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ADVOCATEA PUBLICATION OF THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 - MARCH 2013

Our vision: To live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places

Upper New Yorkwww.unyumc.org

REMINDER: ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION ARE DUE ON THE 5TH OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE.

By Beth DiCoccoAdvocate writerAlong with our new

bishop, there are a few other changes that will make the 2013 Session different from years past.

For Bishop Mark J. Webb, who was consecrated as a bishop in July 2012, this will be the first time he presides over an Annual Conference Session.

“Annual Conference provides us with an oppor-tunity to celebrate with one another our journey with Christ and our response to the mission we have been given to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transfor-mation of the world,” Bishop Webb said. “I look for-ward to sharing together in meaningful times of worship that will deepen us, partici-pating in conversations that will sharpen us and building stronger relationships with one another that will be the foundation of all that we are and all that we do.”

“I encourage us to ap-proach the Session of Annual Conference with prayer that seeks to move us aside and allows God to work among us in a way that will strength-en our Church and increase our relevance and influence as the body of Christ within the world,” he said.

Some of the changes this year include how committee and council reports will be

voted on, as well as a change to the annual retirement dinner and the Memorial Service.

This year, lunch breaks will serve up more than food; members will have an oppor-

tunity to attend workshops on Friday and Saturday on topics of their choice.

Conference members also will be asked to ratify four amendments to The United Methodist Church Constitu-

tion that were approved at the 2012 General Confer-ence in Tampa, Fla.

The 2013 AC Session will run from Thursday, May 30, to Saturday, June 1. Even with the changes, there is much that will remain the same, including the location of the Session, which for the second year in a row will take place at the OnCenter in Syracuse.

The theme of this year’s AC Session will also likely be familiar. This is the second in a four-Session cycle based on the theme Planting God’s Fu-ture in Hearts and Neighbors. Last year’s Session was Called to Till. This year, it is Called to Sow. (Called to Nourish and Called to Harvest will follow in 2014 and 2015 respectively.)

The Opening Worship is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. May 30. The theme is The Power of the Seed based on Mark 4:1-9, the Parable of the Sower, and Hosea 10:12 (NIV):

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”

Registration for AC 13 is open, and the registration guidelines and a registration form appear on Pages 10 and 11 in this issue.

Continued on page 9

Changes in bloom for AC 2013

LOOKING BEYOND OUR ‘PREHISTORIC

WAYS’New Faith

Communities plans events for April

Page 4

EASTER MESSAGE

Bishop Mark J. Webb’s Easter message to Upper New York

Page 3

MULENGA ANSWERS

A NEW CALLConference Director of Communications the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga heads to

Baltimore-Washington Page 4

NATIONAL HONORThe Rev. Robert Stoppert given

Legacy of Leadership AwardPage 5

BIG IDEAChurch’s library lends a lot to community – and

the churchPage 7

CCYMGet ready for

UP!WORD 2013South Africa is new

destination for MOP ‘14Page 6

The 2013 Annual Conference Session will take place at the OnCenter in Syracuse, which was also the site of the 2012 AC Session pictured here. Photo by Matthew Williams.

PRE-CONFERENCE BRIEFINGS

Districts will host Page 8

AC 13 REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

Pages 10-11

AC 13 REGISTRATION FORM2

PEGG TO LEAD MEMORIALThe Rev. William Pegg talks about preparing to preach at

Memorial ServicePage 8

Learn more about AC 2013

Rev. Mulenga

INSIDE

The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate • March 2013

The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly tombs ever built, but there is something fascinating about its beginnings. In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial to her. The Shah placed his wife’s casket in the middle of a parcel of land, and construction of the temple literally began around it.

There’s a story told that says after several years had passed, the Shah’s grief for his wife gave way to a pas-sion for the project. One day while he was surveying the site, he reportedly stumbled over a wooden box, and had his workers

throw it out. It was months before he realized that his wife’s casket had been destroyed.

The original purpose for the memorial became lost in the details of its construc-tion.

Sometimes we get so busy living that we forget the purpose for our lives. Then

there are moments when we realize our state, and we begin to search for some-thing more ... we find ourselves with a desire for change.

I believe God places within us a desire for change, a desire to know and expe-rience the complete promises of God within our lives, a desire for a more inti-mate relationship with Jesus Christ, one another and the world around us.

The season of Lent gives us a great opportunity to focus anew upon that de-sire deep within us. The journey of Lent provides us an opportunity to remember that our desire for God takes us to a place where we lay down everything that is about us SO THAT we can receive everything that is Jesus and live fully our original purpose.

Thankfully, over the last few years, we as United Methodists have learned the value and richness of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Somewhere I once read or heard a powerful truth about the act of receiving ashes: The receiving of ashes begins with a capital I placed upon our foreheads. It represents who we are – our strengths and our weaknesses. It represents the good things we do and the ways in which we keep God’s commandments.

It represents the not-so-good things we do and the times we fail to keep God’s commandments. The capital I represents that we were created by God and are and called into a relationship with God. It also represents that standing alone, be-cause of sin, we are separated from God.

The receiving of ashes doesn’t end with a capital I, but rather with a stroke that wipes out and covers up the I. A horizontal stroke that reminds us of the loving arms of Christ stretched out on the cross so that we can be welcomed home, receive the promises offered and know God in the way that we desire.

Too often in our desire for God – in our desire to grow in our relationship with God – we become too dependent upon the I. The I is not enough. But because of God’s gift of Jesus the I is covered; the cross becomes a reality in our lives, and the impossible becomes very possible.

This Lenten Season, let your continu-ing pursuit of God allow you to get out of the way and let God cover you, mold you and shape you into the person you were created to be, living the purpose God has for you.

May you experience a holy Lent, a season of change and a time of renewal.

ADVOCATE STAFF

EDITOR/PUBLISHERRev. Maidstone Mulenga

Director of Communications(315) 424.7878 x307

[email protected]

DEPUTY EDITORBeth DiCoccoConference

writer/editor(315) 424.7878 x319

bethdicocco@ unyumc.org

DESIGNER/WRITERChristian Vischi

Communications associate

(315) 424.7878 x313christianvischi@

unyumc.org

E-ADVOCATE/WEBAshley VanSickle

Multimedia/web coordinator

(315) 424.7878 x320ashleyvansickle@

unyumc.org

ADMIN. ASST. to the director

Karen Campolieto(315) 424.7878 x304karencampolieto@

unyumc.org

IT MANAGERClyde Wolford

(315) 424.7878 x322clydewolford@

unyumc.org

UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST

ADVOCATERESIDENT BISHOP Mark J. Webb

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Maidstone Mulenga

Upper New York United Methodist Advocate is a monthly newspaper of the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, whose mission is to be God’s love with all our neighbors in all places. Materials in the Advocate may not be reproduced unless the item is accompanied by a copyright notation.

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Adirondack DistrictSuperintendent William Mudge396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-5332 (518) 584-8214 x2 Fax: (518) 584-8378 Email: [email protected]

Albany DistrictSuperintendent Richard Weihing396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-5332 (518) 584-8214 x3 Fax: (518) 584-8378 Email: [email protected]

Binghamton DistrictSuperintendent David Masland53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY 13760-5497 (607) 748-0662 Fax: (607) 748-0549 Email: [email protected]

Cornerstone DistrictSuperintendent Sherri Rood663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 665-2423 Fax: (716) 665-3763 Email: [email protected]

Crossroads DistrictSuperintendent Darryl R. Barrow324 University Ave. 3rd FloorSyracuse, NY 13210Phone: (315) 422-2288 Fax: (315) 424-0975Email: [email protected]

Finger Lakes DistrictSuperintendent Richard Barton1 Franklin Square, Suite 301Geneva NY 14456(315) 781-0188 Fax: (315) 781-0199 Email: [email protected]

Genesee Valley DistrictSuperintendent Theodore Anderson1100 South Goodman St. Rochester, NY 14620(585) 340-9525 Fax: (585) 340-9526 Email: [email protected]

Mohawk DistrictSuperintendent Sung Ho Lee105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY 13413 (315) 797-1777 Fax: (315) 797-5702 Email: [email protected]

Mountain View District Superintendent Cathy Stengel65 E. First St. Corning, NY 14830 (607) 962-8047 Fax: (607) 962-8045 Email: [email protected]

Niagara Frontier DistrictSuperintendent Wayne Butler247 Cayuga Road, Suite 70 Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (716) 276-8631 Fax: (716) 276-8632 Email: [email protected]

Northern Flow DistrictSuperintendent Rebekah Sweet95 E. Main St. Gouverneur, NY 13642 (315) 535-5149 Fax: (315) 535-5151 Email: [email protected]

Oneonta DistrictSuperintendent Jan Rowell66 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 441-5102 Fax: (607) 441-5102 Email: [email protected]

MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY 13760Diane Alexander, media resource center coordinator(607) 757-0608 [email protected].

From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb

BISHOP’S OFFICEUpper New York Area Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210Phone: (315) 422-5027 Fax: (315) 422-5304

CONFERENCE OFFICEUpper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210Phone: (315) 424-7878; toll free: (855) 424-7878Fax: (315) 424-0975

DISTRICTS

STORY IDEASThe Advocate is always looking for news and story ideas. E-mail story ideas to:unyadvocate@ unyumc.org.Please include a phone number so that we can follow up. Or you can call Beth DiCocco, Advocate deputy editor, at (315) 424-7878 ext. 319.Photos can also be sent via email. Please send hi-res versions, at least 300 dpi at full size.

Don’t lose sight of our lives’ purpose

HOW TO REACH US

March 2013 • The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate


In consultation with Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J.

Webb, the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga has accepted an appointment in the Baltimore-Wash-ington Conference (BWC) effective April 1, 2013. Rev. Mulenga will be ap-pointed to the BWC Conference Center staff in charge of Global Affairs and

Electronic Media. He will retain his clergy membership as a full elder in the Upper New York Annual Confer-ence (UNYAC).

A native of Zambia, Rev. Mulenga said he is looking forward to his new ministry as The United Methodist Church continues to grow globally.

Rev. Mulenga has served as Direc-tor of Communications in Upper New York since June 19, 2010; he said he is thankful for the prayerful support he’s received from UNYAC members, the Bishop, the Cabinet and Confer-ence staff over the years. He also

expressed his thanks for the loving encouragement of his wife and two daughters in making this decision.

“I was honored and indeed hum-bled to serve as the first-ever Direc-tor of Communications for the Upper New York Annual Conference. But I believe God is calling me now to serve in another area,” said Rev. Mulenga, who had worked nearly 20 years in various editing positions in the news-paper industry before answering a call to ministry. Rev. Mulenga holds mas-ter’s degrees in divinity and computer-mediated communications.

Applications for the position of Di-rector of Communications are being accepted until March 25.

A complete job description and re-quirements are available on the Con-ference website www.unyumc.org.

Read Rev. Mulenga’s farewell columnin the April issue

Farewell

UNY Communications Director answers a new callMulenga accepts a new position with the Baltimore-Washington Conference

By Christian VischiAdvocate writer

Upper New York Area Resi-dent Bishop Mark J. Webb will be meeting with clergy and laity in each of the districts during designated District Days begin-ning March 6 and continuing throughout 2013.

These are different from the Pre-Conference Briefing ses-sions that will take place in each district (see story on page 8).

Bishop Webb is planning these District Days as times of worship, fellowship and conver-sation. Clergy will meet with Bishop Webb for a morning or early afternoon session on the theme “The Heart of a Leader.” Bishop Webb and clergy will focus their discussion on the exciting opportunity of being a leader in the 21st-century Church.

These sessions will close with Holy Communion.

Clergy are encouraged to attend an open session with Bishop Webb and laity from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. These gather-ings will provide an opportunity to focus on the Conference’s mission to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places.”

The theme of these evening sessions will be “Shaping our World by Sharing our Story.”

The scheduled Bishop’s Dis-trict Days are (times listed are for the clergy-only sessions):

• March 6 – Finger Lakes District, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Auburn First UMC, 99 South St.

• March 11 – Mohawk Dis-trict, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clinton UMC, 105 Utica Road

• March 19 – Crossroads District, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Camillus Immanuel UMC, 303 Kasson Road

• Sept. 17 – Cornerstone Dis trict

• Sept. 18 – Mountain View District

• Sept. 24 – Binghamton District

• Oct. 2 – Niagara Frontier District

• Oct. 16 – Northern Flow District

• Nov. 5 – Genesee Valley District

• Dec. 4 – Oneonta District

The Albany and Adirondack districts dates have not yet been finalized. The times of the clergy sessions and the specific locations not listed above will be announced soon.

Bishop schedules District Days

Rev. Mulenga

By Christian VischiAdvocate writer A New Faith Communities event April 5-6 aims

to showcase how attendees can get involved with this new movement under way in the Upper New York Annual Conference.

This 23-hour networking, learning and inspira-tional event, sponsored by the New Faith Commu-

nities Development Team, will feature a variety of workshops, presentations and informal opportunities to connect with other “planters” and “dreamers.”

“Moving Beyond Our Prehis-toric Ways” will be held at the Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center in Moravia; the event opens at 5 p.m. April 5; closing worship will end by 4 p.m. April 6.

The keynote speaker on Friday night will be John Fink, CFO of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and long-time United Methodist, on the topic “How to Build a Dream From Scratch.”

Saturday’s workshops will be provided by: • The Rev. Lydia Munoz, music director at 2012

Annual Conference Session and planter of a minis-try reaching Hispanic young adults.

• The Rev. Tom Kraft, pastor at the Pendleton Center UMC in North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls First UMC (Niagara Frontier District), who has been utilizing a multi-site, multi-congregation-within-the-church approach to reach new people.

• Former church planters the Rev. Alan Howe, pastor at Rome First UMC (Mohawk District), and local pastor the Rev. Annette Snedaker on the topic of coaching.

• Keith Chadwick, former CEO of the United Methodist Homes in Binghamton, who will discuss

fundraising for planting.Binghamton District Superin-

tendent Dave Masland, who will begin his new role as director of New Faith Communities on July 1, will offer the message during the closing worship and Holy Communion.

“If you are already planting something new in the Confer-ence, this event is for you,” Rev. Masland said. “If you are feeling called to plant something new in

the future, this event is for you. If you are just plain curious to see what God is up to, this event is for you.”

The deadline to register is March 29. The $95 registration fee covers the cost of three meals and overnight accommodations; there is a limit of 81 overnight guests for this event, but there is addi-tional room for commuters. Visit the Conference website at www.unyumc.org to register.

‘Building dreams’ topic for New Faith Communities event

Rev. Masland

As he did on his initial tour of the Upper New York Area, Bishop Mark J. Webb will visit each of the Conference’s 12 districts in 2013. He will talk to both clergy and laity about leading the Con-ference to fulfill its mission “to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places.” NOTE: These are different from the Pre-Conference Briefings that will take place in each district (see story on page 8). Above photo by Maidstone Mulenga; photo at left by Beth DiCocco.

Fink


Upper New York Camp and Retreat Min-istries (CRM) has named Jim Daly as director of the Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center in Warrensburg.

Daly will be responsible for the overall operation of the site.

“The selection team is very excited to welcome Jim to the CRM team. He brings significant experience and gifts to the Annual

Conference and specifically to Skye Farm,” said Mike Huber, associate director of Connectional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Minis-tries. “I have known Jim as a colleague in ministry for many years, and have re-spected his ministry and the faithful person that he is.”

Daly has extensive expe-rience in Camp and Retreat

Ministries, and currently directs a United Methodist summer camp in the Upper Pen-insula of Michigan. He is a former director of the Asbury Camp & Retreat Center in Perry, and served in the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference as the director of camping minis-tries. His volunteer work includes emergency services as a licensed medical first responder. He is also a licensed amateur radio operator.

Daly has an AAS degree in forest technol-ogy from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich., and completed his cer-tification in Camp and Retreat Ministries in 2003. He has served as a board member on the American Camp Association’s Keystone

(Pennsylvania) Regional Section.Daly said he is looking forward to his role

as director of Skye Farm, and is excited to be returning to New York where he will be closer to his family. He said he plans to spend quality time with his grandchildren whenever possible.

Asbury director Riddell elected to national board

David Riddell, director of the Asbury Camp & Retreat Center, has been elected by his col-leagues in the camp and retreat community of the Northeastern Jurisdic-tion (NEJ) as a board mem-ber on the National Camp and Retreat Committee, Inc. (NCRC). Rev. Hannah Bon-ner, an elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Confer-ence, was the other newly elected member from NEJ.

The NCRC is an incor-porated board of directors, elected by peers to repre-sent and serve as national leaders working on broad initiatives, as well as to resource, equip and encourage leaders in Camp and Retreat Ministries. NCRC is an affiliate of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church.

By Christian VischiAdvocate writer

The Rev. Robert Stoppert, an elder of the Upper New York Annual Con-ference, is retired, but not quite “at that age where people say, ‘Bob Stop-pert, is he still living?’” he joked during a phone conversation from Florida.

Rev. Stoppert hasn’t retired to a tropical clime, he was in Florida for the 2013 National United Methodist Camp and Retreat Leaders’ Gather-ing in January. And his invitation came with special recognition: He was presented with the Legacy of Leader-ship Award.

The award was created in 2011 to honor colleagues who have made significant contributions to leadership development in the area of Camp and Retreat Ministries on a national level. The recipients are selected by the National United Methodist Camp and Retreat Committee.

Rev. Stoppert is the first from this Conference to receive the award, and his mark on Camp and Retreat Ministries far exceeds the boundaries of Upper New York.

Rev. Stoppert was the first direc-tor/manager hired at the Casowasco Conference Center as it was known in 1975. He also served as the Confer-ence director of camping ministries during the uniting of the Northern New York and Central New York an-nual conferences, and he was active at the Northeastern Jurisdictional level, including serving as chairperson of the national committee for three years.

“He was influential on the national committee in establishing educational opportunities for young leaders. His focus on developing and resourc-

ing young leaders was prominent throughout his ministry,” said Mike Huber, Conference associate director of Connectional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Ministries.

“He left camping ministries to serve on the Bishop’s Cabinet, al-though he remained a faithful support-er and advocate for the ministry area of Camp and Retreat Ministries. Bob was the founding donor to establish the Legacy of Leadership Fund.”

At the Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center, a room in the Em-maus Commons is named the Stop-

pert Meeting Room in honor of his commitment to Casowasco over the years. In turn, Rev. Stoppert expressed his gratitude to the Con-ference for its support of Camp and Retreat ministries.

“I am very pleased that our new Annual Conference has continued to hold Camp and Retreat Ministries as one of the important ministries. It is always in times of tight money when someone wants to cut,” Rev. Stoppert said. “I am most appreciative of our new Conference’s commitment, and I hope that that continues.”

“(Camp and Retreat Ministries) has been an important part of my minis-try. I have learned a lot from my col-leagues,” he said. “It was a good niche for me. I learned a lot about myself as well as what I was able to share with others. Those of us who have been in this ministry carry the specialness with us.”

Rev. Stoppert said the Leaders’ Gathering in Florida was a wonder-ful experience as he heard from “a number of people here” – the “next generation” of camp and retreat lead-ers – talking about “my role in their ministry and what they learned from me.”

He was one of two being honored this year with the Legacy of Leader-ship Award.

Stoppert receives Legacy of Leadership Award

Rev. Robert Stoppert, center, with his Legacy of Leadership Award, which honors those who have contributed to Camp and Retreat Ministries. At left is Mike Huber, associate director of Connectional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Ministries, and at right, the Rev. Kevin Witt, director of Camp and Retreat Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship. Photo by Matt Williams.

Riddell

Former Asbury director Daly named to head Skye Farm

Daly

Camp and Retreat Ministries


Discover what being a child of God really meansBy Steve Akin

“Hello My Name Is ________, And I Am A Child Of God!”

Come check out what being a child of God really means to you at UP!WORD 2013! There will be tons of fun, lots of great games, and plenty of great music!

Come enjoy a fantastic fun-filled weekend amongst some of God’s children across our great Conference!

Remember to register ASAP! There is a form be-low OR you can download one from the UNYUMC website.

Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. on April 26 at the Liverpool Holiday Inn.

There will be many fun events packed into this

fun, God-filled weekend. Some of these events include:

• Great music and worship sessions led by our own youth on Conference Council on Youth Ministries. Come on a wild ride as we discover who we are as children of God!

• Informative and guiding work-shops such as “Hello My Name is MOP,” “Hello My Name is YSF,” “Hello My Name is Justice,” “Hello My Name is Youth Advi-sor,” “Hello My Name is Teach

Us How To Pray,” and, “Hello My name is Mingler”

• Games and late-night options will also be of-fered. There will be intense Foursquare games, crazy dance parties, open mic on the main stage and Wacky Olympics will be held as well!

KEEP IN MIND…• Food needs to be provided by your individual

youth group. The registration fee covers only the hotel room and the cost for the event.

• The Youth Service Fund (YSF) will be selling items such as T-shirts, sweatpants, drinks, plenty of candy bars and other snacks to benefit the fund.

• Follow your home church’s policies for safe sanctuaries and travel guidelines.

• Follow the rules for rooming and transporta-tion.

For any of you who have been part of an NEJ Mission of Peace in past years, you’ll know the number one rule is flex-ibility.

The 2014 Mission of Peace (MOP) is already demonstrating flexibility, as we announce a change of location for the trip; the MOP to Zimbabwe will instead be a trip to South Africa.

Information and the application form for the South Africa trip are available on the Conference website; go to www.unyumc.org, choose Conference Council on Youth Ministries at the bottom of the page, and then choose MOP 2014 South Africa from the bar on the right.

Applicants will be interviewed by a team of former MOPers at UP!WORD on April 26 at the Liverpool Holiday Inn (see story below).

IMPORTANT: If you have already filled out the Zimbabwe application and sent it in, it’s OK. We’ll use that one – no need to fill out a new one. But please be aware of the change of location.

Any questions? Please contact, the Rev. Ted Anderson at [email protected].

Akin

South Africa new MOP 2014

destinationMOP 2013 to Cuba

From Dec. 28, 2012 to Jan. 13, 2013, youth and adults from UNYAC were part of the 2013 MOP to Cuba. Traveling were: Sarah Muder, New Hartford First UMC; Ruth McGaugh, Calvary UMC, Latham; Sierra Nolan, Allentown UMC; Marthalyn Sweet, Gouverneur First UMC; Mary Church, Rochester, Asbury First UMC; Bren-non Thompson, Rochester, Asbury First UMC; Nora Walkley, East Greenbush First UMC; Katie Aiosa, Vestal Center UMC; Alisyn Klock, Endicott, Central UMC; and adults Judy and the Rev. Tony Hipes and Mary and the Rev. Ted Anderson. Photos courtesy of CCYM.


The Rev. Frances Hemstreet, pastor at the Harrisville and Natural Bridge UMCs (Northern Flow District), shared a mission project started by her church. The goal was to set up a lending library for children in their community, which does not have a public library. It also provided a chance to restart the church’s Sunday school.

“I hope that reading the story encourages folks in small membership UMCs in small towns where there are no libraries to see that it takes time, energy, and donations – but not necessarily lots of money – to start these kinds of mission projects,” said Rev. Hemstreet.

Rev. Hemstreet offered this account of how the proj-ect got started, where things stand now and what she’d like to see develop in the future:

What it is: The original idea was to start a weekly children’s reading hour at Natural Bridge UMC. It was not my original idea – something very similar was started in the late 1970s by the Rev. Roy Miller at Grace UMC in Jamestown. That program was called Reachout. I was Reachout’s executive director when I served Buffalo Street and Grace UMCs

in the mid 1980s, and I initiated the reading program there. Later

on, Reachout began to expand to serve children in other ways and in other areas of the city as well.

When I floated the idea, the congregation just started donating books, mostly children’s books – picture books and chapter books. They also began to donate adult books, mostly novels and self-help books. We started the children’s reading program with the books in cardboard boxes, set on their sides, on tables. We started with a story-reading time and the time to choose up to two books at a time – the children sign out the books and promise to bring them back in one week.

When it started: Summer 2012, after VBS, when I was trying to figure out a way to get neigh-borhood children into some sort of enrichment programming and to provide a paid part-time job for an adult, which has not happened yet.

Where it is: In the lower level social hall/multi-purpose room of the Natural Bridge UMC. Natu-ral Bridge is an old mill/mining town that now lacks any industry. The local elementary school closed a number of years ago. In 2001, the town decided to shift the water supply from the local river to a well system, and they put the well right in the middle of the ball field where the kids used to play. Now the only place for kids and teens to play and hang out is the fire hall parking lot, where there is a basketball hoop. There is no public library in the area. There are few social groups. Poverty and de-spair are everywhere.

How it’s going: The reading pro-gram started in August 2012 as a two-hour program on Monday afternoons. It shifted to an early evening time slot

when school started. The Sunday School program continues on Sunday afternoons. We put on a Christmas play, written by me, and we offered a live nativity on the Sunday before Christmas (with lots of help from the adults of the church family). At-tendance was double what it had been in previous years. We will continue to offer Sunday School this spring on Epiphany, Lenten and Easter themes, and I hope that an Easter Egg hunt will bring out more of the neighborhood kids again.

Who has contributed to it: The book donors are mostly anonymous. It has been truly a team ef-fort between me, pastor here since 2007, and lots of folks in the church family, including:

Lori Hickey, a public school teacher who is also a certified lay speaker and very active in the church, is the one who long had the vision of meeting the needs of neighborhood children and youth – and she is now a volunteer staff member;

Pastor Ila Smith, who brings kids to the Sunday School and helps run that program on Sunday after-noons.

JoEllen Tuttle and the Conference team from the Violet’s Garden mission project. I applied for a grant last summer, but they told me that if I wanted the grant, I need to make a more spiritual emphasis. That gave me the idea to use this to restart the Sun-day School. I will apply for a grant again this year.

Colin Lopez, a local teen who brought over his younger siblings to the reading/craft hour in September and asked when we could have Sunday School again – I told him that if he brought the kids, I would provide the lessons, crafts and snacks. We set it for Sunday afternoons at 1:30. He kept his part of the deal, and I kept mine. There have been neighborhood kids here since we started that pro-gram in early October. Attendance has been two to nine children ranging in age from 4 to 14. I hope it will be higher as the warmer weather comes.

Pam Conlin, the library technician at Harrisville Public Library, and member of the Harrisville United Methodist Church family, who has made available a few bookshelves.

Doc Snell and the United Methodist Men’s group of Asbury UMC in Watertown; just after New Year’s 2013, I received word that the UMM was seeking a winter mission project – and so they are building some bookshelves – four will be on casters, and one will be stationary. They have received fund-ing for the bookshelves already.

Future plans: I have big dreams! • When the bookshelves arrive, I hope we can

start publicizing this “library” in the community, with regular times for adults and children to come.

• I hope that we can expand services to include times for parents and preschoolers, literacy assis-tance, and a senior citizen book club, and a craft/social club for adults.

• If there is the desire for it, I would love to start a weekly Bible study for adults – that would qualify as one of the new faith communities that our Con-ference is trying to establish.

• I hope that we can build a network of library users so that they can begin to share rides, babysit-ting, and whatever else they need so that they can get to public libraries in Carthage and Harrisville – and use the computers there and the resources

of the North Country Library System.

• I would also like to start a parish nurse/nutritionist pro-gram, so that those who have little access to health care can be regularly checked for basic health issues and receive nutrition as-sistance.

• I would also like to work with the local food pantries to start an informal (not federally funded) summer lunch program for the children and youth of the neighborhood and call it The Picnic Hour – with prayer, food, and games.

Church’s library lends much to the community

Rev. Hemstreet

Upper New York churches have lots of big ideas for ministries and mission projects that work for the church and its community. We are sharing these ideas so that other churches might benefit by putting them to work in their communities.

If your church has a big idea that you think could be duplicated in other churches, send an email to [email protected], subject line: Big idea to share.

The Committee on Native American Ministries (CO-NAM), has much work cut out for itself in 2013.

Our primary goal is to further the local churches’ awareness of the Act of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Peoples that was celebrated at General Conference in May 2012.

A task force of the Gen-eral Commission on Chris-tian Unity & Interreligious Concerns (GCCUIC) of The

United Methodist Church learned that we must listen and learn before we can build relationships or prepare for the journey of repentance. Consequently, we listened for four years at over 24 listen-ing sessions with indigenous peoples worldwide. Insights gained led to understanding the history, present historic trauma and deep pain of in-digenous peoples. The cul-mination was this service at General Conference 2012.

Now the work of listening

begins for every annual and central conference.

Of big concern to the Native American community within The United Method-ist Church is the general lack of awareness of indigenous people’s history, survival and interaction with the Church.

To help people begin the journey of listening and learning, a study guide titled Walking the Trail of Repentance & Healing with Indigenous Persons – A Study Resource has been created by GCCUIC

with videos of Native peoples telling their stories followed by discussion questions for small groups to consider. This study is an excellent, easy-to-use resource for local church-es that is available at www.gccuic-umc.org, click on Act of Repentance in the blue bar at the top of the page.

After local churches have had time to use the study guide and relate with Native Americans in UNY and come to truly understand Native American issues, it is the in-

tention of the Conference to hold a Service of Repentance & Healing.

Our wish is to connect with local UMCs through the lay representative names given to us. We welcome contact and discussion from Conference members who are interested in the work of CONAM.

– Kae Wilbert, CONAM chair, and Tamara Gates, CO-NAM member.

Act of Repentance a major focus for CONAM in 2013

CONAM – Committee on Native American Ministries


By Beth DiCoccoAdvocate writer

The Rev. Dr. William Pegg will not only be the preacher at this year’s Memorial Service, he will also be among the family members honoring those they lost during the past year.

His wife, Dianne, died on Sept. 3, 2012 after a long illness. She was 67.

Rev. Pegg said that when Bishop Mark J. Webb invited him to lead the Memorial Service, he recog-nized that it could be “an emotionally difficult thing” for him, so he talked it over with colleagues.

“In the end, I decided it was something I should and could do,” he said.

Asked if he felt preaching at the memorial would help his own healing process, he replied, “It’s hard to say – my healing is taking place even as I speak. I think, if anything, it may focus my thoughts on some things that I would like to give some thought to ...”

He added that he felt “(leading the service is) something, that if I did it, I might be able to help others with their healing.”

“If anything comes through this sermon about how my faith has sustained me and continues to sustain me to others wrestling with (grief), that will be helpful,” he said.

The annual Memorial Service honors clergy and spouses who have passed away during the previous year. This year’s service will be May 30.

In addition to his wife, a couple of close friends will also be remembered in this service; but for Rev. Pegg, the service is not about individuals but rather the life of the Church.

“This is not about specific people as much as it’s about the Church of which they were a part,” he said. “The memories we have of those who have gone are part of the ongoing life of the Church. Their lives nourished and continue to nourish the Church.”

It’s important for the Church to maintain its col-lective memory, Rev. Pegg said, and draw on that in telling its story.

For the past 20 years, Rev. Pegg has served Rush United Methodist Church (Genesee Valley Dis-trict); he is currently senior pastor there. When we

talked in February, he had not begun working on his sermon for the May 30 Memorial Service – “I have to get through Easter first,” he said.

He did talk, in general, about the process he uses to prepare his sermons, which, he said, begins with prayer.

For the Memorial Service sermon, he said he’ll start by reading scripture that deals specifically with the issues of life and death and life after death. He’ll take some notes and figure out “what seems to be

grabbing me at the mo-ment.”

The next step, he said, is to “ just do some stream of thought into tape re-corder” (digital, these days, he points out) and then listen to those thoughts and add to them.

Once the sermon begins to emerge, Rev. Pegg said he’ll make an-other more focused re-cording and continue to refine the oral notes,

which he will give to his secretary to transcribe.“Then it’s pen and pencil till I get it finished,” he

said, though he also uses the computer. “I do still write the first concise draft long hand. I think bet-ter that way.”

Originally from Oklahoma, Rev. Pegg, 68, came to Upstate New York from Nashville at the invita-tion of Bishop Joseph Yeakel, with whom he had become good friends.

He served as the superintendent of the former Rochester District from 1986 to 1992, and prior to that churches in the Buffalo area. His daughter Em-ily Haines and her family live in Pittsford.

“We got through the blizzard of ‘77; we could handle anything after that,” he said. “We have liked it here. This is home; no regrets.”

2013 Annual Conference SessionMemorial Service celebrates life of the Church

The 2013 Pre-Conference Briefings will be held in each of the Conference’s 12 districts. Some districts have more than one briefing site. There will be no Conference-wide briefing.

Some locations have yet to be confirmed. Watch the website for updated information about the briefing location in your district.

The Pre-Conference Briefings should not be confused with the District Days, which include a visit by Bishop Mark J. Webb (see story on page 4) or with the district training days, which are organized by each district independently.

Here’s the schedule: Adirondack District 10 a.m. to noon on May 11, 2013 at Adirondack Community Church, 2583 Main St., Lake Placid 3-5 p.m. on May 11, 2013 at Queensbury UMC, 460 Aviation Road Albany District 6-8 p.m. on May 10, 2013 at Shenendehowa UMC, 971 Route 146, Clifton Park Binghamton District 7-9 p.m. on April 7, 2013, First UMC, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott Cornerstone District 3-5 p.m. on April 13, 2013 at East Randolph UMC, 122 Church St. Crossroads District 6-8 p.m. on April 17, 2013 at First Liverpool UMC, 604 Oswego St. Finger Lakes District 6-8 p.m. on April 16, 2013, Lansing UMC, 32 Brickyard Road Genesee Valley District 6-8 p.m. on April 12, 2013 at Rush UMC, 6200 Rush Lima Road Mohawk District 6-8 p.m. on April 19, 2013 at Christ UMC, 417 Park St., Sherrill Mountain View District 10 a.m. to noon on April 13, 2013, Bath UMC, 3 W. Washington St.

Niagara Frontier District 3-5 p.m. on April 14, 2013 at Kenmore UMC, 32 Landers Road Northern Flow District 10 a.m. to noon on April 20, 2013 at Potsdam UMC, 26 Main St. 3-5 p.m. on April 20, 2013 Asbury UMC, 327 Franklin St., Watertown Oneonta District 2:30-4:30 p.m. on April 7, 2013 at Cobleskill UMC, 107 Chapel St.

Each district will host Pre-Conference Briefings

This year’s Pre-Conference Briefing sessions will be held in each district rather than a single location as was done in 2012. Like last year, the 2013 Laity Session, which takes place on May 30, will again include workshops. Conference Lay Leader Scott Johnson, above, will again co-lead an Annual Conference Orientation workshop. For details on the Laity Session and the workshops, see the AC registration guidelines on page 10. 2012 photo by Chris-tian Vischi.

The Rev. Dr. William Pegg, senior pastor of the Rush United Methodist Church (Genesee Valley District), has been chosen as the preacher for the annual Memorial Service during the 2013 Annual Conference Session. The service honors clergy and their spouses who have died during the previ-ous year. This year it will be on Thursday, May 30. 2012 photo by Matt Williams.


Seeds of change sown at this year’s Session2013 Annual Conference Session

Continued from coverRegistration can be completed online at the Con-

ference website www.unyumc.org.Here’s a look at what’s new this year:

Lunch hour workshopsLuncheon workshops will be offered beginning at

11:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The work-shops will be offered both days, so participants will have the chance to attend two:

• Where Your Treasure is . . . Giving as a Spiritual Practice led by the Rev. Jan Rowell, Oneonta District superintendent.

• Extravagant Hospitality led by Mike Huber, asso-ciate director of Connectional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Ministries.

• Developing Praise and Worship Teams ... And Relat-ed Volunteer Ministries led by the Rev. Dan McBride, senior pastor, Bemus Point UMC.

• On this Spirit Walk . . . Preparing for an Act of Re-pentance with Indigenous People led by Kae Wilburt, chairperson, UNY Council on Native American Ministry (CONAM).

• Using the Arts in Worship led by the Rev. Mere-dith Vanderminden, executive director, The Entheos Center for Spirituality and Creativity.

• Juggling with Youth ... Youth-full Juggling led by the Rev. Ted Anderson, Genesee Valley District super-intendent and Conference Council on Youth Minis-tries (CCYM) adult leader.

• Conversational Evangelism: Transforming Lives through Everyday Conversations led by the Rev. Roger Frederick, senior pastor, Chenango Bridge UMC.

• Leading Sacred Change: A Coaching Approach led by the Rev. Natalie Scholl of Soul Ways Coaching.

Celebration of the Service of Ministry For the first time, the preacher for the Memorial

Service will be a pastor from within the Upper New York Annual Conference. The Rev. Dr. William Pegg will give the sermon this year (see story on Page 8).

The annual Memorial Service remembers clergy and their spouses who have passed during the last year.

There is also a change to the annual celebration of this year’s class of retirees as well. This year, the celebration will mark both ends of the spectrum of pastoral service as those who are retiring are joined by those who are being ordained this year. The dinner celebration is by invitation, and will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31. That event is being hosted by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.

Consent CalendarThe voting process at this year’s Session will,

for the first time, include a consent calendar. The object of the consent calendar is to consolidate into one vote any Conference team, committee, board or agency reports that do not include action items. The reports that are included appear in the Pre-Conference Booklet, and that is the text upon which members will vote.

With a proper motion from the floor, a specific report can be removed from the consent calendar. If one-third of the body supports the motion, that report will be taken off the consent calendar to be considered separately. Any items removed from the consent calendar will be moved to the end of the agenda.

The bishop’s address, the report of the confer-ence lay leader and the superintendents’ report are exempt from this rule, and will not be included in the consent calendar.

Also, this year’s Conference will include a com-bined “Leadership Report” featuring the bishop, district superintendents, the Conference Leadership Team and Conference lay leader.

As for action items, speeches regarding any of the items up for a vote will no longer be restricted

to three for/three against. Debate will end when the question is called. The bishop will moderate discus-sion of action items.

Constitutional AmendmentsAt the 2012 General Conference of The United

Methodist Church held in Tampa, Fla., last spring, four constitutional amendments were approved.

To go into effect, the amendments must be rati-fied by two-thirds of the aggregate number of voting annual conference members.

Upper New York Annual Conference members will vote during the 2013 Annual Conference Ses-sion in Syracuse.

The proposed amendments are:

Proposed constitutional amendment – I

A change to the Book of Discipline, (2008: Division One, ¶ 6, Article VI; 2012: same) to add “pray” after it will in order to “(acknowledge) God’s action in conferring the gift of the Church by including pray-ing for unity among the tasks of the Church.”

If voted and so declared by the Council of Bish-ops, ¶ 6 would read:

Ecumenical Relations — As part of the church universal, The United Methodist Church believes that the Lord of the church is calling Christians everywhere to strive toward unity; and therefore it will pray, seek, and work for unity at all levels of church life: through world relationships with other Meth-odist churches and united churches related to The Methodist Church or The Evangelical United Brethren Church, through councils of churches, and through plans of union and covenantal relationships with churches of Methodist or other denominational tradi-tions.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment – II

The proposed amendment would allow the Gen-eral Conference to meet at other times during the calendar year on dates better suited for younger delegates and those with parenting responsibilities.

Change to the Book of Discipline, (2008: Divi-sion Two, Section II, ¶ 14, Article II; 2012: same) by deletion and addition as follows: After “shall meet” delete in the month of April or May and after duly au-thorized committees. Add a new sentence: The change in the preceding sentence shall become effective at the close of General Conference in 2016.


The General Conference shall meet once in four years at such time and in such place as shall be de-termined by the General Conference or by its duly authorized committees. The change in the preced-ing sentence shall become effective at the close of General Conference in 2016.

A special session of the General Confer-ence, possessing the authority and exercising all the powers of the General Conference, may be called by the Council of Bishops, or in such other manner as the General Confer-ence may from time to time prescribe, to meet at such time and in such place as may be stated in the call. Such special session of the General Conference shall be composed of the delegates to the preceding General Conference or their lawful successors, except that when a particular annual conference or missionary conference shall prefer to have a new election it may do so. The purpose of such special session shall be stated in the call, and only such business shall be transacted as is in harmony with the purpose stated in such call unless the General Conference by a two-thirds vote shall determine that other busi-ness may be transacted.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment – III

The proposed amendment removes the connota-tion that leadership training is only about preaching in order to develop skills and enhance the spiritual gifts of the laity.

In the Book of Discipline, (2008: Division Two, Section VI, ¶ 32, Article I; 2012: same) amend by deletion and addition as follows: After director of Lay delete Speaking and add Servant.


The annual conference shall be composed of clergy and lay members. The clergy mem-bership shall consist of deacons and elders in full connection, provisional members, associ-ate members, and local pastors under ap-pointment. The lay membership shall consist of professing lay members elected by each charge, the diaconal ministers, the active deaconesses, and home missioners under episcopal appointment within the bounds of the annual conference, the conference presi-dent of United Methodist Women, the con-ference president of United Methodist Men, the conference lay leader, district lay lead-ers, the conference director of Lay Servant Ministries, conference secretary of Global Ministries (if lay), the president or equivalent officer of the conference young adult organi-zation, the president of the conference youth organization, the chair of the annual confer-ence college student organization, and one young person between the ages of twelve (12) and seventeen (17) and one young per-son between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty (30) from each district to be selected in such a manner as may be determined by the annual conference. In the annual confer-ences of the central conferences, the four-year participation and the two-year mem-bership requirements may be waived by the annual conference for young persons under thirty (30) years of age. Such persons must be professing members of The United Meth-odist Church and active participants at the time of election. Each charge served by more than one clergy shall be entitled to as many lay members as there are clergy members. The lay members shall have been for the two years next preceding their election members of The United Methodist Church and shall have been active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years next preceding their election. If the lay mem-bership should number less than the clergy members of the annual conference, the annual conference shall, by its own formula, provide for the election of additional lay members to equalize lay and clergy member-ship of the annual conference.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment – IV

The proposed amendment gives the power of boundary decisions to jurisdictional and central conferences, bodies that include lay persons.

In the Book of Discipline (2008: Division Two, Section VII, ¶ 40, Article I; 2012: same) amend by deletion and addition, as follows: Delete the first two words, Changes in and following episcopal areas delete may be effected and add shall be determined; and after and the central conferences add The authority of jurisdictional and central conferences provided herein is not circumscribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.


The number, names, and boundaries of the annual conferences and episcopal areas shall be determined by the jurisdictional conferences in the United States of America and by the central conferences outside the United States of America according to the provisions under the respective powers and pursuant to the respective structures of the jurisdictional and the central conferences. The authority of jurisdictional and central conferences provided herein is not circum-scribed or limited by the authority provided to the College of Bishops to arrange a plan of episcopal supervision.


2013 AC Session Registration GuidelinesThe registration form (see page 12)

should be used by clergy, lay members to conference, equalization members, retirees, clergy on medical leave, and visitors. Cabinet members, staff, volunteers, sessions team, and invited guests should contact Leah Robinson for specific instructions.

Registration also can be done on-line at www.unyumc.org.

Mail the paper registration form along with payment to: UNYAC, 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210 Attn: Leah Robinson

Questions? Call Robinson at (855) 424-7878, ext. 303.

Registration ends April 26, 2013. After that, registration will be at the annual conference registration table and will require a $50 late-processing fee.

INSTRUCTIONSAll items marked with an * on the

form must be completed.Name, email address, postal ad-

dress, and daytime telephone contact numbers. We would like at least two daytime phone numbers for questions regarding your registration.

Gender, ethnicity, and age. These are necessary demographics used to help evaluate and describe our annual conference.

Church and District. Please identify the church to which you are appoint-ed as clergy or at which you attend as laity. If, as clergy, you are appointed to more than one church, please iden-tify just one of the churches. Visitors please identify your church, if appli-cable. Please select your district from the list.

REGISTRATION FEESYou must select one category that

reflects your relationship to the an-nual conference. If you are uncertain as to your status and relationship, you should contact your district superin-tendent or contact Leah Robinson at (855) 424-7878 ext. 303.

Active clergy: $115Retired clergy/clergy on medical

leave: $50Lay members (elected by charge/

church conference): $115Equalization members: $50Youth equalization members: FreeMeals are included in the registra-

tion fee.

Clergy – Includes active elders, provisional and associate members, deacons, and licensed local pastors.

Lay Member – Lay person chosen by your charge/church conference as the church member to annual confer-ence.

Equalization member – Con-ference Position: Individuals who are not clergy and not lay members to conference, but by virtue of the position they hold within the confer-ence are considered equalization members. The list of positions to which this applies can be found in the organizational motions of the annual conference. A list of all equalization members once identified will be kept in the conference office to verify ap-propriate registration.

Equalization member – DS Selection: Individuals who have been specifically informed by their District Superintendent that they are to be an equalization member to annual con-ference in the current year. A list of all equalization members will be kept in the conference office to verify appro-priate registration.

Clergy – Retired and clergy on medical leave: Please identify if this category applies to you.

Visitor – To obtain registration materials and to sit in the annual conference sessions as an observer requires registration as a visitor.

SPECIAL EVENTS/ACTIVITIESSelect the events you will be at-

tending:

Clergy Session: May 30, 2013, 9:30 a.m., OnCenter, Syracuse.

Laity Session: May 30, 2013, 9:30 a.m., OnCenter, Syracuse.

Laity Session Break-out Activities:

• Annual Conference Orienta-tion – A Guide to Fully Experience the Celebration of Connectionalism: Blenda Smith, Jurisdictional Delegate and Scott Johnson, Annual Confer-ence Lay Leader and General Confer-ence Delegation Leader will discuss all the aspects of our three-day spiritual journey together in May-June and the procedural rules of conduct for the business and legislative sessions of the meeting.

• Lay Servant Ministry – New Name, More Opportunities: Carmen Vianese, Conference Director of Lay Speaking Ministries will inspire the participants to enter into a deeper commitment to Christ and to use their witness, leadership, and service to inspire others to a deeper com-mitment and to be more effective in discipleship. She will also update us on what the changes from General Con-ference are to Lay Servant Ministries and how the new requirements open up opportunities for Laity.

• Council on Youth Ministry – Everything You Wanted to Know & More! CCYM will be presenting on things that churches do well and can do better as they seek to engage youth. While good intentions are criti-cal, there are easy steps to take and easy mistakes to avoid.

• Disaster Relief: Greg Forrester, UNY Disaster Relief Coordinator, will explain the state of disaster relief efforts in Upper New York following Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. He will also be discussing strategies for local churches to organize drives and teams in ways that can be most effective.

• Shared Ministry Giving – What’s It All About?: Sherri Mackey, Conference Treasurer & Di-rector of Administrative Services and Rebecca Kohler, Connectional Minis-tries Associate for Mission Interpreta-

tion and Communication together will share about connectional giving and its impact locally and globally.

• Camp and Retreat Ministry – How to Reach Your Local Commu-nity: Mike Huber, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Ministries will challenge the participants on how to best utilize the current programs and brainstorm together about how to create new ones for youth, teens, young adults, and families.

• United Methodist Women/United Methodist Men – Finding Ways to Engage the Youth: Pat Briggs, UMW President, and Buddy Heit, UMM President, together will explore with the participants the advantages of gender-specific groups and the dynamics of these groups. Participants will learn how to use it to attract non-churchgoers in a mission-centered, relationship-building environment that is perceived as non-threatening and safe.

Extension Ministry Luncheon: May 30, 2013, On Center. Attendees are only those appointed to exten-sion ministry. If you are appointed to extension ministry and plan to attend, please indicate.

Memorial Dinner: May 30, 2013. 5:30 p.m. Dinner is by invitation only. For questions, please contact Martha Miller in the Benefits office at (855) 424-7878, ext. 318.

Dinner for Retirees and Ordi-nands: Friday, May 31, 2013. 5:30 p.m. Dinner by invitation only.

Luncheon Workshops: Friday, May 31, 2013 and Saturday, June 1, 2013. 11:30 a.m. each day. You will be able to attend one workshop on Friday and one on Saturday. The fol-lowing workshops will be available on both days:

• Where Your Treasure is . . . Giving as a Spiritual Practice: Rev. Jan Rowell, Conference Superintendent in the Oneonta District.

• Extravagant Hospitality: Mike Huber, Associate Director of Connec-tional Ministries for Camp and Retreat Ministries.

• Developing Praise and Worship Teams . . . And Related Volunteer Minis-tries: Rev. Dan McBride, Senior Pastor, Bemus Point UMC.

• On this Spirit Walk . . . Preparing for an Act of Repentance with Indigenous People: Kae Wilburt, Chairperson, UNY Council on Native American Ministry.

• Using the Arts in Worship: Rev. Meredith Vanderminden, Executive Director, The Entheos Center for Spirituality and Creativity.

• Juggling with Youth . . . Youth-full Juggling: Rev. Ted Anderson, Confer-ence Superintendent in the Genesee Valley District and Adult Leader, CCYM.

• Conversational Evangelism: Trans-forming Lives through Everyday Conver-sations: Rev. Roger Frederick, Senior Pastor, Chenango Bridge UMC.

• Leading Sacred Change: A Coach-ing Approach: Rev. Natalie Scholl, Soul Ways Coaching.

These photos from the 2012 Annual Conference Session show two of the significant worship services that take place during every Annual Conference Session. Above, the Service of Ordination and Commissioning; shown are the provisional elder candidates, and below, the annual Memorial Service honoring clergy and their spouses who have passed away during the past year. 2012 photos by Matt Williams.


HOUSING Housing arrangements can be made through the Syracuse Convention Bu-

reau’s Housing Service either through their online system or by mailing a com-pleted housing form to them. See the housing form for additional information. They can assist you with the hotel reservation process. You may also choose not to use the housing bureau and to make your own arrangements. However, room rates cannot be guaranteed if you do not use the CVB’s Housing Service.

Things you need to know to use the housing bureau service and about hous-ing, in general, are:

• If you wish to room with another attendee, you will need to determine who that person will be before you do your housing registration. The housing bureau staff and conference office staff will NOT be matching attendees for rooming.

• If you plan on sharing a room with other attendees or visitors, only ONE of the persons in the room should complete a housing registration form. That person will need a credit card to reserve the room. That person should also identify all individuals staying in the room on the housing registration form.

• The room costs vary depending upon where you select to stay. You may or may not get your first selection. This will depend upon availability.

• Clergy retirees, those on medical leave, and equalization members are also asked to make their own room reservations directly with the housing bureau. After conference is concluded, equalization members, retirees, and those on medical leave may request reimbursement for their portion of the room cost up to $50 per night per clergy retiree, person on medical leave, or equaliza-tion member by submitting a Reimbursement Request Form (available on the website) and actual receipts for your completed stay to the Treasurer’s office immediately following the AC event. You may also request a hard copy of the reimbursement form from Leah Robinson.

If are unable to make the upfront reservation yourself using the housing bureau, please contact Leah Robinson to discuss options. Note: With four per-sons in the room, each person’s portion of the room cost is estimated at $25/night; with three persons in the room, each portion is estimated at $34/night; and, with two persons in the room, each portion is estimated at $50/night. Those retirees, persons on medical leave, and equalization members room-ing alone will be expected to pay the additional room costs over the allotted $50 per night covered by the conference. Note: If your room is to be shared

with other persons who are NOT clergy retirees, persons on medical leave, or equalization members, their portion of the room cost will NOT be reimbursed by the Conference.

• Rates and rooms are no longer held for us after one month prior to the session. Therefore, it is important that all reservations be made by the registra-tion closing date of April 26.

• The person reserving the room will be able to check with the hotel for a confirmation number approximately three (3) weeks after acknowledgement by the housing bureau is received.

• The Conference office does not take or make the reservations and does not accept payment for rooms. If you have questions regarding housing, please direct those questions to Christie Bravo at the housing bureau. Her contact information is on the housing registration form.

• Youth equalization and youth lay members to Annual Conference are asked to NOT complete a housing form, but to contact Leah Robinson to be housed with other youth. Otherwise, have housing arranged by a paying adult using the housing form.

CHILDCAREIf you are registering for annual conference and have children (ages up to 12

years) for whom you need childcare during any of the time of the conference session, please indicate the need on your registration form. This service will be free to you. Please be specific with your request including number of children in each age category and periods of time needed. After registration, an emergency and medical information form will be sent to you to be completed and submit-ted to the child care worker when you first drop your children off. You will not be able to leave your child(ren) without also submitting a completed form(s).

Childcare will be available as follows:Thursday, May 30, 9 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.Friday, May 31, 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.Saturday, June 1, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

SPECIAL NEEDS OR REqUESTSPlease list any special requests including wheelchair use, other handicapping

or medical conditions of which you want us to be aware, or special dietary restrictions. For dietary restrictions, you may also call Martha Miller in the conference office at (855) 424-7878, ext. 318.

RemembrancesPriscilla “Sally” Ann Short Taylor Lott Chabot Ha-ner, 74, died Jan. 25, 2013. She is the mother of the Rev. Donna Taylor Martin, pastor at the Smithboro and Tioga Center United Methodist churches (Binghamton District); the mother-in-law of the Rev. Daniel Martin, pastor at the Nichols UMC (Binghamton District); and the grandmother of the Rev. John Martin, pastor at the Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid (Adirondack District).

Dorothy Watson Mudge, 87, died Jan. 29, 2013. She is the mother of Adirondack District Superintendent the Rev. Bill Mudge and grandmother of the Rev. Elizabeth Quick, co-pas-tor at Liverpool First UMC.

The Rev. Norman C. McLean, 86, died Jan. 29, 2013. Rev. McLean, an elder who retired in 1989, served several church-es, including Niagara Falls First, Chautauqua: Hurlbut Memo-rial, Lockport: Emmanuel, Buffalo: Kensington, Bemus Point and Westfield.

The Rev. Fred Savage, died Feb. 5, 2013. He was pastor emeritus of the Penfield United Methodist Church (Genesee Valley District).

Jerald Ely died Feb. 3, 2013. He served as a member of the Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center’s Board of Directors, and with his wife, LeJune, led an annual canoe camp at Sky Lake.

Helen T. Fleming, 101, died on Feb. 11, 2013. She was pre-deceased by her second husband, the Rev. Arthur Bagley. He served churches in Fairlee, Vt., and Salem and Crown Point.

Ione Lacy Keenan, 91, died Feb. 12, 2013. Mrs. Keenan served the United Methodist Women in many capacities at the local, district and Conference levels in the former Troy Annual Conference. She also served on several boards and agencies at the Conference level.

David Clark died Feb. 18, 2013. Mr. Clark served as the lay worship leader at the Hermon, Russell and Degrasse United Methodist churches, part of the Seven Steeples Parish (North-ern Flow District), for eight years. Cards may be sent to his wife, Anne Clark, at 273 Morrill Road, Canton, NY 13617.

CalendarApril 22-23

Appointive Cabinet meets

April 26-28CCYM Up!Word

Syracuse/Liverpool

Camp and Retreat open houses

May 19 – Sky Lake June 9 – Findley

June 15 – Aldersgate June 16 – Casowasco June 29 – Skye Farm

May 30 to June 1Annual Conference Session

Syracuse

June 23-27 CCYM Training Camp

For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit

our website www.unyumc.org.

Make reservations for display space at AC 2013Reservations can now be made for display space at the

2013 Annual Conference Session. Each display area consists of a table (8’ x 30”, covered and skirted), and if requested in advance, access to electricity.

The area fee is $25.To request a display area, fill out the Display Space form

(available on the Conference website) and return it, along with payment to Martha Miller in the Benefits Office by April 30:

Mail: Martha Miller Upper New York Annual Conference324 University Ave 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210Email: [email protected] Fax: (315) 478-4869Due to limitations in space, you will be advised in writing by

May 7 as to the availability of a display area for your organiza-tion; a request does not guarantee reservation. Space confir-mations will not be given before May 14.

If you have further questions please call Miller at (315) 424-7878 ext. 318 or email her at the address above.

2013 AC Session Registration Guidelines continued

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