May 26th, 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 12 Noon for Thursday publication, to: Oneontadistrict@unyumc.org
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The District Office is open by appointment only.
Please Call ahead to make an appointment.
Office hours vary Mon. – Fri.
the office is CLOSED Saturday - Sunday
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Teresa will be away from the district office emails and phone messages from Fri. May 27th through Sunday June 5th and will be returning on Monday June 6th. We will respond to your messages at our earliest convenience.
Thank you for your patience~Teresa
If you have an emergency that requires a need to contact the District Superintendent, Rev. Nancy Adams, please call (607) 372-5407 or email: nancyadams@unyumc.org
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Welcome! to our New Pastors
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·Howard (Russ) Underwood as a full-time local pastor to Worcester UMC and Richmondville UMC effective April 6, 2022
- Ejaz Abid Parttime Local Pastor to Sherburne UMC - Effective July 1, 2022
Well Wishes! to Pastors who are leaving
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Dana Horrell - Retiring from Cooperstown UMC - Effective July 1, 2022
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From the Desk of Bishop Webb: Texas school shooting
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, sent a note to the Upper New York Conference on May 25 as a response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24.
He asked for prayers for the families and victims, for the parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles, who had their precious loved ones, their children, violently taken away from them. He asked for prayers for the families of the teachers murdered and healing prayers for those injured and in critical condition.
Bishop Webb also stated how our society and systems must change. He asked for everyone to call out injustice and sin by showing people another way – the way of following Jesus.
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United Methodist Church Bishops call for action to stop mass shootings
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church President, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, today urged clergy and laity to go on offense to stop mass shootings like the one that killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas.
Click here to read Bishop Bickerton’s full statement.
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A statement and call to action from the Conference Commission on Religion & Race
As we continue to process the racially motivated mass shooting that took place in Buffalo on May 14, the Upper New York Commission on Religion & Race has released a statement, asking for continued prayers and sharing ways in which you can help put an end to systemic racism.
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Justice in Israel–Palestine: Travel for Awareness through the Gary Bergh Scholarship
The Gary Bergh Scholarship is offered especially to youth and young adults for travel to Palestine-Israel to witness the need and hear possible solutions toward justice, peace, and security for ALL in the Holy Land. This scholarship, a Conference Advance Special, (#932) is offered by the UNY Task Force on Peace w/ Justice in Palestine/ Israel (co-chaired by Linda Bergh: 315-492-8507 and Karen Peterson: 607-739-3141). It has enabled young adults and clergy to join “justice-seeking” delegations almost yearly since 2010.
This year, the UNY Task Force is offering two or three sizable scholarships to enable young adults to see for themselves the effects of Israel's military occupation of Palestinian lands (the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,) the demolition of Palestinian homes and mistreatment of Palestinian children.
Click here to learn more about the scholarship and to read eye-witness accounts of UNY travelers to Palestine.
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Bishops have authority to call jurisdictional conferences in 2022, top court says
The Council of Bishops (COB) is expressing its appreciation following the Judicial Council’s ruling on May 20 that the COB is authorized to set the date of regular jurisdictional conferences for the election and assignment of new bishops for the limited purpose of effectuating the continuance of the episcopacy in The United Methodist Church.
The Northeastern jurisdictional conference is scheduled for Nov. 2022.
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Announcement:
Laity Gatherings with Bishop Webb
have been Canceled
Earlier this month, it was announced that Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, would be hosting regional gatherings for laity throughout the Upper New York Conference.
Unfortunately, due to continuing high rates of COVID throughout the Conference, these gatherings have been canceled.
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Are you looking for a fun activity to help folks in need?
Mission Central HUB at the Conference center is looking for donations you can collect in your community and also for volunteers to come into the HUB for various projects.
What do we do here you ask? We help folks in need when a natural disaster strikes their community. The HUB helps train and coordinate ERT (early response teams) and collects UMCOR supplies and kits. Mission Central HUB donates the supplies to organizations (Red Cross, fire departments, churches) in communities affected by a natural disaster. These items are often used by ERT as well. We not only help locally, but nation wide. Many UMCOR kits we receive are delivered to the Mission Central HUB in Mechanicsburg, PA. then distributed to folks in need. Or sometimes to Sager Brown, LA. Our main warehouse...nothing goes to waste! All is needed. Items not UMCOR approved are donated to local non-profits. Without you the HUB would not exist.
Projects for volunteers are but not limited to:
· Verification of UMCOR approved supplies
· Preparing for shipment
· Counting of supplies
· General needs that might arise in the HUB.
Please consider volunteering at Mission Central HUB! The need is now and everyday. Large groups, small groups, folks of all ages welcome even if just a few people are a big help. Contact Marybeth Ingalls at the Upper NY Mission Central HUB. She will be happy to set up a time for you or your group to volunteer for a few hours.
Please follow us on Face book. For more information visit our website.
Upper New York Conference
Mission Volunteer Coordinator
7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
1-315-898-2064
1-315-372-0285
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Explore Volunteers-in-Mission opportunities
Volunteers-in-Mission (VIM) is one way United Methodists offer their skills and talents for Christian Service at home or abroad on short-term assignments in areas affected by disasters and hardships. A missionary movement of the United Methodist Church, VIM sends short term volunteer teams into areas of need to work on construction and spiritual formation projects.
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Local District News & Happenings |
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Events happening at Richmondville and Worcester UMCs
Drop Bible Study : This is a God lead Bible Study, Each week we have someone stand their bible on the bound edge and let it open up. .
Where the bible falls open we read the passage and then talk about what God is saying to each of us. Being lead by the Spirit of God.
Richmondville UMC meets every Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall at 10.00am. Come join us
Worcester UMC meets every Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall at 6.00pm.Come join us
Richmondville Days -June 3-5th Parade on Saturday The United Methodist Church we be the Grand Marshalls or the parade celebrating over 200 years in the community the theme is" Rising Above"
During during this event there will be a display of our history at the church along with a Bake Sale on Saturday.
Sunday we will be hosting a Joint Community Church Service @ 11.30 am
Worcester UMC will be having a Car Wash to support our Sunday School starting at 11.00am on Saturday May 28th.
Worcester UMC will be having a Brooks Bar-B Que on Monday May 30th from 11.00am -1.00pm or sold out
For more information on events call Pastor H.(Russ) Underwood at 607-397-9340.
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First United Methodist Church of Oneonta, NY (FUMC) has a part-time Treasurer position open immediately: The 15-16 hour /week Treasurer position requires a business background with proficiency in Excel and Quickbooks.
Full job description can be obtained by contacting FUMC: 66 Chestnut St., 607-432-4102 or secretary@firstumc-oneonta.org. Application is available on the website https://www.firstumc-oneonta.org/
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Join The Mosaic for a mission trip this summer! |
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The Schoharie Mosaic Cooperative Ministry is gearing up for another fantastic mission trip this summer. We are heading to Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, Maine for the week of August 15-20, 2022. Mechuwana has a well organized workcamp program where teams of volunteers come and get paired with work projects in the community. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, regardless of experience or skill. Scholarships will be available to cover the costs. Please prayerfully consider if this is an opportunity to put your faith into action helping those in need. To learn more about Camp Mechuwana visit their website at http://www.mechuwana.org.
We are enthusiastic about coming together for the purpose of ministry and mission in Christ!
Please sign up if you already know you are going AND share this trip with interested folks in your congregations and communities so we can continue with our planning strategy.
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Project Grants for Faith-Based Organizations
The Upper New York Conference United Women in Faith (formerly UMW) is offering Project Grants. Help spread the word to those who may benefit from this grant money. Grants are open 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 UNY conference.
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Training & Education Opportunities |
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Tending to your soul so you can tend to others’ souls
Are you feeling an inkling to become closer to God? Do you feel like your life is like a hamster wheel or are you riddled with anxiety and yearn to feel God’s love deep in your soul? Or do you feel a draw to help others feel God’s presence whether it be friends, family, your congregation, or people in your workplace or community?
If any of these questions apply to you, then you should highly consider attending the Tending the Soul program training in spiritual direction.
This powerful training is available to clergy and laity, whether you are Methodist or not—it takes place over two years, consisting of six four-day retreats. The next training begins Nov. 14, 2022.
Click here for a glimpse of the most recent training that was completed last week and the lives that were transformed.
If you have any questions or are ready to register for the next program, contact Rev. Nancy Dibelius at nancyd@unyumc.org.
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Click here for a list of upcoming Safe Sanctuaries Courses.
Registration is open one month prior to each class.
For more information on Safe Sanctuaries, and on background checks, click here.
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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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Online Summer Courses
Dear Local Pastors
Please register for ALPS-MTH "fully online summer courses" by May 30.The website is www.alpsumc.org (click on the Schedule 2022 tab at the top of the web page and scroll down for the list of SUMMER 2022 courses) Click on the registration tab at the top of the page to register. This is a great time to finish one or two more courses --fully online.
Email a copy of your registration form to Pam and mail your registration check NOW -- so Pam can quickly add you to the summer course list .--while your registration form is processed through the Conference Office. Thank you.
SUMMER 2022 COURSES - FULLY ONLINE
June 17-18 and July 8-9, 2022
COS 122 (formerly 112) Theology I Rev. Dr. Phil Jamieson
COS 124 Transformative Leadership (do not take 124 if you took COS 113) Rev. Dr. Robert Brown
July 15-16 and August 5-6, 2022
COS 221 (formerly 211) Bible II: Torah & Israel’s History Rev. Dr. Russ Sisson
July 29-30 and August 12-13, 2022
COS 223 (formerly 413) Worship and Sacraments Rev. Dr. Ken Ramsey
COS 422 (formerly 412) Theological Heritage IV: Wesleyan Movement Rev. Dr. Jason Vickers
UPDATE ON FALL 2022 COURSES:
In late June, ALPS-MTH will email you additional information about FALL 2022 Hybrid courses, options on course locations, and other format information. Please check your email regularly in June (and your spam folder). Based on GBHEM policy - All Extension and Regional Schools must return to a Hybrid --one weekend residential and one weekend zoom class session format for all courses that begin after August 31.
Go ahead and register now for the ALPS-MTH fall 2022 courses that you want and need to take. We will work on the location arrangements with you in late June and July. If you are located at a great distance from the scheduled course location and cannot make it to the location for the one weekend, contact Barbara bnye34@gmail.com Since you will only attend a course in residence one weekend, the location may not be a problem for you. Students will make their own hotel and meal and snack arrangements for all courses.
If there is a renewed Covid surge nationally or in states or locales in the fall or a local campus/course location issues a local health advisory, the course format could change OR the GBHEM policy requiring hybrid courses with a residential weekend could change. We cannot predict the fall conditions now.
The best thing to do is register for the fall courses NOW--so that we have your course registration with your home address, email, and cell phone information-- so we can make the best course plans possible at this time.
This is a time of transition. Please be flexible. We will get through this transition. Local pastors have done an amazing job working throughout the pandemic with their churches while attending COS Courses. The ALPS-MTH faculty and staff have done an amazing job converting courses to online and now will transition to Hybrid courses. Then, they may have to make last minute changes in format again-- if local health conditions change again. The fall may be challenging for all of us in some ways, but we will get through it. Thank you for your continuing support.
I hope that your ministry is going well. We continue to pray for those who have experienced loss and grief during the pandemic from Covid-19 and from other health/mental health concerns and family crises. We pray for the Church as God continues his work and allows our participation, and we pray for the world so in need of God's love, healing, and reconciliation.
In Christ,
Barbara and Pam,
Dr. Barbara Nye, Director
Ms. Pam Whitmore, Registrar
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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) |
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Sky Lake 75th Anniversary celebration
Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center is having a birthday party! You're invited to celebrate Sky Lake’s 75th anniversary on Saturday, June 11th. Activities begin at 11 a.m. and include nature hikes, craft projects, wagon rides, and a bounce-house. Food will be available for purchase from Pinkies BBQ food truck and from the Sky Lake bake sale (pre-order encouraged).
You’ll also have the opportunity to support Sky Lake by visiting the silent auction, featuring donations from Sky Lake alumni and local businesses, and the camp store, stocked with limited edition 75th anniversary gear! The day will conclude with a celebration at 3:30 p.m. Clergy are encouraged to bring a stole and guitarists can bring their guitars (storage will be provided) to participate in closing worship.
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Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center celebrates 75 years
This year marks Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center’s 75th anniversary. They’re celebrating this occasion by posting a photo from the archives every day on Facebook throughout the year.
Click here to see photos of decades worth of fun and growth that has taken place at Sky Lake.
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How Camp & Retreat Ministries shape the lives of children and youth
The most recent issue of the Advocate focused on children and youth in the Upper New York (UNY) Conference; regarding this population, the summer camp experience at one of the UNY Camp & Retreat Centers is of important emphasis.
It is always fascinating to see the number of hands that are raised when a group of clergy women and men are asked if they received their call to ministry in a camp and retreat setting.
Click here to find the answer to this question in an eloquent article written by Matt Williams, the site Director for Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center.
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Camp and Retreat Ministry sites receive grant money
The Upper New York (UNY) Camp & Retreat Ministry (CRM) sites will be receiving a total of $118,000 in grant money to impact sustainability for each site and foundation board development.
Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center will be adding a new convection oven and ice machine to its kitchen. Matt Williams, Site Director at Sky Lake said, ““We began this year by joining an initiative of the Broome County Health to improve the long-term eating habits of our region. Receiving the funding from the Ministry Impact Grant for a new double convection oven and ice maker at Sky Lake certainly better equips us to serve healthier meal options to our campers, guests, and visitors for years to come!”
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The following job openings are posted on the Upper New York website...
1) Director of Missional Engagement for the HUB
2) Reservations Specialist for Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
3) Part-time year round Maintenance Assistant at Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center
4) Full-time seasonal Food Service Manager at Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center
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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NEW - Markers of a vital congregation
In Upper New York, we consider five factors as markers of a vital congregation.
Can you guess what they are?
Ten-year-old Savannah knows!
Click here to watch a fun video of her explaining these markers.
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New church trustees and SPRC resources
New materials and webinar recordings room April 26 and 28, 2022 were developed for churches in the Southern Tier Region, which consists of the Cornerstone, Mountain View, Binghamton, and Oneonta Districts. District Superintendents the Rev. Suzanne Block, the Rev. Dr. Jeff McDowell, and the Rev. Nancy Adams led the sessions.
One webinar was related to church trustees with included resources and the other webinar was related to staff-parish-relations committees with included resources.
Click here to watch these helpful recordings and access the useful resources.
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Peace with Justice Sunday: June 12th
Peace with Justice is a faithful expression of shalom in the Bible. It calls the church to strengthen its capacity to advocate publicly in communities and nations throughout the world. It aims to make shalom visible and active in people's lives and communities by setting people free from bondage. We will celebrate Peace with Justice as witnesses to God's demand for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world. Generally, Peace with Justice Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday after Pentecost and a special offering is collected. The offering is administered by the General Board of Church and Society and benefits peace with justice ministries in the Annual Conferences and around the world.
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Scriptural reflections for mental health
How many of the following symptoms have you ever personally encountered?
Depression… anxiety… inability to concentrate… mood changes… trouble relating to people… low energy… feeling hostile towards others… excessive worry… feeling unable to cope with stress… excessive drug or alcohol consumption…
Scripturally speaking, we are never invited to hide our mental hurts from God or from sharing in community. In fact, the scriptures cited in this article encourage us to recognize that which ails us and to share our burdens with God and community.
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Crash courses in youth ministry
New Youth Ministry eBooks designed with the Youth Worker in mind.
Each eBook is loaded with practical tips and basic wisdom that you can read today and put into practice tomorrow! If you are a part-time or no-time (amazing volunteer!) youth worker, these crash courses are especially for you. Click here to learn more and download for FREE
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Passing on the faith
The Rev. Carrie Wolfe, Deacon and Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, at Olean: Christ UMC contributed an article in our latest issue of the Advocate, which focused on children and youth ministries.
Rev. Wolfe’s article offers helpful tips for parents and guardians to assure that they pass on their faith to their children. Click here to read this informative, research-based and biblical article.
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Avoid pitfalls if you livestream
Regardless of the size of their congregations or the number of services they conduct, most churches have at least tried their hand at livestreaming within the past year.
Whether you have a full team and a line-item budget for your livestreaming programs or you have just one member with a smartphone, livestreaming comes with unique benefits and drawbacks.
Here are four pitfalls to avoid:
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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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Supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine
The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church is deeply troubled by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ominous implications it has for escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations. They join many Christian leaders and organizations worldwide in deploring the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, and they ardently pray for a redirection of military action toward diplomatic measures to resolve grievances.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the humanitarian relief arm of Global Ministries, is in communication with partners in the region and actively exploring the coordination of humanitarian response in Ukraine. You can support UMCOR’s international disaster response efforts by writing a check to the Upper New York Conference with either Advance #982450/Ukraine or UMCOR/Ukraine written in the memo line.
Send checks to UNYAC, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY 13088.
Click here to read more about this response from Roland Fernandes, the General Secretary of Global Ministries and UMCOR.
Other giving opportunities in response to the war in Ukraine
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.
The Ukraine UMC has created a crisis committee that will oversee all the global support that is coming in through UMCOR’s Advance #14053A “Eurasia In Mission Together - Ukraine and Moldova.” The money channeled through this Advance fund will go to the Ukraine UMC church account and decisions on how this will be used will be considered by the crisis committee, which includes pastors as well as lay leaders.
UMCOR also offers other opportunities for more specific giving to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. You can designate giving by stating it is for "Ukrainian Refugee support" to the following Advance numbers.
· Hungary In Mission Together (Advance # 00175A)
· Poland In Mission Together (Advance # 00408A)
· Romania In Mission Together (Advance #00211A)
· Slovakia In Mission Together (Advance # 00236A)
Donations for Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia should be mailed directly to UMCOR Mission Together Advances at 458 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.
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Holy Land Trip 2023
The clergy team of Syracuse United Methodist Ministries (Revs. Andy Anderson, B.J. Norrix, Jee Hae Song, and Alicia Wood) invite you to join them on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Feb. 14 – Feb. 24, 2023.
You will explore, learn, and fellowship as you visit Caesarea, the Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Samaria, Jacob's Well, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and much more. The cost of the trip starts at $3,448, leaving from JFK, New York. There is also an option to extend your trip through Jordan for an additional cost.
You are encouraged to register immediately with only $100. Register by April 14 ($125 off), May 14 ($100 off), June 14 ($75 off), July 14 ($50 off), August 14 ($25 off). Brochures with more details and registration forms are available. Please contact Pastors B.J.: bjnorrix@gmail.com, 315-726-2815 (cell); Andy: andmcand@hotmail.com, 917-723-0901 (cell); Alicia: pastoraliciawood@gmail.com, 315-450-1632 (cell); or Jee Hae: jeehaesong611@gmail.com, 404-825-8025 (cell), for a brochure, online registration link, if you have any questions, or need more information.
There will also be an informational session on May 3 at Erwin First United Methodist Church that you can attend in-person or via Zoom.
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The UNYAC Media Resource Center is operating on a limited basis for Resource orders. We have a small committee who are dedicating their time and talents to help maintain this valuable resource. We need your help! Click here to read about our changes and how you can help us help you.
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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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Mask mandate guidelines
At this stage of the pandemic, the impact of COVID across the Conference varies by county. To determine how your church can continue to keep participants safe, please consult the CDC website for recommendations.
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2022 Annual Conference has been postponed until Oct. 6-8 and will now be virtual
This news item was released April 21 by the Upper New York Conference office.
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.
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.
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.
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Nominations for 2022 Denman recipients
being accepted through July 1, 2022
The Denman award honors United Methodists in each Conference whose exceptional evangelism brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Each year, Annual Conferences join the Foundation for Evangelism in recognizing one youth, one clergy member, and one lay person in each Conference.
The 2021 recipients in the Upper New York Conference were Pastor Della Ludwig (clergy) and Pastor Sean Chanthasone (clergy). The 2020 recipients were Nolan Carner (youth), Rick Fisher, Jr. (laity), and Pastor Jose Rodriguez (clergy).
The deadline for submitting your 2022 nominations to the Conference has been extended to July 15, 2022.
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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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NYS HERO Act
On March 18, 2022, the NYS Department of Labor updated its NY HERO Act website to confirm the designation of COVID-19 as an airborne infectious disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health under the HERO Act ended. Private sector employers are no longer required to implement their workforce safety plans. No more health screens!
While this is great news, there are other obligations the NY HERO Act (NY Labor Law Section 218-b) that remain even when no designation is in effect. These obligations include creating an airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plan, giving a copy of the plan to employees within 30 days after its creation, giving a copy of the plan to any new employees when they are hired, posting the plan in each work site so employees can view it, and updating the plan as necessary.
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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Don't Wait, Get Your Federal Tax Exemption Letter!
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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 tracyrickett@unyumc.org
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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 Calendar
May 1 - 31: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May 30: Memorial Day - Conference Center and District Offices are closed
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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: info@unyumc.org 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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Attention Please- Oneonta District Office UMC Mailing address - until further notice:
Please mail all (snail mail) correspondence to the following Address:
Oneonta District Office UMC
C/O Teresa Wood
28 Orchard St.
Oneonta, NY 13820
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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
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(Physical address) Oneonta District Office 64 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY 13820
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