Northern Flow Weekly Newsletter January 19, 2023

The Current

January 19, 2023

Save the Date for Regional Meetings

with Bishop Héctor

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Bishop Héctor Burgos, who prefers to be addressed as Bishop Héctor, will be the new bishop of the Upper New York (UNY) Conference. Bishop Héctor is eager to meet laity and clergy throughout the Conference and has scheduled dates for regional meetings. The meetings will be as follows:

Feb. 9, 2023 – Lakes Region–Leroy UMC
Feb. 16, 2023 -Northeast Region–New Hartford
March 1, 2023 – Lakes Region–Auburn UMC
March 2, 2023 – Northeast Region–Plattsburgh UMC
March 15, 2023 – Southern Tier Region—Olean: Christ
March 16, 2023 – Southern Tier Region—Central Endicott

The clergy meetings will be from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The laity meeting (and clergy unable to attend the earlier time) will be from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

If you would like onsite childcare for Feb. 16, we ask that you let us know right away and no later than Noon, Feb. 2, so we can explore securing the necessary Safe Sanctuaries-trained childcare providers. Please express your interest in childcare by 2-2-23. Call 315-797-1777 or email: mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org

LEARNING AND GROWING OPPORTUNITY

A DISCIPLE’S HEART: GROWING IN LOVE AND GRACE

A Book Study and Discussion Group

by James Harnish with Justin Larosa

Discipleship in the Methodist tradition affirms that there is always more work for God to do in the human heart. Our focus in this study circle is the ongoing transformation of the heart that happens as the love of God that came to us in Jesus takes up residence in us, enabling us to become agents of God’s transforming love at work in the world.

Thursday, February 2^nd @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, February 16^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 2^nd @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 16^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, March 30^th@ 7:00-8:30 PM

Thursday, April 13^th @ 7:00-8:30 PM

All Sessions will be held on Zoom. Please email one of the facilitators to register. There will be no registration fee, but participants (lay or clergy) need to purchase their own book.

Facilitators

Wendy Zepp: wzepp@stny.rr.com

Ann Welch Wood: awelchwood@hotmail.com

A Disciple’s Heart Daily Workbook: Growing in Love and Grace by James Harnish with Justin Larosa here

"Engage New People Grant" Available

The Upper New York New Faith Communities' Team is excited to announce the “Engage New People Grant” to benefit local churches in the Upper New York Conference that are working to Engage New People not already in their church/ministry. New Faith Communities Conference-wide purpose is to reach people outside the Church in new and contextual ways.

Grants will be available up to $2,500 to help local churches and ministries. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis in 2023. Churches and ministries may apply for up to $2,500 during one calendar year. Please expect 60 days to review your application.

Click here to apply for the “Engage New People Grant.”

Upon completing the application, the New Faith Communities' team will reach out to the pastor/lead planter of the church and/or contact person listed to confirm your submission.

Equalization Members Needed for 2023

Please CLICK the application button below to find the 2023 Northern Flow District Equalization Member Application for Annual Conference.

Please read the application carefully as it has changed from last year. This year there will be three (3) sessions that our EQ Members will need to attend. There will be two (2) virtual sessions - Saturday March 25th and Saturday October 14th - in addition to an IN PERSON session to be held June 1 - 3, 2023 at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.

Applications are to be received in the district office no later than

Wednesday February 1^st, 2023.

Each session will have a separate registration process and cost associated with it. There will be NO COST for the March 25th session.

Thank you to all of you in advance for volunteering your time and energy in serving as an Northern Flow District Lay Equalization Representative.

Any questions please contact the office.

Application

Reminder for Churches Certificates of Insurance

If your church is seeking certificates of insurance for disability insurance coverage (DB 120.1) and/or workers’ compensation insurance coverage (C105.2), the following information will be helpful to you.

Requests for DB 120.1

Certificates of insurance for disability insurance coverage (DB 102.1) are issued by the disability insurance carrier, Guardian. The following information will be needed from you to request the certificate of insurance. You can email either Tracy Rickett, HR Generalist, at t tracyrickett@unyumc.org or Suzannah Emerson at SEmerson@WalshDuffield.com with the following information. Please allow at least 5 business days for your request to be processed.

NAME OF INSURED CHURCH:

MAILING ADDRESS OF INSURED CHURCH:

EMAIL ADDRESS TO WHERE DB 120.1 CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE SENT:

NAME OF ENTITY REQUESTING PROOF OF INSURANCE (Typically the Dept of Health):

ADDRESS OF ENTITY REQUESTING PROOF OF INSURANCE:

Requests for C 105.2

Certificates of insurance for workers’ compensation insurance coverage (C105.2) can be obtained by contacting American Church Group of NY. They will assist each church in obtaining the documentation needed. Contact them at 800-326-7200; 717-763-5517 (fax) or UMCservice.NY@AmericanChurchGroup.com.

If you have questions on certificates of insurance, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at (315) 898-2017 or tracyrickett@unyumc.org.

The Northern Flow District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM) will be providing a training on February 11, 2023 (snow date – February 18). The main purpose of the training is the annual evaluation for the credentialing process for our Licensed Local Pastors (LLPs) and Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs). However, we wanted to invite all those in our district who might be interested in attending.

We will be meeting at the DeKalb Junction United Methodist Church (4302 Route 11, DeKalb Junction, NY 13630).

We will gather at 9:30AM with worship beginning at 10:00AM. At 10:30AM we are pleased to have Rev. Becky Guthrie share with us about ministry presence, as in relates to being present with our parishioners in the 21^st century with all the current struggles, including COVID-19. Becky will also reflect on caring for ourselves and each other. Becky is an ordained United Methodist Deacon and serves as the chaplain at two hospitals in the Utica, NY area.

Lunch will be provided and will include spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, garlic toast, brownies, and coffee/tea/water. We realize that some may have special dietary needs. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate them. Therefore, please provide your own lunch, if you need something different.

Following lunch we will have discussion groups and expect to end our time together at 2:30PM.

Please call/text/email Barbara Greene, our dCOM Registrar, with your reservation by January 25^th. Barb can be reached at: (315) 771-6444 or bgreene12873@yahoo.com.

Links

SAFE SANCTUARIES TRAINING SCHEDULE

Schedule

Report your church statistics on ACStats beginning Jan. 3, 2023. Please share this news with those in each church who work on statistical reporting.

After Jan. 3 Report your Church Statistics on ACStats

Annual Church Statistics (ACStats) is the one-stop location for United Methodist data that tracks membership, expenses, and income. It's designed to help churches submit year-end statistics to the Upper New York (UNY) Conference digitally in a way that's cost-effective.

This user-friendly platform replaces Ezra as the method of reporting your church statistics.

March 17, 2023, is the deadline to complete the 2022 statistical report for your church; however, you cannot enter any data to the 2022 statistics tables until Jan. 3, 2023.

In the meantime, you may familiarize yourselves with the new ACStats platform by reviewing the user's guide for local churches. Translated reports are available in Spanish and Korean.

Click here to learn more.

BSA Affiliation Agreement

Troops and local congregations seeking to continue or start a relationship will need to complete a new “BSA Affiliation Agreement” and “Facilities Use & Indemnity Agreement.” Click here to download the BSA Affiliation Agreement. Click here to download the Facilities Use & Indemnity Agreement.

All UNY local congregations seeking to be in relationship with a local troop should use these and only these forms.

In most areas, the affiliation agreements and facility use agreements are being implemented and the implementation is going well. There are BSA Councils that are not cooperating in a few Conferences and as the BSA learns of these, they reach out to those Councils to address issues.

If you are encountering such issues, please contact Jeffrey Hunt jeff.hunt@scouting.org of BSA, who oversees the BSA Councils across the United States.

Save the Date for March Special Session

The Upper New York Conference’s March 2023 Special Session of Annual Conference to consider disaffiliation requests will take place remotely on March 25 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Registration will open on Feb. 1, 2023, and close on

March 10, 2023.

Breast Cancer & Beyond Support Group (BCBSG)

Group Leader: Linda Fredenburg

Group Purpose is to:

Create an accepting and compassionate environment
Exchange information and emotional support between group participants
Build group cohesiveness, and enable members to meaningfully connect with one another

Benefits of Support Groups:

A sense of community
Attending the group addresses unwanted aloneness, irrespective of what is discussed.
The group functions to reduce social isolation and to provide real social support.

1) Regaining control

2) Hope

3) Stress Reduction

4) Normalizing personal responses

When: Group Meeting Dates Mondays 6;30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Place: First United Methodist Church

236 Mullin Street

Watertown NY 13601

For more information please feel free to call Linda by email at Lindafredenburg@gmail.com or phone at 315-778-7290

Linda's Story:

My name is Linda Fredenburg and I am a breast cancer survivor. I have a human services degree and was a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and am now Cancer free! I found lack of support in the Watertown area so I decided a support group was needed. So I leapt in and I am starting this group. I pray you will come and join us in a safe and loving environment. I will be working with the Walker Cancer Center and the doctor's and nurses there.

ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS

Stewardship with Rev. Susan Ranous

January 12, 2023

YEAR END - IN JANUARY

Last week, I wrote about clergy taxes and steps that clergy should make to make themselves ready for their tax returns, and to prepare their “tax lives” for the current year that we’re in, before we get too far in.

Now that the 2022 year has finished, you will be receiving a W-2 form, reporting your taxable wages, any housing allowances and exclusions, and any federal or state income taxes that you had withheld. What has been and has been reported will be used to prepare your income tax returns. There’s really no chance to make any changes that will help you at this point.

This week I want to write about what churches/finance folks/pastors need to do and plan for—let’s call it a “to do list”. We are mid-way through January, and while it seems we can let out a sign of relief because Advent and Christmas are in the rearview mirror, we can’t. There’s still a lot to do (or get ready to do).

W-2 Forms - If your church has employees, including your pastor, then you have to prepare W-2 payroll forms. These are the forms that report to your employees what you paid them, and taxes and other items withheld. They have to be sent to the employee no later than January 31^st, and filed with the government by that same day. You may also need to prepare a file quarterly federal and state payroll reports (Forms 941 and NYS-45)—also due by January 31^st.

Giving Statements – The Internal Revenue Service requires that we send a giving statement to every identified giver that has given during the year. It reports to the giver what they have given during the year. It also requires a statement that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the amount, other than religious benefits. These also much be done by January 31^st.

The statistical report system has opened. In case you hadn’t heard, the statistical reports are no longer done through EZRA but through ACStats. These must be completed online no later than March 15^th. There are sections on members and demographics, and there are also financial sections. For some, this is an overwhelming process, but if you approach them step-by-step, it isn’t so bad.

The annual church audit, which is require by the Book of Discipline, has a due date of March 15^th. This is the responsibility of the Finance Committee to provide for. Pulling together the necessary information and making the arrangements sooner rather than later will help get it done in a timely fashion.

There are also a couple more reports that are due (post Charge Conference)

Report of Trustees
Report of Finance Committee
2022 Year End Financial Report (your format)
2023 Church Budget (your format)

Please realize that this “paperwork” isn’t busy work; some are governmental requirements; some are Conference or Denominational requirements, but ALL are necessary. The reports and information help you, as the local church; your district, your conference and the denomination make decisions.

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Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about mission and money in your local church. I have some great ideas to help you understand where you are and were you’re going!

Charge Conference Forms Due Dates

Due November 1st.: NOW PAST DUE

Pastor's Appointment Advisory Form (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

S/PPRC Appointment Advisory Form (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Pastor-S/PPRC Covenant Forms (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

*These need to be printed and mailed to the district office*

Due December 1st.: UPDATE ONLINE - DO NOT PRINT A COPY

Church Profile (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Pastor's Profile (https://uny.umcprofile.org)

Due February 15th. 2023

Report of Trustees

Report of Finance Committee

2022 Year End Financial Report

2023 Church Budget - Your church format

2022 Statistical Reports (https://stats.gcfa.org/)

Wesley Heritage Tour 2024

Join Pastor Brett Johnson on the trip of a lifetime to visit John and Charles Wesley’s homeland of England. We will be visiting sites of great importance to United Methodists, including the Wesleys’ hometown of Epworth, Oxford, Bristol, and worship in the Wesley Chapel in London.

We will also be stopping at Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and St Paul’s Cathedral. Tour dates are July 13-22, 2024. Please use the following link to register: https://portal.myfaithjourneys.com/ and use group code 24002.

Contact Rev. Brett Johnson, pastor.brett.johnson@gmail.com, with any questions.