter Stein.  12-1 pm at the Jewish Community Center.  Click here for flyer

 

April 13: Amazing Faiths Interfaith Banquet and Dialogue sponsored by the UR Interfaith Chapel.  6-8 pm at the Interfaith Chapel. Click here for flyer

 

April 19:  11th annual Ecumenical Good Friday Walk of the Cross.  Gather at 8:45 at Aenon Baptist Church, 175 Genesee St.  Click here for flyer

 
Thanks for publicizing and supporting!
 
Blessings,
 
Rev. Debbie Grohman
Administrative Coordinator
Greater Rochester Community of Churches - Faith in Action Network
 
2 Riverside St.
Rochester, NY  14613
(585)254-2570

Bow Tie and Hat Day at AC!   
We like to have fun at Annual Conference and you can 
be a part of it by wearing a bow tie or hat (or both!) 
on Friday, June 7. 
Go crazy!  Be creative! 
Any type of headwear works - hat, head band, fascinator - you've got time to find the perfect accessory. 
(Last year, the Niagara Frontier District Lay Leader, Jessica, wore Minnie Mouse ears.) 
Looking forward to seeing all the different participants!
Registration is now open for the Upper New York 
Annual Conference session, 
held June 5-8 at the Syracuse OnCenter.

 Click here obtain more information about the 2018 Annual Conference session, including the registration form, the menu, and the housing form.

Genesee Valley District
of the Upper New York Conference 
of the United Methodist Church 

Pamela Braun, District Co-Lay Leader
Peter Lagueras, District Co-Lay Leader
Betsy O'Flynn, Adminstrative Assistant
Rev. Vonda J. Fossitt, District Superintendent

MAILING:  1050 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
PHYSICAL:  1040 East Ave, 2nd Floor, Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 340-9525  * [email protected]
sorry - no fax available at this time