news stories Tagged “Advocate”
Replacing a pastor who served a church for 17 years
November 6, 2018 / By The Rev. Eleanor Collinsworth, Bath: Centenary UMC
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Fall 2018 Issue of the Advocate, which focused on itinerancy and appointment-making in the United Methodist Church. As if a phone call from a District Superintendent asking you to prayerfully consider a change in appointment doesn’t get your heart beating fast enough, these words will surely do the trick: “…and the person you are following has been …more
Clergy appointments in Upper New York
October 29, 2018 / By the Rev. Brian Fellows, Clifton Springs UMC
Editor's Note: This article was first published in the Fall 2018 issue of the Advocate, which focused on itinerancy in the United Methodist Church. The Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) is privileged to have the ministry of caring for the clergy of the Upper New York (UNY) Conference from the first perception of a call through retirement. BOM works through the 12 District Committees on Ordained Ministry (dCOMs), and in close …more
The Culture of Call
October 29, 2018 / By Rev. Mark Kimpland, Endwell UMC
Editor's Note: This article was first published in the Fall 2018 issue of the Advocate, which focused on itinerancy in the United Methodist Church. Over 40 years ago, while attending a youth retreat at Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center, I encountered the very presence of God calling me into ministry. I only wish I had comprehended the event as a call, but the best I could conjure was simply an occurrence …more
Tommy boldly living his way forward
September 4, 2018 / By Erin Patrick, Church Planter
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of the Advocate, which focused on individuals and churches throughout the Conference who are boldly living their call. Tommy is one of those individuals. The ROAD is a New Faith Community that reaches people by creating a place and sense of belonging through being relational community that is open to all levels of faiths that affirms, loves, and accepts …more
Called into the healing ministries
August 28, 2018 / By Jessica Glaser, Commissioned for the work of Deacon
Editor’s Note: This article was written in April 2018 before Glaser was commissioned. This article originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of the Advocate. I first felt the call to ministry close to 10 years ago, when I lived in Denver. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a deacon. I was inspired by one of the deacons at my church who also served as a labor organizer. I …more
Discerning my call into ministry
August 28, 2018 / By Paul Winkelman
Editor’s Note: This article was written in April 2018 before Winkelman was ordained. My calling to pastoral ministry was not discerned by a specific moment or encounter with God - it occurred more gradually. Since I was very young, I began seeing and experiencing the grace of God through Jesus Christ, by the things that I saw in the world and in nature, through the love of Christ that …more
How God has been calling me into pastoral ministry
August 14, 2018 / By Gavin Hill, Eden United Methodist Church
Editor's Note: The article below was featured in the Summer 2018 issue of the Advocate, which focused on churches and individuals that are boldly living their call. Read how young Gavin Hill, not even out of high school has already been called to pursue a career path into pastoral ministry. It’s important to know this when discerning God’s call—God whispers, he doesn&rsquo …more
Becoming disciples through confirmation
August 14, 2018 / By Heidi Gran, Director of Christian Education, First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush
Editor's Note: The following article was published in the summer 2018 issue of the Advocate. This issue focused on ways in which churches and individuals are boldly living their call. Living boldly into a call can start as early as confirmation. In this article, Heidi Gran describes how successful their confirmation model has been in growing the faith of youth at First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush. Our church …more
Q&A about baptism
July 30, 2018 / By UMC Discipleship Ministries
Q: What does United Methodism fundamentally believe about baptism? A: Baptism is a sacrament. In a sacrament, God uses common elements – in this case, water – as means or vehicles of divine grace. Baptism is administered by the church as the Body of Christ. It is the act of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Q: Is sprinkling the only way …more
How baptism is related to your call
July 30, 2018 / By The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of the Advocate, which focused on individuals and churches throughout the UNY Conference that are boldly living their call. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, …more