news stories
Commentary: The woman at Rafah
June 11, 2024 / By Noelle Stevens / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The following commentary is by Noelle Stevens, a wife, mother, and palliative care physician in northern New York. The views expressed in this reflection are her own, not of Bishop Burgos Núñez or any Upper New York staff member or team. On February 6, 1993, during a visit to Gaza with the Near East Council of Churches, Noelle Stevens captured a photograph of a woman in Rafah …more
Commentary: Lessons from Puerto Rico
June 10, 2024 / By Noah Stierheim / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The following commentary was written by Noah Stierheim about his recent Mission of Peace trip. Mission of Peace (MOP) is a yearly journey of discovery and shalom to nations in our global community sponsored by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Council on Youth Ministries of The United Methodist Church. The most recent MOP trip was to Puerto Rico in February 2024. The Mission of Peace (MOP) trip to Puerto Rico was a …more
UNYAC Creation Justice Team’s composting efforts at 2024 Annual Conference
June 10, 2024 / By Andrew Hartley / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Three 95-gallon containers of food-associated waste were diverted from landfills to composting at the 2024 Annual Conference at the SRC Arena on the campus of Onondaga Community College from May 30 to June 1. The composting was a labor of love arranged by the conference organizing committee and supported by the UNYAC Creation Justice Team (CJT). Items for composting included food scraps, paper plates, and napkins. This AC meeting was the first such …more
Youth voices matter: Bridging generational divides in church leadership
June 6, 2024 / By Shelby Winchell, Director of Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Let our youth have a say. In his passionate plea to United Methodists of Upper New York, Victor Giso from First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush asked the annual conference body to include youth in the life and decisions of the church. “Churches must create platforms for meaningful participation and leadership opportunities. By valuing our insights and fostering an environment of inclusivity, religious institutions can harness …more
Dr. Ashley Boggan offers lessons in history at Annual Conference 2024
June 4, 2024 / By Tara Barnes / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For the Friday afternoon learning session United Methodists of Upper New York heard from “full-blown Wesleyan Metho-nerd” Dr. Ashley Boggan, General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, during the conference’s 2024 annual meeting. But first she took issue with the gathering’s scriptural focus, Philippians 3:13-14. “Here, we are encouraged to forget the past and strive forward to what …more
Clergy and Deaconesses commissioned at Annual Conference 2024
June 1, 2024 / By Tara Barnes / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
A Service for the Celebration of Ministry and Commissioning was held Friday May 31 at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College, part of the 15th annual meeting of the United Methodists of Upper New York. Four people were commissioned for the work of an elder, one for the work of deaconess, and one deaconess transferred her relationship from the Philippines to the Upper New York Conference. Presiding Bishop …more
Being willing partners with God
May 31, 2024 / By Tara Barnes / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez called United Methodists of Upper New York to prioritize relationships in his address to the conference Friday, May 31. “Over the past year and moving forward, we will continue prioritizing relationships over everything else, recognizing the crucial role each one of you plays in this,” said Bishop Héctor. “For the …more
Episcopal nominations
May 22, 2024 / By Carmen FS Vianese, Head of the UNY General & Jurisdictional Conference Delegation
The Upper New York (UNY) delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conference has completed the episcopal nomination process for 2024. Upon the public notice back in March, inviting nominations for episcopal candidates, three esteemed elders and members in full connection were submitted to the delegation. Each nominee was notified of their nomination and prayerfully invited to discern their offering to continue the process, submitting a “summary of their call …more
With Bishop’s help, Liverpool First burns its mortgage
May 22, 2024 / By Charles McChesney, Liverpool First United Methodist Church
It was a double celebration at Liverpool First United Methodist Church on Pentecost Sunday. Along with celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, the more than 200-year-old church celebrated paying off a mortgage it took out decades ago to enlarge and improve the church building and later refinanced to update the kitchen to commercial grade. The celebration included a rededication of the building and the congregation …more
Celebrating Creation with Wild Worship at Webb Mills UMC
May 21, 2024 / By Ann Wood / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On a pleasant April 22 evening, Earth Day, the Webb Mills United Methodist Church hosted a memorable outdoor worship service beneath the shelter of a large pine tree on their church grounds. The event, dubbed “Wild Worship,” attracted members from surrounding area churches and the local community, and even captured the interest of a passerby who decided to join in. The service was led by Pastor Corey …more