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Letter from Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb

Dear sisters and brothers of the Upper New York Area,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Christ!

As we prepare to gather for the 2021 session of Annual Conference, we continue to journey through unprecedented days that require unprecedented ways and responses. While we celebrate the progress of COVID- 19 vaccinations, to ensure the safety and health of all who participate, we will once again gather together by remote communication. While this form of gathering is certainly not our preference, we can be confident that it follows both church law and New York state law as we care for the necessary and essential matters before us.

I continue to give thanks for those who have worked tirelessly to assure that our gathering is possible and will support us during the time we are together. I thank each of you in advance for the spirit of patience and cooperation that we will offer one another. While we learned much from last year’s virtual conference session, there will still be some glitches as the fact remains that there are aspects of what we do easily when we are physically together becomes more challenging in a virtual setting.

We will celebrate together in worship, engage in Christian conferencing and together make decisions that celebrate the opportunity to focus on our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” and how we will carry that mission out in this upcoming year.

The pages in this workbook will prepare you to engage fully in that necessary business that we will consider during our time together. I hope you will take the time to read each report and every page. I urge you to surround your reading, preparation, and consideration in prayer.

I am grateful to be a part of this place called Upper New York, and to share the journey of ministry with each of you. I continue to give thanks to God for the ways in which you have offered the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this season. It continues to be a hard season, yet you have been faithful, as you depend upon the faithfulness of God.

I look forward to our virtual time together. You remain in my prayers.

Bishop Mark J. Webb Resident Bishop, Upper New York Area