MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT NEWS |
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Dear Friends,
God is good, all the time! I have come to remind myself of this repeatedly when things don’t go as planned, when hardship and pain stays too long, and when confusion seems to reign instead of reason. In our churches where we may have once felt insulated from the world, now we are rocked with the world’s troubles to the point of major disruption. Could it be that God is doing a new thing even when our environment seems bleakest? I don’t mean to sound cliché, but we need to remind ourselves that God is good all the time. God has our best care in mind. God seeks to use us and bless us and keep us always, and God sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sins.
I have been meeting individually with the pastors of the district for their annual review. Much is required of them: please pray for them! Here is a link to the clergy covenant we as pastors subscribe to. Here is a link to the denomination’s behavioral health guidelines.
We are scheduling individual charge conferences with the pastors: please help them with the paperwork. I look forward to meeting you in the churches as soon as safely possible. You are in my prayers in this time!
In Christ with you,
Jeff McDowell
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New Procedures for Visiting Mountain View District Office |
The District Office Hours: Starting Sept. 8, 2020
Monday,Tuesday&Thursdays- 7am-2:15 pm (working remotely)
In-Person by appointments only: Wednesdays 9am-4:15pm
The Mountain View District Office will open for in-person visitors by appointment only every Wednesday beginning Sept. 9th. We ask that you call ahead and let us know you are coming: 607-962-8047. Please take your temperature before you leave home. If your temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher or if you are feeling ill, please stay at home. Upon your arrival, we will ask you to fill out a health questionnaire. If you would like a copy of the health questionnaire in advance, contact the office. Please make sure your name and phone number are included in case it is needed for contact tracing. Please wear a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth to enter the building and at all times during your visit. If you cannot wear a mask, perhaps we can help you outside the building. Please call to explore options. Use hand sanitizer upon entering. Maintain six feet or more of distance between people. Please adhere to the rules we have in place as we share the Office Suite with a few employees of the Bank. Any questions about the required procedures, please communicate with us in advance of your visit.
In-person assistance is available on Wednesdays by appointment only.
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Reminder Regarding New York State Required
Annual Training for Sexual Harassment Prevention
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As previously communicated, New York State employers must adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide training on sexual harassment prevention to their employees on an annual basis.
Each New York State employer is required to have a sexual harassment prevention policy in place. The employer's sexual harassment prevention policy must be provided to the employee at the time of hire and during each annual training. The policy can be provided electronically as long as the employee is able to print the policy for their records.
It is recommended you obtain a signed acknowledgment from the employee affirming they have received and read the employer's sexual harassment prevention policy.
There are various free or low-cost online sexual harassment prevention trainings available to your employees.
If you have questions on this topic, please contact Tracy Rickett, Human Resources Generalist, at tracyrickett@unyumc.org or (315) 898-2017. 9/10/2020
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Please consider subscribing to the following links. These will keep you updated on all the news coming from the conference office during this time. It will help keep repeated emails from being received. |
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NEXT NEWSLETTER
October 8, 2020
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Links to Sources for Reopening Your Church |
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Important Dates for Your Calendar |
Ordination Service
Friday, October 2, 2020
by invitation only & live streaming
Annual Conference
(voting members must register by tomorrow, Sept. 25th)
October 3, 2020 begins at 9:30 am
Virtual
If you are not eligible to vote and you want to watch the Annual Conference, you can do so via a public livestream that will be posted on the Conference website (www.unyumc.org).
General Conference
Aug. 29 - Sept. 7, 2021
Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn
Jurisdictional Conferences
in the United States
November 10-12, 2021
8/13/202
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Click the button to see the list of events happening in
Mountain View District
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Registration for 2020 Annual Conference
Ends Tomorrow Sept. 25th
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The 2020 Annual Conference registration is open. The Annual Conference will take place on Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. through a secure livestream. Click here to see the full agenda.
All eligible voting members must preregister by Sept. 25.
When registering individuals must provide a login email and create a password for the event. Individuals will be responsible for knowing their login information and for having the necessary technology to participate. Technical questions about the event can be directed to the Conference Director of Communications, Steve Hustedt, at stevehustedt@unyumc.org
Non-eligible voting members can view the Annual Conference session via a public livestream that will be available on the Conference website.
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2021 Conference Budget Information published |
A hard copy of the Upper New York (UNY) Narrative Budget Booklet has
taken on a new format that will allow for multi-year use.
Click here for the proposed Ministry Shares budget numbers for 2021.
Click here to review the Narrative Budget Booklet electronically and to read some reports that some ministry areas submitted to support their 2021 UNY Conference Budget.
For hard copies of the Narrative Budget Booklet, contact the District Office.
8/13/2020
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UPDATED-NY State Executive Order Related to Travel
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On June 25, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 205 that requires individuals traveling to New York from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
This list is updated daily.
As of September 22 this order applied to anyone traveling from:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
The quarantine applies to New York State residents who visit those states for an extended period (more than 24 hours) and return home to New York State.
9/24/2020
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Churches Continue to Fulfill Requirements
for Reopening
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If you have returned to in-person worship and continue to stream online you must go back to the UNY survey and update your previous answers and don't for get to save it.
Click below to complete the form and your congregations compliance
1. The Upper New York Annual Conference has asked every local church on the district, whether it has decided to offer in-person worship at this time or not, to complete a survey indicating its compliance with the New York State requirements. This was due by June 26th. The District will contact churches who don't respond. Click here to complete this form and indicate your congregation's compliance.
2. Churches are required to make a plan and follow the guidelines as they begin to reopen. Your plan must be available when you are asked to provide it. Churches must also complete the REQUIRED Affirmation NYS needs before you reopen for in-person activities
or worship.
Find an overview of UNY Conference reopening guidelines here and some frequently asked questions on reopening here.
The New York State Guidelines are available online here.
NYS Required Affirmation is Necessary
for All Churches to Reopen Church
9/24/2020
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NY State minimum wage and salary increase
effective 12/31/20
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Effective 12/31/2020, New York State minimum wage increases to $12.50/hour. Employers in the Upper New York Conference, regardless of number of employees, must pay non-exempt employees minimum wage.
Effective Dec. 31, 2020, NY State minimum salary for employees classified as exempt under the New York State Labor Law’s administrative and executive exemption increases to $937.50/week or $48,750 per year. Employers in the Upper New York Conference, regardless of number of employees, must pay employees classified as exempt under the administrative and executive exemption the New York State minimum salary.
9/24/2020
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Resources for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month |
Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. Despite the limitations with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still several ways that you can celebrate the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
Click here for Hispanic Heritage Month activities, liturgies, and music that can be used at either your in-person or livestreamed worship services as well as resources for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on social media.
9/24/2020
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Virtual I AM Her leadership summit
to be held Oct. 8-10
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The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women's I AM Her Women's Leadership Summit that will be held Oct. 8-10, 2020
The I AM Her Women’s Leadership Summit is not your ordinary conference. It’s a movement of women coming together to Be Inspired, Be Empowered, and to Be Equipped to do the work both personally, professionally, and within the United Methodist Church to connect. This summit will focus on worship, relationship building, and network mapping along with various courses to help participants learn how women in leadership have overcome challenges and created solutions that supported their success. There will also be opportunities to learn how to build your professional network and maximize its potential.
The preregistration deadline for this summit is Oct. 1.
Click here for the full schedule and registration information.
9/24/2020
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Dismantling racism resource: Watch the Sept. 16
Town Hall about the roots of racism and colonialism
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On Sept. 16, a panel of theological experts gathered on Zoom to discuss the roots of racism and colonialism. The panel addressed difficult questions like: If we are the people who are called to “love our neighbors,” why do we see such racism within our religious communities and structures? Why does racism abound within the United States and across the world? How can we as Christians partner with God to help bring about liberation and the beloved community?
This panel discussion served as a springboard for the remainder of our 2020 conversations.
9/24/2020
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PREVIOUSLY RUN NEWS ITEMS |
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Information regarding FFCRA Paid Leave Benefit
and Return to School
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The Department of Labor (DOL) recently published new frequently asked questions (FAQs) about whether employees qualify for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) in different school reopening situations, including those that blend in-person with distance learning. The new FAQs address eligibility for expanded family and medical leave and paid sick leave when:
- A child attends a school operating on an alternate-day basis:
- A parent chooses remote learning when in-person instruction is available; and
- A school begins the year with remote learning but may shift to in-person instruction if conditions change.
In general, according to the FAQs, parents qualify for FFCRA leave only on days when in-person learning is not offered as an option by the school.
More information is in the attached article which will be posted on the website and in the weekly digest.
9/10/2020
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As we stated several months ago, a number of local churches in Upper New York (UNY) have received demand letters and subpoenas requesting documents relating to the Child Victims Act (CVA) cases being filed throughout New York State. Several local churches have also now been named as defendants. If your local church receives or is served with any legal process in a CVA case, please contact the UNY Episcopal office so we can provide advice and guide you on next steps.
The statute of limitations has been amended in New York to allow victims of sexual abuse to file lawsuits against potentially responsible parties even though the statute of limitations has expired. These plaintiffs can file claims until Aug. 14, 2021. These cases relate to events that may have happened many decades ago.
In addition to local churches, the Upper New York Conference has been named as a defendant in a number of these cases. The Upper New York Conference is being brought into these cases based on events that occurred during the time of our predecessor Conferences. The Upper New York Conference is the successor to the four Conferences that were merged in 2010.
The Conference is responding to these complaints and has retained an outside law firm to help in the defense of the claims. A further update will be provided to the Conference at its Oct. 3 Annual Conference session.
9/10/2020
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Online Pre-Retirement Seminar to Be Held Oct. 9 |
All clergy looking to retire in the next year are encouraged to attend a virtual pre-retirement seminar on Friday Oct. 9 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Due to the COVID-19, the seminar will NOT be held in person at the United Methodist Center like in the past. This virtual seminar highlights and explains the benefits available through The United Methodist Church. A pre-retirement seminar is held once each year in the fall. A retirement seminar is held each spring.
Join Julie Valeski (UNY Benefits Administrator), Susan Latessa (UNY Conference Director of Human Resources/Benefits), Peter Hang (Wespath Conference Liaison), and Robert Christophel (Wespath Director of Benefits Education) for this important virtual meeting as they discuss topics, including the current pension plan, health insurance options, Social Security, and any moving assistance that's available.
Preregistration by Sept. 25 is required in order to receive all materials ahead of the meeting. Once registration closes, you will receive a link to access the virtual seminar.
9/10/2020
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World Communion Sunday is Oct. 4 |
According to the 1972 Book of Discipline paragraph 163.b there shall be a World Communion (formerly Fellowship of Suffering and Service) offering to support the division of chaplains and ministries, Crusade Scholarships and the scholarship fund for minority groups.
9/10/2020
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Deadlines for Annual Reports
was July 15th
NOW ARE PAST DUE
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Deadline for the following Reports:
- Report of Trustees
- Report of the Finance Committee
- 2019 Local Church Financial Audit
PLEASE SEND THEM IN EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LATE
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Get Ready for Charge Conference! Get All Your Forms |
In preparation for the upcoming Charge Conferences, the following information is now available:
Charge Conference forms are all located on the following page: 2020-2021 Charge Conference forms. There is a downloadable/printable forms check list to help ensure that each church is on track to completing the forms necessary for their Charge Conference on time. Many of the forms need to be submitted to the District Office two weeks prior to your scheduled Charge Conference. Other forms, such as the annual audit, have later deadlines. Questions can be directed to your District Office or as noted on the forms page.
If you get an error message while trying to access the Charge Conference forms, click here for help.
It is being recommended that you use Firefox as your browser and not Chrome. (If you use Firefox you do not get the error message)
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Other ZOOM Lay Servant Course Opportunities in the Conference That's Open to ALL |
Binghamton District Offering:
Zoom classes open to the conference.
Registration is through Rosemary DiIorio at the Binghamton District Office. The cost of the class is $20, which includes the book.
Spiritual Gifts with Rev. David Wickins Req. book - Each One a Minister by William J. Carter
Thursdays & Saturdays September 10th, 12th, 17th & 19th 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Come to the Table with Rev. Jamie Stevens Req. book - This Holy Mystery by Gayle Carlton Felton
Tuesdays & Thursdays September 15th, 17th, 22nd & 24th 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
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Background Check Reminder |
Remember Upper New York Safe Sanctuaries minimum standards require background checks every two years for those working with children, youth and vulnerable adults.
Our insurance company, Brotherhood Insurance, partners with three companies to provide background screenings for their policyholders. They are:
· Safe Hiring Solutions
· C 4 Operations
· Protect My Ministry
Please visit the Brotherhood web site link below to review the detailed information.
Each offers many choices for the type of information for which you are looking.
You are still able to use Trusted Employees that was a partner with our former insurance company, Church Mutual, but you will not be receiving the Church Mutual discount so your rates will be higher.
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Upper New York Red Bird Mission Shoebox Campaign seeking drop-off locations |
Currently, the Endwell UMC Mission Team is looking for drop-off locations for the shoeboxes. As of now, Endwell UMC, and the UNY Mission Central HUB in Liverpool are two drop-off locations and several other churches have expressed interest. Please consider being a drop-off center. Items can be dropped off from Nov. 2- Nov. 24.
Click here to read more about Red Bird and the contents needed for the shoeboxes.
7/30/2020
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UNY Conference Center remaining closed
to the public
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Please note that the Upper New York Conference Center in Liverpool, including the Episcopal office and Crossroads District office will remain closed to the public. |
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Helpful links to put resources at your finger tips! |
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Mountain View District Office |
35 Wilkes Ave., Suite 101 (physical address)
PO Box 706
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Hours:
Mon.,Tues.,Thurs., 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m
In-Person Wed. 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
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