news stories
From the desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez: True Fasting During Lent
February 20, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor's Note: The following email was sent to United Methodists of Upper New York on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez on Tuesday, Feb. 20. "…this is the kind of fast I choose...” Isaiah 58:5a Dear United Methodists of Upper New York, Lent is a time for followers of Christ to engage in self-examination, repentance, and deepening our …more
From the Desk of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez: Local Church 2023 Year End Statistics – Important!
February 14, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Editor’s note: The following electronic note was sent on behalf of Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez to active pastors, current local church lay leaders, SPRC chairs, admin council chairs, and treasurers via email on Feb. 13. …more
Commentary: Peace with Justice resources
February 12, 2024 / By Rev. Gary Doupe, Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine-Israel / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Rev. Gary Doupe is a member of the Upper New York Task Force for Peace with Justice in Palestine-Israel. He wrote the following article to inform pastors and members of Upper New York congregations about materials recently placed on our task force web site, hoping to encourage and facilitate local church discussion programs on the crucial issues relating to peace in the Holy Land. Images of …more
What to expect as we prepare for AC24
February 7, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Planning is underway for the 2024 Upper New York Annual Conference session, to be held May 30-June 1 at the SRC Arena, on the campus of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Administrative team leaders met virtually last week to iron out details regarding the upcoming session. Participants included chairpersons from the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, Conference Finance and Administration, Commission on Equitable Compensation, Nominations, and Trustees working in conjunction …more
Address Racial Inequities through CCORR’s Ministry Action Teams
February 6, 2024 / By Georgia Whitney, CCORR Co-Convener / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Have you completed the Conference Commission on Religion and Race’s (CCORR) Imagine No Racism curriculum in the last few years? Have you wanted to be part of a team that is focused on engaging in direct action to address specific racial inequities in your community? If you’re committed to producing policy and/or community change, CCORR wants to help you achieve that goal. Maybe you …more
Reflections on 2023 Cady Grants and new applications being accepted
February 2, 2024 / By Dr. Blenda Smith, Chair of the Cady Grant Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Each year, Cady Grants are awarded to projects and programs that seek to be used for the “benefit or education of minority groups, preferably black or American Indians,” as directed by Ercil Cady, the originator of the Ercil Cady Grant. The committee is pleased to share an update on how the grants were used by the 2023 recipients: Church in the Wild: As this New Faith …more
Transforming lives through compassion in Uganda
January 31, 2024 / By Kevin Miller, Multimedia Content Creator / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and …more
The importance of church statistics
January 19, 2024 / By Autumn Wells, Administrative and Accounting Services Specialist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
There are many reasons why church statistics are so important and why they need to be up-to-date. First and foremost, they are there to help your church mission. Statistics allow a church to see trends such as growth or decline in membership, revenue, expenses, attendance, membership makeup, amount of youth, and more. These trends can help a church plan for the future. There are many distinct groups who view and …more
2024 Bishop’s Retreat focuses on wellness
January 19, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Fellowship, worship, times of learning, and a little bit of magic happened at the 2024 Bishop’s Retreat. This was the first Bishop’s Retreat since 2019, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first retreat hosted by Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez. “This year’s retreat provided a time for reconnecting with God and …more
New York State Minimum Wage / Salary Increase, Effective January 1, 2024
January 11, 2024 / By Tracy Rickett, UNY Human Resources Generalist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, New York State increased the minimum wage for hourly (non-exempt) employees as well as the minimum salary amount for salaried (exempt) employees. The new amounts for New York State (excluding New York City, Long Island, and Westchester) are: HOURLY (Non-exempt): $15.00/hour SALARY (Exempt): $1,124.20 per week / $58,458.40 per year Employers within the Upper New York Conference, regardless of the number of employees, must pay non-exempt staff the minimum wage. …more