Annual Conference 2021 to be held remotely
New Dates Set
After consultation with the Upper New York (UNY) Committee on Sessions, Conference Leadership Team, Board of Ordained Ministry Executive Committee, and the Upper New York Board of Trustees, Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Cabinet are announcing that the UNY 2021 Annual Conference (AC2021) session will be held remotely.
The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries, who also serves as the Annual Conference Agenda Chair said, “Given the uncertainty about if we will be able to legally and safely gather 1,400 people in person for Annual Conference, Conference leaders have decided to hold Annual Conference by remote means.”
The dates for this year’s Annual Conference will be June 17-19.
Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding said, “The dates needed to be changed from our original ones because of our desire to utilize the services of GNTV, a resource that many Annual Conferences used in 2020 and will be using in 2021 to conduct their sessions. Their dates were limited, and we needed to go with what GNTV had available.”
The Committee on Agenda and the Committee on Sessions will continue to create the framework of our time together during these three days.
Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding said, “It is our intention to create an environment as similar to being in person as possible, with debate, amendments, and action being allowed on all the necessary and vital work that is before us. At this time, we envision clergy and laity sessions, opening worship, ordination, and a memorial service being a part of these three days. We are also aware that June 19 is the Juneteenth holiday as well as the 11th anniversary of the formation of The Upper New York Conference and we plan to recognize both in a form of worship.”
Submissions (reports, petitions, team recommendations) are due on March 15 to be included in Vol. I of the UNY Journal. Submission guidelines will be issued by the Petitions and Resolutions Committee in early February.
Continue to follow all UNY communication platforms for more details.
