September 1st, 2022 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 4 PM for Thursday publication, to: [email protected]
Note: There will be no Weekly newsletter the week of Sept. 12th - 19th.
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Have a safe and happy Labor Day
Please note that the Conference office, Episcopal office, and District offices will be closed on Monday Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day.
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When mailing items to the office PLEASE use the information listed below.
Oneonta District Office UMC
C/O Teresa Wood
28 Orchard St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
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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 Thru Sunday
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DS Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell's Installation Service plans are as follows:
Date - Sun. September 25th, 2022
Location - Founders Lodge at Sky Lake
Time - 3:00 pm
Mark your calendars and plan to be there.
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IMPORTANT Reminder:
Pastors / Churches - is your church information correct?
· Is the service time correct?
· Is the address and phone number correct?
· Is the contact information correct?
· 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.
Click on the link below to see the information the conference has on your church.
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2022-2023 Church/Charge Conference and Annual Forms are now available
IMPORTANT UPDATE -8/28/22
The 2023 comp form that was posted on the UNY Conference forms website was incorrect and had to be pulled off the website. The Comp. form is not yet available. Please Continue to work on all other forms and we will notify you when the Comp Form is available. ~
Thank you for your patience.
DS. Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell sent out a letter regarding Forms and Church conference preparation on Wednesday Aug. 24th.
Click here to read & download the letter in PDF form.
Click here to download the 2022-23 Annual Report Form Checklist.
*NOTE: - IMPORTANT – NEW this year, there are 2 different Compensation forms. Please be sure to use the correct form or it will be sent back to you.
Form 5. 2023 Clergy Compensation Form (requires Microsoft Excel 2003 or later)- This form is to be used for all Licensed Pastors and appointed Elders
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Dates for Oneonta district Annual Church Conferences announced:
We hope to see you there!
Churches are asked to meet with the Superintendent annually to celebrate and take stock of ministry, as well as conduct necessary business of the church--the Annual Church Conference. These in-person meetings will take place in Fall 2022 at central locations around the district.
All who have membership in the local church are welcome to vote.
The Theme this year is: “Keeping the Mission the Mission”.
Much of the required business we will do will have been considered by the appropriate teams in the congregation before we gather for formal approval at the Church Conference.
The schedule has already been shared with your pastor or other leader of your congregation. I hope as many as possible will be able to attend.
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2022 UNY Annual Conference |
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Registration is now open for the 2022 Upper New York Annual Conference session, scheduled to be held virtually October 6-8.
Click here to register. If you need to be excused from Annual Conference, click here and complete the form.
All eligible voting members must preregister to be able to participate and vote. Registrations cannot be accepted after September 16th due to online voting.
This year, there is a small registration fee to help cover the cost of virtual meeting support and voting.
Several offerings will be collected this year, including the Clergy Care Fund,
Helping Hands Fund, UNY Mission Central HUB, Mission of Peace, and New Faith Communities. To learn more about these offerings and to make a donation, click here.
If you have any questions, call (315) 898-2000
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UNY 2023 Ministry Share budget posted
The Upper New York Conference 2023 Ministry Share budget, is now available. The budget will be voted on at the 2022 Upper New York Annual Conference, which is scheduled to be held Oct. 6-8 and will now be virtual.
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Tending the Soul registration deadline extended
The application deadline for the next cohort of Tending the Soul has been extended until September 15th. Contact Rev. Nancy Dibelius ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
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CCORR gathers at Casowasco to work on the Imagine no Racism initiative
The Upper New York (UNYY) Annual Conference Committee on Religion and Race (CCORR) team gathered at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center on July 28 for prayer and conversation about where to go from here as they partner with the Holy Spirit and the people of the UNY to dismantle racism. They laughed; they pushed; they dreamed about the plans God has for us.
Click here to read CCORR member Georgia Whitney’s reflection on the experience.
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Where do you feel God’s presence in nature?
Based on the Spiritual Wellness survey administered to UNY clergy, 56 percent of respondents reported that time spent in nature most helps them with their spiritual growth.
Upper New York is filled with beautiful parks, lakes, and mountains where you can explore God’s beautiful creation, feel peace, and unplug from the day-to-day stressors that occupy your mind.
For our upcoming addition of the Advocate, focusing on pastoral wellness, we are including suggestions of places where people can find God in nature.
Where do you feel God’s presence in nature? Send your suggestions to [email protected] by Friday Sept. 9.
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Because we Care—Gaza 2012
This month’s Because we Care article is written by the Upper New York Task Force on Peace w/Justice in Palestine/Israel member, Karen Peterson.
Karen writes of the extension trip to Gaza that she and fellow Task Force member, the Rev. Gary Doupe took during their participation in the 2012 “Eyewitness Palestine” delegation to Palestine/Israel. She writes of Palestinian hospitality during tense times and her experience in Gaza, one of the Palestinian territories, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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Welcome Autumn Wells
We are excited to announce that Autumn Wells has joined the UNY Conference staff as Administrative Accounting Services specialist. Autumn comes to us with over 20 years’ experience in various administrative fields. Click here to read more about Autumn.
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Meet LIT Kylie Van Patten
Earlier this summer, Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center held a month-long Leaders in Training (LIT) program for 16-17-year-olds. Through this program, they learned dozens of leaderships skills that can be used in a camp setting or any ministry area.
Sixteen-year-old Kylie VanPatten was one of the LITs. This was her tenth summer spent at Casowasco. She was one of the three LITs who also became a certified lifeguard through the program.
Though Kylie misses being a camper, she thoroughly enjoyed her experience as an LIT.
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Grants Available to Help Strengthen the Ethnic Local Church
Discipleship Ministries is pleased to offer the Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns (RELCC) Grant, which provides funding to support the ethnic local church through leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship, and spiritual formation as it engages in developing disciple-making systems inside the church walls and in the community.
Applications are due September 10, 2022.
Two grants per jurisdiction, of up to $10,000 each, are available. Please click the link below to see eligibility criteria and apply.
Priority will be given to new programs/ministries that move churches to places where disciples are formed, grow, and make new disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world.
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Bishop Webb to retire
After a season of prayer and discernment, Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, has made the decision to retire from the active episcopacy on Dec. 31, 2022. He submitted his request for retirement to the Northeastern Jurisdiction and the Council of Bishops on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022.
Click here to read Bishop Webb’s Aug. 15, 2022, letter to the UNY Conference, announcing his retirement.
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NOTE: Unadilla UMC will be a drop-off site in our Oneonta district. -
The Unadilla UMC is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9 -11 for drop-off.
Please contact Barb Rothenberg at
email:[email protected] , (H) 607-988-0192 or (C) 607-267-3015 to make other arrangements to drop off items.
Will your church be a drop-off site for Red Bird Mission shoe-boxes?
David Alexander is in the planning stages for this year’s collection of shoe-boxes and other items for the Red Bird Mission. The planning team is looking for drop-off sites in the various Districts where churches can drop off their shoe-boxes and or other items that are going to the Red Bird Mission.
The planning team is looking for drop-off sites from Oct. 16 through Nov. 16. The trip is planned for Nov. 28 with the packing of the trucks on Saturday, Nov. 26.
The need for shoe-boxes filled with personal hygiene supplies, backpacks, new blankets and sheet sets, and diapers are in great need this year. The need for used clothing is not a critical need at this time as their warehouse is full. The planning team will still take new clothes as they can be used at the Community Outreach Center for distribution. If there are churches that can be drop-off sites, please send an email to [email protected], so a list can be made available in future emails.
Your help in this project is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, David Alexander can be reached by email, or you can call 607-743-8955.
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NOTICE: Please direct all questions regarding the Mission Central HUB to:
Kristina Clark
Director of Missional Engagement
Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
Direct Line: 315.898.2066
Cell: 570.267.5711
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School Kit Update
UMCOR recently discontinued the School Kits and replaced them with the Menstrual Hygiene Kits. This does mean that we will no longer be collecting the School Kits at the HUB.
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Local District News & Happenings |
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First UMC Of Unadilla NY invites YOU, your FAMILY, your FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS to our THIRD Christian Coffeehouse:
“MUSIC ON MAIN STREET”
Featuring: “SONSHINE”
Friday, September 23rd
6:30 pm in our Church Dining Room
FREE Event will be catered with your favorite beverages & light dessert refreshments
SONSHINE started in December of 1975, as a worship band at Pierce Creek Gospel Chapel in Binghamton. Playing at churches of many different denominations soon followed. While the band disbanded in 1985, they now, 35+ years later will re-unite from several areas of the US for our event and a one-time awesome concert 9/24 at 9:00AM for the Apple Fest in Greene, NY. DO NOT miss our incredible & historic event!
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Drop Bible study weekly every Wednesday
Richmondville UMC at 10am
Worcester UMC at 6pm
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NEW- Morris UMC has 5 banners that they no longer need. They are about 30 inches wide and about 4 feet long. We are glad for anyone to come and get them. If you are interested, you can contact Penny Harrington at 607-215-4900 to arrange for picking them up. (see pictures below)
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Training & Education Opportunities |
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Get Inspired Workshop Offered!
You get to choose.
Do you want to remain stuck in an old paradigm or do you want to engage in some new approaches to doing ministry?
Join Rev. Susan Ranous and DS Nola Anderson
on Saturday, September 10th
at the Conference Center from
10:00 am to Noon.
We are approaching that time of the year when the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development (formerly nominations committee) will be looking to discern who God may be calling to serve on the various committees or teams of your congregation.
For some of you it’s something you dread as you are faced with empty slots and fewer and fewer members willing or able to serve. So, what do you do? Re-cycle the names. Yes, you heard right. The year of the term is changed but the names are the same. In fact, this has been the trend for years. For others, you have the same individuals serving on most if not all the committees. For some, you try to complete the list by saying things like… "I’m only asking you to serve for a year", or "this committee doesn’t meet often" or even bargaining with members to get them to say yes or make some sort of commitment.
The result? You get what you ask for. A half-hearted commitment, the meetings are
not inspirational and some members are tired and burned out. If we are honest, we admit that sometimes we dread attending some meetings. Then there are the Charge Conference and Statistical reports. The usual response we get about these are…do
we really have to do this? I am willing to serve a church, but those reports, I’m not
sure about that, it’s just too much paper work.
Then after all this, for some you feel depleted and there is no real desire or passion to serve Christ and to make Him known. Month after month, year after year and we haven’t gone very far. If any of this resonates with you, join Rev. Susan Ranous and DS Nola Anderson on Saturday, September 10th at the Conference Center from 10:00 am to Noon. Let’s look at some new strategies, for leading your congregation, which provides you with more time to fulfill the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
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Safe Sanctuaries 3.5 hour basic training
(this training is for all Clergy, and anyone working with children, youth or vulnerable adults)
Saturday, November 5, 2022
9:00 am - 12:30pm
Registration Opens October 5, 2022 @ Midnight
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Safe Sanctuaries Training of Trainers -TOT
(this training is for anyone who would like to become a church or district Safe Sanctuaries trainer
in the Upper New York Conference.
Must have completed 3.5 hour basic Training prior to taking the TOT Training.)
Saturday, October 22, 2022
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration Opens September 22, 2022 @ Midnight
For more information regarding Safe Sanctuaries please visit our website:
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Register Now- Oneonta District Lay Servant Courses Planned
We have dates and courses scheduled for the Fall.
Save the dates: Sat. Oct. 15th & 22nd at Elm Park UMC in Oneonta.
The courses offered will be:
(These are abbreviated titles)
Join us for some fellowship and training. It's been a long time since we've been together and we look forward to seeing you all! And please let others know about Lay Servant training opportunities.
Cathy Honrath (Oneonta District Lay Servant Ministry Chair)
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Course of Study Through Wesley Seminary:
Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Licensed local Pastors....are you are planning to take COS for the Fall, 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 Fall-Sept.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 both 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:
· 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!!
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Course of Study Information
If you are registering for a COS class at GBHEM – you will need to list the name and email of your COS registrar.
That information is as follows:
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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.
Click here for a complete catalogue of recorded courses.
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Camp and Retreat Ministry (CRM) NEWS |
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Fall Retreats at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center
Autumn is the perfect time to retreat to the woods.
Reserve your spot today!
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Space to Create: Sept 9th - 11th, 2022
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Soul Escape: Oct. 14th-16th
Come away from all your obligations and embrace nature’s pace. We’ll offer a few optional activities with spaces for solitude and connection. More info & to register: https://churchinthewild.org/oct22/
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The following job openings are posted on the Upper New York website...
1) Reservations Specialist for Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
2) Part-time year round Maintenance Assistant at Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center
3) Seasonal Camp Staff
If you are interested in applying, please apply online through our website. Please contact Tracy Rickett with any questions. Thank you.
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Local Church Record Retention handbook
Click here for a document titled "Guidelines for Managing Records of the Local Church." It is a handbook on record retention.
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Handbook of spiritual practices
Click here for a handbook of spiritual practices, written by the Rev. Nancy Dibelius.
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Download the #BeUMC discussion guide
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FAQs from “Ask The UMC”
Ask The UMC has been answering an increasing number of questions from congregations wondering about the future of The United Methodist Church and whether they should consider disaffiliating from it. Among these have been some recurrent questions that reflect misperceptions or misinformation that some congregations are receiving as they are discerning their next steps.
Click here to learn more from the first article that Ask the UMC has published in what will become part of a series.
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Dismantling Racism Resource: Daily prayers for anti-racism
Click here to learn more, read some of the payers, and subscribe.
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Start the day with Debbie
The Adirondack and Albany District Superintendent, Debbie Earthrowl shares a devotion via Facebook Live at 7:30 AM every Monday through Saturday. The devotions are also posted on her Facebook page and the Adirondack District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time. I personally find this an inspirational way to start the day. I trust you will, as well. To view, click here: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.earthrowl
or
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Mission Insite free to churches
A reminder that 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.
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Learn from the comfort of your couch!
Click here to find upcoming as well as archived webinars.
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United Methodist Communications Offering Free Resources for Fall Outreach
Click here to view the resources and order using coupon code UMCFA22 for $300 worth of free resources!
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New church Trustees and SPRC resources
Click here to watch these helpful recordings and access the useful resources.
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GCFA Offers Clergy Housing Allowance Explained
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Scriptural reflections for mental health
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Crash courses in youth ministry
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Focusing on discipleship
The mission of the United Methodist Church is creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. So, what is a disciple?
The Upper New York Conference has updated our website to better highlight the focus of our Conference—the tab for “our focus” is on our homepage— https://www.unyumc.org. In this section we list six characteristics that define a disciple of Jesus Christ. Click here to read “Our Focus.”
Another great resource to learn more about creating disciples is the See all the People website, which is a movement to “stop fixing our church and start seeing all the people Christ calls us to reach.” #Seealllthepeople has dozens of resources on creating intentional discipleship systems and methods of building relationships.
Click here to learn more about the #SeeallthePeople movement and watch their four-minute video that defines a “disciple.”
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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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Do you have questions? United Methodist Communications has answers.
Can I be confirmed online? Is it ever appropriate to place the Advent Wreath on the Lord’s Table? What's the United Methodist position on rebaptism? Can a lay servant wear a robe in the pulpit? What countries have United Methodist churches? Do apportionments help pay for church camps? How do you get to heaven?
These are only a handful of the thousands of questions received by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, the information service for all things United Methodist.
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The Media Resource Center is a free lending library supported through your Ministry Share dollars. There are a multitude of DVD studies, curriculum, and support materials for your use. Resources are available to help with small group studies, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, church-wide studies, and special events. Click here for the online ordering catalog. Please allow for a timely response as the Resource Center is staffed on a part-time basis.
Each month, the Media Resource Center publishes a newsletter with updates and study suggestions.
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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 interim appointments and four retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
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Disaffiliation Information-From Wespath
Understanding Pension Liabilities-For Local Churches Considering Disaffiliation
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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Disaffiliating from the UNY Conference and the UMC
During the Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference held virtually in June of 2021, the body passed Resolution UNYAC2021.7 which created a Study Commission to examine the readiness in the UNYUMC for the Implementation of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.
Last fall, the UNY Study Commission issued surveys to clergy and congregations in the UNY Conference about the Protocol. Despite there only being a 30 percent response rate, some congregations and clergy did report that if the Protocol passes, they will leave the United Methodist Church. Click here to read the survey report.
Earlier this month, the Global Methodist Church announced that it will launch on May 1, 2022. Click here to read the announcement.
Given these changes, the Conference Board of Trustees anticipated there would be congregations who might now desire to explore disaffiliation.
Click here to read an article that outlines the disaffiliation process.
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Reminder: Sexual Harassment training mandatory
New York State required sexual harassment annual training prevention reminder
New York State Law requires that employers who have at least one or more employees must conduct sexual harassment prevention training for all employees on a yearly basis. The timing of when to hold the yearly training is up to the employer as long as it is completed annually. A notice of the employer’s sexual harassment policy must be provided to all employees during this time and the employer should maintain records of the training for audit purposes.
Safe Sanctuaries training does not exempt churches from the New York State sexual harassment prevention training requirements.
Click here to learn more about what’s required in the training, how to create a sexual harassment policy if you haven’t already, and free training opportunities offered by New York City that satisfy the state’s requirements.
If you have questions, you can contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist in the Conference Office at (315) 898-2017 or via email at [email protected]
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Don't Wait, Get Your Federal Tax Exemption Letter!
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Subscribe to the GCFA "Collaborator" for Finance & Administration resources for your Ministry. A Support newsletter from GCFA - Click here
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On the Conference calendar
Aug. 15 - Sept. 16: Register for Annual Conference - DETAILS
Sept. 16: Church and Society grant application deadline - DETAILS
Oct. 6-8: Virtual Annual Conference - DETAILS
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UNYAC Contact Information
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UNY 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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How to get help from UNY Conference for...
Regular needs or questions, contact the Conference (315) 898-2000 or email: [email protected] 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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Oneonta District Contact Information
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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
Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell- District Superintendent
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(Physical address) Oneonta District Office 64 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY 13820
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