A Letter from Bishop McLee - Recent Tragic Events

Beloved NYAC Family, The paradox that sometimes unfolds in nature has resulted in a tornado that has brought devastation to the state of Oklahoma. In the aftermath of the recent tornado, we are called to pray for the victims, the first responders and for the city of Moore, Oklahoma. In the New York area we have experienced similar natural catastrophes and we can testify that prayer is helpful. I invite you to pray. News accounts reveal the loss of the lives of children and adults and a...

Church & Society Promotes May 26th Peace with Justice Offering

This year’s Peace with Justice Sunday Special Offering (PwJ) will be officially observed on May 26. However, congregations are encouraged to celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday on whatever date works best for them. The PwJ offering supports programs that address burning social advocacy concerns at home and around the world. While PwJ Sunday was designated primarily as a day to take the special offering, the Board of Church and Society (CBCS) encourages local churches to use this as an...

United Methodists invest in Sandy recovery

By Linda Bloom, Reported on UMConnections.org  Bishop John Schol joins Bishop Hope Morgan Ward at the Board of Global Ministries meeting. Schol updated board directors on the Greater New Jersey Conference’s Hurricane Sandy recovery plans. UMNS Photos by Cassandra Zampini. United Methodists in New York were counting on the regional shipments of 15,000 flood buckets that they distributed to Hurricane Sandy survivors last fall. But they didn’t expect the more than...

A Letter from Our Bishop

May 6, 2013 Beloved New York Annual Conference: Many of you may have read the recently published article in The New York Times that centered on same sex marriage and The United Methodist Church. The confidentiality requirements of the complaint process prevent me from discussing the case in detail. However, as is the case on many issues confronting the church today, there are multiple perspectives associated with human sexuality. There is also a multiplicity of other concerns that we are...

Confirmands Invited to Ordination

May 2, 2013 Dear Pastor: I am grateful for the accomplishments of your confirmands! This preparation is just the beginning of their Christian journey. I pray that they will continue to experience the joy of the journey as they deepen their commitment to Jesus Christ. As you know, this year’s Annual Conference will be held June 5 to June 8 at Hofstra University. I am inviting all confirmands to be my special guests on Saturday, June 8. Details are listed below: What to expect on...

Conferences exceeded 100% giving to Africa U

Twenty-seven annual conferences paid 100 percent of their 2012 asking for Africa University; four of them exceeded their goal. Your support of The Africa University Fundhelps defray the overhead costs at Africa University. Wisconsin Conference paid a whopping 169.31 percent and Greater New Jersey Conference paid 104.69 percent. Iowa Conference paid 100.57 percent and Louisiana Conference paid 100.03 percent. Other conferences paying 100 percent to Africa University are East Ohio, Illinois...

How old is too old to join the clergy?

A UMNS Report By Heather Hahn* The Texas Annual (regional) Conference has proposed changing its minimum standards for clergy to discourage people over 45 from becoming candidates for ordained ministry. The conference’s board of ordained ministry is seeking feedback through September this year and does not plan to make any final decision on its standards until October.  A UMNS photo illustration by Kathleen Barry. But the possible changes have already sparked debate across the...

Women making history: Sandra Steiner Ball

In 1987, Congress designated the month of March that year as “Women’s History Month.” The annual observance continues to this day. United Methodist News Service invited several women, both lay and clergy, in The United Methodist Church to share their stories. Here is the response from West Virginia Area Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, elected to the episcopacy in 2012. Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, then a clergy delegate from the Peninsula-Delaware Annual (regional) Conference,...

United Methodists mourn Bob Edgar

By Kathy Gilbert* The Rev. Bob Edgar. Photo courtesy of Common Cause. The Rev. Bob Edgar, a United Methodist pastor and a “tireless defender of the poor and an advocate for justice,” died unexpectedly April 23 of a heart attack at his home in the Washington area. He was 69. Edgar, who was top executive of Common Cause, is the former top executive of the National Council of Churches and a former six-term member of Congress from Pennsylvania. He was president of United...

It is Well With the Souls of West, TX

by Vance Morton*      “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”   The words of the Horatio G. Spaffords great hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” (No.377 in your United Methodist Hymnal if you’re playing along at home) have been sung countless times by countless worshipers in countless churches over the years. There is...

In split decision, church's top court rules on W PA/E Africa dispute

 United Methodist Bishop Daniel Wandabula of the East Africa Conference. A UMNS file photo by Annette Spence. SEATTLE — A 10-year financial dispute between the Western Pennsylvania Annual (Regional) Conference and the East Africa Annual Conference that wound up before The United Methodist Church’s top court has ended with a split decision that likely will not please everyone. The Judicial Council agreed with only one of Western Pennsylvania’s three questions...

GBGM Day of Service: Helping in Sandy Recovery

View the accompanying photo gallery at: nyac.com/galleries/slideshow/128 New York, NY, April 17—Directors and staff of the General Board of Global Ministries concluded their semiannual board of directors meeting last Saturday and climbed aboard two buses, one headed to New Jersey, the other to Long Island, NY, to bring a sign of hope and solidarity to Superstorm Sandy survivors. Dressed in jeans, sneakers, and the brightly colored tee-shirts typically worn by volunteers with...

Letter from Bishop McLee - Prayers for Boston

Beloved New York Annual Conference Family: By now you have heard of the tragic bombing connected with the Boston Marathon yesterday. Our prayers go out to the victims and families of those impacted by this senseless violence. Our prayers also go out to the City of Boston and to Mayor Thomas Menino, who checked himself out of the hospital to travel to the bomb site. In the midst of calamity, our faith sustains us. The poignant words of the Psalmist ring true; “God is our refuge and...

Praying for those affected by Boston explosions

BOSTON — Boston Area Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar has written a letter to the New England Annual (regional) Conference, calling for prayer in response to the explosions Monday, April 15, near the Boston Marathon finish line. Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar addresses a session of the 2008 United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. His full statement is below: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and...

Share the Love, Save Lives: A Mother's Day Tribute

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UM Communications Online Training Available

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Items of Interest for NYAC Young Adults

Restoration Generation A movement to get youth and young adults involved in Hurricane Sandy Flood Relief. They have many different locations and are taking applications for summer staff (if you have college students interested in mission work) and they are taking volunteers. They are being led by Rev. Hannah Bonner and are supported by many different Methodist groups (GBHEM, GBOD, UMW and many more). Check out their website for more info www.resgenumc.org.   The Oasis August 15-18th in...

Planning for Earth Day Sunday, 4/21

Festival of God’s Creation (Earth Day Sunday) April 21, 2013 Each year, the General Board of Church and Society, working with the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group, produces Festival of God's Creation resource materials to help congregations celebrate and promote stewardship of God's creation. Theme for this year's Festival of God's Creation / Earth Day Sunday, "Sunday Morning Sustainability — Eco-Justice Impacts & Opportunities,"...

The untold story of African AIDS relief

An educator from the Alliance Biblique de Côte d'Ivoire conducts a public health lesson on AIDS in the sanctuary at Jerusalem Parish United Methodist Church in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire in November 2008. UMNS file photos by Mike DuBose. A group of women listens attentively as the workshop facilitator talks. A gasp, a murmur and, at times, applause can be heard. For the past five days, the group has been learning together, enjoying the opportunity to discuss issues previously...

Gregory Forrester Moving to UMCOR

Volunteer in Mission Executive Selected to Lead United Methodist Disaster Response by -->   Gregory A. Forrester of the Upper New York Annual (regional) Conference has been hired to lead the church's US disaster response efforts through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) beginning May 1. Noting Forrester's experience as a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) jurisdictional coordinator, Thomas Kemper, chief executive of the United Methodist General Board of Global...