Albany District and Conference News
November 4, 2021
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"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals."
-- Benjamin Franklin
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Please share with us how your church is making disciples for the transformation of the world!
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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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The Rev. Dr. E. Clayton Burgess Jr. died on Tuesday, Oct. 26 in Glens Falls. Rev. Burgess served churches in the Albany and Adirondack Districts in Troy Annual Conference and in Vermont, including North Chatham and Niverville-Chatham Center UMCs, Hartford UMC, Grace UMC (St. Johnsbury, VT) and South Glens Falls UMC. Services were held Monday, Nov. 1 at the South Glens Falls UMC.
Condolences can be sent to his wife, Alice Burgess at 5 Grover Ave., South Glens Falls, NY 12803. Click here to read the full obituary.
The Rev. Erik Smith's new address is Pinnacle Multicare Nursing and Rehab Center, Room 322, 801 Co Op City Blvd., Bronx, NY 10475. Cards and prayers would be appreciated.
Please also pray for:
The family and friends of Archie Maker, who died on Aug. 28. Cards of condolence can be sent to Archie's wife Kathy Maker at 19 Sunset Ct., Cohoes, NY 12047.
Rev. Dr. Camillus Mourice, who is having a lot of pain and problems with his knees, and also for his wife Clementine Mourice, who has health issues.
Pastor Brenda Tompkins and husband Rob, as Rob continues to battle with cancer. Cards can be sent to 148 S. Second Ave., Mechanicville, NY 12118.
Rev. Judy Humphrey-Fox and her husband Tim.
If you'd like prayer for yourself or others, or you'd like to share a joy, please be in touch with Carrie (518) 608-1246 or albanydistrict@unyumc.org
Please know that we will need to contact folks to be sure they feel comfortable with us publishing their information.
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Albany District Lay Servant news
Basic Course Offered in Person!
Is God calling you to become involved in Lay Servant Ministries? It is one of the most significant lay leadership development programs available within our United Methodist connection (2021 Lay Servant Ministries Catalog). Through these ministries, we are equipped, empowered, and enabled:
- To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ;
- To deepen our knowledge of who God is and who God is calling us to be as God's people;
- To embody God's love;
- To be God's love in the world.
Lay Servants have felt God's call upon their lives to share their faith and God's love by leading, caring, and communicating to:
All God's people in
All places,
And in
All times.
This course is the foundation for all Lay Servant courses as you:
- Are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts;
- Consider the importance of exercising servant leadership;
- Develop future leaders;
- Remain rooted in consistent spiritual practices;
- Grow as a leader in mission and ministry in the community as well as in daily life.
Dates: Saturdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 2022
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Place: Hope United Methodist Church, 566 Brunswick Rd, Troy, NY 12180
Facilitator: Darlene Suto, Certified Lay Speaker dviall51@aol.com | 518. 279.3567(home) |518.495.2248 (cell)
Please contact Darlene for a Registration Form and the address to mail the form and check
Cost: $10 (Checks payable to UNYAC)
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Adirondack District Lay Servant news
The Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries has begun work on courses we will be offering in 2022. We plan to continue offering the 7 courses required for Lay Speaker Certification, and are excited to be offering some new advanced courses to support you in your continuing faith journey. A complete listing of all our course offerings for next year will be coming out soon!
If you feel called to ministry but are not sure where to start, the Basic Lay Servant course can help in your discernment process. This course is the foundation for all Lay Servant courses. In this course, you will be encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended. Participants are invited to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a leader in mission and ministry in the community and in daily life.
If you are interested in this course, the next Basic Course dates are:
Monday January 10, 6-9 PM
Thursday January 13, 6-9 PM
Wednesdays January 19 and 26: 6-9 PM
Via Zoom
Course fee $15
Facilitators: Lay Servant Ministries Team
The text is “Lay Servant Ministries: Basic Course Participant’s Book.”
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Spiritual Discipline: Solitude |
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 solitude; click here to watch the first video in this series.
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What is the United Methodist view on suicide? |
In addition to the grief and loss that comes with any death, surviving family members and friends struggle to understand. They are filled with additional questions and suffer the stigma sometimes associated with suicide. Many assume suicide is an unforgivable sin, but that is not the teaching of The United Methodist Church.
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Volunteer at Mission Central HUB |
The Mission Central HUB at the UNY Mission Central HUB in Liverpool, NY has been hustling and bustling with volunteers putting together UMCOR hygiene and school kits. If your family, group, or organization would like to help with these important disaster relief kits (following COVID protocols), call the HUB at (315) 372-0285. |
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The Nov. Issue I of the Bridge is newly redesigned and ready for download. It is available in both color and black & white formats. Click here to select the version you prefer and make copies as necessary.
This issue of the Bridge explores the idea of welcoming conversations about mental health in church. See article from the Lewis Center for more on this subject.
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Why churches need more than a Sunday morning service |
Churches recognize the power of in-person events, but not everyone will or can attend Sunday morning worship services.
Since many Americans no longer consider Sunday a day of rest, here are some ways your church can offer more than one Sunday-type service.
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The season of Advent, which comes comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming" or "visit," begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the church year for Christians.
During Advent, we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for and need of forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.
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What's New from the Lewis Center |
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Starting a conversation about mental health
The local church is often the first place people go for help in addressing mental health challenges. Matthew Stanford sees this as a divine opportunity and suggests ways churches can address the subject of mental illness more openly and honestly. See article in the "Bridge" for more on this subject.
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Diverse congregations are stronger congregations
One hopeful trend in Faith Communities Today’s 2020 survey findings is that the percentage of multiracial congregations in the U.S. has doubled over the past two decades, from 12% to 25% of all faith communities. The 2020 FACT Survey Report also reveals that congregational diversity correlates to increased growth, spiritual vitality, and a clearer sense of mission and purpose.
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Book study starts Nov. 15 & 17 |
A new book study will begin on Nov. 15 and 17. It will take place on Zoom, with your choice of Monday evenings from 7 to 8:15 PM or Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 2:15 PM. Diana Butler Bass is a prolific writer who writes beautiful prose that is filled with scholarly words, deep thinking, great faith, and real humanness. It is a gift to yourself to study one of her books, and we’d like to have you with us for this study.
Diana Butler Bass will be with us at one of the sessions to share her insights and answer questions!
Co-teachers are Rev. Phil Richards and Rev. Sally White, and we’d welcome your registration simply by emailing Sally at pastorgrammy10@yahoo.com. Books can be purchased from your favorite bookseller, but please allow for delayed shipping as well as potential delayed postal delivery.
Please join us on this journey of rediscovering the many Jesuses: Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence. Study will end on Dec. 20 or 22.
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News from Archives and History and a Nov. 5 workday |
The merging of four Conference archives into one at the Liverpool Conference Center is ongoing. On Oct. 22, 2021, a group of volunteers from the Commission on Archives and History went through many boxes of library books to weed out the ones appropriate for our very limited bookshelf space. Archives Assistant Karen Campolieto suggested this project and organized and prepared the workspace.
Former Archivist Karen Staulters reviewed all the books through Facetime to identify duplicates and to determine which should be saved to go on the valuable shelf space. Pictured is Sue Slenker and Loreen Jorgensen sorting through the final box of books.
Another workday is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. The team is especially interested in volunteers who can use or quickly learn Pastperfect software as they continue to enter the collection to create a useful database.
Click here to learn more about what’s new with UNY Commission on Archives and History.
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Church conference schedule |
The church conference schedule is now available. The scheduling is for all in-person Church Conferences this year. Of course, COVID spread could change some of those plans, and we will be mindful of that. Our District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl is looking forward to being with all of you, and to sharing and dreaming about ministry with our communities near and far!
Please note that this year's conferences are church conferences, not charge conferences, meaning all church members have a vote. Please also note that at this time, only those attending in person can vote. Those participating via ZOOM cannot vote. If that changes, we will let you know.
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UM Student Day - Nov. 28
There are some UMC students who might not have the resources to attend a college of their choice, or, for some, any school at all—help send them into the world God loves by giving on United Methodist (UM) Student Day. This year, UM Student Day is Nov. 28.
Click here for a UM Student Day video as well as a story about Ricky, whose parents were addicts. Ricky didn’t have much hope to be able to go to college, but the UM Students Day fund made it possible. You'll also find more information on UM Student Day.
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PWJ-funded handbook and webinar for congregations to reach out to the unvaccinated
The Rev. Dr. Dana Horrell, pastor of Cooperstown United Methodist Church, and also a published writer and co-editor of the ecumenical publication, the Parish Paper, is passionate about community outreach.
In May 2021, Dr. Horrell started work on a project he calls “Mobilize Vaccine Turnout!” This project, funded by an Upper New York Peace with Justice (UNY PWJ) grant. It has two components: a handbook and a webinar.
Right now, many are concerned about low COVID-19 vaccination rates. Congregations are uniquely poised to help, as many of them are in areas that are under-vaccinated or “socially vulnerable.” The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies as “socially vulnerable” those communities that deal with low pay, job loss, family responsibilities, and racial disparities in health care.
Click here to read more about Dr. Horrell’s handbook and webinar.
The 40-page “Mobilize Vaccine Turnout!” handbook is now available. Click here to download it.
The "Mobilize Vaccine Turnout" Zoom webinar will be held Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, 2-3:30 p.m. EST.
Click here to register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Reminder: Sexual Harassment training mandatory |
This is a reminder that 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. This includes all those employed by the local church.
There is a free on-line training that is available to all. A certificate of completion is provided when the training is complete.
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Red Bird Mission collection |
The Mission team at Endwell United Methodist Church is again coordinating the collection and delivery of shoeboxes for the Red Bid Mission, located in Beverly, Kentucky.
If your church is willing to be a collection point, please contact Carrie in the District Office, (518) 608-1246.
Calvary UMC, 15 Ridge Place,Latham is a collection point. Read their letter here. Deadline for drop off here is Nov. 7. You may deliver between 11:30 AM to 3 PM on Nov. 7 in the upper lot, or you may contact Rita Pickett at vrlenprita@aol.com or 518-786-1858 to make an appointment to deliver at an earlier time.
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2021-2022 Forms available |
The 2021-2022 Church/Charge Conference and Annual Forms are now available to download. All information can be found 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.
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New Opportunity to Grow with Your Online/Digital Discipleship!
Your district superintendent has purchased a one-year membership for your continuing education on Digital Discipleship! This subscription is available to your church teams and volunteers who want to learn how to make the most of your online ministry.
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UNY Committee on Native American Ministries:
We need your voice
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As church conference time returns, we wish to remind you to appoint a local church representative to Native American Ministries. Designating an individual to be mindful of native needs, share information with your church, and celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday is vital to help us serve native peoples in our Conference and beyond. As a representative, you receive links to timely issues, action items and resources for celebrating the special Sunday.
It has been a particularly challenging time for our Native American brothers and sisters. Heartbreaking losses due to the pandemic and the revelation of countless graves in boarding schools has caused much sadness. The legacy of boarding schools continues to traumatize many. The road to Repentance and healing is a long one. You continue to walk the road with us when you designate a local church representative at church conference.
Sharon Schmit, chair
UNY Committee on Native American Ministries
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From the Conference Center |
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Study Commission on possible passage of Protocol begins
You may remember that at our 2021 Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference, the body passed UNYAC2021.7, which called for a study of our Conference’s readiness for the possible passage of the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. This resolution created a Study Commission that was given commission-specific instructions on how to, both conduct the study and report the study’s findings.
The current team includes Bob Flask, the Conference Treasurer; the Rev. Mike Weeden, the Dean of Cabinet; Peter Abdella, the Conference Chancellor; the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, the Director of Connectional Ministries; the Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens, the Director of Vital Congregations; Pastor Jennie Piatt, as a representative from the Committee on Finance and Administration; the Rev. Bob Kolvik-Campbell as representative of the Board of Ordained Ministry; Karyn McCloskey as a representative of the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits; Rachel Giso, as a representative of the Jurisdictional Delegation, and Jack Keating, as a representative from the Annual Conference Board of Trustees.
Three additional members are expected to join the team once they are identified by the Conference Committee on Nominations.
The first part of this study is underway and involves two short surveys that will be sent to every local church and every appointed clergy leader of the Annual Conference via email from their District Office.
Survey responses are due Wednesday Dec. 1.
Questions can be addressed to the District office, from whom you will receive the surveys.
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'CONAM' grants available
The Upper New York Committee of Native American Ministries (CONAM) is accepting grant applications to fund Native American missions, ministries, and communities to support native churches, community outreach, leadership training, education, and cultural survival projects.
The grants are funded through Native American Ministries Sunday offerings. Native American Ministries Sunday is one of six special church-wide Sunday offerings. There is no deadline for submission of an application. For further questions, contact Sharon Schmit at conam@unyumc.org.
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2021 UNY Journal vol. II now ready
The 2021 Upper New York Conference Journal, Vol. II is now available for download as a free PDF and for purchase through the online publisher, Lulu.com. Click here to view an online version, download a copy, or order a printed copy from Lulu.com ($17.64 plus tax and shipping).
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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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(Updated) New York State minimum wage/minimum salary increase effective 12/31/2021
Effective December 31, 2021, New York State 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. To read more, click here.
A news article regarding NYS minimum salary is posted on the Conference websiteBoth the minimum wage and minimum salary are effective 12/31/2021. To read more, click here.
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(New) Conference seeking Accounts payable specialist
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A new job opening has been posted on the website for an Accounts Payable specialist.
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Conference seeking District Administrative Assistant |
A new job opening has been posted on the website for a District Administrative Assistant for the Niagara Frontier District.
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Conference seeking Information Technology Support Specialist |
A new job opening has been posted on the website for an Information Technology Support Specialist.
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Conference seeking Site Director for Skye Farm Camp/Retreat Center |
A job opening has been posted on the Conference website for a Site Director for Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center.
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Conference seeking Administrative/Accounting Services Specialist
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A job opening has been posted on the Conference website for an Administrative/Accounting Services Specialist. Please apply online through the website: https://www.unyumc.org/about/jobs
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Conference seeking director of Missional Engagement |
A new job opening is posted on the Conference website for a Director of Missional Engagement.
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Handbook of spiritual practices |
Click here for a handbook of spiritual practices, written by the Rev. Nancy Dibelius. It was originally conceived as a supplement to the Conference spiritual direction training program, but Nancy is hopeful that it will find a broader use throughout the Conference. It provides history, Christian heritage, and basic how-to for a broad range of spiritual practices. To view it, click here.
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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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Free shareable social graphics |
United Methodist Communications offers free shareable images for use in inspiring and informing your members year round.
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News Links From the Conference
If you want to keep in the know of what is happening in the Upper New York Conference and the United Methodist Church please consider these links.
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Start the day with Debbie
Our 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 our District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time. I personally find this an inspirational way to start my day. I trust you will, as well. To view, click here:
or
Blessings to all,
Carrie B
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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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Albany District
of the Upper New York Conference
Rev. Deborah (Debbie) Earthrowl
District Superintendent
Ellen Mall-John
Albany District Lay Leader and District Associate
Carrie Boyer
Minister of Administration
Our office is located in the Newtonville UMC
568 Loudon Rd., Latham, NY 12110
Mailing Address:
PO Box 511, Newtonville, NY 12128
(518) 608-1246
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