Upper New York: June-July 2014 Advocate

ADVOCATE Upper New York

A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church

CESS !

KING SUC C A P L A E M PAGE 32-33

JUNE/JULY 2014

Table of contents 8

Volume 6, Issue 6

JUST A GLIMPSE AC 14 session attendees were treated to a glimpse of the front page of the new Conference website. Expected to launch this fall, it will be a vast improvement to the current site, according to Communications Director Stephen J. Hustedt.

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ON THE EDGE In his message to 12 new clergy during the Service of Commissioning and Ordination, Bishop Mark J. Webb relayed the connection between the excitement of standing on a pool’s edge – the anticipation before jumping in – and the excitement of experiencing “all that God offers.”

27

THE SAINTS’ IMPACT Although she may not know everyone being remembered during the Memorial Service, guest preacher the Rev. Dr. Cathy Hall Stengel said she is a “different person because of your loved ones – the words, ministry and stories shared about some of our beloved saints.”

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A CONTINUING JOURNEY Members of the Conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) helped prepare the Conference on its journey toward the Act of Repentance and Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons, which will take place at the 2015 Annual Conference session.

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EXCEEDING THE GOAL In the first hands-on mission project at Annual Conference in Upper New York, members exceeded the goal of packaging 75,000 meals for the hungry around the world; 76,040 meals were prepared in less than three hours on Friday, May 30.

(FROM THE COVER)

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IN PICTURES Relive moments of the 2014 Annual Conference session through six pages of photos. From the fire drill – the second consecutive year – to the exurberant faces of new clergy, our camera caught all the action.

6

Leadership Report

19

Retirees honored

9

Work continues to find new Conference space

20

Bradley, Doran win awards

15

Register now for the 2014 Bishop’s Retreat

25

Bishop Lowry leads Friday, Saturday Bible studies

Photos: Most of the AC 14 photos that appear in this issue were taken by Matthew Williams, Program Director at the Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center in Windsor. Upper New York extends its gratitude to him for his time and talents in his volunteer capacity.

2 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

A dose of

inspiration

By Edwin Jaqua When I started as a temporary pastor at Beaver Dams United Methodist Church, I saw a church that had a loving spirit, but was struggling.

They were shocked at the sudden passing away of their pastor only a few weeks before. Their spiritual life was stagnant. Several of the members said they really needed revival.

I suggested ... a Bible study.

We started the Fresh Encounter study (Blackaby Ministries) in March with about 10 people. We watched the videos, did the homework, and discussed the questions in the workbook. We shared some of our personal stories and our reactions to the material. As we got into the study, people really got excited about it. We had some spirited discussions.

Shortly after, the church put on one of its church suppers. Almost the entire congregation turned out to help! There were almost more people serving the meal than eating it. Our church was fired up!

The church leaders reviewed the results of the Bible study and were as delighted with the results as I was. ...

Now, they’re enthusiastically meeting and studying together. ... God has given them the revival they’d been praying for.

Edwin Jaqua is a lay supply pastor who served Beaver Dams UMC from December 2012 to August 2013. He currently serves Stannards UMC and Whitesville UMC in the Mountain View District. Read the full text at www. unyumc.org/news/detail/1954.

This is an excerpt from a story that appeared in the E-Advocate, Upper New York’s weekly email newsletter, as part of our Featured Church series; the full version is available online. To get these stories – and all the latest Conference news – right in your inbox, subscribe to the E-Advocate (it’s free) by visiting the Conference website at http://www.unyumc. org/pages/detail/2083.

From the desk of Bishop Mark J.Webb

God is up to something

‘‘W

e always thank God for all of you when we mention you constantly in our prayers. This is because we remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God. Brothers and sisters, you are loved by God, and we know that God has chosen you.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4) Those words from the Apostle Paul to the Church at Thessalonica perfectly express all that is in my mind, heart and spirit as I think about the people of the Upper New York Conference and cherish the time we spent together in “holy conferencing.”

We sometimes use expressions that can seem trite or through repetition to have lost their power, but a saying that I have shared often with you and throughout this Upper New York Area is one that I deeply believe: “God is up to something!” It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives together, reminding us of whose we are and to what we have been called.

As I reflect upon our Annual

ADVOCATE STAFF Editor/Publisher: STEVE HUSTEDT

UNY Director of Communications

(315) 424-7878 x307 stevehustedt@unyumc.org

Conference session in Syracuse, joy fills my heart at the stories of ministry and mission being accomplished through your faithfulness. I am overwhelmed when I think about

[

Worship Team, Board of Ordained Ministry, Board of Laity, Volunteers from the Crossroads and other districts, and so many more people who blessed us richly, and for that we all

“I pray that I do not get in the way of all that God desires to do.”

what God is accomplishing – and will accomplish – as we continue to stay focused on our purpose and depend ONLY upon the power of God. Yes, we continue to face difficulties and struggles. There are realities in our life together that require our intentional attention – BUT God is at work! God is most certainly up to something in the life of the Upper New York Conference. I pray that I do not get in the way of all that God desires to do.

As I thank God for you, I am deeply appreciative of the work of so many who made our time in Syracuse rich. Our Conference staff, Committee on Sessions, Annual Conference

]

should be grateful.

So what shall we do now? What difference will our time together make? That depends on me and that depends on you. Let’s commit, together, to build upon our moments of holy conferencing and to stay steady with the commitments we made to and with one another. My prayer is that the way in which we allowed the Spirit of God to guide us in Syracuse will become our norm and our reality.

It may seem like only an expression, but I believe it with all my heart and claim it with all my being: Upper New York, God is up to something!

Let’s experience it fully!

FOLLOW BISHOP WEBB ON TWITTER

@BishopMarkWebb

Writer/Editor: BETH DICOCCO

Social Media/Web: ASHLEY VANSICKLE

(315) 424-7878 x319 bethdicocco@unyumc.org

(315) 424-7878 x320 ashleyvansickle@unyumc.org

Graphic Designer: CHRISTIAN VISCHI

E-Advocate: KAREN CAMPOLIETO

(315) 424-7878 x313 christianvischi@unyumc.org

(315) 424-7878 x304 karencampolieto@unyumc.org

Conference Writer/Editor

Communications Associate

Multimedia/Web Coordinator

Administrative Assistant to the Director

THE UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST ADVOCATE IS A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE UPPER NEW YORK CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, WHOSE MISSION IS TO BE GOD’S LOVE WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS IN ALL PLACES. MATERIALS IN THE ADVOCATE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED UNLESS THE ITEM IS ACCOMPANIED BY A COPYRIGHT NOTATION. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13210; USPS 14025. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 PER YEAR PAID IN ADVANCE TO 324 UNIVERSITY AVE., 3RD FLOOR, SYRACUSE, NY 13210; OR CALL (855) 424-7878; OR VISIT WWW.UNYUMC.ORG. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST ADVOCATE, 324 UNIVERSITY AVE., 3RD FLOOR, SYRACUSE, NY 13210. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR DECLINE ANY ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION.

unyumc.org 3

Members at the 2014 Annual Conference session in Syracuse packaged 76,040 meals for Stop Hunger Now, a non-profit organization that distributes the meals within the U.S. and around the world.

UNY’s packaged meals were part of a shipment of 285,120 meals to Haiti. Photo by Stephen J. Hustedt

4 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

The

Sp irit Hwasolypresent!

The Fifth Session of the Upper New York Conference, held May 29-31 at the OnCenter in Syracuse, was a time for worship, mission, celebration, transition, remembrances and business.

What follows is a roundup of the events and actions of the session.

You can find even more information and photos on our Conference website at: www.unyumc.org and our Facebook page at: facebook.com/uppernewyork

BY THE NUMBERS

Total attendees: 1,428 Clergy: 623 Laity: 767

(which includes 47 youth) Guests: 38 Additional attendees: Lay members on the worship

team: 7 Child care workers: 13 Conference staff: 27 Offerings total: $46,866.05 Stop Hunger Now meals: 76,040 Over the three days of Annual Conference, a total of 948 viewers from 21 states and seven foreign countries watched a cumulative 1,941 hours of the annual conference live stream.

Tentative dates for AC ‘15: May 27-30, 2015

unyumc.org 5

SESSION BUSINESS

Leadership report:

Moving from where we are to where we need to be

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

B

eing God’s Church at any time “is challenging,” said the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding. The Conference Director of Connectional Ministries was speaking as a quasi-moderator during the Conference Leadership Report.

The Leadership Report includes the Bishop’s Address, the Report of the Conference Lay Leader, and the Superintendents’ Report; although it does not contain action items, it is not included on the Consent Calendar.

“Peter, Paul and Mary didn’t have it easy back in first-century Palestine.

Wesley and the early Methodists struggled to revitalize the established Church and reach people on the margins in 18th-century England. Even the Church of the 1950s … had significant struggles,” Rev. GottschalkFielding said.

“Even today. The challenges may

christianvischi@unyumc.org be different, but they are real. We are an established, old-line denomination. We have been around for 200 years. The whole world has changed a whole lot over that time. … We have got to move from where we are to where we need to be. From who we are to who we need to be.

And that requires leaders. The good news is we have leaders. Can I get an ‘Amen’?”

Bishop’s Address When Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding asked Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb about his first days as the leader of the Conference, the bishop replied that he felt new for about 48 hours.

“I felt like a newcomer for two days, and that is because of all of you,” Bishop Webb said while gazing around the OnCenter. “The work that was done to form the Upper New York Annual Conference – by

the leadership, many of you, Bishop (Marcus) Matthews – was an unbelievable accomplishment. When I look at what came before Sept. 1, 2013, I marvel. The foundation was solid; but sometimes when you are so busy building something new, once that new thing is birthed there is a kind of almost this ‘Whew, got that done.’”

However, he said, he didn’t sense any loss of mission or purpose when he first arrived, but felt that “(we) could look at that in a fresh way, a new way, with renewed energy and passion.”

Part of his role is to foster the grieving process. “We were still grieving with what we left behind,” the bishop said about the convergence of four annual conferences into one.

“As great as this new thing is, there was still grief work that had to be done. There is still grief work that has to be done,” he said. But he is also cognizant that he should “not

Cornerstone District Superintendent Sherri Rood, the Rev. Richelle Goff, whose church – the Auburn UMC – is participating in the Hand to Plow process, and Jan Rothfuss, a member of the Conference Leadership Team, take part in presenting the joint leadership report. Photos by Matthew Williams 6 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

to allow us to stay stuck in it, or to use it as an excuse for not moving forward.”

One way to keep moving forward is to focus on the mission of the Conference. During his District Days, Conference members have “engaged in some marvelous conversations about that in these past two years,” Bishop Webb said.

He reiterated the four questions that were posed during those events: • What is a disciple of Jesus?

• What is a transformational leader?

• What is a vital congregation?

• What kind of environment do we need to create to grow disciples, transformational leaders and vital congregations?

“It has been a simple conversation, but it has led to very hard work,” he said.

Report of the Conference Lay Leader Conference Lay Leader Dr. Scott Johnson accompanied Bishop Webb

Johnson said. Local churches may be a priority, but “we know we are a part of a larger whole. We know that we make a difference together that cannot be made alone.”

The laity-clergy partnership is the third core value.

“Upper New York believes in laity and clergy as partners. Now Upper New York is at the forefront of this conversation in the denomination.

We didn’t invent this concept and we are not perfect at it. … but we know our success in mission is dependent on one another,” he said.

“We journey together, we honor the word of our Lord, (and) we listen to one another.

Superintendents’ Report Finger Lakes District Superintendent the Rev. Richard Barton, outgoing dean of the Cabinet, and Cornerstone District Superintendent the Rev. Sherri Rood, incoming dean, together presented how the district superintendents are tackling the task of equipping and deploying transforRev. Bouwens

Johnson

Rev. Barton

to some of the District Day events, and his takeaway was that “we’ve come far on our journey together.

So much good work has been done by individual disciples, local churches, and our Conference as a whole.”

There were three key lessons or core values learned during the District Day visits, Johnson said.

The first core value is the primacy of the local church. Mission happens at the local church.

“Through our faith communities we all grow closer to God by worshipping and studying together, (and doing missions). We do big things together,” Johnson said. “Our churches provide the opportunities and structures to be the hands and voice of Christ (so) those who don’t yet know Him will come to know Him.” The second core value is connectionalism.

“We believe in the connection,”

mational leaders.

Rev. Barton, who retired on June 30, 2014, said their task is to “provide oversight in churches with pastor and laity to resource the local church on behalf of the bishop.”

In order to provide necessary resources, the district superintendents have been listening to and developing ways to strengthen the leadership of both clergy and laity in the local church.

“We are continuing to look at ways to be in conversation with diverse groups around the Conference,” Rev. Barton said, such as rural and urban pastors, pastors of color, clergywomen, young clergy, and pastors of large membership churches.

Rev. Rood said the conversation has extended beyond the borders of the Conference. In addition to working closely with the Conference Leadership Team, the Conference

Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Committee on Native American Ministries among others, “this year, we partnered with the Board of Ordained Ministry to visit students and faculty at seminaries throughout the Northeast, and we will make these visits again in November,” she said.

To provide further resources for clergy, continuing education and development events – such as Emotional Intelligence Training, Tending the Fire, Tending the Soul and Mentoring for Effectiveness – will continue to be added to the Conference calendar.

For example, in September digital artist and author Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions will offer a series of workshops on creative worship (see page 47).

“Perhaps the most visible and impactful of all of our ongoing efforts appear in two ways,” Rev. Barton said, referring to revitalizing congregations and new faith communities as he introduced Conference Director of New Faith Communities the Rev. Dave Masland and the Rev. Aaron Bouwens, Director of Vital Congregations. “(They are) having a transforming effect in specific churches and across the whole Conference,” Rev. Barton said.

The Rev. Richelle Goff, pastor at the Auburn United Methodist Church, then talked about her church’s participation in the Hand to Plow process. Pastor Sonexay “Sean” Chanthasone discussed New Hope & Good News Ministry, a new faith community housed at Andrews Memorial UMC in North Syracuse.

In summation, Bishop Webb said, there are infinite possibilities before us.

“We do not have problems. We do not have a leadership problem.

We don’t have a program problem.

We have Holy Spirit possibilities.

There is a verse from Isaiah that we all know. … Isaiah 42:9 ‘Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things.’ We often stop there, but there is another sentence in that verse, and it is this: ‘Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.’ May we have ears to listen, hearts to trust, and spirits that are courageous and bold,” Bishop Webb said.

“God is up to something.” unyumc.org 7

SESSION BUSINESS

Speaker balance at AC 14 best since UNY’s creation O ne role of the Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) is to monitor and report the diversity in all interactions on the floor of the Annual Conference session. This year, the Commission on Religion & Race (CORR) and COSROW participated jointly in monitoring the diversity of speakers during the session.

Blenda Smith, CORR convener, issued a report on Friday and Saturday; COSROW member Tom Blake assisted in compiling those reports.

Smith said COSROW and CORR

were monitoring the balance of race, ethnicity, gender and clergy/laity of the speakers.

The plenary session on Thursday, May 29, was the best gender balance since the creation of the Upper New York Conference, Smith said; however, she said, “Male clergy did speak the most.” Female laity were the second most active as a group; male laity were the least active. There was a distinct lack of participation in the conversation by ethnic minority members, Smith said, “But the Opening Worship and Memorial Service

were clear efforts by the Conference to show diversity.”

“Two days in a row with equal gender representation, I think that is a pattern,” Smith said during the report on Friday’s plenary. “(Lay men) talked more, but they are lagging behind; that’s how it works out.”

There were two other “bright spots” to report, she said: although race and ethnicity still scored low, there were 10 people of ethnic diversity who spoke on Friday, “and there was improvement in youth and young adults representation.”

First glimpse of new website revealed

By Stephen J. Hustedt, Director of Communications stevehustedt@unyumc.org

T

he new Conference website is expected to launch in the fall, and will be a vast improvement to the current Conference website. Thanks in large part to the responses in the survey sent out earlier this year, the main goals of the new website are to tell the story of the ministry of the Upper New York Conference, to be user friendly, and to be visually appealing.

There will be many improved features to help in telling the story such as an updated feature slider, a new calendar, and a new focus on creating synergy with social media. There will also be entirely new elements such as a video feature, an attempt to directly connect people to local churches, and much more.

Usability of the new site will also greatly improve with new dropdown mega menus that get visitors to any main area of the website from the Hustedt from the front page, regularly updated quick links, and an improved search function. A preview of the new, more modern design accompanies this article.

This will be another great tool for telling our story, and there are many more tools in development. However, sharing our common mission in the 21st century takes more than just having the right tools. It takes being willing to learn how people listen in today’s world and being willing to change what we do as the world changes.

The world is hungry for our story, as both Christians and United Methodists, but we have to take it to them and tell it in a way they’ll hear it, just like Jesus taught us to do.

8 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

2015 Conference budget passes

W

ith no real debate the Annual Conference passed the 2015 ministry shares budget on Friday afternoon. The $10,340,438 budget represents a $16,657 increase over the 2014 spending plan.

Kevin Domanico, who members elected treasurer during Friday’s plenary, said 53 percent of the Conference’s budget is fixed costs.

In 2013, Upper New York churches paid 77.06 percent of their ministry shares; a figure Domanico said has been fairly consistent.

A proposed amendment to change the ministry share percentage from about 14 percent, as it is currently, to 10 percent of each church’s operating revenue (as reported on line 67 of the General Council on Finance & Administration Statistical Report) as of the 2016 budget was discussed, but ultimately not supported. Because it did not affect the 2015 budget, it was ruled out of order by Bishop Webb

until after the budget vote.

Fulfilling a promise the bishop made to youth members, the body tossed beach balls and the band

played Nothing is Impossible to celebrate the passing of the budget.

For full budget details, see pages 12-13 of the May Advocate or the website at www.unyumc.org/preconferencebooklet.

Trustees: Work continues on finding new Conference space

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

U

pper New York Conference Board of Trustees President Deborah Byers presented the trustees’ report during the morning plenary on May 30. Byers focused on three topics: church insurance, Conference financial assets and the proposed new Conference Center, which would house the Conference and Episcopal offices.

Church insurance Byers said first that she appreciated that many are deeply affected by paying for or needing to collect on churches’ insurance. The trustees are aware of frustration around the cost of the new plan, she said, and are working toward finding better insurance; however, she added, the trustees also are charged with “providing a safe environment for those doing the Lord’s work.” She urged people with questions and concerns to seek out accurate information from the trustees or Conference staff.

Assets Byers described as “incredibly

bethdicocco@unyumc.org complex” the task of determining the value of all of the named funds from the four former conferences. The trustees have been working to establish – through original and subsequent documentation – how donors’ intended the funds to be used and how much funding is available. She said the process is “very, very close now” to completion, and expects to know what funding is available before the end of 2014.

Conference Center Planning Dr. Wendy Deichmann, chair of the New Conference Task Force that formed about a year ago, discussed the work of the trustees on finding a new space for the Conference and Episcopal offices, which are now housed at University UMC in Syracuse.

When the Conference first formed and was seeking a site for the offices, Dr. Deichmann said, the trustees faced two challenges: a short timeframe and limited financial assets, as the assets of the former conferences had not be completely

liquidated.

She thanked the Rev. Craig French and University UMC for their “warm and wonderful hospitality,” and their work in reconfiguring the church space to accommodate Upper New York’s offices. Still, she said, the space is not adequate to the Conference’s current needs.

“The focus on ministry and mission must be clear, and uncompromised by the setting of the Conference Center,” Dr. Deichmann said.

Dr. Deichmann told members “Your trustees take ministry of finding a Conference Center location very seriously.”

Election of Trustees Those on the ballot had been appointed, and needed to be elected officially by the Annual Conference.

New York state law requires that the election of trustees serving religious organizations be done by written ballot.

Elected were: Class of 2016 – Travis Dann Class of 2017 – Ted Foss, The Rev. John Jackson, Diana Cordes, and Colleen Delcore unyumc.org 9

SESSION BUSINESS

Membership accepts discontinuance of 10 churches

I

n one of the somber moments of Annual Conference, the membership accepted the discontinuance or abandonment of 10 churches.

As the District Superintendents named the churches, they invited anyone who had been blessed by the ministry of these congregations to stand.

The discontinued or abandoned churches are: Albany District Community UMC at 1499 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands Binghamton District Berkshire UMC, 21 Coddington Road, Willseyville; closed Jan. 24, 2014 Willet UMC, 1423 Rte. 41 Cornerstone District Cottage UMC, 12737 Cottage Road, South Dayton; abandoned Sept. 19, 2013 Mountain View District Wellsburg UMC, 140 Front St.; closed Nov. 18, 2013 60

Lowman UMC, 1874 County Road

Northern Flow District Morristown UMC, 502 Gouveneur St.; abandoned Sept. 20, 2013 Parishville UMC, 1726 State Route 72; closed Oct. 6, 2013 Niagara Frontier Alden UMC, 13242 Broadway St. Oneonta District Burlington Flats UMC, 759 Gardner Road 10 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

Organizational motion stirs debate on rule approved during AC 13

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer prior to the closing motion by Just Conference Secretary the Rev. Jeff

Hodge, Bishop Mark J. Webb commended those gathered for a successful 2014 Annual Conference session, saying that the members made it completely through the agenda for a second year in a row.

An inauspicious start may have left some doubting that outcome.

Organizational Motion Following the bishop’s recommendation that all present embrace the Holy Conferencing Principles found in the Pre-Conference Booklet, the Rev. Hodge moved to approve the Organizational Motion. More than 30 minutes of debate ensued on the final item, Rule 17.

During the 2013 AC session, lay member Dan Fuller and the Rev. Craig French co-sponsored the addition of Rule 17, which required that all motions, resolutions and petitions that address human sexuality be taken by paper ballot. The measure was approved at that time, and Fuller said it was important to “ensure that all persons can vote their conscience without fear or angst.”

The Rev. John McNeill, pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Ithaca, requested to amend the Organizational Motion by deleting Rule 17.

“The words in (Bishop Webb’s opening, see page 22) sermon were inspiring,” Rev. McNeill said. “Having this rule in the Organizational Motion is a defeat to what you aspire us to be. … I encourage the body to reject this statement of defeat.” He said the body should not have “secret ballots.”

Fuller argued that the rule was approved “with a large margin last year,” and said he would like to see it stay. “It is there to protect folks from undue pressure from their colleagues,” he said.

“It does protect privacy and keeps us all civil.”

The Rev. Jeffrey Childs, pastor at the Penn Yan UMC, asked if the vote

christianvischi@unyumc.org on this amendment needed to be taken by paper ballot since “we don’t have any rules right now,” he suggested.

Bishop Webb said the vote would be taken by hand and voice. Following a lengthy debate the question was called, the amendment failed, and the Organizational Motion was approved.

Consent Calendar The Consent Calendar, inaugurated in 2013 by Bishop Webb, was an all-inclusive vote on the 39 reports from Conference bodies that contain no recommendations or action items.

They are “simply reports, celebrations of ministries,” said Bishop Webb.

In earlier discussion, the Rev. Elizabeth Mowry, retired, said she found Rule 15 of the Organizational Motion “rather interesting” – it was a listing of the “persons (who) will serve as the Secretarial Staff for this session.”

Rev. Mowry was concerned that only women were listed, but made no further comment or recommendation.

During her second time at the mic she requested the removal of the Lay Servant Ministries report from the Consent Calendar.

“There are a lot of issues surrounding that report,” she said.

The consent calendar was approved without the report.

Lay Servant Ministries report Items removed from the Consent Calendar are addressed at the end of the session’s other business.

On Saturday morning, Rev. Mowry said she’d had a meeting with Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries Carmen F.S. Vianese,

and was able to address her concerns prior to Vianese taking to the microphone to give the report.

Vianese began by reading her prepared material from the Pre-Conference Booklet.

Because of changes in the standards for Lay Servant Ministries, Vianese said, there was a “year of jubilee,” which ended this January.

“This provided an opportunity for folks to come back into the fold because we realized that changes (were difficult for some),” Vianese said.

The changes require accurate records and unfortunately there were “lay servants who felt that someone else was keeping track of their records for them,” she said. “… the loss of records by fire, floods, all kinds of things that happened” meant that although some may have taken the required courses, they were receiving letters indicating they were no longer certified.

She said the most important thing is to follow reporting requirements and maintain communication.

“If someone gets a letter that they are out of compliance, they need to go discuss with their district teams,” Vianese said. “If you move districts, make sure you take your records to your new place. … If you are a snow bird, make sure your certificate makes it home. … Even if you don’t take a course you still have to submit a report every year.”

Carmen F.S. Vianese unyumc.org 11

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

SESSION BUSINESS

Resolutions adopted

Rules don’t thwart environmental resolutions from passage

A

lthough the full 24 hours hadn’t elapsed, as the rules require, when the Annual Conference deliberated on two resolutions that were submitted from the floor by lay member Stephanie Henry, members agreed with the proposals and approved them.

Henry had distributed the text of the resolutions on Friday, but to even consider Henry’s recommendations during Saturday’s plenary Christine Doran, Chair of the Agenda Committee, had to make a motion to suspend Conference rules; that motion was approved.

Hydraulic Fracturing Henry’s first resolution requested: “… that a sub-committee be formed consisting of members from the Board of Trustees, Committee on Camp and Retreat Ministries, Conference Council on Finance and Administration, and Conference Leadership Team, and that this sub-committee shall bring to the 2015 Upper New York Annual Conference a recommendation regarding hydraulic fracturing on Conference-owned land.”

“It is becoming a greater issue in our area

and in this country. Natural gas is an important energy source for our country … (but) this is an important topic that our Conference needs to be talking about, and I think this body has the responsibility and the right to discuss this topic,” Henry said in her opening comments.

“We have the responsibility to protect this creation that God has granted to us.”

Youth member J.J. Warren, who is a recently elected co-chair of the Conference Council on Youth Ministries, asked why the sub-committee would only address hydraulic fracturing.

“Why not also talk about solar and wind power?” he said. No amendment was requested.

Katherine Dean, an equalization member from the Mohawk District, asked for clarification on “what is Conference-owned land?

There are a lot of churches that have a trust clause in their deed,” for land used by other organizations, she said.

Henry said the resolution would include “all property that the church is responsible for,” but added that “the subcommittee could come forward with that language in their report.”

The Rev. Michelle Bogue-Trost, pastor at the Central Endicott United Methodist Church,

Resolutions question validity of ¶101, ambiguity of ¶806.9

A

lthough the Committee on Petitions and Resolutions received nine submissions, only a pair of resolutions from the Rev. Steven Clunn made it to the floor of the session for debate and passage.

Among the others, two were directed to standing committees and one was returned to the submitter for revision, but that author “decided there was not enough time to do that,” according to Hudda Aswad, chair of the committee.

R2014.1 Constitutionality and Powers of ¶101 The first resolution addresses ¶101 of the Book of Discipline which he asserts “is violating our processes as a general church.”

The resolution states that because ¶101 “alters the ‘powers and duties’ of central conferences by naming previously adaptable sections of the Book of Discipline as now ‘not subject to adaptation’ … and (because it) was added to the 2012 Book of Discipline without any attempt to seek ‘the ratification of the amendment by the required two-thirds affirmative vote of the

12 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

aggregate number of members of the several annual conferences present and voting’” that this concern should be directed to the Judicial Council for “a declaratory decision as to the constitutionality and validity of ¶101 of the 2012 Book of Discipline and the powers it bestows on the Standing Committee on Central Conferences.”

Through his work in extension ministry, said Rev. Clunn, who serves on extension ministry as the Coalition Coordinator for the Methodist Federation for Social Action in Washington, D.C., an unofficial body of The United Methodist Church, he has been doing a lot of crosscultural work, both nationally and internationally, “and what I am hearing from folks across the board,” he said, is that the insertion of ¶101 “tries to usurp” the authority of central conferences.

Paragraph 101 states that the following parts and paragraphs are not subject to adaptation, except by action of the General Conference: Constitution, Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task, The Ministry of All Christians, and Social Principals Preface, Preamble and ¶¶160-166.

Lay member Ron Bretsch, who has served as a director of three General boards and as a General Board of Global Ministries missionary

made a motion to amend the resolution to add that one member of the sub-committee would come from the Conference’s Social Holiness Team. It was seconded and approved.

The Rev. Kimberly Ferrel, pastor at the Avon UMC, raised a point of order, asking that “if we do nothing with this, if we do not pass it,” would hydraulic fracturing on Conference lands be allowed if it is allowed by New York state law? In 2008, New York banned high-volume hydraulic fracturing in order to study the environmental effects of the process; the ban is still in effect.

Upper New York Bishop Mark J. Webb responded to Rev. Ferrel’s question saying: “That is above my pay grade. It is a good question, but I am not sure it is germane to this resolution.”

The resolution was then approved as amended.

Environmental Sustainability at Annual Conference Henry’s second resolution was centered around “stewardship of God’s creation.” The crux of her resolution cited the Book of Discipline’s in India, was concerned about the intent of the resolution.

“I am concerned that this is coming to us without knowing why this is coming to us,” Bretsch said. “I’d like to really hear what is prompting this move. … I don’t see the need why to burden the Judicial Council.”

The Rev. Patience Kisakye, pastor at Syracuse’s Bellevue Heights UMC, was standing “feeling tension within my soul” when she addressed the plenary.

“For the longest time the Book of Discipline has served the interests of the Church in the U.S. Recently, central conferences have sought (to be) in conversation with the global Church. … I am concerned that we barely have central conferences represented … ” The Rev. Matthew Stengel, pastor at the Greece UMC, said he believes the resolution is misstating ¶101.

“They are not usurping authority,” he said.

Pastor Douglas Mackey, who serves at the Rockefeller UMC in Syracuse, attempted to clarify the

¶160.2 which states that “water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings.”

She said she was really displeased when she saw the disposable utensils, plates and serving platters being used during meals at the session.

“I think we have a lot of growing potential to be better stewards of God’s creation,” she said. “And I thought this was a good place to start.

“The disposable platter might be cheaper, but we ought to put our money where our mouths are and pay a little more.”

She recommended “that at least one member of the Upper New York Annual Conference who is environmentally conscientious and knowledgeable about environmental sustainability be added to the Conference Session Committee with voice and vote.”

The Rev. Heather Stierheim, pastor at Massena’s First and Grace UMCs, agreed with the intent of

Henry’s resolution.

“I just wonder, if I recycle at home and I am conscientious of these at home, you kind of negate everything I am trying to do,” Rev. Stierheim said.

There are “people in our midst” that have this gift and could provide insight into better ways of doing Annual Conference environmentally, she said.

The Rev. Robert Dean, pastor at the Maine Federated Church, asked who qualifies as a “member of the Upper New York Annual Conference”?

“I think it is anyone who God has given such gifts,” Henry said.

Bishop Webb said that the Sessions Committee is appointed by the bishop, and has both lay and clergy members.

“I think no one would be excluded from being considered for this,” he said.

The resolution was adopted and just before Henry departed the microphone Bishop Webb offered her one bit of advice: “I might know a person who is knowledgeable (in this area) … stay by your phone, Stephanie.”

resolution.

“I think there is misunderstanding what it is about,” he said. “The vote to put ¶101 into the Book of Discipline was taken against the Book of Discipline. We are looking at the process of how it got in there in the first place.”

The Rev. James Pollard, retired, suggested that even if the Conference adopts the resolution, there is no guarantee that the Judicial Council will take up the case.

“The work (the request stated in the resolution) must pertain to the work of the Annual Conference … ,” he said, and if you look at decisions the council has made in the past “you will see that the Judicial Council looks strictly at that.”

The resolution was adopted with no further discussion.

or not United Methodist involvement in working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers would be considered a violation of ¶806.9. The resolution asks that Conference Secretary the Rev. Jeff Hodge submit the request for clarification to the General Secretaries of the General Council on Finance and Administration, the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Church and Society.

In addition, Rev. Clunn requests that their unedited responses will be posted on the Upper New York Conference website so that “we might become more educated and aware of how this paragraph impacts our ministries as congregations and a denomination.”

Rev. Clunn pointed out one minor revision that would change the third line of his first therefore section from “General Conference on Finance and Administration” to “General Council on Finance and Administration,” but no formal motion for an amendment was made.

The resolution was adopted.

R2014.2 Clarification and Recommendation on ¶806.9 The second resolution seeks clarification from three agencies on their views on what Rev. Clunn calls “the ambiguity” of ¶806.9, and whether

unyumc.org 13

SESSION BUSINESS

Varmints, pests liven Equitable Compensation discussion

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

E

ven though the Rev. Deborah O’Connor-Slater, pastor at the Delmar First UMC, was “in consultation with my cabinet here,” to get a recommendation crafted, the effort of the trio was not in vain.

A recommendation that Rev. O’Connor-Slater was seeking will ultimately go to the Equitable Compensation Team for its review and input prior to the 2015 Annual Conference session.

During the Rev. Wilson S. Jones’ report on the Commission on Equitable Compensation, which he chairs, there were several recommendations brought forward – many of which are the same as last year but need to be renewed annually.

Rev. O’Connor-Slater’s recommendation was not an amendment to a commission recommendation, but instead was related to her current housing situation. Preaching on the fly is one thing – Bishop Mark J. Webb joked, saying aren’t we supposed to be ready at all times – but drafting a motion at the microphone was a different animal all together, Rev. O’Connor-Slater’s confessed.

The Equitable Compensation Team will be tasked with bringing to the 2015 session some clarity on clergy-clergy couples and their housing allowance, specifically when a parsonage is occupied by a clergy couple serving different appointments, how shall the congregations served “share equitably and reasonably the costs and responsibilities of providing a parsonage” as currently stated in the Conference’s Clergy Housing Policy.

There was a second moment of humor when discussion focused on changes to the Clergy Housing Policy.

Under the parsonage section, one adopted change took the language from “ … the (structure) of the parsonage shall be carefully maintained to keep out the elements and uninvited var-

14 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

christianvischi@unyumc.org mints …” to “keep out the elements and uninvited pests ...”

“I didn’t realize the humor in that statement,” Rev. Jones said. “Maybe next year we need to better define what pests are.”

Later in the plenary, Conference Board of Trustees President Deborah Byers noted that when the Clergy Housing Policy was drafted years ago, “varmints” language was included as an “Easter egg” to those who read that far into the document, which drew laughter.

Adopted recommendations by the commission included: • Minimum Base Compensation of $35,000 for all full-time clergy persons (no change from 2014).

• Credential increment of 10 percent above the minimum base compensation for those in full connection ($3,500); 8 percent for provisional members ($2,800); 6 percent for associate members ($2,100); 4 percent for full-time local pastors who have completed Course of Study or their master’s of divinity ($1,400); and no increment above the base salary for full-time local pastor (no change from 2014).

• Years of service credit of $237 The Rev. Deborah O’Connor-Slater (right) and her “cabinet” – the Rev. Nancy Hale (center) and Byron Wilson – stand at the microphone to co-draft a resolution.

Photo by Matthew Williams

per year of service (up to 17 years) for clergy in full connection; $235 per year for provisional members; $234 per year for associate members; $233 per year for full-time local pastors who have completed Course of Study or their master’s of divinity; and $230 per year for full-time local pastor.

Rev. Jones said this formula will result in a financial burden to churches of no greater than $1,029 for 2015.

• Clergy will receive an additional $500 for each church beyond the first on the pastoral charge (no change from 2014).

• Two additions to the Time Off Policy are clarifications of what the the Book of Discipline details: Associate, provisional and members in full connection may request family leave through the Board of Ordained Ministry, and maternity or paternity leave – not to exceed one-fourth of a year – will be available to any local pastor, provisional member, associate member, or clergy member in full connection who requests it.

One recommendation about a designated amount within a pastor’s Accountable Reimbursement Plan for continuing education was withdrawn and will be going to committee review before coming back for the 2015 session.”

Pension and Health Benefits recommendations approved

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

T

he Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits (CBPHB) had offered four recommendations for Annual Conference approval. Although all four were approved, a few members raised concern prior to the approval of the Upper New York’s Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan Summary.

Lay Member Ron Bretsch and the Rev. Alan Kinney aired their concerns that a video shown during CBPHB’s report by Ron Coleman, a Conference Liaison with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBOPHB), included companies that were among those that resolution R-2013-2 “Aligning United Methodist Actions with our Words.” R-2013-2,

christianvischi@unyumc.org recommended by the Conference’s Social Holiness Team and approved at the 2013 Annual Conference session, requested the general board divest from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett Packard because of their involvement in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

Conference Benefits Officer Vicki Putney made available the written response of GBOPHB to Upper New York’s resolution R-2013-2 regarding divestment. Read the letter at http:// tinyurl.com/GBOPHB050914.

“The Conference Board of Pensions has recently adopted an investment policy,” Putney said. “The fund being created and available in January 2015, the Equities Social Values Plus

Fund, will be explored in light of the investment policies of the board.”

A motion to table the recommendations failed and the complete CBPHB report was approved.

The four recommendations included a Housing/Rental Allowance; the Past Service Annuity Rate for 2015 will be $600 per service year prior to 1982; the Comprehensive Funding Plan; and all Medicareeligible persons who are retired or on Medical Leave shall be enrolled in the OneExchange program for health insurance purposes. All fully-funded enrolled persons would receive $2,500 in a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) annually; all persons would receive an additional amount of $500 for 2015 to establish their HRA.

unyumc.org 15

2014 HONOREES

Bishop to Class of ‘14 clergy: ‘We are called to the edge’

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor bethdicocco@unyumc.org

T

he Upper New York Conference welcomed 12 new clergy, who were ordained or commissioned at a service on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Preaching was Bishop Mark J. Webb, who began with a memory from his youth: His excitement at the prospect of heading to the pool each summer. His favorite part, he said, was standing on the water’s edge in that moment of anticipation before jumping into the pool.

“You’ve been there, right?” he asked.

And The United Methodist Church is there – on the edge – right now he told the nearly 500 assembled.

“We in the Church stand on the edge. Before us is the possibility of experiencing all that God offers,” Bishop Webb said. “We stand on the edge looking at what our Church could be, seeing what God promises we will be.

We stand on the edge, knowing that God desires to use us to change the world – to introduce to those around us the transforming truth that they were created by a God who loves them unconditionally, a God who desires to be in relationship with them.”

The act of Commissioning and Ordination in the Church is first and foremost a reminder of our call to follow Jesus, he said, and it is a call to remember that “it is never about us – but always about God. God is the one who calls, equips and empowers.”

God is calling the Church, the bishop said, to move forward “to new things, new ways, new opportunities,” and to move from the edge into the pool; from the possibilities to the realities, from the potential to the fullness of all the water has to offer.

Bishop Webb told the story of his son Tyler’s reticence to jump into the pool as a child. Though his father promised to catch him, he resisted. Finally, Tyler did jump; and, as promised, he was caught. The next time he approached the pool’s edge, he did not hesitate to jump, the bishop said, “because he remembered that my promise to catch him was kept.”

He called the Church to remember the promise God made to us, and be unafraid to jump.

“As we look at these accounts of Scripture (Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29 and Matthew 3:13-17) ... I want us to see together what God calls us to remember, what God promises to offer – so that we may remember, and regain or reclaim our ability to trust this amazing call that God places in each of our lives,” Bishop Webb said.

“I believe that God gives to us the power and the resources to accomplish anything and everything he calls us to be and do,” he said.”Because of that truth there is no unreasonable task, there are no impossibilities.”

As he concluded he spoke to the candidates, saying:

16 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

“For those of you who are offering yourselves for commissioning and ordination today, you join a host of sisters and brothers before you who have responded and offered their lives to the ministry of being sent. Sent by God to offer the message of the Gospel. Sent by God to lead the Church in living out its mission. Sent by God to go deep into the world. But today, I hope you will remember that you are being sent by God to the edge. To fully live the purpose, totally dependent upon the power, open and ready for the fruit that will change our lives and change the world!”

“We are so very proud of you,” he said as members applauded. “We are delighted to share the journey that you have been on and the new chapter of that journey that begins today. ... We promise to pray for you, to support you, to hold you accountable and to be held accountable by you.”

For the complete text of Bishop Webb’s sermon, visit http://tinyurl.com/OnTheEdge053114.

Ordained for the Work of a Deacon

in a Deacon e Cardof Ordained AnnWork riciathe Patfor Binghamton

Family: Husband, Mark; children: son Joshua and daughter Briana, married to Nathaniel; three grandchildren: Gabriel, Genevieve, and Nolan Current appointment: The George F. Johnson Dream Center, Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial UMC Master’s in Christian Leadership: (In Progress) Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky., in progress Statement: “... The first step in my call was to found the George F. Johnson Dream Center as a model of what can happen when the discernment process is the basis of ministry. The Dream Center continues the Johnson legacy of empowering others to make their lives better. My childhood, marred by a great deal of loss through tragedy, spurred a life-long interest in resiliency and a hope to light this spark in the lives of others. The Dream Center does this through a holistic framework, teaching others to find and live the dream God dreamed for them when they were created. ...”

Commissioned for the Work of an Elder ch Matthew Fren Bergen

Family: Wife, Angie; children: Eli and Abby Current appointment: Bergen United Methodist Church MDiv: 2010, Northeastern Seminary, Rochester Statement: “I have been blessed to live out all of my years in fulltime ministry at United Methodist churches. In addition to the call that God has placed on my life for pastoral ministry, this vocation is also a specific response to God’s grace. My life has been so blessed as a result of the people of The United Methodist Church I needed to respond to that love by investing into others through our Church as well. ... I am eager to see how the Lord will use us all together to address the many challenges that are before us.”

orse

Rachel Ann M Homer

Family: Husband, Daniel Morse Current appointment: First United Methodist Church in Homer MDiv: 2010, Union Theological Seminary, New York City Statement: “My first appointment ... was to a church that had been burned down by arsonists. ... When I moved to this community that had been traumatized ... I discovered that God was still calling me, even through a dark and confusing time. I believe that in the next 20 or 30 years, our society will undergo such dramatic change that the way we live our lives will be significantly different. We’ve passed the tipping point of economic inequality and environmental degradation. ... I want to be a leader who speaks and shows the words of the prophets: Do not be afraid.

God is with us.”

dley Susan Kaa y Ha Cassadag

Family: Husband, Timothy Hadley; children: Shawn Hadley, Jodi Hadley, Joshua Cross and Nathan Cross Current appointment: East Otto United Methodist Church MDiv: (Anticipated 2014) United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio Statement: “... My call came at the bedside of a dying friend. As she was transitioning from this life to glory, I was asked to sing the Doxology. Praising God “from whom all blessing flow” was a fitting tribute to the grace and love given to us by our Triune God. My voice singing praise was the last thing heard by my friend from this life. It was at this time that I was called; I was to become a shepherd; I was to be a pastor. I am grateful for the guidance given to me by my mentors, district superintendents, District Committee on Ministry, and the Board of Ordained Ministry for the opportunity to fulfill what has been placed on my heart. ...”

perry

S Andrew Pgeter Transitionin

Family: Wife, Eileen M. Sperry Current appointment: (As of July 1, 2014) Saratoga Springs UMC MDiv: 2012, Drew University Theological School, Madison, N.J. Statement: “My journey to ministry began at a young age. At the age of 5, I was able to articulate a call to ministry, and shortly thereafter preached my first sermon. ...

Throughout my life I have felt the profound love of Jesus Christ and a desire to share it with others. This is the cornerstone of my call as I understand it. Therefore, I believe commissioning is one of many avenues God uses to spread this message. In my relationship with God, I feel God is calling me to a leadership role in the Church. In view of that, commissioning is the beginning of fulfilling my call to ordination within The United Methodist Church.” unyumc.org 17

2014 HONOREES

Ordained to the Order of Elder olik

.M Patricia M Spa Ballston

Family: Husband, David Molik; daughter, Sarah Vidulich (Jon); sons Jonathon (Meghan), Nicholas (Adriana), and Samuel Current appointment: (As of July 1, 2014) Ballston Spa UMC MDiv: 2012, Drew University Theological School, Madison, N.J. Statement: “I began my journey to become an elder in full connection while serving as a local pastor in 2007. This opportunity provided the experience to explore the skills, abilities and commitment I bring to The United Methodist Church. I am so blessed to be ordained and to see where my faith journey will take me as I serve the local church, the Adirondack District, the Upper New York Conference and the world through the connectional system of The United Methodist Church.”

ir

Robin Ila Bla Romulus

Family: Husband, the Rev. Jeff Childs Current appointment: Rushville UMC and Middlesex UMC MDiv: 2008, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, Minn.; Union Theological Seminary at Columbia, New York City; and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Statement: “It is a joy to be ordained an elder in the tradition and our Conference of The United Methodist Church. I have found this, the call of ministry, to be a freedom grounded in scripture, powered

by Holy Spirit hope. In addition to the honor of serving God through the local church, I am called to pay attention to the way we communicate in a 21st-century media culture ... Jesus invites us to honor life, so media literacy is a spiritual practice in a media culture that empowers us to follow Jesus. I believe this conversation is an important part of congregational life ... .”

18 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

Youngjae ilJleee Williamsv

Family: Wife, Sungwon Choi; children: Somyong Christina Jee, Sojeung Teresa Jee, and Sowon Rebecca Jee Current appointment: Buffalo: Korean UMC in Amherst and Bowmansville UMC MDiv: 2011, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Statement: “It is only by grace of God through Jesus Christ that an undeserving man like me is called to serve God, the people of God, the Church of Jesus Christ as an ordained minister. As having led me to this point of my journey, I firmly believe that the Spirit of God will be with me and guide me in the future to the completion of this journey. I pray that I follow the steps of Jesus Christ with more clarity, boldness, and joy as I enter into a new phase of the ministry, and that I grow into His love to the completion.”

Peggi JotoEn ller Bingham

Family: Children: Drew Tyler Eller and Jami Reneé Eller Current appointment: Nimmonsburg UMC in Binghamton MDiv: 2009, Drew University Theological School, Madison, N.J. Statement: “My ordination as an Elder in The United Methodist Church demonstrates the power of God’s grace to transform lives.

Since reluctantly venturing into a small United Methodist church in 1997 to have my children baptized, I have been blessed by many who extended God’s unconditional (and undeserved) love and compassion in tangible ways that helped lead an unchurched cynic to one who is anxious to dedicate my life to Christ in ordained ministry. ... I pray that I might be used to transform the lives of others in the powerful way that others, through extending God’s grace, have helped transform mine.”

arrell

Matthew W. F Clarence

Family: Wife, Kelli; children Emma and Joshua Current appointment: Clarence UMC MDiv: 2000, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky. Statement: “I’ve felt a call to ministry since my high school days when I first gave my life to Christ. ... All this time I have believed that if God could make this life-changing difference in me, I wanted to give myself to this, and have not regretted saying ‘yes.’ ... I have hope that my life, leadership, and ministry will be useful to God in making the same kind of difference in others that God has made in me. I love the Church, and will devote myself to continuing renewal, vibrant leadership, and passionate devotion to share the good news of Jesus.”

rry

e Nicholas John P Binghamton

Family: Wife, Rev. Carmen Perry; son Nathan Current appointment: Deposit UMC and Hale Eddy UMC in Deposit MDiv: 2010, Perkins School of Theology, Dallas Statement: “God had called me to be a pastor when I was 2 years old (I do not recall this – but many in my home church can). I deeply admired my pastors, and came to believe that God was indeed calling me to serve as a pastor. I now articulate this call as being one in which I bring a sense of realism (birthed from my own questions and life experiences) into my reading of Scripture and how I share the gospel.”

You can view the entire Service of Commissioning and Ordination on the Conference’s YouTube channel at: http://y2u.be/ qNJBG_xyeD0

tow

Carolyn S. S Clymer

Family: Husband, Mark Stow; children: Jacqueline Stow and Dylan Stow Current appointment: Clymer and North Clymer UMCs MDiv: 2011, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Statement: “... With ordination I am bound to a history larger than my own. I am bound to the tradition of elders of The United Methodist Church as well as the tradition of consecrated leaders of the Church universal. Ordination recognizes my connection with leaders within the eternal body of Christ. ... A call to ordained ministry is really much more about the One who is doing the calling than those of us who are called. So I guess when I ask myself how I ended up here, the answer is: only by the power of Jesus Christ.”

Retirees honored at AC 14 There were 38 retiring clergy honored during the 2014 Annual Conference.

This year’s class of retirees was honored with a dinner on May 29, which also honored the Conference’s newest clergy – the 12 clergy being commissioned or ordained.

Retirees who chose to made a short video that was shown during the Celebration of Ministry service during which each retiree attending was greeted by Bishop Mark J. Webb.

This year’s retirees: Naomi B. Babcock James D. Bailey Richard E. Barton Alan R. Baumback Roosevelt Baums Stephen C. Butler Roy A. Carter Linda M. Clemow Arthur L. Couch Beverly A. Davenport Violet A. Davidson Christopher M. Dillon

Janice Downey Jane E. Eastham Steven C. Eddy Stephen R. Heiss Ronald V. Isaman Thomas H. Jones Christopher S. Kinnell Catherine Lee Mark B. Marino Roy L. Miller Patricia J. Olmstead William J. Pegg Mark L. Pierce Alan C. Rhodes C. Randolph Ross George R. Sanderson Diane B.M. Sanderson V.H. Stanley Scoville Carlton L. Shepard Richard H. Sivers James R. Sprenger H. Nelson Stafford, Jr. Merry Watters John R. Wetherwax James Paul Womack Joyce M. Woodcock View photos of the retirees on the Conference Facebook page at: http:// tinyurl.com/UNY Retirees14. unyumc.org 19

2014 HONOREES

Bradley is 2014 Harry Denman Evangelism Award honoree

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

T

he Upper New York Conference has presented the 2014 Harry Denman Evangelism Lay Award to Mary Bradley, Office Manager in the Episcopal Office.

The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards are sponsored by the Foundation for Evangelism, and began in 1981 to honor United Methodist clergy and lay persons in each Annual Conference by celebrating outstanding personal evangelism ministry. No clergy award was presented this year.

Bradley was nominated by the Rev. Larry Baird, Pastor at Buffalo: First and Grand Island: Trinity UMCs and former Cornerstone District Superintendent; Chandani Diaz, Finger Lakes District Administrative Assistant; Christine Doran, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, and Betsy O’Flynn, Genesee Valley District Administrative Assistant.

In nominating Bradley, her colleagues in ministry wrote: “She approaches her work for the Church as a call. She easily and frequently demonstrates and discusses her faith, how she has come to a heartfelt relationship with Christ, and what that means in her life. She leads and teaches by example.”

Bradley, 35, has worked for the Upper New York Area since its inception in 2010. Prior to that she worked for the Episcopal Office of the New York West Area, for the former Western New York Conference and as Cornerstone District administrative assistant with Rev. Baird.

“In her work, she is the glue and the great balancer,” her nominators wrote.”She offers assistance to all: the parishioner, the pastor, the DS, Conference staff and the bishop. Before everything else, she has a heart for the Lord, and generously uses the gifts and graces she has been given to relate to people in such a way that

20 UNY ADVOCATE MAY 2014

bethdicocco@unyumc.org they are introduced to Him. She has a passion to support ministries that are about making disciples for Jesus Christ. She is an excellent administrator who elevates her work to the level that it becomes a witness to those who meet her.”

The award was presented during the Celebration of Ministry on May 30. Presenters were the Rev. Brian Rotach and his wife, Cheryl Bird, the clergy and lay recipients of the 2013 Denman Award.

Bradley’s husband, Daniel, is a part-time local pastor serving the Sandy Creek and Orwell UMCs in the Northern Flow District. Their daughter, Kiah, is 7.

“As the spouse of a pastor, she contributes to the spiritual life of the congregation through her presence, music and Bible study,” the nominators said. “As a mother, she is bringing up her daughter in the ways of the Lord.”

Dr. Harry Denman, a lay person and founder of the Foundation for Evangelism, believed we are all called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“She begins her day with a devotion and carries that ‘Word’ throughout her day,” her colleagues said.

“Her deep spirituality shines through all that she does. Her effectiveness in reaching people for Christ is based on the fact that she displays all of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.

“No matter how much stress or pressure she is under in her job, she reflects Christ’s love, patience and compassion with everyone she communicates with. ...”

The Foundation for Evangelism, located in Lake Junaluska, N.C., makes grant support available for these awards as well as provides resources for the development of leaders with a passion for evangelism. To learn more visit www.FoundationFor Evangelism.org.

Mary Bradley, right, accepts the 2014 Denman Evangelism Award from 2013 winners Rev. Brian Rotach and Cheryl Bird. Photo by Matthew Williams

Doran honored with Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor bethdicocco@unyumc.org

C

hris Doran, Executive Assistant to Bishop Mark J. Webb, was awarded the Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence by the United Methodist Men. The award was presented Friday by Conference UMM President Mark Jones.

“My mother would be pleased,” Doran said.

“Thank you, Chris, for your years of commitment and service to The United Methodist Church here in Upper New York,” said Jones.

“Chris was our choice for the award because, as one of her sisters in Christ was quoted in saying, ‘her life is wrapped around her faith ... it is deep and profound and drives almost everything she does.’”

Jones called presenting the award Conference United Methodist Men President Mark Jones presents Chris Doran, Executive Assistant to Bishop Mark J. Webb, the Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence. Photo by Matthew Williams

“an awesome day for the Upper New York UMM, to be given the opportunity to bless a true servant of God.” This was the first Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence to be presented in Upper New York.

The first Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence, named for the mother of Methodism’s founders John and Charles Wesley, was presented in March 2014. Since then 32 women have been honored with the award.

Doran’s nomination was the eighth one received by the UMM for this honor.

And the idea for the award was formed right here in Upper New York.

Part-time Local Pastor Edward Enstine, who pastors the Danby Federated Church in Ithaca, is president of the UMM for the Northeastern Jurisdiction and serves Enstine on the UMM board.

Pastor Enstine came up with the idea for the Susanna Wesley Award five or six years ago, he said.

“We were not recognizing women in the Church as much,” Pastor Enstine said. “The United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women are on the same team. I thought it would be a wonderful gesture to establish an award for women.”

“To be that devoted to Christ, that devoted to Scripture and to prayer,” that’s what makes Susanna Wesley a great role model for the award, he said. She reached out to people and nurtured them, he said; she also had an impressive intellect.

“She was a great woman; she persevered,” Pastor Enstine said. “She had the ability to get things done.

Her Bible study was more popular than her husband’s sermons.”

Visit http://tinyurl.com/ SusannaWesleyAOE to learn more about the Susanna Wesley Award of Excellence. unyumc.org 21

WORSHIP / BIBLE STUDY

AC opening worship:

‘We are claimed by God for relationship’

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

bethdicocco@unyumc.org

A

bout three-quarters of the way through an opening worship sermon that had members applauding and on their feet at the Annual Conference session, Bishop Mark J. Webb announced that he’d lost his place in his notes, and said: “I hope you know that I am preaching with passion,” he said, drawing a laugh from members to whom that was obvious. “I am

not going to say “anything new or profound” but rather, he said, “I believe there are some truths that maybe, together, we need to hear again in a fresh way, so we can respond to them in a new way.”

Those truths, he said, hold the key to fostering growth and fulfilling the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

“If we are going to be effective and fruitful in living the mission, we need to cultivate the truth that we are claimed

by God for relationship,” he said.

Acknowledging that “our Church is in a difficult place,” Bishop Webb said that “There are disagreements, there is pain, there is lack of trust, there is talk of schism, and we are doing harm to one anYou can watch the opening worship adother in print, through social dress at vimeo.com/uppernewyork. media and in gatherings of all preaching to myself first, and in an atsizes. We are making choices that we titude that loves you and respects you honestly believe will bring change, and believes that God wants us to be but the reality is that some of those better than we already are.” choices are also adding to the harm.

The main message of that passion Some would say we are at this place, was this: “We need to cultivate the because of our struggle with topics truth that we are claimed by God for like human sexuality.” relationship.”

But that is not the foundation of The theme for this year’s Annual our “unhealth,” the bishop said. “The Conference is Planting God’s Future foundation of our unhealth is that in Hearts and Neighbors: Called to we have somehow forgotten that Cultivate. we are called by God for connection The bishop told members he was to one another. In some ways we

“I BELIEVE every pastor in this room, every layperson, every faith community represented in this space desires to be transformational, vital, effective and fruitful in the accomplishing of the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. (But) that ... is impossible without a constant and vibrant connection to Jesus.” – Bishop Mark J. Webb

22 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

have abandoned the call to love one another in all things.”

Saying he did not want to be “Pollyannaish,” Bishop Webb said unity does not mean the absence of disagreement nor does it mean that it isn’t important to have the “difficult conversations.” “... but unity does mean that in the midst of disagreement I claim my connection to you as a sister or brother in Christ and I claim the commandment to love,” the bishop said. “The bad news is in and of myself, I can’t muster that kind of love. ...The good news is ... through Jesus Christ, I believe we can seek a unity in Christ that is deeper than our differences.”

The Church of Jesus Christ is not dead, Bishop Webb said. “It will never die; God says to you what he said to Peter a long time ago: ‘On this rock I will build my church, and the very gates of hell will not prevail over it.’”

“Do you believe that?” he asked the membership, and urged them to stand up, join hands, and hold their hands in the air.

“You don’t have to like (your neighbor). but you’re supposed to love them,” he said, and he led everyone in creating a clear picture of what he had been preaching about.

“Our ideas, our strategies, our works may very well make people’s lives better, but they will only make people’s lives different through the power of Jesus Christ,” he said.

You can read the full sermon text at http://tinyurl.com/ AC14Keynote.

unyumc.org 23

Bishop Mike Lowry, an ardent Chicago Cubs fan, received a miniature baseball bat as a thank you gift from Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Cabinet for his time leading two sessions of Bible study. On Friday, Bishop Lowry got to make his first pilgramage to baseball’s mecca: the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. (Photo by Christian Vischi)

24 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

WORSHIP / BIBLE STUDY

Bishop Lowry leads Bible study Friday:

‘Christ is the agenda’

Saturday:

Feed the starving with faith bethdicocco@unyumc.org

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

O

n Friday morning, Bishop Mark J. Webb introduced the AC 14 Bible study leader Bishop Michael Lowry as someone he is “honored to call a colleague, honored to call a mentor, honored to call a fellow brother in Christ, and most of all, I am blessed to call him my friend.”

Bishop Lowry leads the Fort Worth Episcopal Area, which includes the Central Texas Annual Conference.

Bishop Lowry, who will also lead a Bible study on Saturday, focused his study Friday on the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, which he said speaks to the culture we live in today.

“Behind the good news of wonderful ministry taking place in Upper New York, there lives the reality of engulfing waves of deep cultural change crashing over us,” Bishop Lowry said. “Today it is common for many to see the Church as irrelevant and Christianity as quaint. Intellectually, Christianity and the Christian Church are often dismissed by high culture. Amid signs of spiritual starvation, we in the Church are wrestling with deep institutional change and embattled in a crisis of relevancy. Toss into this mix a growing fiscal crisis as a giving generation that is only partially being replaced by a generation that does not give regularly but episodically and related to a cause, not to an institution. Stir in huge portions of aging and the concomitant leadership crisis that comes with it.

Season with deep theological divisions. And then frost this concoction with a heartfelt soul-deep argument over same-gender issues, inclusion and the role of biblical authority.

“Small wonder the Church is sagging to the point of splitting.”

But he called this period, drawing from Charles Dickens, both “the best of times and the worst of times,” saying, “The United Methodist Church has been struggling to engage this new cultural reality during most of my 40 years of ministry. Amazingly, it is when we are at the end of our machinations that God is most active” – which earned applause.

Bishop Lowry spoke of the executive session of the Council of Bishops in which they discussed crafting their response to retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert’s presiding over a same-gender wedding in Alabama.

Walking to dinner with Bishop Grant Hagiya of the Pacific Northwest/Oregon Area afterward, amid what Bishop Lowry called “our glum disagreement,” Bishop Hagiya said:“You know, when we move beyond this, no matter how it comes out, we still have to grow the Church and engage in life-changing mission and ministry.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Bishop Lowry said.

I

n his Bible study on May 30, Bishop Michael Lowry continued his focus on the Book of Acts with Chapter 17, Paul speaking to those at Mars Hill.

He said that the job of the Church is to “offer Christ to people frozen in a place clutching chocolate and silver.”

He was referring to an essay by Annie Dillard titled An Expedition to the Pole from her book Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters, which recounts a 19thcentury North Pole exploration team that rather than bringing adequate fuel and warm clothing carried chocolate and sterling silver flatware among other luxuries.

The skeletons of two members were found frozen pulling a life boat filled with chocolate and silver.

He quoted Mother Teresa, who upon visiting the United States said: “I have never seen a people so starved.”

To feed that starvation, Bishop Lowry said: We will need to recover the willingness and ability to engage in evangelism. Please don’t quibble about definitions and aspects. We will have recovered the ability to share a verbal witness of Christ as Lord and Savior.”

Bishop Lowry said that laity often think clergy know how to share their faith, but in his experience this isn’t necessarily so. But sharing our faith – and not just with other Christians – is critical for both laity and clergy. He asked members: “Who, as a functioning non-Christian – someone who does not know Christ at all – are you engaged in a regular genuine dialog of faith with?”

“Every piece of secular research we have indicates that people are deeply, spiritually hungry; indeed starving,” the bishop said. “Are we offering them the food of eternity? Life with Christ and for Christ?”

We need to remember Acts 17 and share the faith on today’s Mars Hill and other such places. That is to say: we need to engage in faith, sharing in the market places of commerce and ideas. We, lay and clergy alike, must go where people are instead of where we think they ought to be, Bishop Lowry said.

Bishop Lowry cited a number of books that offered what he called “practical coaching” about how to share faith that “anyone and any church can employ.” See box on page 20 for a list of those resources.

The bishop also talked about the importance of embracing new church development alongside the transformation of existing congregations.

Research demonstrates that new churches don’t harm existing congregations, but rather enhance them. He also outlined a number of reasons to start new churches unyumc.org 25

In Acts 2:37: “When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’”

Bishop Lowry said the answer to that question – and one that is relevant for today’s Church – can be found in what he termed “three anchor points” in the text: 1. Jesus as Lord (the ruler) and Christ (the savior) of our lives and our churches 2. Change of heart and life (repentance) 3. Receiving the Holy Spirit “Wesley had it right in his essential yoking of evangelism and social action, personal holiness and social holiness, vibrant outreach and deep maturing spiritual formation,” Bishop Lowry said. “Intellectually, we know this, but all too often we betray our better impulses to the squalling crisis of the moment. It is not that the clamoring issues of our day don’t merit our attention; they do. It is that we are off balance; we gradually drift into a Church that bears the name of Christ without the spiritual force, holy power, and ultimately love.”

Returning to the anchor points and putting Christ at the center can restore that balance, he said.

“We have flirted with a vague Unitarianism for too long,” he said. “We have dallied at the table of our own exigencies too much. We have cavorted with cultural fads too long. Jesus is the center. He must set the agenda. He is the agenda.”

In previewing Saturday’s Bible study, the bishop said: “We will look at that witness as the Apostle Paul strides to the top of Mars Hill, gazes up at the Parthenon in all its false splendor, and offers his witness to the skeptical, wondering, and hungry in the Athenian marketplace … and in Upper New York as well as Central Texas.”

Those attending offered the bishop a standing ovation.

Bishop Mark J. Webb closed by saying that Bishop Lowry is “a man of great faith who clings to hope; he’s a Chicago Cubs fan,” and that he would be spending some time at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown the next day, at which point Bishop Lowry donned his Cubs cap and a smile.

alongside building up vitality in existing churches: • to faithfully respond to Christ’s command to “go and make disciples” • so that the next generation will be Christian • because new churches reach new groups of people – new immigrants, those turned off from conventional church, those seeking a different style and form of worship, etc.

• because seekers and explorers are often more attracted to starting on the “ground floor” as pioneers, and are more likely to be attracted to a new church start Finally, he said, United Methodists need to “spread a faithful Wesleyan theological perspective of the Christian faith that combines evangelism (converting people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ) and social holiness (the ministries of love, justice and mercy).

“Spiritually hungry and starving people are often choosing to eat moldy spiritual bread,” he said. “I believe we represent a biblical and theological faithfulness that desperately needs to be shared.”

At the close of Bible study Saturday, the Cabinet presented Bishop Mike Lowry with a miniature baseball bat (he had visited the Baseball Hall of Fame on May 30). Northern Flow District Superintendent Beckie Sweet described the bat as “hard enough to serve as a gavel and slender enough to use as bookmark in his Bible.”

FOR FURTHER READING In his May 31, 2014 Bible study at Annual Conference, Bishop Mike Lowry cited these books, which offer what he called “practical coaching” about how to share faith that “anyone and any church can employ.”

Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church

by Kenda Creasy Dean The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church by Alan Hirsch 26 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

Clip In: Risking Hospitality in Your Church by Jim Ozier and Fiona Haworth Get Their Name: Grow Your Church by Building New Relationships by Bob Farr, Doug Anderson and Kay Kotan Unbinding the Gospel by Martha Grace Reese The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III

Watch Rev. Dr. Cathy Hall Stengel’s Memorial Service sermon on

Memorial Service:

at http://y2u.be/gI5JCcqXbgI

‘Everyone is called to serve God’

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

A

s it does each year, the Annual Conference honored the clergy and spouses who passed away during the year with a Memorial Service, which took place May 29.

“Bishop Mark J. Webb offered some words for the families and friends of those being honored.

“As you have grieved and continue to grieve, it’s our prayer that tonight will be another part of the journey for you and you are able, in a fresh way, to know God’s presence and hear God’s whisper: ‘I’m with you.’”

The bishop thanked them for their sacrifices in service of their loved ones’ ministries.

“Your lives make a difference as well,” Bishop Webb said. “God continues to use Dr. Stengel you to offer the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.”

The Rev. Dr. Cathy Hall Stengel, Mountain View District Superintendent, was guest preacher for the service.

Dr. Hall acknowledged that she did not know everyone being remembered, but said that doesn’t mean these saints did not have an impact on her and on all of us.

She drew a comparison to Paul’s gratitude for the church in Rome.

“When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he was expressing his thanks, gratitude, appreciation and care for a church that was changing the world ... Paul hadn’t been there – he wanted to, hoped to, but hadn’t,” she said. “Does that mean he had any less affection for or gratitude for the courage, bravery and faithfulness of the Roman church? No.

bethdicocco@unyumc.org

a grape vine to be planted as a living witness and in symbolizing the families’ desire that Conference youth carry on the work of these saints.

Dr. Stengel reminded those assembled that they too are taking up that work.

Those we honor tonight would say every one of us is called to serve God in some way,” she said. “... They would say – and did say – ‘don’t lose sight of it.’”

“You’ve heard the call my friends – whether you are in pastoral ministry or lay leadership, creating worship services or leading them … whether you are 22 or 82, God has gifted and called you for something,” she said.

The question she posed to them was this: “Are you brave enough? Do you have the courage of the early Roman Christians Paul wrote to?” she asked. “This cloud of witnesses we celebrate have renewed my courage, my passion, my sense of call and my determination to be faithful. As I said, I am not always brave – sometimes tears come uninvited – reminding me that I am vulnerable to fear and uncertainty, but I am convinced that with God’s help – and with this cloud of witnesses – I can do this ... ”

“I stand before you this evening having not been personally involved in many of the lives we celebrate. ...

And yet here I am, and I am a different person because of your loved ones – the words, ministry and stories shared about some of our beloved saints. They make me braver – though not necessarily right this minute – stronger, more determined, and I hope and pray, more faithful.”

Dr. Stengel titled her sermon “Brave,” and spoke of the courage of the 47 men and women being remembered.

“The women and men we are celebrating this evening have demonstrated bravery in the way they have lived, and often in the way they have died,” she said. “We stand and sit here as a cloud of witnesses to their ministry –spanning over 70-, 80-plus years.”

She told stories shared by family members of that bravery – for example of a female pastor in the early 1960s “when most of us hadn’t seen a woman pastor” – who came upon three little girls “playing pastor” after the service one morning.

This pastor created a path for those girls to be someone they had not imagined being, Dr. Stengel said.

As the saints were named a bell was wrung and a candle lit for each, and when available a photo was displayed.

Youth representatives presented family members with olive wood palm crosses as a gesture Adirondack District Superintendent William Mudge of appreciation. In (right) lights a candle during the naming of the return, they took saints. Photos by Matthew Williams

unyumc.org 27

HIGHLIGHTED REPORTS

Africa 360 resolutions supported T

he Rev. Craig French, pastor at the University UMC in Syracuse, presented the resolutions of the Africa 360 Task Force, the purpose of which Rev. French described as the chance to “weave together two great causes:” the Africa University Scholarship Endowment Fund and Imagine No Malaria.

Resolution 1 “That the Upper New York Annual Conference reaffirms its commitment to raise $1 million for permanent endowed scholarships for students at Africa University and commits itself also to raising a minimum of $1 million for the denomination’s Global Health Initiative, Imagine No Malaria, in order to end the scourge of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.”

At the 2011 Annual Conference, members committed to a three-year campaign to raise the $1 million to fund eight scholarships in perpetuity at AU. Two scholarships have been funded so far. At AC 14, those scholarships were named for Bishop Marcus and Barbara Matthews and Julius and Anola Archibald, Jr. The resolution, which extended the AU campaign and begins the commitment to Imagine No Malaria, was accepted.

Rev. French said Upper New York is joining 32 annual conferences that are seeking to raise a total of $75 million by General Conference in 2016.

“We are 80 percent of the way,” he said, or at around $60 million.

Resolution 2 “That the bishop of the Upper New York Episcopal Area be authorized and encouraged to appoint a special task force to assess and determine the feasibility, purpose(s), goal(s), design and timing of a major, multi-purpose fundraising campaign (including funds for Africa University and Imagine No Malaria); further, that the task force bring a progress report and/or recommendation to the 2015 session of Annual Conference, re28 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

Rev. French

garding a possible Conference-wide, mission-centered capital campaign.”

The Rev. Ann Kemper, pastor at Covenant UMC in Rochester, proposed amending the resolution to include other Annual Conference initiatives that support ministries in Africa.

Her intent, Rev. Kem.per said, was to expand the scope of the resolution “to present a holistic approach to affirm the many ways this Annual Conference – at the local church and Conference levels – engage in ministry with our friends in Africa.”

After discussion for and against expanding the scope of the campaign even beyond ministry in Africa, Rev.

French responded, saying, “This Conference has the right to expand beyond one continent; I trust the body (to make that decision).”

The amendment was not supported; the resolution passed in its original form.

Video Diary: Health team covers Sierra Leone To see Imagine No Malaria at work, watch a video diary of The United Methodist Church, in partnership with the Sierra Leone government, preparing for and completing its distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets. See the videos at http:// tinyurl.com/SierraLeoneAC14.

AU scholarships named S

hirley Byers, chair of the Africa University Endowed Scholarship Task Force, presented the recommendations of the task force on Friday afternoon.

The Annual Conference approved naming the first two fully funded scholarships after Bishop Marcus and Barbara Matthews and Julius and Anola Archibald, Jr. Bishop Matthews was honored for his support of the campaign, which was initiated during his tenure in Upper New York.

Julius Archibald was a delegate to the 1988 General Conference, which approved the creation of Africa University. The couple are long-time supporters of AU.

Byers

The bishop hurriedly called the vote on the naming the second scholarship after – in a repeat of last year – the fire alarm sounded just as the Archibalds took the stage. The plenary was dismissed as the building was briefly evacuated.

Black College Fund: Helping flowers bloom bethdicocco@unyumc.org

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

T

he Rev. Megan Stowe, outgoing chair of the College Ministry Team, introduced members to Lewis J. Keys, who came to the session Friday morning to thank Upper New York for its support of the Black College Fund.

Rev. Stowe described Keys, who is in his second year at Perkins School of Theology in Texas, as someone who hopes to “spread the gospel through song and preaching through all the nations of the world.”

Keys began with spreading some music in Upper New York by singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness” to resounding applause.

Keys, who is a graduate of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, was one of the nearly 16,000 at the 11 historically black colleges who has benefitted from the fund.

“These institutions vary,” Keys said, “but one thing that brings them to one accord is an unwavering commitment to open their doors to all who desire to learn.”

Keys said the Black College Fund

“played and still plays a role in my forward progress,” and he asked members to give themselves a round of applause for paying 57 percent of the Conference apportionment that supports the fund, saying that support does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Keys quoted Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, who said: “The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our atten-

tion. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

Bishop Mark J. Webb stood by Keys and spoke to members: “I am often asked ‘Why do we have to pay ministry shares?’ and ‘What do those ministry shares do?’ Here it is,” he said pointing to Keys.

“Fifty-seven percent, thanks be to God,” the bishop said, “but 100 percent would be a whole lot better.”

The body responded with applause.

Learn more about the historically Black colleges and the Black College Fund at http://tinyurl.com/ GBHEMBCF.

Keys

Coordinator urges participation in Peace with Justice Sunday

H

eather Smith, Conference Peace with Justice Coordinator, reported the following at AC 14: In investigating the details of the Peace with Justice Sunday Offering funds and participation in the Special Sunday collection by churches of the Conference, Smith found that the Conference has not reached 19 percent participation over the last three years. In other words, fewer than 170 congregations gave at all.

Each year, when all the money from the Peace with Justice fund is collected, half goes to the General Board of Church and Society to support its grant program; the other half stays in the Conference to fund local grants.

Both grant programs help fund jus-

tice ministries and projects addressing one or more of the following: • One of the Social Principles • Help in our understanding of individual, national, international violence • Promote reconciliation, transformation, and restoration of relationships • Address root causes of poverty and promote self-development of peoples and communities • Work to end human rights injustices designed to oppress minority groups This year, the Social Holiness Team has already approved three grant requests. One for CONAM to send folks to a leadership training; one to provide financial assistance to attendees of a Peace with Justice in

Palestine/Israel conference; and one for the Albany-Emmaus congregation to support a conference on reconciliation with African immigrants and African natives.

“I urge you to make certain that your congregation offers this giving opportunity,” Smith told members.

Peace with Justice Sunday was scheduled for the first Sunday after Pentecost, June 15 this year, “but you can reschedule it if necessary.”

“Thank you for your support of this important part of being the Church. I look forward to bringing you good news about our increased participation next year,” she said.

You can find the 2014 grant application at http://tinyurl.com/PWJ GrantApp. unyumc.org 29

HIGHLIGHTED REPORTS

A continuing journey...

Conference Committee on Native American Ministries continues journey toward repentance and healing at AC 14

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor bethdicocco@unyumc.org

M

embers of the Conference Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) (¹ see Going Beyond box for a list of web resources) took the stage Thursday and Friday in order to continue to prepare the Upper New York Conference on its journey toward the Act of Repentance and Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons², which will take place at the 2015 Annual Conference.

Blenda Smith, CONAM member, and Kae Wilbert, chair of CONAM, presented the CONAM report on Thursday afternoon.

“We have a serious responsibility to Native Americans,” said Smith, who co-chaired a General Church Task Force on the Act of Repentance, and that’s why “all Annual Conferences and Central Conferences will embark on this journey.”

One aspect of the journey in this Conference has been the District Learning Sessions³; CONAM hosted 14 sessions during the past year.

roots to the boarding schools; the Christian church was a strong force in “Christianizing and Americanizing” Native children, who were forcibly taken from their families in an effort to annihilate Indian culture, something that continued until the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

In one video clip shown⁷, Native American elder Roselynn Kingsbury, Cree, talks about her father’s experience at one such boarding school.

“Only recently have some Native Americans been willing to or able to share their historic trauma,” Wilbert said.

Opening doors In a video shown during the presentation (you can view that video and other Act of Repentance videos at the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships’ website⁸), the Rev. Anita Phillips, executive director of the Native American Comprehensive Plan⁹, said “…

There are some hurtful, negative and painful inheritance that all of us have, and indigenous people in particular …

We are taught to remember and honor those who came before us and respect those who will come after.

“My hope is that my brothers and sisters within the United Methodist faith (community) would hear that this hope can be brought to life by their response, their reaction, by opening that door. When I talk to people about this, there is a door that is either open or closed to me.

My fear is that my brothers and sisters will turn their back to the issue.”

Smith echoed those concerns, saying only about one in four local churches participated in the District Learning Sessions. Those churches that did participate were honored by CONAM on its Wall of Gratitude at the CONAM table in the main corridor.

“In closing we ask: is that door open for you and your local church – or closed?” Smith said. “ ... I am convinced that if we miss this time of repentance and reconciliation, the trust and opportunity to build relationships with Native Americans will not be as open in the future.”

Why repentance?

As the pair traveled around Upper New York, they heard two things quite often: “There aren’t any Native Americans around here” and “Why should I apologize, I didn’t do those things that happened years ago?”

Celebrating UNY’s Upper New York CONAM is represented by ChocNative Americans taw, Cherokee, Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Tuscarora, On Friday, Smith and CONAM member Sharon Algonquin, Shawanee, Cree, and Dine Peenpac. The Schmit, who is of Mohawk and Irish/German heritage, led Conference has three Native AmeriCONAM’s Wall of can churches: Four Corners UMC⁴, Gratitude saluted the located on the Cattaraugus Territory; churches that particiHogansburg UMC⁵, located on the St. pated in the District Regis Mohawk Reservation at AkweLearning Sessions. sasnee; and the Onondaga Nation Photo by Christian Vischi UMC⁶, located on the Onondaga Nation Indian Territory. New York state is one of 14 states in the U.S. with a Native population exceeding 100,000 persons.

To address the second item, Wilbert talked about the historical trauma that exists today for many Native Americans, which she compared with post-traumatic stress.

Some of that trauma traces its 30 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

a celebration of Upper New York Native Americans who are successful in spite of their legacy of historic trauma.

“Our own CONAM members are United Methodist clergy, musicians, educators, treasurers, lay speakers, professors, speech pathologists, nurse practitioners, trustees, university staff, volunteers-in-mission, and more – proud people who are reclaiming heritage, languages, traditions and cultures,” Schmit said.

One of those members is teacher Bethany Printup-Davis, young adult CONAM member. Through donations for Native American Ministries Sunday, Printup-Davis attended Exploration 2013¹⁰, a gathering for those discerning a call to ministry. She was also one of five Native people from across the country selected to participate as an observer at the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues at the United Nations in May. You can hear her story in a short video¹¹.

Native American Ministries Sunday Friday’s presentation included what Smith and Schmit called “evidence of promise in Upper New York,” as local churches that celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday¹² increase awareness and support for projects such as: • outreach to elders and programs for youth through the Hogansburg UMC. • enabling CONAM leaders to attended trainings such as Mending Broken Hearts, a White Bison training, and the Native American Comprehensive Plan Conference.

• supporting the Seneca Hymn Singers, who sang at Annual Conference last year and have produced CDs; they are producing a hymn book in the Seneca language. They meet at Four Corners UMC. • providing funds for a community group on the Seneca Indian Territory to help rebuild an elder’s home, providing water and heat.

• supporting the Native American Transportation program on the Onondaga Nation south of Syracuse to provide rides for elders to medical appointments and other necessary places.

“We realize relationship-building takes time and personal investment,”

Cady Grant recipients announced U pper New York Cady Grants are awarded to fund a ministry, program or experience that benefits or provides education to African Americans and/or Native Americans.

Blenda Smith, a member of the Conference Committee on Native American Ministry (CONAM), announced the most recent recipients. A grant of $1,000 will be used

Smith said. “We urge you to continue building relationships with Native Americans by attending craft fairs, pow wows and local Native American activities. ... For true repentance and healing, action must come from each of us. We are all the body of Christ.”

“True repentance is more than apologizing, more than a moving worship service, more than attending workshops. It is changing one’s heart, one’s soul, and one’s walk,” Schmidt

in conjunction with Conference Peace With Justice grant funding to send individuals to Native American Comprehensive Plan training in Muskogee, Okla., for developing leadership in the local Native church. A second Cady Grant of $1,308 will be used to send individuals to Scottsdale, Ariz., for Cook Native Ministries’ Reading the Bible Through Native Eyes.

said. “We pray all of you are on this journey with us.”

Learn more On this Spirit Walk¹³ by Henrietta Mann and Anita Phillips is written specifically to help prepare for the Act of Repentance & Healing.

First UMC in Schenectady created a reconciling tree for Christmas 2013.

You can read the story¹⁴ and see a short video¹⁵ that was shown at AC 14.

GOING BEYOND Go beyond the article with further reading and viewing of the following: ¹ www.unyumc.org/CONAM ² www.unyumc.org/news/detail/1861 ³ www.unyumc.org/news/detail/1818 ⁴ www.unyumc.org/churches/detail/416 ⁵ www.unyumc.org/churches/detail/516 ⁶ www.unyumc.org/churches/detail/805 ⁷ http://tinyurl.com/RKingsburyvideo ⁸ http://tinyurl.com/GCCUIC ⁹ http://tinyurl.com/NACompPlan ¹⁰ www.explorecalling.org/exploration ¹¹ http://tinyurl.com/BPrintup-Davis ¹² http://tinyurl.com/NAMSUMC ¹³ http://tinyurl.com/OTSWAmazon ¹⁴ http://www.unyumc.org/news/detail/1805 ¹⁵ http://tinyurl.com/SchenReconTree unyumc.org 31

NEW THIS YEAR

A culinary masterpiece:

More than 76,000 meals sent from Upper New York to Haiti

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

I

n the first hands-on mission project at Annual Conference in Upper New York, members exceeded the goal of packaging 75,000 meals for the hungry around the world; 76,040 meals were prepared in less than three hours on Friday, May 30.

This year, the Conference worked with the Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit Stop Hunger Now (SHN) to package dehydrated meals used to feed those in need and victims of disaster.

Members signed up in advance for two shifts to pack the meals, and many others joined them onsite. A total of 402 volunteers had signed up, but event organizer Cherish McGowan, Connectional Ministries Administrative Assistant, estimated there were about 400 people at the lunch shift alone.

During the event and in the post-Conference evaluations, folks engaged in the mission commented

bethdicocco@unyumc.org about how much they enjoyed participating: “This has been the best part about Conference.” “This was so much fun,” as well as their joy in working cooperatively: “Look at all of these people working together.”

“Look at God’s spirit working through these people here.” “This is really something to behold.”

Some of the volunteers said: “We should do something like this every year” and “When can we do this again?”

Bishop Mark J. Webb, who helped

2015 at the OnCenter in Syracuse.

Stop Hunger Now reports the 76,040 meals that Upper New York members packed at the 2014 Annual Conference were part of a shipment of 285,120 meals to Haiti. The UNY meals will support the holistic work of Salesian Missions in Haiti. Salesian Missions’ work in Haiti is a three-step program to socially and economically rehabilitate street children in Cite Soleil, one of

The Conference will participate in this SHN mission again at AC 15

32 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

pack meals during the lunchtime shift, has the answer to that question: He has pledged the Conference to participate in this mission again at the 2015 Annual Conference, which is tentatively scheduled for May 27-30,

the most dangerous neighborhoods in Haiti.

The SHN dehydrated meals contain rice, soy, vegetables, flavoring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. They cost only $0.25 per meal to create, and each package contains six meals.

This Love Offering, which was re-

ceived at local churches and accepted during the Memorial Service, totaled $24,170.24 as of this writing. It will be divided to support this national and international anti-hunger effort, the Reaching Our Neighbors Ministry Oversight Team, which awards grants within the Conference, and, as the global component, the Africa Univer-

sity Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The 76,040 meals cost approximately $17,000 to produce.

The SHN meal program began in 2005; since its inception, more than 135 million meals have been packaged by countless volunteers.

Visit the SHN website at www. stophungernow.org to learn more.

Human Sexuality Conversation Task Force announces goals

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By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

he Human Sexuality Conversation Task Force was formed in July 2013 with 21 individuals representing “every area of the Annual Conference – including clergy and laity – who brought various perspectives, opinions and theological understandings,” said Task Force member Jami Breedlove.

She was joined on stage by several of the task force’s members while she delivered its annual report during Thursday afternoon’s plenary session.

Between July 1, 2013 and the 2014 Annual Conference session the task force met four times, engaging in a variety of small- and large-group conversations.

Going forward, the task force will identify ways the Church can continue to have conversation around the topic of human sexuality in “healthy, respectful, spirit-minded ways,” she said.

During the next 12 months – or

during “year two” as Breedlove called it – the task force will aim to “articulate clearly, listen strongly and engage with others in a way that will honor and seek a way forward. ... In year two we will seek to prepare ourselves to lead the Conference by both practicing and studying healthy conversation. ...

We know that with the help of the Holy Spirit there is always something valuable to be learned from our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

The next step could be largescale conversations or something else, but regardless, Breedlove said the group will study and practice healthy conversation that will hopefully provide strategies that can be implemented across the Annual Conference.

“We will be exposed together to a diversity of options for moving the conversation forward,” she said.

As of the time of publication, the task force’s next meeting date has not yet been announced. unyumc.org 33

NEW THIS YEAR Mudge

Bower

UNY meets its US-2 missionaries

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

I

n introducing members to two US-2 missionaries on Friday morning, the Rev. Jeff Childs, pastor at Penn Yan UMC, recalled “growing up as a Methodist and going to potluck dinners that included a program by missionaries,” who, according to his impression at the time, were “old and in mission far, far away.”

But, he said, there are exceptions to every rule, and he introduced the body to young adult US-2 missionaries: Sarah Mudge, a member of Upper New York who was serving in Seattle (she has since put in a request to be reassigned); and Alan Bower, a member of the Detroit Conference who is serving at the Albany United Methodist Society (AUMS).

Sarah Mudge Mudge called her mission as “a worthwhile procrastination technique” for someone who was graduating college, but unsure what to do with her life. But she did not doubt being called to help others. She serves Mary’s House, a resource for homeless women and children.

“In my family, you learned that if you’re called by God to do something, it’s a really terrible idea not to do it,” said Mudge, who is the daughter of Adirondack District Superintendent Bill Mudge.

She has learned a lot, she said, including how to navigate the Seattle bus system and “that I am stronger than I would have guessed.”

“God uses people even when you think you have nothing to offer,” 34 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

bethdicocco@unyumc.org Mudge said. “We are all called to do something no one else can accomplish.”

She urged members to support the Advance that supports her as a US-2 and thanked Upper New York for its support of ministry shares.

“Thank you for paying your apportionments,” Mudge said. “Part of that is dedicated specifically to mission.

I am thankful to all of you out there who are helping your churches keep up with their giving.”

Alan Bower Bower, who said he’s been “doing the bow tie for a few years” said his home Conference has a new tradition of taking selfies with the body; and took one with Bishop Mark J. Webb.

Serving as a young adult missionary, Bower said, provides opportunities to “stretch ourselves in every way.”

“Our service can be summed up in three words,” he said: “Engage, Connect and Grow.” He and his fellow US-2s do not serve others but instead “serve with our brothers and sisters and treat them just as that.”

Bower has about two more months in his two-year service to AUMS. One of the projects he has been working on is a community garden. Bishop Webb and others toured the site of the garden during the Bishop’s District Day event last October in Albany.

Referring to the Conference’s “Called to Cultivate” theme, Bower said he appreciates using the language

of gardening to describe the work of the Church, but he is also pleased to “move beyond metaphor to really begin to sow, cultivate and harvest with our neighbors.”

He thanked those who have worked on the community garden, including the Lark Street Together new faith community and the Delmar UMC, which will be hosting a garden blessing worship service on June 29.

Bower, who will attend seminary in the fall, encouraged other young adults to come and speak with him and Mudge about the US-2 opportunity at their table in the display area.

Bishop Mark J. Webb reiterated what he had said earlier about ministry shares: “What do ministry shares do?” he asked; “here are two examples.” The body responded with applause.

What is the US-2 program?

The Global Mission Fellows program is an opportunity that allows young adults age 20-30 to take part in mission and social justice ministries in both international and domestic contexts. The program, building upon Global Ministries’ historic US-2 and Mission Intern programs, is now open to young adults outside the U.S. to participate in mission service abroad and in their own home country.

The last cohort of US-2 and Mission Interns will complete their service in the summer of 2015; the program is now called Generation Transformation. To learn more about these mission opportunities for young adults, visit http://tinyurl. com/GTMissionOpp.

Dear congregations:

Be ready to welcome young adults into your church

By Christian Vischi, Graphic Designer

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o begin the Conference’s Young Adult report, Ashley Riddell VanSickle, Conference Multimedia/ Web Coordinator with a Special Focus: Young People’s Ministry, took a survey of the room.

She asked for the young adults to stand, as well as those who are committed to making disciples and spreading the word of Christ to join them; a vast majority of the crowd was upright or raising their hand in support.

“Friends,” she said, “this is what young adults need to see. … They need to see a congregation standing with open hearts, ready to welcome them in to their church community, with open minds, ready to do what needs to be done to bring them to Christ.”

The United Methodist Church defines young adults as laity and clergy between the ages of 18 and 35.

Although the first gathering of these young adults in the Conference only took place on April 12, Riddell VanSickle said things are ramping up and the future is exciting.

About 40 joined the gathering in person and online for worship and visioning. Conference Director of Connectional Ministries the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding asked the group, “What do you dream of in a church?”

Riddell VanSickle said the responses varied from the church being like a family to expanding the use of tech-

christianvischi@unyumc.org nology and online ministries.

During the visioning session, Northeastern Jurisdiction Young People’s Coordinator Mary Haggard and John Hodges-Batzka, Program Assistant for Young People’s Ministries, a ministry of the General Board of Discipleship, led small-group and large-group conversations.

Going forward, the Conference Young Adults will work to foster and develop: • Consistent opportunities to meet through the year • Conferencewide gatherings alongside constant interpersonal activities • A local missions network, both online and offline • More worship opportunities for young adults at Conference events, such as the Annual Conference session Riddell VanSickle also asked the members of the session to keep in prayer a group of young adults from Upper New York that will be traveling on July 16 to Tagaytay, Luzon, the Philippines for the third Global Young

People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly. The five-day event, led by Young People’s Ministries, is one that brings together young leaders from around the world and creates unity through sharing of cultures.

Those attending from Upper New York will include Thomas Schmidt (Adult Youth Worker), Riddell Van-

Riddell VanSickle

Sickle (Young Adult Voting Delegate), and Youth Delegates Marthalyn Sweet, Riley O’Flynn and Johnny Church. Emily Allen is the Northeastern Jurisdiction’s representative to the Division on Ministries with Young People of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD). Allen has been assisting with the planning of the Convocation.

InsideOut performed during this year’s session. The group is made up of young adults from Upper New York and they serve in roles for Camp & Retreat Ministries. Photos by Matthew Williams unyumc.org 35

IN BRIEF

Five offerings received

The following are the five offerings totals as of June 3; more donations are being received, and we will report final totals when they are known.

A Helping Hand, laity care fund, received during Opening Worship – $5,342.62 Clergy Care Fund, received during Clergy Session – $2,365.70 Love Offering, received at local churches and accepted during the Memorial Service – $24,170.24 Mission of Peace, received during the Celebration of Ministry – $6,200 AU Endowed Scholarship Fund, received during the Service of Ordination and Commissioning – $4,769.16; the AU riders/walkers raised an additional $4,018.33

UMCOR collection

Churches and individuals brought donations (pictured at right) for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to AC 14. Greg Forrester, Assistant General Secretary for Disaster Response in the United States, estimated that 100 flood buckets, 200 school kits and 1,000 health kits were received.

Appointments fixed

During the Service of Appointments on May 31, each district honored those clergy entering new appointments and the congregations that are receiving new pastors.

You can find the complete 2014-2015 clergy appointments list at www.unyumc.org/news/detail/1930.

Chancellor thanked

Before lunch on Friday, Bishop Mark J. Webb called Conference Chancellor Scott DelConte to the stage, and said: “Church, this man is a gift to us. Not only is he a tremendous attorney and chancellor, he is a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. He is passionate about the ministry and mission of the Church, and we say thank you, thank you, thank you.”

NCC ‘reborn’

Seminary presidents extend greetings

According to Bishop Webb, the Conference has a very unique distinction within the denomination: “We are the only Annual ConDeichmann Wolfe ference that has within our ranks two United Methodist seminary presidents.”

Bishop Webb shared that fact during introductions for the Rev. Dr. Wendy Deichmann, president at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Wolfe, president at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.

Both took the stage to offer greetings and encouragement to those who may be feeling a call to ministry in their lives.

“Thank you for your support for our schools, and for your prayers for our schools and for our students who will be the future leaders of our churches,” Dr. Deichmann said.

Read more at www.unyumc.org/news/ detail/1948.

Conference videos

DelConte (left) and Bishop Webb

Ron Bretsch, one of three United Methodist representatives on the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC) Interfaith Relations Commission, spoke about the newly re-organized group and its first nation36 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

wide meeting in nearly three years.

The NCC has undertaken a three-year period of study that has resulted in “renaissance, rebirth (and) rejuvenation” for the organization, Bretsch said.

“The National Council of Churches is being reborn – and The United Methodist Church is exceptionally active in the process.”

Read more about Bretsch’s report at www.unyumc. org/news/detail/1947.

Videos from AC 14 are now available online: Camp & Retreat Ministries Report http://youtu.be/UURs61PdaHI Conference Leadership Report http://youtu.be/ckshUDUT7fs

Opening Worship http://youtu.be/VuT5dDN9NWs Memorial Service http://youtu.be/MIZ7wkGkHC8 Memorial Service – Sermon only http://youtu.be/gI5JCcqXbgI Service of Ordination & Commissioning http://youtu.be/qNJBG_xyeD0 Service of Ordination & Commissioning – Sermon only: http://youtu.be/eDoDthev7Ww Some of the videos can be downloaded from the Conference’s Vimeo page at vimeo.com/uppernewyork.

CCYM report: The year of ‘catching fire’

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onference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) 2013 Co-Chairs Nora Walkley and Vicki Standhart led a short presentation on CCYM at the AC 14 session.

They spoke about the year’s theme, Called to Catch Fire, and what that meant to them.

Standhart compared the fire to “the light of Christ,” and urged everyone “not to hide the fire or be afraid” and to live out God’s call on their lives – whatever that may be.

“Life is an adventure with God,” she said, that only needs a spark to get it going.

Walkley talked about the annual Mission of Peace (MOP), which will send five youth to India in late 2014.

She asked everyone who had ever been on MOP to stand and be recognized. You can learn more about MOP at www.unyumc.org/pages/ detail/2127.

She also introduced this year’s cochairs, who were elected at UpWord! in April. They are J.J. Warren and Kara Tenpas. Meet all the new CCYM leaders at www.unyumc.org/news/

detail/1907.

CCYMers then sang “Good Day.” When they were finished, Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb asked the body, “Isn’t that an amazing sight?”

To the youth, he said: “We love you, we are grateful for you leading us

as we strive to be the Church. Keep helping us be who God is calling us to be.”

He then told members: “I am going to greet them; you can do whatever you want to do.”

Then he greeted each youth with hugs and handshakes.

CCYM plans its upcoming year at training camp

By Maya Smith

D

uring the week of June 29 to July 3, the Upper New York Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) was at its beginning-of-theyear training camp.

This year’s training camp took place at the Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center in Greig. The CCYMers were still getting to know each other including the new members who joined during UP!WORD ‘14.

The new leadership team consists of J.J. Warren and Kara Tenpas (co-chairs), Emily Allen (secretary), Elyse Muder (Gathering Organization chair), Katie Shumway (PowerPoint and Publicity chair), Zach Aiosa (Worship chair), and Logan Howland

(Youth Service Fund educator).

Howland was unable to be present at camp; Jon Standhart filled in for him.

While getting acquainted as a whole CCYM, the new members as well as the veterans were settling into their new committees. During committee times, each committee worked on planning and preparing for the Fall Gatherings East and West as well as UP!WORD ‘15.

Save these dates! Fall Gathering East will be Nov. 14-15 at Schenectady First UMC. Fall Gathering West will be Nov. 21-22 at the Aldersgate UMC in Rochester. The leadership team also decided upon a theme, which will be released later.

Aside from the important planning for CCYM, the group also played

many games of Tip-It. Tip-It is a CCYM favorite, and the games are usually a highlight of training camp.

Ultimate Frisbee is another Frisbee game; the teams are youth versus adults. This year the adults won! The talent show was also a huge success with performances by many of youth as well as the adults.

Overall, training camp was a huge success. Most everything has been planned out for the Fall Gatherings and UP!WORD ‘15. More details about the fall events and the theme will be announced in the next issue.

Learn more about CCYM at www.unyumc.org/pages/ detail/1033.

Smith is a member of the New Hartford UMC.

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AC 14: The session that was

38 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

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AC 14: The session that was

40 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

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AC 14: The session that was

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AC 14: The session that was

44 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

Remembrances M

ary Bartlemus died on July 1, 2014. She was the mother-in-law of the Rev. Jeff Nowak, pastor at Watertown First and Bethany UMCs. Condolences can be sent to Becky and Rev. Nowak in care of First UMC, 236 Mullin St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601.

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astor Marjorie “Mari” Oldroyd Rockwell, 67, died on June 25, 2014. She had served the Sullivanville, Erin and Hicks United Methodist churches in the Mountain View District. Read the full obituary at http://tinyurl.com/Rockwell062514.

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Condolences can be sent to Lyle Robison, 4022 Old State Route 287, Remsen, N.Y. 13438. Read the full obituary at http://tinyurl.com/Robinson 053114.

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r. L. Dean Nelson, 91, died on May 28, 2014. He was the husband of Pastor Janet “Gig” Nelson, who died on Nov. 23, 2013. She served the Cedar Lake, Vernon and Lairdsville UMCs in the Mohawk District. Online condolences may be shared at www.davenportfuneralhome.com. Read the full obituary at http://tinyurl.com/Nelson052814.

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ilma Sylor, 87, died on June 9, 2014.

Mrs. Sylor was the wife of Norb Sylor who served as the director at the Asbury Camp & Retreat Center for many years; she was the kitchen manager there. Read the full obituary at http://tinyurl.com/Sylor060914.

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“ ... ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16

onnie Robison, 67, died on May 31, 2014.

She was the wife of Lyle Robison, lay supply pastor at East Schuyler United Methodist Church.

onald K. Baxter, 70, died on May 21, 2014. He was the husband of Christine Smith Baxter, a certified candidate and seminarian at Drew Theological School in Madison, N.J., where he was a Community Fellow. Mr. Baxter was a lifelong Methodist with connections at Emmaus, Trinity and McKownville UMC’s. Read the full obituary at http://tinyurl. com/Baxter052114.

Apply for 2014 Reaching Our Neighbors funding

By Beth DiCocco, Writer/Editor

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aith-based communities affiliated with the Upper New York Conference that are doing ministry with the poor are invited to apply for program funding through the Reaching Our Neighbors Mission Oversight Team (RON MOT).

Applications are now available through the 12 district offices and on the Conference website (www. unyumc.org/news/detail/1956).

RON MOT continues to focus on building relationships with our neighbors in all places, particularly with those who have been disenfranchised by mainstream society, said Susan Hardy, RON MOT member.

“This means our concept of ministry is broad-based,” she said. “We are looking for ministries that have carefully investigated community concerns, examined why their program is an appropriate response to those

bethdicocco@unyumc.org concerns, and has designed activities that support changing lives and relationships,” Hardy said.

“It is also important for applicants to be able to articulate how Conference resources would support this work.”

In 2013, a total of $49,890 was awarded to 11 ministries.

“Budget constraints from a decrease in ministry share support affect what resources we may be able to offer each year,” Hardy said.

“This is why we strive to increase knowledge and skills through careful stewardship – as well as build stronger relationships with Conference teams.”

Application process As part of a concise application, applicants are asked to be prepared to explain:

• how the program has identified specific community concerns • why the program is the appropriate response to those concerns • which activities will lead to changed lives/relationships • how Conference resources will support such changes Applications will also seek details about the following: • the 2014 budget for the ministry • all current funding sources • evidence of collaboration with other groups • current board of directors Completed applications will be due by midnight on Aug. 15, 2014 in both electronic format to reachingourneighbors@outlook.com and a printed document mailed to Susan G. Hardy, 8840 Harmon Hill Road, Fredonia, N.Y. 14063.

To learn more about Ministry Oversight Teams visit www. unyumc.org/pages/detail/1596. unyumc.org 45

How to reach us BISHOP’S OFFICE

CONFERENCE OFFICE

Upper New York Area Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210 Phone: (315) 422-5027 Fax: (315) 422-5304

Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210 Phone: (315) 424-7878; toll free: (855) 424-7878 Fax: (315) 424-0975

Adirondack District District Superintendent William Mudge PO Box 590 – 54 Bay St. Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 480-4866 Email: AdirondackDistrict@unyumc.org

Finger Lakes District District Superintendent Jeffrey McDowell 1 Franklin Square, Suite 301 Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 781-0188 Fax: (315) 781-0199 Email: Fingerlakesdistrict@unyumc.org

Niagara Frontier District District Superintendent Wayne Butler 247 Cayuga Road, Suite 70 Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (716) 276-8631 Fax: (716) 276-8632 Email: Niagarafrontier@unyumc.org

Genesee Valley District District Superintendent Theodore Anderson 1100 South Goodman St. Rochester, NY 14620 (585) 340-9525 Fax: (585) 340-9526 Email: Geneseevalleyumc@crcds.edu

Northern Flow District District Superintendent Rebekah Sweet 95 E. Main St. Gouverneur, NY 13642 (315) 535-5149 Fax: (315) 535-5151 Email: Northernflowdistrict@unyumc.org

Binghamton District District Superintendent David Kofahl 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY 13760 (607) 748-0662 Fax: (607) 748-0549 Email: Binghamtondistrict@unyumc.org

Mohawk District District Superintendent Sung Ho Lee 105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 13413 (315) 797-1777 Fax: (315) 797-5702 Email: Mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org

Oneonta District District Superintendent Jan Rowell 66 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 441-5102 Fax: (607) 441-5102 Email: Oneontadistrict@unyumc.org

Cornerstone District District Superintendent Sherri Rood 663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 665-2423 Fax: (716) 665-3763 Email: Cornerstonedistrict@unyumc.org

Mountain View District District Superintendent Nancy Adams 65 E. First St. Corning, NY 14830 (607) 962-8047 Fax: (607) 962-8045 Email: Mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org

Albany District District Superintendent Richard Weihing 568 Loudon Road Latham, NY 12110 Mailing: PO Box 511 Newtonville, NY 12128 (518) 608-1246 Email: AlbanyDistrict@unyumc.org

Crossroads District District Superintendent Darryl R. Barrow 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 422-2288 Fax: (315) 424-0975 Email: Crossroadsdistrict@unyumc.org 46 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

On the Conference calendar July 7-Aug. 29

Summer Hours

Conference Office Summer Hours Change The Conference began its summer hours the week of July 7, continuing through Aug. 29, 2014. The office will be closed on Fridays and office hours will be extended to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Thursday during that period.

Aug. 17-21

Director’s Invitational Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, Moravia

This five-day, spiritual leadership seminar was developed to help youth recognize their style of leadership and to develop their own unique God given gifts. www.unyumc.org/news/ detail/1897

Sept. 14 Mountain View DS Installation 4 p.m., Centenary UMC in Bath

Sept. 21 Finger Lakes DS Installation

4 p.m., Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center

More details on the District Superintendent Installation Services will be available in the next issue of the Advocate.

July 15-Aug. 28

Rev. Jeffrey McDowell

Living Well workshops

Finger Lakes DS

Upper New York’s Second Half of Life Ministries and New Faith Communities teams are co-sponsoring a series of five Living Well workshops across UNY. There is also an online version of the workshop that can be taken anytime. www.unyumc.org/news/ detail/1958

Rev. Nancy Adams Mountain View DS

July 17-19

Mission u

Region III – Asbury Camp & Retreat Center, Silver Lake July 18-20

Mission u

Region II – Cazenovia College Aug. 1

Tending the Soul

Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, Moravia Registration ends Rev. Miller Aug. 1 for this twoyear training program that focuses on spiritual direction and congregational formation. Leading Tending the Soul is the Rev. Wendy J. Miller. www.unyumc.org/news/ detail/1871

Creative Worship Workshops To help churches in Upper New York Make Worship More Creative the Conference is hosting four one-day workshops led by creative worship specialist, author and worship coach Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions.

Register by the early-bird discount deadline of Aug. 1 for one of the following one-day workshops: • Niagara Frontier District: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Springville UMC • Oneonta District: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Broad Street UMC, Norwich • Northern Flow District: 1:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the Sandy Creek UMC • Adirondack District: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Queensbury UMC

Oct. 4-5

Road T.R.I.P. The Upper New York Conference staff Road T.R.I.P. is an opportunity for pastors and local church leaders to participate in a series of workshops that will help support you as you carry on the vital work of making disciples for Christ. Similar to the workshops offered this spring, these learning opportunities are designed to be Transformative, Relevant, Innovative and Personal.

Save these dates for the next Road T.R.I.P.: Oct. 4 – Batavia First UMC Oct. 5 – Bemus Point UMC unyumc.org 47

Learn & connect with other planters There are several opportunities planned in the coming months for you to learn and connect with other new faith community leaders:

Time with Paul Nixon

You have two opportunities to connect with other Upper New York new faith community developers and to study from Northeastern Jurisdiction Path 1 Director Paul Nixon.

• Tuesday, July 8, at Smokestack Cowork, 429 State St., Rochester Nixon • Wednesday, July 9, at The Albany Barn (community art space), 48 N. Swan St., Albany Both events will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and lunch will be provided on both days.

If you are interested in attending, contact Karen Campolieto at karen@unyumc.org or the Rev. Dave Masland, Director of New Faith Communities, at dmasland@ unyumc.org so that organizers have an accurate count for meal planning.

48 UNY ADVOCATE JUNE/JULY 2014

The R.A.C.E.

The year’s School of Congregational Development is The R.A.C.E., featuring strategies for Relevant, Authentic, Christ-centered Engagement with the world.

This national school, held Aug. 14-17 at Matthews UMC in Charlotte, N.C., has many offerings for new faith community and new ministry developers.

To learn more, visit http://tiny url.com/THERACE2014.

Launchpad

Launchpad is a Northeastern Jurisdiction-wide boot camp for new faith community developers and their teams.

Provided by Path 1, this year’s event will be held Sept. 12-14 in Upper New York at the Carondelet Hospitality Center in Latham.

The Path 1 Team of The United Methodist Church heard church members say that “It is a different game up here. We cannot use planting models based in suburban communities in the South and Midwest and expect them to work here.” So Path 1 and the congregational developers of the NEJ created Launchpad as a response to the unique challenge of developing new faith communities in the Northeast.

Look in the next issue of the Advocate for more information and how to register.

Path 1 Coaching Training

This event, Oct. 6-9 at the Liverpool UMC, is the first level of basic training for persons who wish to serve as a coach to planters and other pastors who are seeking to develop new ministries.

Monday and Tuesday will focus on foundation level training; Wednesday and Thursday will focus on training specific to those coaching new faith community planters.

“If you feel called to be a coach, this is the place for your to get started,” Rev. Masland said.

Registration details will appear in the next issue of the Advocate.

Ripple Effect

The New England School of Congregational Development will host its next Ripple Effect event Nov. 14-15 at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Mass.

This event promises to provide many great workshops related to planting and developing new ministries.

For more info about the presenter, workshops and registration, visit: www.newenglandschool.org.