Words From DS Sherri Rood |
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Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his son.
And now, let the weak say “I am strong.”
Let the poor say “I am rich”
Because of what the Lord has done for us!
Give thanks!
In this season of Thanksgiving, I give thanks to God for each church and pastor of the Mountain View District. God has blessed us abundantly! While we may not be rich by the world’s standards, we are rich in grace and blessing, not because of anything we have done, but because of God’s great love for us. Because we know we are God’s beloved people, we can proclaim, “Thanks be to God!” The grace we have received is not to be kept to ourselves but is to be shared with a world in need of healing and hope. This Thanksgiving, may you be assured of your place in God’s beloved community. May we find ways to share hope, offer healing and nurture justice and peace. I pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Grace and peace,
Sherri
11/3/22
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From the Desk of Reverend Michael J Kelly,
Mountain View District Associate
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Greetings to all,
One of the issues that I continue to deal with is the same issue that I have heard from many of you and that is the issue of disunity. Quite frankly, though I don’t care to bring politics into the picture, the midterm elections did not help. We continue to be a divided nation and, in many places, a divided community, divided families, a divided denomination and sadly in some cases even a divided church. Here we are heading into Thanksgiving and the Advent season, and hopefully we can all come together.
Often, we count our blessings on Thanksgiving using such phrases as, “I am blessed with my wife or husband, which by the way, I am, I am blessed with my home, I am blessed with my job, etc.” Far too often we are finding blessings in our material things, and while that is great, we forget to find blessings in the greatest of all things, the love of God, who sent His Son to die for us, to give us eternal life, “Salvation,” to save you and me from our sins. Let’s make sure on this Thanksgiving that we remember and never forget that vital and loving act.
And friends Advent is a time when we, as church leaders, both clergy and laity alike, join together, and lead our congregations, those who have sat in the pews for years, those that only come this time of year, and those that you have invited for the first time for a common blessing, where celebrate in anticipation, not only the coming of Baby Jesus, but His return. It is time for us to stand strong, together, for each other, and to stand united for Jesus Christ, to worship Him. Let us find that PEACE.
Peace and Blessings,
Mike
11/17/2022
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INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT US |
District Office contact Patti at:
607-962-8047
District Superintendent contact Rev. Sherri Rood
315-898-2077
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Do You Have An Events For The Newsletter?
If your church is hosting events, dinners, VBS and you would like it put in the Newsletter. Please send me the particulars of the event. Please include the Date, Time, Name of your Church or Place it is being held, Address where event is happening, Contact info if needed, a Small Blurb on the event. Please do make sure I receive the information by the Tuesday of the week that the Newsletter will be sent. The Newsletter is sent every other week (the next newsletter date is always found at the top the newsletter) Send your information to:
9.22.2022
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District Office Will Be Closed Nov. 18-28th |
Patti will be off the week of Thanksgiving off for a much needed rest. If you have an emergency please contact District Superintendent Suzanne Block at sherrirood@unyumc.org or call 315-898-2077 and leave a message for her.
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Pastors / Churches - is your church information correct?
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Is the service time correct?
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Is the address and phone number correct?
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Is the contact information correct?
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Has the chair of your committees changed since CC?
Please let the district office know of any updates you would like made to this listing by calling 607-962-8047 or email the office at mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org
Click on the link below to see the information the conference has on your church. Click here for the link
11/3/22
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Save the Date for Bishop Webb’s Farewell Gathering |
You Are Invited to Attend
WHEN: Sat., Nov. 19th, 2022
WHERE: UNY Conference Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY
TIME: 1-4pm
Join others throughout the Conference to celebrate Bishop Webb’s 10 years of ministry as Bishop of the UNY Conference. More details will be released once they become available.
9.8.22
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A Note From Our New Bishop |
Dear siblings in Christ of the UNYAC,
It has been quite a week! I am humbled by the discernment of the NEJ Conference who elected me to serve as a Bishop in The United Methodist Church.
Also, on Friday, I received the news that I have been assigned to serve with the beautiful people of the Upper New York Annual Conference, whom I already love and can’t wait to meet and to ministry together.
The UNYC delegation gave my family a sweet taste of the love and warm hospitality of the UNYC when we met briefly after assignments were announced. I was inspired by their passionate faith, diversity and hopes for the church.
I look forward to growing alongside you in our knowledge, experiences, and outward expressions of the love of God, in Jesus Christ, and share these blessings with all the people in our communities and the world.
See you soon!
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez
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Mohawk District Offering INR By Zoom |
The Mohawk District Lay Servant Ministries Team is privileged to announce the course offering of the Conference-approved advanced Lay Servant class, “Imagine No Racism (INR)”, via Zoom beginning Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, and continuing for 6 weeks, ending on Feb. 23, 2023. Class times are 6 to 8 pm each Thursday. There is no textbook required. Information, literature and handouts will be emailed to participants. For information or to obtain the zoom link for the class, contact Mary Beth Greene, CLS, mbg@ntcnet.com, or 315-796-1290.
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Are You Interested In A Clergy Tax Workshop? |
I am planning on offering a two-hour workshop during the afternoon of December 8th or the evening of December 8th.
If you are interested, please email me at susanranous@unyumc.org. It will be held via Zoom. Once I hear from you, I will send you a link!
- Clergy are treated differently under the tax code than virtually anybody else in the country.
- Are clergy employees or self-employed? Hint: the answer isn’t obvious or easy!
- Clergy have advantages and disadvantages that no one else has.
- Often, confusion exists concerning clergy compensation, deductions and expenses.
This workshop will help you gain a better understanding of the current tax laws that affect clergy today.
At the end of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of the unique issues faced by a United Methodist Clergy Person. Topics will include: Defining the Dual-Status Tax Classification of Clergy, Defining What a Clergy Person Is, What Responsibilities the Church Has, What Responsibilities Clergy Have, Describing the Housing Allowance and Exclusion, Discussing Exemptions and Deductions, and Completing Your Tax Filing Forms.
Rev. Susan Ranous, Ordained Deacon
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Previous Information Shared |
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Registration for Winter Session of Course of Study
is Due by Dec. 1
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Licensed local Pastors....are you are planning to take COS for the Winter or Spring Weekends? If you are, please consider filling out your registration form and get it to the District office to have the DS sign it and then I will get it to the registrar.
The deadline for registration for the Winter Sessions-Dec.1st of 2022. (Reminder that the District office is CLOSED on Fridays)
Please, DO NOT WAIT to the last minute to register. When a class is filled, Wesley closes the registration for that class and there is no wiggle room.
I am putting this out now as one of the busiest times of the year is coming soon. There is no need for you to miss out on getting your course requirements met. There is NO MONEY due at the time of registration. You can register NOW for all three sessions...... Fall, Winter and Spring and if something comes up....you can cancel.
IF you need a specific class.....sign up now ....you need to remember that these courses are not just for UNY Conference....these are open to other Conferences as well. SO, sign up now. Click here for all the information you need for COS Satellite School. You will find all the forms you need here as well.
The steps to get registered:
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Get registration form-click here
- Fill out the form, print it, YOU sign it.
- Scan & email to your District Office
- District AA will get the DS to sign it and will send it to COS Registrar
- Registrar will fill out her part and get it to Sara Shephard.
- Sara Shephard will send the Registrar a confirmation of your registration.
- Registrar will send confirmation to the District AA
There is no reason to wait to the last minute because there is no money that needs to be sent with your registration. So, please sign up now!!
11/3/22
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The Commission of Archives & History's Responsibility
is to Keep the History of the Conference
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As churches close, their records come to the Conference Archives for safe keeping and reference. With churches closing each year and disaffiliation's looming, we are running out of space.
Our existing rooms at the Conference Center are almost full already. Just since January we have received records from about 20 churches. They are filling the aisles as we go through them to discard the items we will not keep. For example, one church sent us 30 boxes of materials. After sorting through we kept 3 regular archival boxes and one small box. Most of the rest was recycled, trashed, or kindly taken to the local historical society by a CAH member who lived nearby.
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CONFERENCE ARCHIVES NEEDS YOUR HELP |
The Conference Archives needs your help! We are inundated with boxes of church records to sort/save. Please do YOUR part. Sort your records BEFORE you send to us. If your church is merging, your records go to the NEW entity. If your church is closing, there is a prescribed list of records to send to the Archives.
If your church is disaffiliating, there is a prescribed list to send. Please do no send anything else!
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Several years ago, the CAH created a video you can watch to see “What to Toss and What to Keep”. You can also find it on the UNY Archives and History website. https://vimeo.com/303744535/ab78413ba8
One of the actions CAH recommends: If the item is not on the required list, see if some other group would like it, such as the local historical society. Be especially careful that you send all baptism, membership, marriage, and confirmation records. We constantly get requests to locate these records. Sadly, we often strike out. This includes digital (thumb drive-saved) records!
YOU CAN ALSO HELP:
We have no paid staff. We are a small, dedicated group of volunteers working a limited number of hours. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 1-4:00. Other Tuesday hours can be arranged. The Conference Archives are at the Conference Center in Liverpool. Please volunteer. Call Susan Slenker, Volunteers Coordinator, at 315-516-5289. Thanks!
11/3/22
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How You Can Help Those Affected by Hurricane Ian |
There are so many ways to help!
Click here for monetary donations to go directly to UMCOR.
Click here to access kit supply lists and instructions.
You can also bring the kits and/or appropriate supplies directly to the Upper New York (UNY) Mission Central HUB in Liverpool—contact the UNY Director of Missional Engagement, Kristina Clark (kristinaclark@unyumc.org), to coordinate a drop-off date and time.
Congregations can also buy supplies for the kits off the UNY Mission Central HUB Amazon wish lists and have them shipped directly to the HUB. If purchasing from another website, congregations or groups can ship the supplies directly to the HUB by setting the mailing address to Mission Central HUB 7481 Henry Clay Blvd, Liverpool NY 13088.
Click here for the UNY HUB hygiene kit Amazon wish list.
Click here for the UNY HUB menstrual hygiene Amazon wish list.
Click here for the UNY HUB cleaning bucket Amazon wish list.
Monetary donations to the UNY Mission Central HUB can be given by clicking here.
Please continue to pray for those affected by Hurricane Ian.
10.6.22
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Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference Details |
If you would like to know all the details of what took place at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, click here to read all the daily Christian Advocates. A summary of the Christian Advocate will be available next week.
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From Resurrection Pastor Adam Hamilton |
Dear Friends,
Church of the Resurrection has released a series of videos I recorded describing why I am proud to be part of the United Methodist Church and why Resurrection, the largest United Methodist Church in the United States, plans to stay in the UMC. Videos can be viewed at proudtobeumc.com or the #ProudtobeUMC YouTube Channel.
As you know, the Global Methodist Church has been persuading churches to leave the UMC and join their more conservative denomination. This summer a series of videos was produced that used fear and misinformation to make the case for individuals and congregations to leave the UMC. I’ve heard from many United Methodists who have watched these videos and asked, ‘Is this really true? Does this represent the viewpoint and beliefs of United Methodists?”’
As a pastor and leader in our denomination, I felt compelled to respond to these videos and clarify misinformation that is shared in them. This series of videos offers a different perspective and is intended to help churches and individuals seeking to discern whether to leave The United Methodist Church. My aim was to be gracious, but to also speak clearly to what I see as misinformation.
Topics cover: who we are as United Methodists, how we read the Bible, our commitment to and faith in Christ and the historic essentials of the Christian faith, our love of scripture while also believing it is important to rightly interpret scripture, our denominational divisions of human sexuality, and the future of the UMC.
If these videos would be helpful for your church or other churches in your annual conference, please share them. In addition to the videos, we have created a website with other resources and a place where churches can commit to stay in the UMC and connect with other churches. That website is proudtobeumc.com.
Also, we just completed Resurrection’s annual Leadership Institute. I met many amazing leaders this week and am excited about the future of our denomination. Thank you to those of you who participated. Last night, we had what I call a “family meeting” and I shared some thoughts about the future of the United Methodist Church. If you are interested in seeing this presentation, here is the link.
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to the UMC.
In Christ's love,
Adam Hamilton
Questions?
11/3/22
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Step by Step Process for Developing
an Intentional Discipleship Plan
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The Northern Flow District has created training resources for congregations and persons to walk through a “step-by-step” process for developing an Intentional Discipleship Plan.
Click here for steps 1 and 2 of the training; follow the guidance of the video trainers, use the provided PowerPoints and the resources (links) to enable your church and team to develop and implement your congregation’s Intentional Discipleship Plan.
Additional training steps will be provided over time. Imagine what God will do as more and more churches develop their process for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World!
10/6/22
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EEOC Releases Revised Poster |
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a revised version of its poster, entitled “Know Your Rights”. A copy of the revised poster can be located here.
The law requires an employer to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, religion, age (40 and older), equal pay, disability or genetic information (including family medical history or genetic tests or services), and retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding.
The “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster, prepared by the EEOC, summarizes these laws and explains how employees or applicants can file a complaint if they believe that they have experienced discrimination.
The EEOC has not released a specific date by which the revised poster must be used but has said that employers should replace the old one with the revised one within “a reasonable amount of time”. The poster must be placed in a conspicuous location where notices to applicants and employees are customarily posted. It may also be distributed electronically, but electronic distribution does not remove an employer’s requirement to have the poster present in the workplace(s).
Employers who fail to use the revised poster may face penalties. It is recommended that you replace the EEO poster with the revised version as soon as possible. Please be sure you are using the version marked “(Revised 10/20/2022)” going forward.
If you have any questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at 315-898-2017 or TracyRickett@unyumc.org.
11/3/22
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Find out all you need to know about Annual Conference |
The Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference took place from Oct. 6-8 on a virtual platform.
The UNY Communications team has provided valuable tools for all who are interested in a recap of the conference.
Click here to access bulleted notes, news stories, and videos of the 2022 UNY Annual Conference.
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Opportunities to disaffiliate
from the Upper New York Conference
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During the upcoming session of the Upper New York Annual Conference (October 6-8), the Conference will receive its first requests from local churches to disaffiliate from the Conference under ¶2553 of the Book of Discipline. To be eligible to disaffiliate, a church must deposit with the Conference treasurer, all fees stipulated in the disaffiliation agreement at least one week prior to the start of Annual Conference. A complete listing of churches who have met this requirement will be posted on the Conference website on Oct 3.
During Annual Conference, members will be asked to ratify each disaffiliation request by a simple majority of members present and voting. This will be a simple up or down vote with no provision for amendment (see Judicial Council Decision 1379 and ¶ 2529.1_b_ (3)).
In addition to this year’s Annual Conference, there will be three other opportunities for local churches to request disaffiliation. These include next year’s regularly scheduled Annual Conference session in June as well as two special sessions – March 25, 2023, and Oct. 14, 2023.
Click here to learn more and to find needed forms for disaffiliation.
9.22.22
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2022 UNY Journal Vol. I available for download or purchase |
The 2022 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. I is now available for download as a free PDF and for purchase through online publisher Lulu.com. This comprehensive book provides all the details of Annual Conference for the year of 2022.
Click here for options to either view an online version or download a copy from Issuu or to purchase it for $5.06 (plus shipping and applicable sales tax) from Lulu.com.
9/22/22
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Disaffiliation Information-From Wespath
Understanding Pension Liabilities-For Local Churches Considering Disaffiliation
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Watch this video for easy-to-understand answers to complex questions related to pension plan funding and the withdrawal liability payment required for local churches that disaffiliate from the UMC.
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Download the #BeUMC Discussion Guide |
Did you know that the United Methodist Church has a free, downloadable 45-page discussion guide tied to the #BeUMC campaign? This is a great resource for your Sunday School class, Bible study, or small group to reflect on what it means to #BeUMC.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT OFFICE |
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35 Wilkes Ave. (Physical location)
PO Box 706 (Mailing Address)
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Mon.-Thurs.
In Person by APPOINTMENT ONLY
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Sherri Rood
District Associate: Pastor Mike Kelly
District Lay Leader: Ann Welch Wood
District Administrative Assistant: Patti Gridley
If the office is closed and you have an emergency please call 315-898-2077 and leave a message or email Sherri at sherrirood@unyumc.org
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