The Rev. Abigail Browka appointed as Director of New Faith Communities

Beginning July 1, 2023, the Rev. David Masland will officially retire as Upper New York’s (UNY) Director of New Faith Communities (NFC) and the Rev. Abigail Browka will begin her appointment as the UNY Director of New Faith Communities. Rev. Browka is a long-time member of the UNY NFC team, curator and creator of Everyday Sanctuary app and podcast, and also pastor at Trinity UMC: Whitesboro.

When Nature Calls podcast series, Episode 4: Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center

In Episode 4 of Upper New York’s On the Mission, Season 2: When Nature Calls podcast, Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center Site Director, Ben Mudge, sits down with Marshall and Sara Bailey to discuss their daily theme of "The Water of Life: In the Pool" and reflect on what Aldersgate means to them. 

Attend the Pre-Conference briefing webinar tomorrow

If you missed last night’s Pre-Conference briefing webinar, led by Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, you can still attend tomorrow night, Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m.

To attend the Pre-Conference Briefing, tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., click here and enter passcode: 517259. You can also access this Zoom session by calling (646) 931 3860.

Onsite registration to be offered at AC2023 with a late fee

Registration for the 2023 Upper New York (UNY) Annual Conference, to be held June 1-3, at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena in Syracuse, closed on April 30. 

Thank you to the over 900 people who registered!

You can register onsite and a $50 late fee will be applied.

Watch the UNY 2023 Annual Conference live      

The 2023 Upper New York Annual Conference will be livestreamed for those not planning to attend in-person. Watch what happens during this important and inspiring event beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday June 1.

Collections at the 2023 Annual Conference



You'll have three opportunities to give at the 2023 Annual Conference. Offerings will be collected for the Upper New York Mission Central HUB, the Clergy Care Fund, and Helping Hands. These collections will take place during Opening Worship, Clergy, and Laity Sessions. Make a donation now.

Faith and my mental health journey

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For this occasion, the Rev. Tom LeBeau, pastor at Jamestown: Kidder UMC and Mayville UMC, eloquently shared his mental health struggles and the many steps it has taken to treat and accept his mental illness, learning that it does not define him.

New York releases revised Sexual Harassment Prevention Model policy and training

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), in consultation with the New York State Division of Human Rights, recently released a revised Sexual Harassment Prevention Model policy. At the same time, the NYSDOL released a revised Model Sexual Harassment Prevention training, which includes changes similar to those made to the policy.

Churches should review and update their sexual harassment policies and ensure that they meet the minimum standards outlined in the updated model policy or adopt the model policy provided by the NYSDOL. 

Bishop Burgos Núñez announces clergy appointments

After the prayerful discernment of the Upper New York Cabinet, Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez announces the following appointments. All appointments, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2023.

PWJ Sunday leader kit   

This year’s Peace with Justice Sunday is June 4. The 2023 Special Sunday Kit is a full package of ready-to-use resources to help your church celebrate Peace with Justice Special Sunday and define how we give, why we give, and the impact we make through connectional efforts.

#SeeallthePeople Resource: Rev. Junius Dotson video on reaching new people 

In this video, the late Rev. Junius Dotson, former Chief Executive of Discipleship Ministries, shares what would happen if we "stopped fixing churches and started to see the people Christ calls us to reach,” explaining that “we cannot disciple people that we are not in relationship with.”

California-Pacific Conference makes plans to shelter migrants



With the end of Title 42, United Methodist ministries are preparing for new realities across the Mexico-U.S. border, including a possible surge of migrants over already high numbers. The California-Pacific Conference is making plans to provide people with shelter and has put out an urgent call for assistance. Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, who leads the Conference, also issued a response, sharing her prayers and hopes for the work ahead. 

Historian speaks at the Council of Bishops meeting

Ashley Boggan, a United Methodist historian, leads a teaching session with the Council of Bishops on the history of the episcopacy. She discussed how the role of bishop has changed from the days of Bishop Francis Asbury to now while challenging bishops to embrace the risk-taking leadership style of Methodism’s founder John Wesley. 

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