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Recent comments on pages throughout the site

God is in charge

David Meade wrote on 6/6/2010 7:57:21 AM

I am grateful for the example of "follower-ship" of Dr. Lundgren and others, and pray that hope will triumph over fear in the days to come.

Casting call issued for Uniting Conference

Mrs. Byoung Baek wrote on 5/26/2010 10:57:23 AM

Dear Rev. Silvers, Hi ~~~! I am so happy to see your post today. I am 62 years old but very young mind, Korean-American UMW(United Methodist Women)from Rochester Korean UMC in Penfield, NY. Yes~! I want to be part of the Uniting Conference opening worship celebration in this Landmark Celebration. Because I am visiting Korea and coming back on 6/18, I can't rehearse on Friday but I can do any easy part without fear. You may need 62 years old Korean-American UMW in it, right??? I also read your work of Hand Print, I will send you my Korean-American UMW Hand Print to you before 6/10. Thank you for having inclusive worship team in new ~ Uniting Conference. I have been prayed for this moment. Grace & Peace I will be

Upper New York Pre-conference briefings set

larryl@wnyumc.org wrote on 5/3/2010 3:10:04 PM

As soon as they are available from the Bishop's office

2010 Golden Cross Sunday

Deb Germain wrote on 4/29/2010 12:25:19 PM

I agree with Stan. This is not a useful bulletin insert format. Set up to run side by side, on 8.5 x 11 (or 14), in landscape layout, would be useful. And I would also request envelopes? Thank you!

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Bill Gottschalk-Fiellding wrote on 4/26/2010 12:14:45 PM

Dale, Thanks for raising this issue. If raising good questions in a civil and helpful manner (as you have) ever leads to "vocational suicide(!)," we are done as a denomination. Please don't ever hesitate. You have logged too many years as a Conf Secy not to have valuable insight to share. Here's what I would add to this discussion by way of clarification. It's my understanding the move from 9 to 8 districts in the NYWA will be an action taken by the Closing Sessions of NCNY and WNY in accord with 2008 Book of Discipline, para. 415, 4. It's also my understanding Troy and Wyoming will be asked to take a similar action regarding the Embury District. The news release is based on the assumption these actions will be taken, just as the US Constitution was drafted assuming it would be ratified. There's really no other way to proceed, if the Plan of Union is to be coherent and implementable in the time we have. We've made every attempt to offer the Uniting Conference as good a Plan of Union as we, with God's help, can devise. It ain't perfect, but I think it's good enough for us to take a first step without a stumble. Though New ACT does not have (or want!) the authority to change the number of districts, it was asked to develop a Plan of Union for the structure of the new conference. This necessarily involved examining the appropriate number of districts. As New ACT's Districting Task Force report said, reducing the number of districts is proposed in order to free resources for mission. It takes into account current financial limitations and a comparison of district configurations in comparable annual conferences. I think its the right thing to do, given where we are and where we hope to move. Its not without challenges, but nothing we do from here on out will be. We've all got to live with into this new thing with as much boldness and trust as we can find within ourselves and one another. I hope this helps. If its not clear, its probably me (not you) and I welcome continued conversation.

4 Word 2010

Rebecca wrote on 4/26/2010 9:41:09 AM

Will the pictures from the weekend be posted online for us to have?

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Jeff McDowell wrote on 4/26/2010 8:21:35 AM

Ok Dale; so I am not the ONLY one who was surprised by this announcement. I find in ministry, this simple observation may hold true: "HOW things are done are often as important as WHAT gets done." Jeff McDowell, Order of Elders, NCNY conference.

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Dale E. Austin wrote on 4/24/2010 3:19:58 AM

Not really accurate. The Embury District straddles New York and Vermont; the Vermont portion remains intact. From the outset, for purposes of discussion, the Embury District has been considered a Vermont District and has never figured into the number of districts presumed to be in the new conference in New York. The churches in that district which lie in NY have been realigned with the Albany and Oneonta Districts, but the Vermont portion of Embury was not affected. What happens with those churches is Bp. Weaver's call. Embury was bisected, but it was not eliminated. We need to keep this discussion going. I realize that my intentions may be suspect, and that some may view me as trying to make trouble. Quite the contrary, I'm trying to keep us out of trouble. It is always my preference to deal with such issues "in house" rather than dragging the Judicial Council in. But if we get to the floor of the Annual Conference with this proposal as is, someone is sure to request a ruling of law on the legality of this action with respect to para. 415.4. The Judicial Council would then have no choice but to rule that the bishop's actions were inappropriate. I'd like to avoid that, if we can. But since the realignment has already been announced nearly two months prior to the Annual Conferences, I'm not sure how we do that.

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Lawrence Lundgren wrote on 4/23/2010 2:52:52 PM

I do beleive that the planned district changes in what is now the Albany Area also reduce by one district (essentially the Embury District).

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Dale E. Austin wrote on 4/23/2010 1:26:01 PM

With all due respect to Mr. Thoman, that's not the point, at all. Until at least June 19, both WNY and NCNY Annual Conferences are still very much in existence and subject to all the provisions of the Book of Discipline. Para. 415.4 requires that the bishop "form the districts" AFTER the Annual Conference(s) has determined the number. It would be perfectly acceptable to have a "proposed" plan in place, to be implemented upon a vote by the conference(s) involved. But to announce the redistricting as though it were a done deal prior to any such vote is getting the cart before the horse; it does not conform to the requirements of the Book of Discipline. This is true whether we are speaking of WNY and NCNY or of the new conference. Either way, someone needs to vote on this proposal BEFORE the district boundaries are announced. BTW, it should be noted that Bp. Hassinger's redistricting within the Albany Area in no way affected the number of districts, so she was entirely within her authority to do so. Since Bp. Matthews' proposal DOES alter the number of districts, the same cannot be said of this proposal, at this point in time.

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Joe Thoman wrote on 4/22/2010 5:03:16 PM

To Dale Austin. While I agree totally that there needs to be strict adherence to the Discipline, it should be noted that the NCNY and WNY Conferences will no longer exist after June 30, 2010. The "New" conference will then act on the Bishop's recommendation for the redistricing.

Bishop Marcus Matthews announces the realignment of districts effective July 1

Dale E. Austin wrote on 4/22/2010 3:34:32 PM

While I understand the reasoning behind such a move, and at the risk of committing vocational suicide, the way in which this has been handled and decided seems a bit presumptuous on the part of both NewACT and the episcopal office. We are proceeding under the assumption that there will be eight districts where there had previously been nine. However, that decision MUST be made by the Annual Conferences affected by this realignment. By Discipline, the Annual Conference determines the number of districts, and then the bishop determines the boundaries. Until both the NCNY and WNY conferences actually decide that there will be eight districts to replace the current nine, this is still just a proposal. And yet, here we are, proceeding as though it were already a fait accompli. Aren't we getting just a little bit ahead of ourselves here?

2010 Golden Cross Sunday

Stan Scoville wrote on 4/19/2010 10:31:19 AM

I fail to see how this is a useful bulletin insert. It is 3-8 1/2 X 11 sheets of good information, but as best I can tell, not in a bulletin insert format! I assume that we are suppossed to create a bulletin insert out of the 3 pages!

Upper New York Pre-conference briefings set

Mary Jane wrote on 4/8/2010 3:56:44 PM

Will pre-conference materials be made available on the website as in the last few years?

United Methodist involvement in Health Care Reform conversation based on General Conference action

Jeff Childs wrote on 3/24/2010 4:26:39 PM

Thank you for the clarification. I for one am glad to see this reform being passed. But it is not done, there is still a long ways to go for health insurance for all. But this is a big first step.

Appeal made for Health Kits for Haiti

Randy Kiehle wrote on 2/9/2010 7:13:10 PM

Our UMW was already planning to make Health Kits. Is there a cut off date when these kits need to be at the collection churches?

WNY Board of Laity schedules series of listening sessions

Ellen Klock wrote on 1/8/2010 1:23:13 PM

Scott - I am so sorry I will be unable to attend. I hate to miss what sounds to be an informative meeting, but the date for my area is the same night I have to go to Clarence Town Court with my son to fight a ticket he received. I know I'll see you soon. Ellen

The WNY/NCNY Conference Fall Youth Gathering

Dee Finch wrote on 10/16/2009 8:46:23 PM

Can't wait to see youth and adults of the Conferences gathered together for fun and worship! Thanks CCYM'ers for putting this event together!!! :)

Only essential structure planned as new conference comes together

Pastor Jeff McDowell wrote on 10/7/2009 3:49:26 PM

May God continue to inspire vision among us as we move forth into the unknown! I do hope the teams and individuals charged with the management of this transition will take a serious look at the role of the Superintendent, in light of a balanced and healthy schedule. The DS's are role models and if they are constantly overworked in terms of hours and responsbilities, this does not show forth a balanced spirituality. I do also hope that the district liness are not changed right away, as this would be yet another transition that may make it difficult for local churches to navigate. I believe the addition of an old - fashioned District Associate position may help. Peace to you all, Jeff McDowell

UMCOR responds to three emergencies

Gerry Kauffman Retired Local Pastor wrote on 10/6/2009 10:40:09 AM

I am a member of New Heights UMC, Jamestown, NY and I make a monthly offering to UMCOR, knowing that our offering goes directly to needs around the world. I served in the Air Force and was stationed at Dau, PI and located at the edge of Clark Field.

Donations and Volunteers needed for Southern Tier

Cathie Phelps wrote on 9/1/2009 10:05:57 AM

My sister-in-law and I spent Monday, Aug. 31, helping at the Love InC distribution center for donated items at the Moose Hall in Gowanda. They have to move this week to a store on Main Street and could use packers and unpackers because it will be a big job. The center will be open about two more months. Call Gowanda Love InC to volunteer. No clothing is being accepted!

Camp Asbury

Leslie Shisler wrote on 7/21/2009 7:24:47 PM

I am looking for Jenna Rae Gesel-Aquatics. I am her Aunt Leslie & I wanted to email her from Florida but I got an undeliverable email response to the address that I was given. That is asburycampers@wnyunc.org Could you please let me know if I have the right address or not? Thank you.

Resident bishop of Alabama-West Florida Conference shares Word with WNY

Linda Bourey wrote on 6/29/2009 1:16:52 PM

How we miss hearing Bishop Leeland speak/preach here in North Carolina - he blesses all who will hear him!

Name suggestions for new Conference sought

Kim Smith wrote on 6/19/2009 12:00:58 AM

I have suggested that we call the new conference the "Koinonia" conference. My reasoning for this is that we will be a new conference, much like the early Christian church. In the forming of this new conference, we are coming together as sisters and brothers who share a common bond, in that our basic belief is that Jesus Christ is Lord. This new Christian fellowship is a historic event in New York, where we will work together to proclaim that salvation comes through Jesus Christ. The four conferences will joining together to fulfill our calling of making disciples.

Name suggestions for new Conference sought

James Pollard wrote on 6/15/2009 7:42:30 PM

Lest anyone be confused, the comment dated 6/15/09 posted as "MES POLLARD" should read from James Pollard.