Next Issue: May 5th, 2022 |
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Words From the
District Superintendent
& District Associate
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District Superintendent News |
Appointments of pastors to churches is a blessing and a challenge. As I cycle off the cabinet this June, I am still working to fill all the pulpits with highly competent, caring, Christ-filled, compassionate pastors. Yet the pool of persons has been shrinking for some time, and not every pastor’s gifts match the needs of each local church. We have a void of clergy leadership and are actively looking to the laity to sustain the churches in the meantime.
SOLUTIONS:
- Let the laity provide worship as they see fit until a lay person can be hired by the superintendent, having met criteria for this role;
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Have the DS assign a lay person with credentials to serve under an Elder’s supervision;
- Have the DS move a local pastor from another church or add a church to their charge;
- Have the DS hire a pastor licensed or ordained in another denomination, with standards met;
- Ask a retired pastor to consider serving a part time church;
- Combine churches in a region from two legal entities into one;
- Gather churches in a region into cooperative parishes, sharing pastoral and lay leadership;
- Other creative ideas.
Do you remember the gospel story of Jesus pointing to the fields, ripe and ready to be harvested? He said there is no problem with the crop, but there is a shortage of laborers to harvest it. (Matthew 9:38) This continues to be true for us. His solution was to direct his disciples to pray for more laborers.
Please join me in praying for more laborers to come alongside our United Methodist churches and provide pastoral leadership.
In Christ with you,
Jeff McDowell
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From the desk of Reverend Michael Kelly: MV District Associate |
Good morning, friends,
Suffice to say that this is absolutely the last subject that I truly wish to write about this morning but feel as though I would be irresponsible to not. Covid, although we had hoped and prayed, is not gone. In the Northeast we are seeing a significant resurgence of Omicron variants, which has resulted in some areas reinstituting masking mandates. Again, as you know, our role as leaders in our churches is to maintain as safe of environment as possible.
This brings me to the concern for our district. Here are the current situations: Tioga County NY – Risk level is High, 168 active cases, with a 15.09 % transmission rate, Schuyler County - Risk level is Medium, 59 active cases, with a 11.61% transmission rate, Alleghany County- Risk level is Low, 44 active cases, with a 7.9 % transmission rate, Steuben County- Risk level is low, 185 active cases, with a 10.36 % transmission rate, and Chemung County – Risk level is low, 178 active cases, with a 9.56% transmission rate.
I believe we must still use due diligence. We should continue to meet with our Covid committees and discuss our procedures and contingency plans. We should continue with our Covid cleaning procedures. Masks and sanitizer should be available for all who wish to use them, and we should encourage those who do. We should make people aware of opportunities for vaccination as a public service, please do not debate the subject just share the availability. And we must encourage people to stay home if they are feeling sick.
We are in this together, for God’s people, be safe, loving and aware.
Mike Kelly
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Annual Conference 2022- Upper New York Annual Conference postponed due to COVID-19 Concerns
The Sessions Committee of the Upper New York Conference gathered by Zoom on the morning of Thursday, April 21 to discuss growing concerns about the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Upstate New York and throughout the United States.
Members of the Committee shared both their own perspectives and what they have been hearing from others regarding the comfort level of gathering more than a thousand United Methodist from across Upper New York at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena. In the end, while there was a great sense of loss about not being able to gather in-person for the third year in a row, the Committee overwhelmingly agreed that the top priority had to be the health and safety of the individuals that would be asked to attend. The decision was made to institute a backup plan that has been in place since the Committee started planning for an in-person Annual Conference gathering.
Annual Conference will be postponed to Oct. 6-8, and it will be a virtual gathering. The plan is to use the same technology that was used at the 2021 virtual Annual Conference gathering, which was relatively well received.
Postponing Annual Conference creates a new set of logistical concerns to address and the decisions about those concerns will be shared once they are made. In the meantime, anyone who has already registered for the planned in-person Annual Conference gathering will receive full refunds. The processing of refunds will start immediately but could take a couple of weeks to complete. If you made a hotel reservation, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel.
“We know that there will be many different reactions to the news of Annual Conference being postponed and moved to a virtual event,” said the Rev. Joellyn Tuttle, Chair of the Sessions Committee. “Many will be disappointed; many will be relieved; and many more will be some combination of the two. Ultimately, this decision puts the health of the members of the Annual Conference first and that felt right to the Committee. Our first desire was to do no harm, and we are confident that we can pull together an excellent virtual event in October.”
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ALL Forms are NOW PAST DUE!!!! |
Please complete and get sent to the District Office.
Mail COMPLETED & SIGNED copy to District Office
Mail COMPLETED & SIGNED copy to District Office at:
Mountain View District Office
PO Box 706
Bath, NY 14810
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Mountain View District Office Open By Appointment Only |
Office visits are still by appointment ONLY. We also ask that you social distance while in the office. Please do not come to the office if you are not feeling well. We ask that you come another time.
Office is open: Mon.-Thurs.
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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 appointments and retirements pending approval of clergy session. View the full list of changes here.
Wondering how clergy appointments are made? Click here to read about the process.
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE POSTPONED
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Annual Conference will be postponed to Oct. 6-8, and it will be a virtual gathering. The plan is to use the same technology that was used at the 2021 virtual Annual Conference gathering, which was relatively well received.
The processing of refunds will start immediately but could take a couple of weeks to complete. If you made a hotel reservation, you should contact the hotel directly to cancel
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Native American Ministries Sunday is May 1st |
Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS) is right around the corner. Are you prepared to educate your church about the importance of this Special Sunday and the many ways that donations to NAMS support vital ministries and churches in Native American communities?
The Upper New York (UNY) Communications Team with the help of the UNY Committee on Native American Ministries have prepared a list of resources for you that will help you promote NAMS.
Click here for the article that provides links to dozens of resources from Discipleship Ministries and more and also shares an example of how donations on NAMS helped a Native American church right in our UNY Conference.
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Trauma Evident in Ukrainian Refugees |
Many Methodist women and men in various countries prove to be wide-hearted and helpful. However, the longer people in Ukraine have to live with the war, the more psychological support will be required.
Click here to read a summary of the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe’s efforts to support Ukrainian refugees.
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Previous Information and Events |
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AVOCA UMC
Pancake Breakfast
WHEN: Sunday, April 10, 2022
WHERE: 8593 Jacob's Ladder Rd., Avoca, NY 14809
(Corner of Jacob's Ladder Rd. & State Rte. 415, one mile north of village of Avoca)
TIME: 8:00-10:00 am
MENU: Buffet Serving: Buttermilk Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries, Applesauce, Juice, Coffee, Tea
COST: Free Will Offering
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Transitional Intentional Interim Specialist Training at Casowasco
Transitional Intentional Interim Specialist Training (TIIMS) is designed to help pastors and congregations deal with the stresses of our culture in this time of uncertainty. While this training is specifically designed for those entering an interim situation (death of pastor, long pastorate, pastor leaving ministry, etc.), the training will help you deal with the everyday struggles you will find in any ministry setting.
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The Conference has a new job opening for a part-time District Administrative Assistant for Finger Lakes District. If you are interested or have any referrals for this position, please apply online through our website.
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Reminder: Sexual Harassment Training Is 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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Grants Available for Projects
It is the desire of the UNY Conference United Women in Faith (formerly UMW) to offer grants to non-profit community and faith-based organizations that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and address the needs of women, children and youth within the boundaries of our conference.
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Giving Opportunity in Response to the War in Ukraineservices
Individuals can give directly to the Ukrainian people through local church offerings by writing a check to the Upper New York Conference with Advance #14053A in the memo line of the checks. These checks can either be placed in an offering plate or sent directly to the Conference office at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY 13088.
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NYS HERO Act Update
On March 18, 2022, the NYS Department of Labor updated its NY HERO Act website
Any questions about the NYS HERO Act obligations can be addressed to Upper New York Conference Director of Human Resources/Benefits, Susan Latessa at susanlatessa@unyumc.org or 315-898-2002.
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Other Learning Opportunities |
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Check out the courses being offered by ALL the Districts in the UNYAC. Click here to see what courses are being offered.
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"DID YOU KNOW...
We are EMBARKING ON our Aldersgate Men’s Retreat
20th Anniversary
APRIL 29-30"
Register today ASAP & bring someone in need of Jesus in their lives!!
Click here for the flyer and registration information
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Two Trainings Being Offered for all churches in the Southern Tier Region: Mountain View, Cornerstone, Binghamton, and Oneonta
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SPRC Training for all SPRC members Tuesday April 26th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to be presented by Superintendents Nancy Adams, Jeff McDowell, and Suzanne Block. raining to be held Via ZOOM.
2.Trustee Training for all trustees Thursday April 28th from 6:30-
8:00 p.m. to be presented by Superintendents Nancy Adams, Jeff
McDowell, and Suzanne Block. Training to be held Via ZOOM.
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Tending the Soul 2022-2024 A Two-year Training Program for Lay and Clergy
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Stewardship Academy with Rev. Susan Ranous
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Upper NY LPLS (local pastors licensing school)
click the link below to read more and to register:
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The “Connect with Us” Academy for Continuing Education 2022 Course Schedule including
A Course Series: Refreshing My Preaching Ministry
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Presentation About Methodist Circuit Riders by Rev. Dr. Greg VanDussen From His Book Circuit Riders on the Road to Glory
For more information
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Lay Servant Courses Offered Around the Conference
Click here to find out when, where and how you can sign up for a lay servant course that you need or are interested in taking. This link connects you to all the Districts in UNY Conference that are offering courses. Just click and start exploring your options!
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For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks
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Media Resource Center
Media Resource Center
315-898-2027
7481 Henry Clay Blvd.
Liverpool, NY 13088
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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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https://www.unyumc.org/resources/mission-insite |
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MOUNTAIN VIEW DISTRICT OFFICE
35 Wilkes Ave. (Physical location)
PO Box 706 (Mailing Address)
Bath, NY 14810
607-962-8047
Office Is Open
Mon.-Thurs.
In Person by APPOINTMENT ONLY
District Superintendent: Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell
District Associate: Pastor Mike Kelly
District Lay Leader: Ann Welch Wood
District Administrative Assistant: Patti Gridley
If the office is closed and you have an emergency please call 315-898-2077 and leave a message or email the DS at jeffmcdowell@unyumc.org
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