October 6th, 2021 Oneonta District UMC News for you
* Please share this newsletter with your friends and congregation members.
District E-newsletters
To subscribe to the Oneonta district E-newsletter, send us your email address.
To submit news for this publication, send it no later than Wed. by 12 Noon for Thursday publication, to: Oneontadistrict@unyumc.org
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NOTE: Teresa will be away from email and phone messages from Thurs. Oct. 7th through Mon. Oct. 11th. (note: the district office is closed Fri.-Sun.) Please leave a message and we will get back to you when we return on Tues. Oct. 12th.
If you have an emergency and need to contact the District Superintendent, Rev. Nancy Adams, please call (607) 372-5407.
Thank you for your patience.
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The District Office is open by appointment only.
Please Call ahead to make an appointment.
Office hours vary Mon. – Thurs.
the office is CLOSED Friday- Sunday
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See below for our TENTATIVE 2021 Church Conference Schedule. - Be watching for more updates.
October 31, 2021 Regions: Sidney & Norwich (Paperwork is due at the district office no later than Oct. 21st.)
Sidney Region
Location: Sidney UMC
Time TBD
Coordinator: Rev. Paul Winkelman
Presiding Elder: Rev. Marti Swords-Horrell
Norwich Region
Location: Broad Street UMC (Tentative)
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Coordinator: Rev. Mary Rublee (Tentative)
Presiding Elder: Rev. Paul Winkelman
November 7, 2021 Regions: Oneonta & Cooperstown (Paperwork is due at the district office no later than Oct. 28th.)
Oneonta Region
Location: Elm Park UMC
Time TBD
Coordinator: Rev. John Buddle
Presiding Elder: Rev. Mary Rublee (Tentative)
Cooperstown Region
Location: Milford UMC
Time: TBD
Coordinator: Rev. Deokryeol Bak
Presiding Elder: Rev. Jongdeok Park
November 14, 2021 Region: Schoharie (Paperwork is due at the district office no later than Nov. 4th.)
Schoharie Region
Location: Cobleskill UMC
Time 3:00 p.m.
Coordinator: Rev. Anna Blinn Cole
Presiding Elder: Rev. Dana Horrell
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2021-2022 Charge Conference forms are now available at to download.All information can be found at: https://uny.umconline.org/ or by clicking here.
On this page, you will find links to various reports, including Report of Pastor, the Safe Sanctuary Compliance Report, the 2022 Clergy Compensation Form, and more. If you have any issues accessing this page, please click here for help.
As mentioned in previous correspondence to pastors and SPRC chairs, the 2022 clergy compensation information can be found here: 2022 Pastor Compensation.
*Please note when trying to download Charge Conference Forms to use Firefox Browser.*
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Lay Servants/**Certified Lay Ministers and
Lay Speakers Report
Each year, lay servants, Certified Lay Ministers and lay speakers are asked to report to the annual church conference. Please use the reports below. Make sure your Pastor has a copy of this to submit with Church Conference reports.
Certified Lay Servant Report - for those who have taken the Basic Lay Servant Course and an additional Advanced Lay Servant Course every three years. Click here.
Certified Lay Minister Report - for those who have become Certified Lay Servants, taken the four module Certified Lay Minister curriculum and continue with Advanced Courses every two years. Click here.
Lay Speaker Report - for those who have taken the Basic Lay Servant Course and all six of the core Advanced Courses, including:
· Leading Prayer
· Leading Worship
· Preaching
· United Methodist Heritage
· Discovering Spiritual Gifts
· United Methodist Polity
as well as additional Advanced Lay Servant Courses every three years. Click here.
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October is Pastor
Appreciation Month
October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month with the second Sunday designated as Pastor Appreciation Day. It is a time to say “thank you” to the people who may be most visible as preachers and teachers, .... They laugh, cry and pray with those whom they shepherd and serve.." Read an article by Kathy Noble to get great ideas for you and your church to let your Pastor know they're appreciated.
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Happenings & Local Church News |
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Tired. Frustrated. Wondering. What Now?
If you have found yourself in any of these categories over the past 18 months then the New Faith Communities Team of UNYAC has an opportunity for you! We are offering a series of FREE Zoom webinars to help us all dream of ways to reconnect in a church changed by pandemic. The series is an opportunity to breath fresh air into current ministries and to dream of ministry opportunities yet to come. Each session will feature a topic presentation by a ministry expert followed by time for conversation to spur creativity. Even better, if you attend all three sessions, you can receive 1 CEU for your participation.
Session #1: Where Are They? An Epidemic of Loneliness and How Church Can Help
Wednesday, October 20, 7-8 pm via Zoom
Featuring Speaker Luke Edwards, Associate Director of Church Development for Western North Carolina Conference, Fresh Expressions trainer and author of Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions. Luke will unpack the current epidemic of loneliness and how fresh expressions of church can help.
Session #2: How Are They Doing? Reimagining Relationships during an Epidemic of Loneliness
Wednesday, October 27, 7-8 pm via Zoom
Featuring Speaker Paul Gomez, Manager of Hispanic/Latino Seeker Communications at United Methodist Communications. Paul will unpack how to create meaningful encounters with visitors and members online.
Session #3: What Will Bring Us Together? Gathering Together When Everything Has Changed
Wednesday, November 3, 7-8 pm via Zoom
Featuring Speaker Rachel Gilmore, who most recently served as the Director of Recruiting, Training and Assessing for lay and clergy church planters in the United Methodist Church. Author of Expanding the Expedition Reach with Missional Communities, currently planting Phoenix, AZ. Rachel will unpack how to meaningfully gather and connect in a church changed by pandemic.
Registration is due Sunday, October 17. Once registered you will receive Zoom link via email. You can attend as many or as few sessions as you would like. Each Session includes time with our featured Speaker with group discussion to follow. These sessions are for local church leaders, pastors, planters.
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Laity Sunday is Oct. 17
Laity Sunday celebrates the ministry of all Christians to love God and neighbor. On Laity Sunday (this year, Oct. 17, 2021), we lift up the vocation of all to follow the way of Jesus and lead others to him – particularly as we remember the gift of those persons who loved us into leadership.
This year, the theme for Laity Sunday, is “Rise up and Revive God’s Gift.” Click here for resources for Laity Sunday, 2021.
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Hispanic Heritage Month
Yesterday marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15 every year. The celebration starts in the middle of the month, as opposed to the end, because the 15th marks the independence days of five Latin America countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize follow shortly after, on Sept. 16, 18, and 21.
Click here for ideas from ResourceUMC about how your church can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
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Register Now For Conference UMW Annual Meeting Oct. 16th
All are invited to join the UNY Conference UMW for an all-virtual 2021 Annual Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. We will worship together, conduct formal business, hear from National Office CEO Harriett J. Olson, and grow in our understand of our sisters through our program on “Push Out” with UMW Director Valerie Clark.
Once registered, an agenda and Zoom link will be sent to you. If you wish to make a nomination to the Leadership Team “from the floor,” the form is available on the website and must be returned by
Oct. 1.
We look forward to being with you on Oct. 16 as we make plans for 2022 and the mission and justice work we will continue to do for God.
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Helping those in need in the U.S.
The Mission team at Endwell United Methodist Church is again coordinating the collection and delivery of shoeboxes for the Red Bird Mission, located in Beverly, Kentucky. The Red Bird Missionary Conference is one of three United Methodist missionary conferences in the United States.
The need is even greater this year. Participating churches can drop off their filled shoeboxes to one of two locations: the Upper New York Conference Center, located at 7481 Henry Clay Boulevard in Liverpool, or the Endwell United Methodist Church, 3301 Watson Boulevard in Endwell, between November 1st and November 30th. Also, arrangements to have items picked up can be made by e-mailing Dave at Dalexander4@stny.rr.com. Click here to Find more info about the Red Bird Mission Project
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Training & Education Opportunities |
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Lay Servant Ministry
Note* - Because of COVID, the Conference Team of Lay Servant Ministries is extending a year of grace to everyone who needed to take an Advanced Lay Servant Course in 2020 so you now have through 2021 to take a course to keep your certification up-to-date
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For information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks,
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UMC Clergy Education Offering Courses for Credit
ClergyEducation.com is a resource for clergy and church leaders, offering CEUs accepted by most United Methodist annual conferences.
Teaching, Meeting, Preaching and Me. Time Management for the Church Leader, Nov. 11, Ken Willard, cost $25. Registration information coming soon.
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The following job openings are posted on the Upper New York website...
1)Finance Services Specialist
2) Director of Missional Engagement
3) Skye Farm Site Director
If you have any referrals for this position, or are interested in applying, please apply online through our website. Please contact Tracy Rickett with any questions. Thank you.
Tracy Rickett, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCWS
Human Resources Generalist
Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
Direct Line: (315) 898-2017
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NEW- Dismantling racism: Repenting against racism toward Native Americans
The UMC is leading a sustained and coordinated effort to actively engage in the ministry of dismantling racism and promoting racial justice. The Upper New York (UNY) Conference Communications team has been regularly sharing worship, advocacy, and educational resources every week to help with this important campaign.
For the past five weeks, the UNY Conference Communications team has been sharing educational and worship resources leading up to today, Oct. 6, “A Day of Remembrance for Our Children.” On that day in 1879, General Richard Pratt took children from First Nations and opened the boarding school in Carlisle, PA. The United Methodist Church went on to support at least 12 Indian Boarding Schools and has never accepted responsibility for its role in supporting these schools, which severed these children’s connections to their families and cruelly punished them to the point of death in many cases.
Click here to watch a video of UNY CONAM members discussing the Act of Repentance—acknowledging that United Methodists have caused atrocities among tribal persons—the boarding schools as just one example.
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What does Indigenous People’s Day mean?
The Upper New York Conferenced ended the celebration of Columbus Day in 2015—it was a resolution at the 2015 Annual Conference. Click here to access the full resolution.
Many organizations, cities, and even states (such as California) celebrate Indigenous People’s Day as opposed to Columbus Day each year, acknowledging the importance of Native American culture.
Click here to read a UMC Church & Society reflection on Indigenous People’s Day that includes links to many resources.
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NEW- The spiritual discipline of confession part I
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people’s relationship to God during this difficult time.
For 2021, Rev. Dibelius is zeroing in on spiritual disciplines. She explains that spiritual disciplines are a way to get away with Jesus, walk with Jesus, and learn from Jesus.
This month, Rev. Dibelius will be focusing on the spiritual discipline of confession; click here to watch the first video in this series.
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Step by step process for developing an Intentional Discipleship Plan
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!
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UMCOR / Mission Central Hub
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NEW- Greg Forrester to Coordinate Disaster Response
Upper New York (UNY) has contracted with Greg Forrester to coordinate disaster response and ministry at the UNY HUB between now and the hiring of a new Director of Missional Engagement. Greg is not a stranger to most in UNY, as he has served in many capacities through years. In the past Mr. Forrester has served as UMVIM coordinator for the Northeast Jurisdiction of the UMC, Director of US Disaster Response for UMCOR, and recently President and CEO of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). Greg brings expert level understanding and practice in responding to disasters that will ensure the congregations and people of Upper New York will be able to respond to needs as they arise. To contact Greg, you can email disasterresponse@unyumc.org.
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The UNY Conference urgently needs individuals and teams who can help in times of emergency. Please sign up to help with Marybeth Ingalls, UNY Mission Volunteer Coordinator, 315-898-2064, 315-372-0285, marybethingalls@unyumc.org
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The HUB at UNY Conference Center
Contacts:
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Bishop Webb announces clergy appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce 17 ad interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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NYS Minimum wage increase
Effective Dec. 31, 2021, New York State (NYS) minimum wage will increase to $13.20/hour.
Employers in the Upper New York Conference, regardless of number of employees, must pay non-exempt employees minimum wage. Future increases will be determined by the NYS Director of Budget in consultation with the NYS Commissioner of Labor and will be announced on or before Oct. 1 each year.
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NY Hero Act now in effect
On Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, Governor Hochul announced that the New York Department of Health designated COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease.”
This designation means that the NY HERO Act plan (a law signed by Governor Cuomo in May 5), which all employers were required to adopt and distribute to employees by September 4, 2021, is now effective through the end of September 2021. Employers now must follow the requirements of their plans, as well as conduct mandatory training for employees on the plan and the law. Upper New York churches are responsible for the mandatory training for their staff.
Click here to learn about the training details. If you have questions please contact your District Office.
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Revised CDC guidelines affecting local churches
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued revised guidelines for indoor gatherings due to the rising number of coronavirus cases as a result of the Delta variant.
The CDC is recommending masks be worn indoors by all individuals regardless of vaccination status in areas of high concentration.
Click here to read the UNY Church COVID guidelines and to determine your county’s level of transmission.
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Deadline Date: Oct. 15,2021 – Application is due to the District Superintendent.
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Bishop's Retreat Postponed
The Bishop’s Retreat has been postponed until Sept. 27-29, 2022. It will have the same theme, “Sharing our Faith Boldly,” and will still be held at the Radisson Hotel in Corning. Registration for the 2022 Bishop’s Retreat will open after the completion of the 2022 Annual Conference.
Click here for more information as it becomes available.
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IMPORTANT REMINDER - All appointed Clergy, Certified Lay Ministers(CLMs) and Supply pastors are REQUIRED to complete the NY State Sexual Harassment Training. After completing the training you will get a certificate of completion from NY State. Please be sure to send a copy of you certificate of completion to the Oneonta district office. If you have not already completed this training please go to the following link to read more about training options available. https://www.unyumc.org/news/article/new-york-state-required-annual-training-for-sexual-harassment-prevention
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UNY United Methodist Center is now open
Upper New York (UNY) Conference staff members have been working at the UNY United Methodist Center in Liverpool, NY, throughout the pandemic following CDC guidelines. Now that the CDC and New York State have issued guidelines allowing indoor gatherings for vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals (so long as they wear masks and social distance), the UNY Conference executive staff team made the decision to open the UNY United Methodist Center to the public following the attached protocols,
The protocols are in place to ensure that everyone will be safe when using the UNY Methodist Center.
The office will be equipped for hybrid meetings via Zoom for those unable to attend in-person.
Click here to register for a meeting with your team at the UNY United Methodist Center.
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Phishing scheme alert
Please note that there is a new type of phishing-scheme email that has been received in multiple inboxes throughout the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. The email will look as though it is from someone you know in the UNY Conference and will show their actual email address. The text will ask you to link to a DocuSign document. DO NOT OPEN THIS DOCUMENT! It contains a virus. It is not truly from the person in the “From” address.
If you have any questions or concerns about this phishing scheme, contact Doug Thomas, UNY IT Manager, at dougthomas@unyumc.org.
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News from the past
Don't miss out on news articles that have run in the past. There are many resources you may be interested in.
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Tool for the Local Church: Mission Insite
Mission Insite is free to churches
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 and the reports are user friendly to the novice or experienced demographer.
The reports are free to the local church because the Annual Conferences is under contract with Mission Insite. But in order to access the website you will need to register your local church. Click here for Details
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Stay Informed, Up-To-Date Through These Links:
UNY Notes -Include notices From the Desk of Bishop Webb; Alerts; Announcements; Prayer requests; Death Notices; Camp & Retreat info
Weekly Digest - Sent every Wednesday. It will include a listing of all of the new information available.
This will help reduce the amount of e-news announcements coming to your computers.
Another great resource is the UMCOM newsletter. To subscribe, click here
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Sept. 15 - Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage month
Sept. 25: Safe Sanctuaries Fall Training - DETAILS
Oct. 3: World Communion Sunday - DETAILS
Oct. 15: Equitable Compensation Application Deadline - DETAILS
Oct. 17: Laity Sunday
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2021 Holidays
District & Conference Office Closed
Thanksgiving Nov. 25th and 26th
Christmas Eve Dec. 24th
Christmas Day (Observed) Dec. 27th
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How to get help from UNY Conference for...
Regular needs or questions, contact the Conference (315) 898-2000 or email: info@unyumc.org and leave a message including what assistance
you are seeking and it will be given to the right person to respond to you.
Technical or creative needs such as online Bible studies/meetings,
live streaming worship, or online giving
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Conference Office Address:
The Upper New York Conference
United Methodist Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
Phone: 315-898-2000 Toll Free: (same) 1-855-424-7878
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"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by... living the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God's love with our neighbors in all places."
Your Partners in Ministry at the Oneonta District Office
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How to Contact the Oneonta District Office
Phone: (607) 441-5102
Fax: (607) 353-1034
(physical address)
Oneonta District Office
64 Chestnut St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
(mailing address)
Oneonta District Office
C/O Teresa Wood
28 Orchard St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
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All past District Newsletters can also be found at:
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UNY Conference Quick Links
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