Letter from Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb

1 Letter from Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb 2 3 Dear sisters and brothers of the Upper New York Area, 4 5 Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Christ! 6 7 Despite our best efforts and intentions to gather in-person for the 2022 Annual Conference session, we 8 find it necessary to again meet in a virtual format. We continue to journey through unprecedented and 9 uncertain days that invite us to live out our faith with and among one another and the world. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 As we gather, we will have the opportunity to acknowledge the many ways God is at work in our individual lives, our life as the body of Christ and in the life of the world among us, despite the challenges we have and will face. In a fresh way, we will proclaim our identity as followers of Jesus Christ and renew our commitment to the mission of partnering with God “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”.

17 18 19 20 21 22 The 2022 Annual Conference session will be filled with times of worship, study, fellowship, and, of course, some important times of discernment, conversation, and decision. These are uncertain days within the life of The United Methodist Church and the time we will spend in holy conferencing will allow us to embrace who we are in relation to God, one another, and the world around us, as we fully understand the awesome privilege and responsibility we have to boldly be the Church in the 21st century!

23 24 25 26 27 Our theme this year is It is Well: Keeping Hope Alive. Through all we do during our time together, we will be guided by the truth and promise that we have been invited and fully equipped by God to accept and share in a fresh, bold way the unending faithfulness and transforming work of God’s amazing grace in our lives and in the lives of others.

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 We will be blessed to have the Rev. Dr. Kimberly Reisman, executive director of World Methodist Evangelism, (a ministry that brings the global Methodist/Wesleyan family of Christians together around the work of multiplying witnesses for Jesus Christ), as our virtual study leader. The Rev. Rhonda Kouterick will be the preacher for our annual Memorial Service.

As a part of our worship throughout our time together, we will create opportunities to offer our financial gifts to undergird some very exciting ministries. We will receive offerings that will support our “Clergy Care Fund” (financial assistance for clergy and families), our “Helping Hands Fund” (financial assistance for laity of our congregations), the NEJ Mission of Peace, New Faith Community Development, and the UNY Mission Central HUB.

We will engage in holy conversation, as we see one another, and share our hopes for the ways God will lead us into future ministry and mission. The pages in this volume of the Journal will prepare you to engage fully in all that we will consider when we gather. I hope you will take the time to read each report and every page. I urge you to surround your reading, preparation, and consideration in prayer.

I am grateful to be a part of this place called Upper New York, and to share the journey of ministry with each of you. God is accomplishing amazing things in us and through us and for everything God has called

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us to in the days ahead, God has promised all that we need! I know we are ready to allow God to use us in ways we have not yet dreamed or imagined. So, come prepared for an amazing experience of faith, 3 community, and celebration! 4 5 I look forward to greeting you, worshipping with you, and watching what God will do as we step boldly 6 into God’s promises. 7 8 You remain in my prayers. 9

10 11 Bishop Mark J. Webb