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

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: April 30, 2019 from 6:30 -8:30 p.m.: Potsdam UMC May 1, 2019 from 6:30 -8:30 p.m.: Olean: Christ UMC May 13, 2019 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Cicero UMC May 14, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Chenango Bridge UMC May 15, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Clarence UMC May 29, 2019 from 6:30- 8:30 p.m.: Shenendahowa UMC

Looking for UNY Young Adults

If you are an UNY Young Adult and are looking to get together with other UNY Young Adults please read the information below:

The age range we are looking for is anyone from 18-35. 

This range is not flexible.

 

If you wish to join the young adults group, please send an email to [email protected]. This will get us in contact so we can have them fill out the information needed. Once this is filled out, they will be added to a group message on the app groupme. This can be accessed on smart phone, cell phone, or computer. This is where all info will come from.

 

Contact is on GroupMe, Facebook, in person, and web meetings. 

Elyse Muder, Co-Chair UNY Young Adults

Right Start Workshops Dates are Set for Moving Clergy WHO ATTENDS: this is mandatory for all full-time clergy who are moving to a new appointment, retirement or extension ministry. Less than full time clergy who are moving to a new appointment or retirement are welcome and encouraged to attend. Northern Flow & Crossroads : May 16, 2019 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sandy Creek UMC, 2031 Harwood Dr, Sandy Creek, NY Albany & Adirondack: May 20, 2019 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Saratoga Springs UMC, 175 Fifth Ave, Saratoga Springs Oneonta & Mohawk: May 21, 2019 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. New Hartford First UMC, 105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY Genesee Valley & Finger Lakes: May 21, 2019 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Farmington UMC, 5925 County Road 41, Farmington Mountain View & Binghamton May 22, 2019 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Waverly UMC, 158 Chemung St., Waverly, NY Niagara Frontier & Cornerstone May 23, 2019 9:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. First UMC, Springville, 474 E. Main Street, Springville, NY Please register for one of these six dates on line. Click here to register. Please feel free to choose the location and day that best fit your schedule. Lunch will be provided. If you have special dietary or other needs, please share this information when you register. Questions may be directed to your current district superintendent.

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.

Read the article. 

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: Fall - October 18 & 19, November 15 & 16, 2019 Winter - January 17 & 18, February 28 & 29, 2020 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.

 

Finger Lakes Invites you to attend their Clergy Day

FINGER LAKES CLERGY DAY

 

May 3 from 9:00 - 2:00 .  

Subject: Sexism in the church? Spot it, stop it.   

Seneca Falls, NY

Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Melanie Duguid-May

Dr. May is the John Price Crozer Professor of Theology, Colgate Rochester  Crozer Divinity School

 

Visit the Women's Rights Museum in Seneca Falls, join in worship at

 the district office auditorium, and lunch with conversation at the 

Seneca Falls UMC.  

 

It is our hope you will leave the day informed and inspired to help all God's people live, "love one another as I have loved you" Jn.13.34 and begin a path to eradicate the sin of sexism levied at women in the church. Bring your questions and prayers to this sensitive topic in our faith communities and be prepared to pray for the wounded among us who have been the target of sexism's sting.

 

Dr. May is an expert on gender studies in religious life, an ordained American Baptist minister, and well published author.  Among her many pubilcations is her book, "Bonds of Unity: Women, Theology and the Worldwide Church" 

 

More details to come but please plan to take this day and learn more about what sexism is in our faith community and what we can do to survive it while helping other see the harm it leaves in its wake so to transform our behaviors in the name of Christ

Click here for a flyer

All things to know about Annual Conference 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. *************** SAVE THE DATE: Friday JUNE 7 at 5:15pm   27th Annual Palestinian Dinner- Plymouth Congregational Church, 232 E. Onondaga St., St. George Macedonian Orthodox Church 5083 Onondaga St., 2 1/2 blocks from OnCenter Speaker: Huwaida Arraf, Palestinian American lawyer/human rights activist will speak on current human rights abuses Reservations: Linda Bergh (315) 492-8507, 116 Edna Rd., Syracuse, NY  13205, or Karen Peterson, (607) 739-3141, 116 Greenridge Dr., Horseheads, NY  14845.  (Checks for $20.00 made out to "UNY Conference"/ Palestinian Dinner" on the memo line/ an additional amount may be designated for the Gary Bergh Scholarship Fund, which enables young adults/ adults to travel to Palestine/ Israel to learn first-hand about peace and justice issues there.)  ************* 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!