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'
As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.'
Ezekiel 34:12
New International Version
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Adirondack District
Newsletter
Jan. 25, 2020
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Is your newsletter "cutting off" at the margin?
Try clicking on the link at the top of this newsletter that says,
"Having trouble viewing this email?"
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Miss something? Not all information is repeated each week
To view the Jan. 22 Local Church Events, Click here
To view the Jan. 11 District Newsletter,
Click here
The newsletter is usually sent out every other Saturday,
with updates sent weekly in the Wednesday Local Church News and Events.
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What's New from the Conference
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A new approach to the leadership of Superintendent:
The Regional Superintendency Plan
The Upper New York (UNY) Conference will be instituting a Regional Superintendency Plan effective July 1, 2020. The plan was shared with District Committees on Superintendency at a Jan. 18 event. With the uncertainty of the future of the United Methodist Church as we approach General Conference 2020, it is imperative to keep focused on the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The new Regional Superintendency Plan will help the Conference more effectively live out this mission through creating deeper connections and more effectively using resources.
Click here
to view an article explaining these two positive aspects of the new plan.
Effective July 1, 2020, the 12 Upper New York Districts will be designated to one of three regions as part of a New Regional Superintendency Plan. This plan is a result of
the leadership of Upper New York engaging in prayerful conversation and discernment over the past year, focusing on a way to effectively live out the United Methodist mission, while keeping reality and sustainability in mind.
Click here
to watch a video of various UNY leaders explaining how and why this new plan was determined.
Click here
to review a bulleted list of what the new plan entails.
Click here
for Frequently Asked Questions about this plan.
If you have reviewed the above material and still have questions about the new Regional Superintendency Plan, send your questions to [email protected]
or contact Adirondack District Superintendent Rev. Debbie Earthrowl at (518) 391-3215 or [email protected] with your questions, comments, concerns or suggestions.
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Regarding disaffiliation from the UMC
The Special Session of General Conference in 2019 adopted legislation which provides a way for churches to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church "for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals." This limited right is codified as ΒΆ2553 in the updated 2016 Book of Discipline.
The Upper New York Conference Board of Trustees has prepared a document that outlines the policies that local churches must follow in order to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church under the provisions of this new paragraph. Applications from churches interested in disaffiliating from the denomination must be submitted to the Board of Trustees by Feb. 15, 2020.
Click here to learn more about what the disaffiliation process entails and to access the Trustees' document as well as the application.
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UNY Imagine No Racism preaching contest deadline extended
The Upper New York Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) is
welcoming submissions of sermons designed to call out and dismantle racism. A panel of judges will recognize the sermon that most effectively engages and motivates listeners to imagine and build a world free of racism.
The Pastor, Lay Preacher, or Deacon preaching this sermon will be honored at Annual Conference. Excerpts of the sermon will be shared in a variety of ways. The individual who delivers the winning sermon will also be given collaborative access to our Conference staff to develop a promotional video for their church.
The deadline for sermon submission has been extended to Feb. 29.
Click here
to learn what judges will be looking for in the videos and to find out how to submit the videos.
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Reports, petitions and resolutions due by Feb. 3
Please remember that if you would like your reports, petitions and resolutions available in Vol. 1 of the Upper New York Conference Journal, they must be submitted by
Monday, Feb. 3. Reports should be sent to
[email protected] and petitions and resolutions should be sent to
[email protected]. Items not submitted by the deadline will only be available on the Annual Conference app and the Conference website.
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Apply now for Cady Grant
Applications for the Ercil Cady Grant are available now through
January 31. Grant(s) of up to $5,000 may be awarded to individual United Methodists, local UM churches, or UNY district and conference ministry teams. As directed by the originator of the Ercil Cady Grant, priority shall be given to educational proposals that benefit minority groups or individuals.
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Explore New Faith Communities in Launchpad 2020
This two-day boot camp, to be held Jan. 31-Feb. 1, is taught by Bill Vallet, Dave Masland,
and a team of experienced planters, is for anyone planting a New Faith Community in Upper New York. If you are planting, or thinking about planting a New Faith Community, this training is for you!
Launchpad is an intensive crash course in the first five "Seasons of Planting," including discerning, visioning, gathering, worshiping, and disciplining. It is designed for lead planters to attend, along with two to four other team members. The more people who attend from your team, the stronger the impact of the training on your team, and ultimately, on your New Faith Community (NFC). The intended outcome of the two days is for each team to leave with a detailed six-month action plan. Most important is the work you will do to sharpen your vision for your NFC.
You can also contact Anne Hutchins with questions, (518) 898-2029.
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"Ezra" site is open: Deadline Feb. 15!
The Ezra site (www.ezra.gcfa.org) is open for entry of 2019 local church statistical data. The deadline for 2019 local church statistical data entry is Saturday, Feb. 15. If you have questions, or you need to have your password re-set, please contact Carrie in the District Office (518-480-4866 or [email protected])
For a Power Point program that walks you through the Ezra process click here
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Disability Awareness Weekend coming up
At the 2018 Upper New York Annual Conference, held at on Onondaga Community
College's SRC Arena, in Syracuse, NY, a petition was adapted for local churches to hold a Disability Awareness Weekend the first weekend in February.
This petition was submitted by Rev. Missy McCarthy and the Accessibility Committee. The petition recommends a Disability Awareness Weekend to be held during the first weekend of February, or another weekend chosen by a local church for a special collection for promotion of awareness issues as well as ministries that provide fuller inclusion of people with disabilities.
Rev. McCarthy has supplied several resources to help your church broaden the awareness of disability issues. To read more,
click here.
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Save the date: We're having another District Day!
We will be hosting another District Day, "Informed to Transform," on
Saturday, March 7 at the Saratoga Springs UMC. The day will begin at 8:30 with registration, followed by worship, and then three rounds of workshops, each lasting 75 minutes. We will conclude the day with a 2:30 PM worship and Communion service. Lunch is included in the registration fee of $10.
Some of the topics include: Stewardship, Small Groups, Social Media, Relationships that Bring Life, Trustees, Camping and Retreat Ministry, Accessibility Awareness, Prayer Beads, Labyrinth,
Ignatian Prayer, Christian Education, Lay Servant Ministries, Safe Sanctuaries for the Elderly, Music for Hospice/Dementia patients, and more!
A flyer and registration form will be circulated in early February. Deadline to register will be Feb. 25. Childcare will be provided if there is enough interest.
If you have questions, be in touch with Carrie at the District Office, (518) 480-4866 or
[email protected]
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Are you offering Disciple 1 Bible Study?
If you are planning to offer Disciple 1 Bible Study (the full course, not the Fast Track), please contact Carrie in the District Office (518) 480-4866 or
[email protected]
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The VitalSigns Dashboard is a tool that allows churches to track church growth indicators, such as weekly worship attendance, professions of faith, small group participation, missional participation, and financial giving. It is a deeper level of insight, support, and accountability that tracks and trends vital information in an easy-to-understand dashboard.
VitalSigns provides both a real-time pulse and long-term perspective on what's going on in congregations, Districts, and Conferences. It is designed to help congregations follow their progress on the goals they set each year.
"It's really a tool to help resource local congregations," said Director of Vital Congregations the Rev. Aaron Bouwens. "It's not a tool that we're going to be using to do harm or to be punitive to churches. It really is going to be a tool to say 'what's happening in our local churches from a logistics standpoint?' and then 'how can we help engage those churches with resources that would be helpful to what's happening in their life?"
To sign up for VitalSigns,
click here.
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Recovery housing by women for women
Statistics show that one-quarter of women released from prison are arrested again within 6 months. Two-thirds are back within 5 years.
While volunteering in prison ministry, Olivia Smith was so touched by the stories of women she met that she mobilized volunteers at her church, Brentwood United Methodist Church, to open a home for women in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse. Healing Housing is a place of love and support by women, for women rebuilding their lives.
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Are you 'snapping' your teens? A case for Snapchat in church
According to a recent survey, 75% of teens age 13-17 use Snapchat. The fun, casual nature of Snapchat lets you build closer relationships with teens than often happen online.
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A different set of rules: Generosity
The rules that we're used to, tell us one way of handling our money, property, and the rest of our stuff. But God's rules are different. The Rev. Pedro Pillot of Asbury United Methodist Church in Camden, NJ offers an alternative understanding of growing through giving.
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Image by Sara Schork, United Methodist Communications
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Talking about friends makes for good conversation
Have you ever looked at a rope? It isn't made of just one string, but is a group of strings woven together. The same is true of the cables that hold up things as heavy as bridges. No one string or cable is strong enough by itself, but when they come together they can do much more.
The Bible tells us that friends are like that. They pick us up when we fall and help us through good times and bad. It is important for each of us to have good friends and to be good friends to others.
Get Them Talking is a
series of monthly resources to help families lead conversations about issues of faith during dinner, devotions, a drive or anytime.
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What's the point?
So what about life? What is the point?
Many of us avoid that question. Asking such a question is intimidating because we don't readily see an answer.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible represents that tension. It's not a hugely popular book--one that is not often quoted in worship services.
Ecclesiastes asks the unsettling question: "What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)
Such questions don't lead to strong feelings of significance. And if we're so insignificant, what's even the point? Perhaps what is most unsettling about Ecclesiastes is that it poses the question of significance without posing an answer.
To read more, click here.
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Dorothy Height: Sharing MLK's dream
Dorothy Irene Height met the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was a gifted student
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Dorothy Height
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entering Morehouse College in Atlanta at the age of 15.
Born in Richmond, Va., in 1912, Height marched at major civil rights rallies, sat onstage with King when he delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech, and was president of the National Council for Negro Women for more than 40 years.
Dorothy Height
was assistant director of the Harlem Women YMCA and was responsible for that organization's full commitment to integration. She was elected national president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1947.
She received the Citizens Medal Award from President Ronald Reagan in 1989 and the Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in 1994. Open Wide the Freedom Gates, her memoir, was published in 2003.
Dorothy Height died in 2010.
Click here to read her impressions of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
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All things United Methodist
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How we are structured
The United Methodist Church does not have a central headquarters or a single executive leader. Duties are divided among bodies that include the General Conference, the Council of Bishops and the Judicial Council.
These entities are required by our Constitution to be part of our structure. Each plays a significant role in the life of the church.
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Inspiration for Daily Living
Twice each month, the United Methodist Communications' e-newsletter offers examples of Christian living, inspirational messages, and information on what it means to be a United Methodist.
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Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS
Congregants of West End United Methodist church in Nashville join in singing from the United Methodist hymnal.
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Connected in worship and song ...
Worship and song have connected United Methodists and their predecessors from the days of Wesley to the present. Well-crafted liturgy and music shared across the denomination bring congregations together, celebrate common heritage and reinforce Wesleyan practices. They are powerful teaching tools that also build community.
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Global Ministries is all about connection
Connection is at the core of our work. Global Ministries connects The United Methodist Church, its people and congregations to partner with others engaged in God's global work, which takes place in a variety of settings, countries and cultures.
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OUTWARD! Registration now open
OUTWARD! will be held Friday-Sunday, March 13-15 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool.
OUTWARD!, as the names suggests,
is a retreat that focuses on an outward expression of God's love. Youth groups will have an opportunity to get a taste for mission work by going on short excursions away from the hotel in which this event is hosted. During this event, youth groups will have more opportunities to do things together, and work toward creating a God-like community around them.
The cost of the event:
$70 per person (youth or adult), which covers the registration and includes a YSF T-Shirt. This cost does not include meals. There are many options available locally. Hotel Rooms are $115 per room per night (up to five people per room). There is a $10 cost for a rollaway for the weekend. The number of rollaways is limited, so it is first come-first served.
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Opportunities to Serve
The Nominations Committee is accepting nominations for almost all Upper New York Conference ministry teams. Their team has begun its work of developing a list of
nominees for consideration at our upcoming Upper New York Annual Conference session (May 28-30, 2020).
While each Conference ministry team has a focus, all exist to equip clergy, laity, and their churches to live our mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world. The Nominations Committee believes all the gifts needed to live this mission have been given to the people of Upper New York by God. Prayerfully consider serving as a member of one of our Conference ministry teams.
Click here for a description of the ministry teams that have vacancies. Click here to complete a nominations form on Survey Monkey. Should you need to print the form, please use the Survey Monkey link.
It would be appreciated if nominations could be submitted by February 14.
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Apply for loans and scholarships from "GBHEM"
As 2019 ends, the GBHEM is announcing important dates for the 2020 year for Loans and Scholarships. The spring loan application opened on Dec. 12.
This application is for enrollment between the months of January to May 2020. The deadline to apply is May 5. Students are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 per calendar year. Click here for more information.
The scholarship application opened Jan. 3. The deadline for students to apply is March 5. This application is for scholarships for the fall 2020 semester and is open to any college student at any grade level who will be enrolled full-time for the fall semester with at least a 2.5 GPA. Students must also have at least a one-year membership with the United Methodist Church to be eligible to receive an award. To learn more,
click here.
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Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020
Deadline for Ezra statistical data to be submitted.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Trustees Report; Finance Committee Report and church budget due in the District Office
Saturday, March 7, 2020
District Day - many "workshops" to be offered
Saratoga Springs UMC
Sunday, March 15, 2020
April 19-25, 2020
Local Pastor Licensing School
Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
May 28-30, 2020
11th Session of the Upper New York Annual Conference
The Oncenter, Syracuse, NY
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020
District Day - many "workshops" to be offered
Plattsburgh UMC
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Standard Safe Sanctuaries training and
Elder Abuse Safe Sanctuaries to be held
March 21st in Queensbury
The three-hour standard Safe Sanctuaries training will be held on Saturday, March 21 at
the Queensbury UMC, 460 Aviation Rd, Queensbury, (12804). A two-hour Elder Abuse Safe Sanctuaries will also be offered that day.
Both trainings will follow the curriculum developed by the Upper New York Annual Conference Safe Sanctuaries Team, educating those involved in ministries who work with children and vulnerable adults on risks and prevention strategies related to abuse. The trainings will be facilitated by Ruth Persons and Stephanie Schrom.
The Standard Safe Sanctuaries training is from 9 AM to Noon,
and is required for all adults who have regular and direct contact with children, youth and vulnerable adults. It is also a mandatory class for clergy. For minimum standards, click here.
Please arrive by 8:45 AM to register.
Elder Abuse training is from 12:45 PM to 2:45
PM, and focuses on the elderly. It is not a required class. Please arrive by 12:30 PM to register.
If you are attending both sessions, please bring your own lunch.
If you have questions, call her at (518) 480-4866.
Let her know if you will be attending one or both of these trainings. She will send you the link to the handout for the standard Safe Sanctuaries Training.
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Check out the Media Resource Center:
January newsletter available
Have you taken
advantage of the Upper NY Media Resource Center? Are you a new Pastor or Christian Ed Director? Are you in a new appointment? Would you like to try something different in your church? Remember to check with the Media Resource Center for what is available to borrow before you purchase something. Your Shared Ministry dollars have already paid for the resources we have in the library, so why pay twice! Give Karen Campolieto, coordinator of the Media Resource Center, a call (315-898-2027), email her ([email protected]), or check out the online catalog.
The easy online ordering is just a click away. Your order will be sent through the USPS and you'll get a mail back envelope and label with instructions on mailing. Your only cost is the postage to return it.
To learn more about the center, to look through the online catalog and view the January newsletter,
click here
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Adirondack District Lay Servant Classes
For detailed descriptions of courses,
including fees, click here
The Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries Team is scheduling classes for 2020. The schedule of classes are those needed for Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Speaker or classes that laity might be interested in with no certification. Class size is a minimum of 5 ----maximum of 12. Classes may be cancelled if the minimum is not met. All texts must be purchased by the participant except the Basic class prior to the start of class so course work can be started when the syllabus is sent.
Please be mindful when you register for a class that you will be able to attend, please let us know one week before the class if you cannot attend, so that those on a waiting list can be notified and spots can be filled. Registration forms and fees must be received prior to class in order to secure your space in the class.
Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, Feb. 27 and March 12 (with March 19 as a snow date)
6 PM to 8 PM
Round Lake UMC, 34 George Ave., Round Lake (12151)
Basic Course
February 8 and 15: 9 AM to 4 PM
Warrensburg UMC, 3890 Main St., Warrensburg (12885)
Basic Course
March 13: 6 PM to 9 PM and March 14: 9 AM to 4 PM
Plattsburgh UMC, 127 Beekman St., Plattsburgh 12901
Registration contact information TBA
Two Advanced Courses: Topics TBA
March 13: 6 PM to 9 PM and March 14: 9 AM to 4 PM
Plattsburgh UMC, 127 Beekman St., Plattsburgh 12901
Registration contact information TBA
Advanced Course: Spiritual Gifts
March 21 and 28: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Hudson Falls UMC, 227 Main St., Hudson Falls (12839)
To register, contact Arlene Schmidt at
[email protected]
Basic Course
April 4: 9 AM to 4 PM
April 25: 9 AM to 4 PM
Argyle UMC, 12 Sheridan St., Argyle 12809
Advanced Course: Lay Speakers Tell Stories: Dancing with Words
Monday, April 6: 6 PM to 9 PM
Tuesdays, April 14, 21, 28: 6 PM to 9 PM
Tuesday, May 5: 6 PM to 9 PM
Malta Ridge UMC, 729 Malta Ave. Ext., Ballston Spa 12020
Advanced Course: From Your Heart to Theirs
May 14: 6 PM to 9 PM; May 20: 6 PM to 9 PM; May 23: 9 AM to 4 PM
Saratoga UMC, 175 Fifth Ave., Saratoga Springs (12866)
To register, contact Arlene Schmidt at
[email protected]
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Albany District Lay Servant Classes
Advanced Course: Called to Preach
Saturdays, March 7 and March 21 from 9:30 AM to 3 PM
Newtonville UMC, 568 Loudon Rd., Latham (12110)
To register, contact Glenn Harrison at
[email protected]
Advanced Course: Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition
Saturdays, April 25 and May 2 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Living Hope UMC, 126 Middletown Rd, Waterford (12188).
For more information about Lay Servant Ministries, Click here
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Save the Date for the Second Annual Albany District Day of Celebration
of Lay Servant Ministries Luncheon!
Inviting all who have completed Basic, or are Certified Lay Servants, Certified Lay Speakers, Certified Lay Ministers, Pastors, and EVERYONE interested in learning more about Lay Servant Ministries!
Please save Saturday, March 28 for the Second Annual Albany District Day of Celebration of Lay Servant Ministries Luncheon! We will to come together to get acquainted, to renew acquaintances, to fellowship, to worship, to eat, and to hear Rev. Ray Stees speak to us about "Building Collaboration -- Sometimes we're at our worst while wearing our Sunday best! Approaching adversity with eyes wide open and a heart 'strangely' warmed." Place: Faith UMC, 811 N Brandywine Ave., Schenectady from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Please mark your calendar and join us! For registration form,
click here
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Previ
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Updated or previously announced
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Art of Hospitality Conference in Leawood, KS
Engaging worship and intentional follow-up are important, but what compels guests to return to church is the warmth of our welcome and hospitality that goes beyond their expectations.
This conference - designed for pastors, staff, and volunteers focused on the ministry of welcome, hospitality, visitor care, outreach, connections and membership - is designed to equip church leaders to make everyone feel welcome and included, from first-time visitors to deeply engaged members.
The conference is April 23-24 at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.
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Early Responder training to be offered in February;
Please consider serving in this way
We could use any and all help to prepare and organize our abilities to assist those
affected by disasters. The Adirondack, Albany, Binghamton, Mohawk, and Oneonta Districts could use some special help in requesting ERT folks to help in what looks like regular weather issues. ERTs are basically trained to be ready if and when a disaster occurs in their own areas and, if available, help other areas too.
We have all heard of various natural disasters which have occurred across the country such as floods, tornadoes, and other severe storms. What we often don't hear about is how survivors struggle to recover during the following days, weeks and often months after the disaster. We don't think of people who have no power, no heat, no water, even though it is during winter months. We don't think of those who can't live in their home due to mold, or because the house is off its foundation. Instead we watch the news, see the destruction, and then sit down to eat dinner or go about our business the next day.
To bring this closer to home, in our own Conference, in the Utica area, there was a massive flood event on Halloween which damaged some 800
+ homes. People are still suffering, cleaning, repairing, replacing furnaces a full 3 months later. Most of us didn't hear about this flood, or have already forgotten about it.
But we can still help. Our Conference has a program to send people almost immediately into disaster areas to quickly, effectively, and appropriately provide a caring, Christian presence to assist survivors in recovery. It is called ERT. It stands for Early Response Team. Early Responders are trained by UMCOR during an 8-hour session with all the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How answers to the typical questions willing volunteers are apt to ask when they feel called to provide help. What do we do? We listen to survivors, we hold trembling hands, we hand out bottles of water, and listen some more. We give hugs, we assure that people care, and then we wash walls, remove wet carpet, wet wallboard, shovel mud, carry out ruined appliances, cover holes in roofs, and make homes secure again. But we don't do repairs. That happens later with rebuilding teams who are often the very same people on the Early Response Team.
So where can you receive more information and training to become an Early Responder? Attend one of two Basic Early Response training events.
Feb. 8 at Broad St. UMC, Norwich , NY. which is northeast of Binghamton and east of Cortland. Registration information is at http://bit.ly/20ERTNorwich, or Feb. 29 at N. Chatham UMC, N. Chatham, NY near Albany with registration information at http://bit.ly/20ERTNChatham.
The Conference Disaster Response Team
Mike Block, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
Donna & Roger Cullen, UMVIM Co-Chairs
Carl Shepard, ERT Trainer
MaryBeth Ingalls,
UNY UMC Volunteer Coordinator, ERT Trainer (in training)
Brian Greenwald, ERT Trainer
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Learn more about
General Conference
The General Conference meets once every four years. This year the conference will be held May 5 through May 15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The elected delegates meet to worship, pray, and conduct legislative work.
Get answers to some of your questions regarding General Conference 2020.
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Resources available for Special Sundays
What are Special Sundays?
According to The Book of Discipline: The special Sundays in The United Methodist Church intended to illustrate the nature and calling of The Church and are celebrated annually. The special Sundays are placed on the calendar to make clear the calling of The Church as the people of God and to give persons the opportunity to contribute offerings to special programs.
The Special Sundays are: Human Relations Day (was Jan. 19); UMCOR Sunday (March 22); Native American Ministries Sunday (April 26); Peace with Justice Sunday (June 7); World Communion Sunday (Oct. 4) and the United Methodist Student Day (Nov. 29) . Insert the offering envelopes in your bulletin prior to each Sunday to help collect the offering. To download resources for Special Sundays, including free envelopes,
click here.
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Council on Finance and Administration offers handbooks on website
Your Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) has been working on developing the CF&A section of our Conference website. Some new arrivals on that section of the web-page include handbooks. The topics covered by these various handbooks is:
- Clergy Tax
- Finance and Standards
- Payroll
- Clergy Compensation
- Internal Church Audits
- Ministry Shares
- Two-part Handbook with multiple resources
You can locate these handbooks on the Conference website (unyumc.org), selecting "Finance" under "Resources" and then select Conference Council on Finance and Administration (on right-hand sidebar). To read more,
click here.
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UNY Methodist Historical Society Publication available
The Upper New York United Methodist
Historical Society (UNY
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UMHS) has a new publication,
UNY
Historical News & Views. This email newsletter includes Methodist historical vignettes,
Methodist/Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) materials from the Upper New York archives and news. To view the first issue,
click here.
Submission guidelines for articles are available
here.
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Get information about United Methodist schools, colleges, etc.
Choosing the right school can be an overwhelming part of a student's educational journey. The UMC.org School Showcase provides a place for students and families to find information about United Methodist schools, seminaries, colleges, universities and other institutions that serve United Methodist students
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ResourceUMC.org is a new, comprehensive websie that empowers you to search for and quickly find resources and tool from across our connection. To visit the website,
Click here
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Reaching New Disciples: Resources at your fingertips
The Lewis Center is committed to helping congregations reach more people, younger
people, and more diverse people. There was a day when congregations could simply open their doors and wait for people to find their way in. But that era is rapidly fading. Growing congregations today are embracing a new paradigm of evangelism, finding innovative ways to connect with their neighbors, extend hospitality, and take church to the community!
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Learn More About Your Community through Mission Insite
Church leaders and pastors across our district recently have updated their online Church Profile. Did you know that the Upper New York Conference also offers all churches access to a free tool that provides important information about the communities where they are located?
Mission Insite is a web-based demographics provider for local church use. In planning ministry, it is important to know the context. Mission Insite provides demographic data that is updated on a regular basis. The reports are user-friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
In order to access the website you will need to register your local church. The links below provide instruction for you to register and establish user name and password for your local church.
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Discipleship Ministries offers tips on Christian Education
With intentional learning and Christian formation, we become the people God calls us to be, and we develop gifts and strengths for encouraging and leading others to the same strong faith.
On these pages that appear on the Discipleship Ministries website, you will find articles and resources for becoming a mature leader in the educational ministry of your church or area. You may be a teacher, church school superintendent, education committee chairperson, a paid or volunteer staff person, or an age-level coordinator.To read more,
Click here
To view more about Older Adult Ministry,
Click here
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Free Resources
focus on
Intentional Discipleship
The intentional discipleship movement is already happening across the connection. More and more churches and leaders are recognizing that we must have a relentless focus on making and growing disciples, and move away from fixing churches.
Engagement involves initiating and building relationships. Engagement seeks to ensure that outreach and evangelism efforts become a vital part of an intentional system of discipleship.
New resources from Discipleship Ministries,
including books,
and study guides and films, are available to help lay leaders, clergy and conference leaders reach out to new people with intentional discipleship.
For more information:
Click here
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Click here to apply for a tax exempt letter for your church.
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Hygiene Kits Needed
The Upper New York Mission Central HUB is focusing
on the desperate need for hygiene kits around the world in places such as the transition shelters along the U.S. Mexico border.
To learn how to assemble a kit, Click here
Click here
to make a donation.
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Cleaning Buckets are needed
Is your congregation interested in assembling UMCOR cleaning kits? Do it the right way by avoiding some of the common mistakes people make when putting the kits together. For example, air fresheners and insect repellents cannot be aerosol.
Click here to watch a video of Mike Block, Upper New York Director of Missional Engagement, presented in David Letterman-fashion, the Top 10 mistakes made in assembling cleaning kits.
For instructions on how to assemble a cleaning kit, hygiene kit or school kit: Click here
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Previ
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Previous News From the Conference
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Bishop Webb announces new clergy appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce eight ad interim appointments and eight retirements pending approval of clergy session. To view the full list of changes:
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Discipleship Systems resources available
The 2019 Issue II of the Advocate focused on Discipleship Systems.
Click here for resources on discipleship that are available through the Upper New York Conference Resource Center.
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District Contact Information
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Adirondack District
of the Upper New York Conference
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Debbie Earthrowl
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Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, District Superintendent
Gracie Lynn Besse, District Lay Leader
Carrie Boyer, Minister of Administration
Physical Location: 15 Maplewood Parkway
(South Glens Falls UMC)
South Glens Falls 12803 (GPS)
Mailing Address: PO Box 590, Glens Falls, NY 12801
(518) 480-4866
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