June 4th, 2020 Oneonta District News for you
* Please share this newsletter with your friends and congregation members.
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From the Desk of Bishop Webb:
The injustice of racism
On June 2, Upper New York (UNY) Area Resident Bishop, Mark J. Webb, reflecting on the death of George Floyd, sent a letter to the UNY Conference urging both clergy and lay to be committed to increasing their efforts against the virus of racism. He expressed that he will do the same.
He recognized the importance of the work that the Conference Commission on Religion and Race has been doing in “Imagining no Racism” and said that there can no longer be excuses for why this is not our work to do.
Bishop Webb recommended that that every white leader, clergy, and lay purchase and read the book:
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
(2018) by Robin DiAngelo not just to accomplish reading a book, but to be better equipped to lead the church in eliminating racism.
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Our Nation is grieving
We are lamenting the violent actions of authorities, racism, and systemic oppression that has been on display in recent weeks. Meanwhile, most of us have not gathered in our church buildings for nearly three months during the global pandemic.
As we make plans to regather for in-person worship, this virtual conference is designed to prepare your congregation to navigate these challenges.
We invite you to tune in
Tuesday, June 9 from 10am - 12:30pm CDT
.
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UNY Cabinet Offers Recorded Worship Service
T
he Upper New York (UNY) Communications team now has a worship video featuring the UNY Cabinet and other UNY leaders.
The video includes worship songs with singer Nairobi Smith. This video can be used any Sunday in order to offer pastors and worship teams some well-deserved time off. The video is available
here
and is posted on the
Upper New York website.
Please share!
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NEW - FAQs About Churches Reopening
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Many clergy and laity across Upper New York (UNY) have several questions about church reopening guidelines as each region moves through Governor Cuomo’s phases of reopening. Last week, the UNY Conference Communications Team began building an FAQ page based on questions that have been asked so far.
Click here
to see the questions answered thus far.
On Tuesday June 2, the UNY Reopening Taskforce held an FAQ session on Zoom, with over 350 people across UNY in attendance.
Click here
to view the PowerPoint shared during June 2 webinar
and
click here
for a recording of the session.
If you have questions that have yet to be answered, send them along to
[email protected]
and your question will be answered soon.
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Peace With Justice Sunday June 7
When you give on Peace with Justice Sunday, your gift makes possible our critical kingdom work in the world. Because you give:
- Methodists spearhead a peace ministry uniting Arizona border communities
- United Methodists in Liberia are being equipped to implement the denomination's Social Principles to address social-justice issue
- Pennsylvania students are educating their community about sex-trafficking at home and abroad
These initiatives, and hundreds of other ones, are possible because you give. Thanks be to God!
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General Conference 2021 dates announced and will explore use of technology
The Commission on the General Conference has announced new 2021 dates for General Conference following the postponement of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The quadrennial legislative event will take place on
Aug. 29 - Sept. 7, 2021
, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
In making the announcement, the Commission expressed regret that they were not able to accommodate a request from a group of young delegates regarding the reported dates of the postponed General Conference. The group asked the Commission to not schedule meeting dates that would conflict with the start of the academic year in the U.S. They cited concerns that the timing would disproportionately affect young leaders and hinder their participation, as well as that of educators who might not be able to take off work at that time.
However, the Commission did take steps to address a second request contained in a letter from the young adult group to consider alternative methods of accommodating full participation, including utilizing technology to enable virtual voting.
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UMC Bishops announce dates for postponed 2020 Jurisdictional Conferences
The Council of Bishops (COB) has announced new dates for the 2020 Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States which have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States will be held
Nov. 10-12, 2021.
The days prior to and after can be used at the discretion of each Jurisdictional Conference.
In the call letter to Jurisdictional Conferences secretaries and heads of delegations, COB President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey noted that the dates chosen by the Bishops intentionally followed the postponed 2020 General Conference, which will now take place
Aug. 29 - Sept. 7, 2021,
at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Click here
to read more, including the full letter from Bishop Harvey.
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Plan of supervision for the NEJ until Postponed 2021 Jurisdictional Conference
The following announcement comes from Bishop Peggy Johnson, President of the Northeastern Jurisdiction (NEJ) College of Bishops:
The College of Bishops announces the plan for episcopal supervision for the NEJ until the 2021 postponed session of Jurisdictional Conference. This plan was developed in consultation and dialogue with the NEJ Committee on Episcopacy and the Council of Bishops have approved the plans.
The assignments for the jurisdictions are:
1. Greater New Jersey - Bishop John Schol
2. Harrisburg - Bishop Jeremiah Park (postponing retirement)
3. New England - Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar (postponing retirement)
4. New York - Bishop Thomas Bickerton
5. Philadelphia Area - Bishop Peggy Johnson (continuing beyond 12 years)
6. Pittsburgh - Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi
7. Upper New York - Bishop Mark Webb
8. Washington Area - Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
9. West Virginia - Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball
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UNY Annual Conference Information
The 2020 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference has been postponed until October 3.
Refunds for those of you who registered for the May 28-30 Annual Conference are in process. The Upper New York Conference Finance Team has set a goal to try and have all refunds processed by the end of April. This is a work in progress, so your patience is appreciated!
A separate registration form for the October 3 Annual Conference will be available at a later date.
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UPDATE - Resources for Your Spiritual Life
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Rev. Nancy Dibelius, Upper New York Assistant Director of Vital Congregations for Spiritual Life, has been providing videos of helpful spiritual practices to help deepen people's relationship to God during this difficult time.
In
this video
, Rev. Dibelius guides us through the spiritual practice of silence and solitude. Click here to learn this practice during a time when it may be easier to do compared to your normal life pre-pandemic.
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On-Line Giving to Your Church!
Is your church worried about whether your members will continue giving during the COVID-19 pandemic? In addition to having checks sent to your church, you may want to consider implementing an online giving option for your church members.
The UNY Communications Ministry Area has researched different online giving platforms, designed for nonprofits and churches, for you.
Click here
to review different options for you to consider
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Adirondack Lay Servant Ministries is offering classes via Zoom.
Living Our Methodist Beliefs (United Methodist Heritage)
Date: June 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on June 13th,from 9 a.m. to 12 noon .
For more information and to register, please email Arlene Schmidt,
[email protected]
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Imagine no Racism approved as an advanced course in UNY
Great news for Lay Servant Ministries! Imagine No Racism (INR) has been approved as an advanced course for Upper New York. The curriculum, which has a deeply spiritual foundation, has been formatted as a 10-hour course including videos, conversations, and experiential learning. An INR facilitator will lead each course. Each District has at least three trained facilitators who will guide the conversation as the participants experience vital concepts dealing with racism in today’s world. The goal of this experience is to develop each lay servant’s ability to be an ally who walks with people of color to build relationships and take action for justice.
Stay connected to the Conference communications platforms for more details to come.
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Are you, or someone you know, interested in caring for or improving your church's program of history?
The General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church will be offering a Local Church Historian School in 2020 for church historians---or anyone interested in the story of their church.
This is the same school developed and offered by the Indiana Conference in the past---now updated---and being offered by the General Commission on Archives and History to any United Methodist church globally.*
The Local Church Historian School curriculum will cover a wide range of skills necessary to become a "complete" church historian. Participating congregations will benefit from a new consciousness of their heritage and legacy and be motivated to study their unique stories and proclaim it to those around them.
The Book of Discipline says our Conference is "to encourage and assist the local churches in preserving their records, compiling their histories and celebrating their heritage...." This school provides United Methodists the opportunity to do just that.
The school will begin on September, 14, 2020. Plan now to use this opportunity to ensure that the heritage of each of our churches will be celebrated and that each church can receive the full benefit of its own amazing story.
*The only prerequisite for the Local Church Historian School is access to dependable email service. (Minimal computer skills are required.)
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Deadlines for the Report of Trustees, Report of the Finance Committee and the 2019 Local Church Financial Audit have been extended until July 15, 2020.
Thanks to the Oneonta district churches who have submitted these reports!
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UNY Summer Camp Programs Suspended
T
he Upper New York (UNY) Communications Team has prepared a video featuring the UNY Camp & Retreat Ministries (CRM) Lead Team.
By now, you probably know that the UNY CRM Lead Team had to make the difficult decision to suspend their Summer Camps at all the camp sites (Asbury Retreat Center, Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center, Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center, and Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center) with the safety of staff and campers in mind.
Click here
to hear the heart-felt message in this video.
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Bishop Webb Announces Clergy Appointments
Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and the Upper New York Conference announce eight ad interim appointments and eight retirements pending approval of clergy session.
View the full list of changes
here
.
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UNY Conference Center remaining closed to the public
Please note that the Upper New York Conference Center in Liverpool, including the Episcopal office and Crossroads District office will remain closed to the public until Tuesday Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day at the earliest.
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Stay Informed, Up-To-Date Through These Links:
UNY Notes
-Include notices From the Desk of Bishop Webb; Alerts; Announcements; Prayer requests; Death Notices; Camp & Retreat info
Weekly Digest
- Sent every Wednesday. It will include a listing of all of the new information available.
This will help reduce the amount of e-news announcements coming to your computers.
Another great resource is the
UMCOM newslette
r. To subscribe,
click here
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How to get help from UNY Conference for...
Regular needs or questions, contact the Conference
(
315) 898-2000 or email:
[email protected]
and leave a message including what assistance
you are seeking and it will be given to the right person to respond to you.
Technical or creative needs such as online Bible studies/meetings,
live streaming worship, or online giving
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Conference Office Address:
The Upper New York Conference
United Methodist Center
7481 Henry Clay Blvd
Liverpool, N.Y. 13088
Office is closed at this time!
Phone: 315-898-2000 Toll Free: (same) 1-855-424-7878
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Changes in the District Office mailing Address effective immediately:
In an effort to limit trips to and from the post office to pick up mail at our PO Box, I ask that you send mail to the following address until further notice:
Teresa Wood (Oneonta District Office UMC Admin.Assist.)
28 Orchard Street
Oneonta NY 13820
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Oneonta District Office
of the Upper New York Conference
of the United Methodist Church
"Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by... living the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God's love with our neighbors in all places."
Your Partner in Ministry at the Oneonta District Office
Teresa Wood, Administrative Assistant
Fax - 607-353-1034
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