Masland will head effort to plant new faith communities

Transcription

1 Upper New York ADVOCATE Our vision: To live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God s love with our neighbors in all places A PUBLICATION OF THE UPPER NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Volume 5, Issue 2 - february 2013 INSIDE Masland will head effort to plant new faith communities AFRICA UNIVERSITY VBS CURRICULUM AVAILABLE A free Vacation Bible School curriculum about AU now available Page 3 DS TERMS EXTENDED Rev. Sung Ho Lee and Rev. Cathy Hall Stengel will serve another year Page 12 Hand to Plow Training for church leaders is under way Page 9 BLACK HISTORY MONTH Peterboro UMC connected to history Auburn pastor honored by NAACP Page 6 LISTEN UP UMM collects hearing aids for kids in Haiti Page 4 CCYM Get ready for UP!WORD 2013 Page 11 By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor For the Rev. David Masland, the best way for an existing congregation to inject new life into its current reality is to plant something new. That is one of the notions that will lead Rev. Masland when he begins his new assignment as the Upper New York Annual Conference s first director of New Faith Communities on July 1 this year. Rev. Masland, who serves as superintendent of the Binghamton District, was named to the new position last month. As a clergy member of the Conference, Rev. Masland will be appointed to this role by Upper New York Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb and will serve as a member of the bishop s Appointive Cabinet. This job is primarily a vision-casting/systembuilding job and there are many levels to the system we need. It is complex work that will be impossible without the constant help of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Masland noted. As director of New Faith Communities, Rev. Masland will provide strategic and operational leadership to Conference ministries of new faith community development and help the Conference realize its goal of planting 100 new faith communities over the next four years as articulated in the Plentiful Harvest vision Binghamton District Superintendent David Masland has been named Director of New Faith Communities. Part of the Plentiful Harvest initiative, Rev. Masland will be leading the effort to plant 100 new faith communities over the next four years. He s pictured here with Oneonta District Superintendent Jan Rowell at the first session of Hand to Plow facilitators training on Jan. 8 at Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center. Hand to Plow is the church revitalization piece of Plentiful Harvest. Photo by Maidstone Mulenga. endorsed at the 2012 Session of the Annual Conference. Rev. Masland is excited by his new ministry, noting that the Upper New York Annual Conference has made a bold step toward planting new faith communities. By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has named the Rev. Dr. David W. Kofahl as a Conference Superintendent and will appoint him to the Binghamton District of the Upper New York Annual Conference, effective July 1. Since 2003, the Rev. Dr. Kofahl has Dr. Kofahl served as lead pastor of the Clarence United Methodist Church in the Niagara Frontier District. A graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, his previous appointments include I believe that the best way we can live out our mission of living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and being God s love with our neighbors in all places is to create a myriad of new places for new Continued on page 8 Nationwide search part of selection process By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor When the 2012 Upper New York Annual Conference Session endorsed the Plentiful Harvest legislation, it authorized the creation of a Director of New Faith Communities, with the responsibility of shaping the strategy and planning for planting new churches. A national search was conducted for the person to fill the job. The search committee was led by the Rev. Alan Howe, leader of the New Faith Communities Team that conducted interviews. The team interviewed three candidates and recommended one of these persons to Bishop Mark J. Webb and Director of Connectional Ministries Bill Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding for consideration. There were no runners up offered by the team. After conducting a second interview with the recommended candidate, Bishop Webb and Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding did not feel they could move forward with that person. Since there was only one recommendation, the two did not have another candidate before them. Continued on page 8 Kofahl to be Binghamton District superintendent Niagara Falls: St. James, Olean: Showers and Knapp Creek United Methodist Churches. In announcing the appointment, Bishop Webb stated, Rev. Kofahl has demonstrated a passion and commitment to the mission of the church throughout his pastoral ministry. His gifts of leadership and experiences in ministry will be a blessing to the work of the cabinet and the whole of the annual conference. The Rev. Dr. Kofahl has served on several district superintendency committees, as well as district committees on ordained ministry. For the annual conference, he served on conference nominations, the camping ministries Continued on page 8 REMINDER: ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION ARE DUE ON THE 5TH OF EACH MONTH FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH S ISSUE.

2 Page 2 February 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate From the desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb Adjust your sails to meet the wind I came across this quote from William A. Ward recently, The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. It s a great quote for our individual lives, as well as our life together. Who hasn t felt the wind blowing in our daily lives and in the everyday life of the Church? We all experience the winds of nature, but we also know the spiritual winds that swirl around us. The beginning of the Church was a wind event. Take another look at the beginning of the Acts 2 account. The sound of wind was a defining moment on the day of Pentecost. Those early disciples knew something was happening; they understood something was about to change when they heard what only could be described as a noise like a violent rushing wind. Think about it. Wind often signals us HOW TO REACH US Bishop s office Upper New York Area Episcopal Office of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) Fax: (315) Adirondack District Superintendent William Mudge 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x2 Fax: (518) AdirondackDistrict@unyumc.org Albany District Superintendent Richard Weihing 396 Louden Road Saratoga Springs, NY (518) x3 Fax: (518) AlbanyDistrict@unyumc.org Binghamton District Superintendent David Masland 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott, NY (607) Fax: (607) binghamtondistrict@unyumc.org Cornerstone District Superintendent Sherri Rood 663 Lakeview Ave. Jamestown, NY (716) Fax: (716) cornerstonedistrict@unyumc.org that something is on the way. I believe the wind is blowing hard in the Church today. Obviously the wind of God s Spirit has always been blowing, and is blowing in our lives and in the life of our congregations. But I sense a new gust. Something is on the way. God is about to do a new thing. Just like any wind event it can be exciting and it can be frightening. As those who follow Jesus Christ as United Methodist Christians our purpose is clear: We are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are called to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God s love with our neighbors in all places. That is the main thing! Anything else, frankly, is unfaithful. Just as the winds are blowing to empower us for the mission, there are winds that want to blow us off track and create resistance and fear. Some of those winds are internal and some are external. Some we feed and some we fight. The distracting and destructive winds are real, but the promise is that God s wind always overcomes. The question we must ask ourselves Crossroads District Superintendent Darryl R. Barrow 324 University Ave. 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) Fax: (315) Crossroadsdistrict@unyumc.org Finger Lakes District Superintendent Richard Barton 1 Franklin Square, Suite 301 Geneva NY (315) Fax: (315) fingerlakesdistrict@unyumc.org Genesee Valley District Superintendent Theodore Anderson 1100 South Goodman St. Rochester, NY (585) Fax: (585) geneseevalleyumc@crcds.edu Mohawk District Superintendent Sung Ho Lee 105 Genesee St. New Hartford, NY (315) Fax: (315) mohawkdistrict@unyumc.org is how we will respond to the wind of God s Spirit that is blowing in our midst. We can ignore it, fight it, complain about it or we can go with it, adjusting our sails and delighting in the new ways God will shape us, lead us and use us. I pray every day that we will be a people who adjust our sails and catch the fullness of God s wind that is blowing fresh. This month, 136 congregations of the Upper New York Annual Conference are beginning the Hand to Plow initiative. It is an initiative that calls and invites us to renew our commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ and equip ourselves to be the people God has created us to be, SO THAT we can lead our churches to vibrant, transformational and effective ministry. I hope you will join me in praying for our brothers and sisters who are making a commitment to adjust their sails to the new wind of God that is blowing. I pray that in your church you will help lead the way in adjusting the sails. Our purpose depends upon it. The kingdom of God will be built because of it! Conference office Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY Phone: (315) ; toll free: (855) Fax: (315) DISTRICTS MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY Diane Alexander, media resource center coordinator (607) dianealexander@unyumc.org. Mountain View District Superintendent Cathy Stengel 65 E. First St. Corning, NY (607) Fax: (607) mountainviewdistrict@unyumc.org Niagara Frontier District Superintendent Wayne Butler 247 Cayuga Road, Suite 70 Cheektowaga, NY (716) Fax: (716) niagarafrontier@unyumc.org Northern Flow District Superintendent Rebekah Sweet 95 E. Main St. Gouverneur, NY (315) Fax: (315) northernflowdistrict@unyumc.org Oneonta District Superintendent Jan Rowell 66 Chestnut St. Oneonta, NY (607) Fax: (607) oneontadistrict@unyumc.org ADVOCATE STAFF EDITOR/PUBLISHER Rev. Maidstone Mulenga Director of Communications (315) x307 maidstonemulenga@ unyumc.org DEPUTY EDITOR Beth DiCocco Conference writer/editor (315) x319 bethdicocco@ unyumc.org DESIGNER/WRITER Christian Vischi Communications associate (315) x313 christianvischi@ unyumc.org E-ADVOCATE/WEB Ashley VanSickle Multimedia/ web coordinator (315) x320 ashleyvansickle@ unyumc.org ADMIN. ASST. to the director Karen Campolieto (315) x304 karencampolieto@ unyumc.org IT MANAGER Clyde Wolford (315) x322 clydewolford@ unyumc.org STORY IDEAS The Advocate is always looking for news and story ideas. 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) ext Photos can also be sent via . Please send hi-res versions, at least 300 dpi at full size. UPPER NEW YORK UNITED METHODIST ADVOCATE RESIDENT 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. Subscriptions $15 per year paid in advance. 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY Call (855) or visit ~ PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID ~ SYRACUSE, NEW YORK USPS POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Upper New York United Methodist ADVOCATE 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY We reserve the right to edit or decline any items submitted for publication.

3 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate February 2013 Page 3 Gather Under the Acacia Tree for VBS Free VBS curriculum focused on Africa University is now available By Beth DiCocco Advocate writer Upper New York churches are invited to gather Under the Acacia Tree for a free Vacation Bible School curriculum focused on Africa University. Under the Acacia Tree was created by members of the Upper New York Annual Conference to teach children about the work of Africa University. AU is a United Methodist related Institution in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. The Conference is in the midst of a three-year campaign to raise $1 million to support scholarships to AU. Under the Acacia Tree helps children learn that Jesus calls us to: to learn and study, to reach out to others, to bring wholeness (healing) to life, to care for others, even if they are different, and to serve others. During the summer of 2012, some churches offered the Conference s Africa University Vacation Bible School curriculum Under the Acacia Tree as part of a pilot program. Among the participating churches was Calvary UMC in Latham (Albany District), where these photos were taken. Now the free VBS is available to all churches in the Conference. Photos courtesy of the Rev. Robert Kolvik-Campbell. This VBS curriculum is free, and is a resource that can be used by churches of any size. Children and youth will have a roaring good time learning these lessons and more with the help of a lovable lion named Tinashe that leads them on a journey to Africa. Pronounced T-na-shay, the name translates as We have God or God is with us. Enhancing Under the Acacia Tree s link with Africa University is its theme song, which was written by Patrick Matsikenyiri, professor of music and first director of the AU Choir. The AU students that the Conference seeks to support with scholarships are training to become the continent s next generation of leaders. Many of them are the first in their communities to go to college, and plan to use their education and training to help their home nations. Under the Acacia Tree is also designed to assist in raising funds for the Conference s Africa University Scholarship Endowment Fund; an offering taken each night goes to support the fund. The materials for Under the Acacia Tree can be found on the Conference website ( and are available through the Conference Media Resource Center in Endicott. If your church would like to learn more about Africa University, consider inviting a speaker from the AU Speakers Bureau to your church. To schedule a speaker, contact Christine Doran, executive assistant to the bishop, at (315) or Shirley Byers, chair of the AU Scholarship Task Force, at (518) ; or send an to AUspeakers@unyumc.org. To make a donation, use the AU envelopes that can be found in your church or make a donation online by visiting Many companies offering matching gift programs and will match donations made by their employees; be sure to ask if your employer will match your donation to the AU Scholarship Endowment Fund. Under the Acacia Tree includes a song written by Patrick Matsikenyiri, professor of music and first director of the AU Choir. The curriculum is designed to teach kids about Africa University and the importance of reaching out to others around the world as well as help raise funds to support scholarships at Africa University.

4 Page 4 February 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate UMM helping make hearing program sound again By Christian Vischi Advocate writer Audiologist Gilbert C. Hanke tests a Haitian girl s hearing during a mission trip. Hanke is now general secretary of United Methodist Men. UMNS file photo (undated) courtesy of United Methodist Men. Listen up, here s how to help Donations of hearing aids (any condition) or financial contributions can be dropped off at or sent to the West Schuyler UMC, 297 Wood Lane Road, Utica, NY For more information about Hope of Hearing, contact Gene Snyder at (315) or visit the Conference UMM s website at Picture this: following the 2010 earthquake, representatives of a U.S.-based hearing aid company travel to Haiti with a pop star, ostensibly on a relief mission; they take lots of publicity pictures and then leave without testing or fitting a single child with a hearing aid. When a mission team gets ready to visit Haiti, the same hearing aid company promises to provide them with hearing aids. Just weeks before the trip, the company balks, declining to provide the needed equipment. Gilbert Hanke, general secretary of United Methodist Men (UMM), said that course of events is exactly what happened to his mission team, and he believes the company denied his team the hearing aids so that it could return in the future with another celebrity for another photo opportunity. These events have made what was once a successful ministry difficult to restart, Hanke But with a coordinated effort by the Methodist Church of Haiti, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, the General Board of Global Ministries and Haitian schools, Hope of Hearing is reappearing in Haiti after a two-year hiatus. Schools were understandably skeptical about trusting a missions team after two previous visits by the hearing aid company resulted in no assistance to the hearingimpaired children. In addition, Hanke said, political unrest in Haiti and the 2010 earthquake also made it difficult to get back to help. But trips last month and in November 2012 have fit more than 30 children with hearing aids and impressions have been made to fit more than 50 other children Hope of Hearing is also a ministry reaching into the Upper New York Annual Conference. Gene Snyder, a member of the UMM at the West Schuyler United Methodist Church (Mohawk District), heard about the experiences Hanke has had in Haiti, and he urged the Conference UMM to get behind the project. "I did a mission (trip) in 1990 in Africa, and I have seen the needs around the world and the misuse of funds," Snyder "So when I find somebody that I can give my efforts to and I know he is (of good) character, I can support that kind of people." Snyder said his church supports two Haitian students financially, a group makes clothes for distribution there and they collect glasses for the local Kiwanis Club. Yet Snyder finds the most reward from the hearing aid collection. "The thing I like about it is we are taking our junk that would end up in a landfill and giving it to some of the countries that (have a great) need," Snyder said, "and it is not really expensive for us to get it to a place that can use them." One story Snyder recalled was when a young boy was fitted with a hearing aid for the first time. At first he acted as if nothing had happened, and then all of a sudden he screamed as a truck drove by. The team immediately knew that was the boy's first intelligible sound. To date, Snyder has collected approximately 75 hearing aids. UMM is seeking donations of hearing aids in any condition especially older models or financial contributions. The donated hearing aids are sent to a company here in the U.S. that exchanges them for refurbished models to be sent to Haiti. New name for Utica mission By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer In 2007, the Utica Eastside Mission was established to serve individuals living in poverty in the East Utica neighborhood. This fall, the mission's Board of Directors and staff approved changing the name to Utica Urban Ministry to better reflect the organization's aim to serve individuals across the city. Other than the move of the mission's afterschool program, everything else remains untouched. "Every program we had we still have," said Mary Gladstone-Highland, a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church serving as a Church and Community Worker at the Utica Urban Ministry, "and we are working on new and exciting programs that can expand our mission as a whole." The afterschool program was originally located at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 932 Rutger St., Utica (Mohawk District), but was moved at the start of the school year to the Plymouth Bethesda United Church of Christ at 500 Plant St. It is a "more central location" and a "more appropriate space," Gladstone-Highland said, highlighting that the new space has an indoor gym, an educational wing and a game room. "There are a lot more opportunities for us to expand the program," she added. "We wanted our name to reflect that we serve all the citizens of Utica," she The decision to change was made "a long time ago," but the rebranding effort only began within the last couple of months. She hopes that the name change makes people curious enough to check them out. For more information about the Utica Urban Ministry, visit its website uticaurbanministry.org or send to uticaurbanministry@gmail.com. Help UNYAC BOOM locate these elders on Honorable Location The Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry is seeking to connect with elders on Honorable Location with whom the board has lost touch. Those on Honorable Location are to report annually to the church in which they hold their membership, as well as to the Board of Ordained Ministry. Neither the board nor the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits has contact information for the persons listed here: David Blackman Kendall Burgess Bruce A. Gray Earl E. Hall Peter D. Hanson Kenneth Holems Valarie Valentine Vinton Ziegler Anyone who has contact information for someone listed here is asked to contact the Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry Conference Relations, c/o the Rev. Brian Fellows, via at pastorbrianfellows@hotmail. com. 20th-century Church s exile is topic of pastor s book The Rev. Dr. Richard Tulip, pastor at the West Winfield Federated Church (Mohawk District), has a new book out that draws parallels between the Babylonian exile and what he calls the late 20th-century exile of the church. In And I Shall Renew Their Wings like Eagles: Living beyond Exile, published by Xulon Press in November 2012, Rev. Tulip notes that the modern church can derive a great benefit from exploring Israel s post-exilic period. This is the first book by Rev. Tulip to be published by Xulon Press. These post-exilic experiences may well hold some keys for the future and renewal of the mainline church in the early 21st century, Rev. Tulip wrote. I firmly believe that how Israel responded to the crisis of the exile holds some keys to revitalizing the life and ministry of the church. The idea for the central theme of the book dates back more than a decade, when he was studying for his doctor of ministry degree at Bangor Seminary in the late 1990s. During this time, he said, he first encountered the idea that the experiences of the church in America and other Western cultures are tantamount to an exile, much like that experienced by Jews when the people were carried off to Babylon. During a sabbatical, he further explored the parallels between the Babylonian exile and the late 20th-century exile of the church. These studies revealed, according to Rev. Tulip, that Jews utilized the post-exilic period to reform, renew, revitalize and transform ancient Judaism into a modern major religion. The book is available at the Xulon Press online bookstore; Amazon; Barnes and Noble online; and at the Federated Church office.

5 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate February 2013 Page 5 Adaptive leadership focus at Quadrennial Training ABOVE: Some of the 38 Upper New York Annual Conference leaders attended the 2013 Quadrennial Training Event from Jan in Nashville, Tenn. LEFT: Mohawk District Superintendent Sung Ho Lee (left) and Jefferson Dedrick, CCYM co-chair, at the Quadrennial Training Event. Photos by Rev. Maidstone Mulenga By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor If you meet any of the 38 leaders from the Upper New York Annual Conference who attended the 2013 Quadrennial Training Event Jan in Nashville, Tenn., listen for the this key phrase: adaptive leadership. The training offered key conference leaders and general agency staff the opportunity to learn and practice skills for adaptive leadership and be inspired by stories of adaptive learning. Led mostly by the Rev. Susan Beaumont, a senior consultant with the Alban Institute, the training gave the leaders new insight into what adaptive leadership entails. During the training, adaptive leadership was defined as: The ability to mobilize people to tackle tough challenges and thrive. It is the act of capacitybuilding in individuals and organizations, so that people can learn to live in a less predictable, more ambiguous environment, and learn to adapt to changing circumstances as a way of life. For leaders of the Upper New York Annual Conference who are living out the transition from four conferences to one, it was intriguing to learn that successful adaptive changes build on the past rather than jettison it. (Adaptive leadership) requires: Preserving the historical DNA of the organization; removing or modifying that which is no longer necessary or useful; creating or innovating new arrangement that enable the organization to thrive. Conference leaders had a chance to identify and work together on their own conference s adaptive questions. Those attending the training, including conference committee leaders and Cabinet members, have agreed to share their experiences through stories and videos. Some reflections appear below; more can be found at The theme of the training was Even the wind and the waves obey Him... from Mark 4:35-5:1, which tells the story of the disciples leaving their familiar shore and finding themselves in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Jesus questions them and steadies them, and together they go out to new places of challenging ministry. UNYAC leaders reflect on Quad Training experience Conference leaders had a chance to identify and work together on their own conference s adaptive questions. Here are some reflections: "As a physician and, possibly worse, a surgeon, it has been part of my professional DNA to diagnose a problem and fix it - as quickly and efficiently as possible. So relearning and having reinforced the concept that adaptive leadership doesn't work that way was a valuable lesson for me. My reflection and challenge now is to adapt my own thinking and leadership style into a format that includes others in framing the underlying challenge, identifying necessary change and loss, and moving forward into mission and ministry - even (or maybe especially) when it is messy and uncomfortable. I am so glad others are on this journey with me, and that we will be able to share our Reimer growth in the coming months and years in ministry." Sylvia Reimer, Conference VIM steering Committee Huber It was an honor to represent the Upper New York Annual Conference at the Quadrennial training event in Nashville, TN. The fellowship with other Upper New York leaders as well as with my national colleagues was refreshing and meaningful. The seminar material was practical and thought provoking. The tools we learned will be useful as we listen to ways in which God is calling us to minister in Upper New York. The evening gatherings as a Conference group with Bishop Webb facilitating were particularly meaningful for me as we worked in small groups dialoguing about the questions Bishop Webb asked each group to work with. Saturday evening s gathering was very powerful for me as Bishop Webb framed the challenge and opportunity in the Upper New York Annual Conference as a spiritual issue. He encouraged and challenged us to remain singularly focused on building disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." Mike Huber, associate director for Camp and Retreat Ministries At General Conference 2012, The UMC affirmed the Act of Repentance towards Native People. Our Conference and Committee on Native American Ministry have vital work to do to bring education and awareness of why this is necessary and to advocate for Native People. We have an incredible opportunity before us to demonstrate what walking in true repentance as people of faith means. There is much to do, as the voice of Native People (women and other marginalized groups) has been left out of most history books. The history many of us learned is from a very limited perspective. Stereotyped images of Native people are rampant in American culture, and racism continues to harm many of Creator s children. CONAM s goals include bringing education and awareness of Native Rev. Shields issues and advocating for Natives in many ways, which often creates conflict with the dominant culture. Just as the disciples found themselves in a boat rocked by storm and raging waves, we who stand for equality and justice often find ourselves in the same conditions. Like the disciples, our nature yearns for the storm to calm and the boat to stop rocking! Yet it is during turbulent times when our vision clears and we learn the calming presence of Jesus is with us, helping us do what we are called to do, even in the face of chaos, danger and turmoil. The Adaptive Leadership training focused on letting the storm rage, the boat rock, the unsteadiness happen, remembering who is really in control of the wind, the waves, the boat, and most of all our fears. This is a most valuable lesson for those who must stand and face the challenges of changing times, as we seek justice and look towards sailing calmer seas. Rev. Sue Shields, Conference Committee on Native American Ministry (CONAM) I have been wrestling with this concept of adaptive leadership for almost a year now. At times I think I'm close to being able to put it into practice and at other times it seems once more elusive. I've read and re-read the book and each time I discover something I hadn't noticed before. However, this week of training gave me a 'balcony view' where I was able to see how adaptive leadership might work from a variety of angles. From the worship to the speakers to the table discussion - it all began to come together in a much clearer way. For me when it really began to come together was when we were invited to use Rev. Butler an adaptive approach to an issue we were facing in our own lives. For me, the temptation has always been to run to the 'immediate fix'. By applying the adaptive approach to this issue I'm working on in my own ministry, I was able to see in a very real way how helpful this approach might be in a variety of ministry settings." Rev. Wayne Butler, Niagara Frontier District superintendent I ve appreciated the opportunity to participate in lots of constructive dialog during the event both within our Annual Conference team and with those from other conferences. I believe one of the greatest challenges facing our denomination is that we have trouble defining our identity. We can t agree on what it means to be a vital congregation, or an effective pastor, or even a disciple of Jesus Christ. Much of this disagreement can be traced back to the reality that we have substantial disagreements about how to interpret and apply the Bible. I think the greatest adaptive challenge for the denomination is to simply acknowledge that we don t agree and then find constructive Fuller and grace-filled ways to move forward with integrity. Finding real solutions will require lots of honest communication, trust, patience, and hard work, but I think it can be done! Much of this work needs to occur at the denominational level, but in the mean time, I think we can make some great initial steps forward here in Upper New York." Dan Fuller, lay member at Chenango Bridge UMC

6 Page 6 February 2013 Black History Month The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Church has tie to famed abolitionist By Beth DiCocco Advocate Writer Things are pretty quiet in Peterboro these days, but it was not always so. It was a hot bed of civil unrest, said the Rev. Martie Fischer, pastor at the Peterboro and Perryville United Methodist churches (Mohawk District). The famous abolitionist Gerrit Smith ( ) lived in Peterboro, and his presence brought many who were active in the anti-slavery movement into this small rural community including Frederick Douglass, John Brown, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (who was Smith s cousin) and Salmon P. Chase. It fascinated me, Rev. Fischer said of Peterboro s history, because I never knew upstate had such as strong role in abolition. Rev. Fischer said the first thing she did when she came to town was attend a meeting of the historical society. For members of her church, she said, the community s history is very much a part of their lives. Peterboro was mentioned in a documentary titled The Abolitionists, which aired on PBS last month. That got Rev. Fischer thinking about her church s connection to the abolitionist move- Rev. Fischer ment. Smith was a member of the Peterboro UMC, and served as the church s Sunday school superintendent. Smith was the equivalent of a billionaire, and gave away more than a billion dollars in today s money during his lifetime. His willingness to finance causes he believed in, including the abolitionist movement, brought many people to Peterboro. He also encouraged former slaves to settle in the area, and that has left a legacy as well. This is the most racially diverse congregation I ve ever served, Rev. Fischer said, saying about 20 percent of the 20 who attend regularly are people of color. The church also has a couple of artifacts of its connection to Smith. In a display case just inside the front door is a commemorative spoon with Smith s image on it (right). The case also contains a psalm book that was given by Smith s second wife, Anne, to Elizabeth Pelton. The inscription is dated Dec. 25, This psalm book is inscribed as a gift to Elizabeth Pelton from Anne C. Smith (Mrs. Gerritt Smith) on Dec. 25, Also in the display case at the church is this Gerritt Smith spoon. Photos by Beth DiCocco. Local historian Norm Dann, who has written a biography of Smith titled Practical Dreamer, said that Smith s journey to the church was a long and winding one, but Anne Smith was very devout, and she is the one who brought him to the church eventually. He was not a dyed-in-the-wool Methodist or anything, Dann In fact, Smith had become disillusioned with organized religion, in part because of what he saw as hypocrisy in general and on the slavery question specifically. In fact, he was one of the founders of a nondenominational free church in Peterboro (the building is now the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum) across the street from Peterboro UMC. But when slavery was abolished, the free church had no other focus and dissolved as did, for various reasons, all of the other churches in town except the Methodist church, which had been there since the 1840s. That s where (Smith) ended up, Dann It was the late 1860s when he started going there. He died in 1874, so he had only a short-term identification with the Methodist church. Still, Dann said, that doesn t mean he didn t have an impact on the church. There are some letters (that indicate) what a well-respected and loved member of that church he was, Dann The Sunday after Smith died, Dann said, his pew at Peterboro UMC was draped in black and adorned with flowers and his picture. And if he did not embrace the doctrine of Methodism, it seems that he did embrace the Church s strong emphasis on mission. Peterboro s pastor at the time, David Koppel, wrote about Smith afterwards referencing his philanthropy, Dann Smith reached out to those who were in anyway oppressed, and Koppel s account indicates that Smith visited the sick and the poor, helped finance education for some and helped get homes built or repaired for others. His philanthropy was local, Dann If Peterboro UMC has a legacy from its days as a center for abolitionism, it s reaching out to those in need, Rev. Fischer We ve a strong mission commitment. Though there are only about 20 members at church on Sunday, and most are older folks, they make quilts and lap robes for local hospitals and the VA, collect food for the local food pantry and provided Christmas for two families this year. That s doing a lot for 20 people, she Auburn pastor honored with NAACP s Millennium Award By Beth DiCocco Advocate Writer The Rev. Richelle M. Goff, pastor at the Auburn United Methodist Church (Finger Lakes District), was honored last month with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Millennium Award given by the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the NAACP. "Basically, since coming to Auburn, she's quietly gone about the work of being an outstanding representative of the church in the community," said Laurel Ullyette, community liaison for the Auburn/ Cayuga NAACP, on why Rev. Goff was selected for the award. Rev. Goff has been at Auburn UMC since "I was a little shocked," Rev. Goff said of learning she'd be named a Millenium Award honoree. "I was honored and very humbled to have been chosen." She said that she and her church "try to be as active as we can in the community." "She's been actively involved in and a Rev. Goff wonderful support" for efforts such as the local food pantries and organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and others. And, Ullyette said, Rev. Goff's opened the church to these groups to use as meeting space. Ullyette said the Millennium Award honors the values and work of Dr. King by celebrating those who are "working to help others and sharing what they have to bring others along." Rev. Goff has also taken part in the facilitator training for the branch's Community Dialog to End Racism program, Ullyette The program is based on the Syracuse Interfaith Works' Community Wide Dialogue to End Racism. The program brings together small groups, eight to 10 people, with two facilitators generally one white and one a person of color to have "open, honest conversation about racism" and "share perspectives, share experiences and what it feels like from each side." "(Rev. Goff's) been wonderfully cooperative and very sincere; she's really interested in reaching across all kinds of barriers," said Ullyette, who said that Rev. Goff has allowed the dialog group to use the church as a training site. Her congregation, Rev. Goff said, doesn't reflect its neighborhood, which is predominantly African American, so the church makes an effort to "bridge the color divide." That is one reason she opted to take the Community Dialog facilitator training. "The community is very segregated still," she "There are strides being taken by community members to alleviate issues in community, but there is still a lot of misunderstanding." The dialog circles, she said, are another way to help bring some understanding. Rev. Goff and the other honorees were celebrated at a luncheon on Jan. 23. This was the 14th anniversary of the Millennium Award. Also being honored were: Mettis Jacobs, Diana Jacobs, Krista Martin and Patricia Shine. In addition, a former member of the Auburn/Cayuga Branch NAACP Board of Directors, Naomi Post Fletcher, was inducted into the local branch's Hall of Fame. Rev. Goff also participated in a citywide celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on Sunday, Jan. 20. It was really wonderful to have been asked to do that, to share the message that evening," she said, but added that it was disappointing that more people did not turn out. "It shows we need to continue the work," she Ullyette recalled a quote from one of Rev. Goff's parishioners that she heard when the NAACP was doing research on Rev. Goff. "She said (Rev. Goff's) the most supportive pastor she's ever worked with. Isn't that great?" Ullyette "We need more like her."

7 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate February 2013 Page 7 Feeding a need through a cooking class at church By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Have you noticed the sodium content of frozen meals? Or the shrinking offerings of canned vegetables? These are questions that Anna Dawson of Hometown Foods, LLC, wants you to think about the next time you drive past a farmer s market. Dawson, a retired home economics teacher and a lifelong farmer, was the co-leader of a free cook from scratch food demonstration on Jan. 12 at the Grace United Methodist Church, Nassau (Albany District). Joining Dawson was Nancy Estes of Kitchen Counter Intelligence, a retired science teacher and caterer. The class was presented by the Nassau Cooperative Community Food Compact (NCCFC). The Rev. Diane Marquit, pastor at Grace UMC and Saint Paul s UMC in Castleton, is a self-described peace and justice advocate. She also said sustainable living is big for me. Rev. Marquit This is the first time (this class was being) offered at the church, Rev. Marquit We have been trying to launch it for almost a year now and we are finally able to do it. It is an interfaith community effort, but many of our members are involved in it. Although the idea is to teach families how to be frugal and how to best use resources, this class and possible future classes comes not from abundance, but from necessity. We have no grocery store in town; it is about 12 miles to the nearest grocery store. We have these little stores (convenience stores) where you can get a few things, but otherwise families have to travel to get food staples, she said, but, we have a lot of farms in this area. Every Wednesday, year-round, the Fellowship Hall in the church is the site of the NCCFC pickup. During the weekend, families can go online and order fresh produce and other items, including fair trade and gluten-free items. Members of the church and the compact get the items from local farms and suppliers and deliver them to the church. Additional items are also brought for those who didn t place an order or first-time visitors. 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 to unyadvocate@unyumc.org, subject line: Big idea to share. Dawson is excited that this class could be a stepping stone to her grand plan, the start of cooking clubs and community kitchens, not just in Nassau, but around the state and nation. Like Dawson, Rev. Marquit has a grand vision. She would like to see this cook-from-scratch class expand into an ongoing series. But more important, she said, is that she would like to see a bigger emphasis on teaching children where produce comes from and how to grow it, and increased community involvement. Instead of hanging flower baskets that line village streets across New York, filled with cascading flowers in the spring through fall months, I would like to see planters with vegetables, tomato plants, where someone can run out and get what you need. I think that would be a cool thing to start cultivating, and that is something we are going to start talking about cultivating in Nassau, Rev. Marquit At Saint Paul s UMC, the church has a small garden that has been overly productive in previous years, she said, and they just added a small orchard. For a few hours of work in the summer, every Sunday we have fresh fruits and vegetables at our worship service that are given to anyone who wants them. Even members of the community who need grocery staples are invited to the garden to pick what they need. But having what you need doesn t mean you have the time to prepare a healthy meal from scratch. People often turn to convenience food. Whether it is fast-food eateries or frozen meals that contain high sodium, artificial meats and few vegetables, according to Dawson. People need an alternative that is quick and nutritious. Vacuum packing for freezers opens up a large variety of options, Dawson I said to myself, Why can t we freeze and vacuum package fruits and vegetables? Dawson For convenience she puts together vacuumpacked kits, like vegetable broth, carrots and black beans (as a soup kit), and you have better food than (national brand frozen meals), she Using this technique, we can actually buy from the farmers and create the healthiest convenience food that you can imagine. So I am trying as a farmer-market person to create a new paradigm, where we make people aware of what is available and given them the skills to do it.... I am going out into the community and sharing what I have; at 71, it s not about me. I want to inspire other people to copy what I do, because it is easy. UMC clergy to take part in annual health survey The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits Center for Health will conduct its annual online clergy health survey this month. The survey continues to provide comparative data for the Center s clergy health research. The Center for Health, with its dedicated team within GBPHB, seeks to improve multiple dimensions of health and well-being physical, emotional, spiritual, social and financial of clergy and lay workers of The United Methodist Church and their families. The Center for Health's multi-dimensional health and wellness focus is specific to the UMC target population, according to GBPHB. This survey will be distributed to a sample of 5,000 clergy (representing a crosssection of active United Methodist clergy by jurisdiction, gender, race/ethnicity and clergy type), who will receive a brief online survey. The survey is designed to help identify clergy health needs, including the effects of vocational situations within the Church environment, and to monitor changes in clergy health over time. The resulting data will help the denomination learn more about its clergy's health and well-being. Information will also be used to monitor trends and needs as well as to develop programs and services to assist United Methodist clergy in leading healthier lives for themselves, their families, their congregations and communities. The Center for Health will publish survey findings upon completion and use them to provide services to better address clergy health needs. The survey was designed in collaboration with Virginia Conference Wellness Ministries, Ltd. (VCWM), Duke Clergy Health Initiative (CHI), and the Duke Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health. The Center for Health is also receiving financial support from VCWM and Duke CHI. Versta Research has been retained to conduct the survey, which consists of 100 questions covering multiple dimensions of health (physical, emotional, social and spiritual) and the vocational setting. For more information, visit Clergy health studies, articles and other resources are available at this Center for Health site, with new and updated health and wellness content survey results Here are some of the results found in the 2012 survey (published in May 2012). Positive aspects of clergy health Most score high on measures of spiritual vitality and spiritual well-being, though there are no benchmarks against which to compare Measures of social connection, congregational health and occupational stress are comparable to relevant (clergy) peers UMC clergy do well when it comes to healthy behaviors: Higher levels of physical activity both moderate and vigorous compared to a matched sample of U.S. peers and have comparable hours of sleep (just over seven per night) The 2012 survey showed that UMC clergy engage in higher levels of physical activity both moderate and vigorous compared to a matched sample of U.S. peers, participating in four hours per week of moderate activity and two hours per week of vigorous activity. Walking programs may be increasing clergy activity levels, the survey authors Negative aspects of clergy health Four in 10 (41 percent) are obese and another 37 percent are overweight More than half (54 percent) have high cholesterol 6 percent suffer from depression and 28 percent have at least some functional difficulty from depressive symptoms. To read the complete results of the 2012 survey, visit the Center for Health section of the GBPHB website at and click on trends and research.

8 Page 8 February 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Masland named New Faith Communities Director Continued from cover people new pathways for us to make connections with the people living near us, he Rejecting the notion that the creation of new faith communities will weaken the existing churches, Rev. Masland said he believes that God is actively working in the lives of the millions of people who are not in churches, and that planting new faith communities will be the best way for us to come alongside the Spirit in this work. What is most exciting is that as we build relationships with these new people, not only will their lives be transformed, but ours as well. Rev. Masland anticipates challenges in his new ministry, especially in learning about and understanding the diverse cultures of the people the Church is trying to reach. Many of our urban areas are becoming more culturally and ethnically diverse by the day. Our churches do not reflect this diversity, he New faith communities have the potential to reach these folks, but only if we take the time to learn from them, not just their language, but their values, their hopes and dreams, their fears, and the unique ways they want to worship and grow in their faith. He said a similar approach is needed to plant churches designed to reach any group. A church for teenagers should look different in most every way from a church for 70-year-olds. The key is we have to let go of all our assumptions about what a community of faith looks like in order that we can truly be open to the Church God wants to create. Rev. Masland brings a bevy of experience to the job. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained in the former Southern New Jersey Annual Conference in After six years, he asked to transfer his clergy membership to the Wyoming Annual Conference, his home conference, in order to be closer to family. He served several churches including Castle Creek, Glen Castle and Sidney, before he was asked by then Resident Bishop Susan Morrison to serve on her Cabinet as superintendent of the Binghamton District in It has been a rare privilege to serve in this time of transition from four annual conferences to one in Upstate New York, as I have had the chance to work on the cabinets of four different bishops, he For this new ministry, Rev. Masland has listed an initial set of five priorities: 1. Pray daily, seeking God s direction, and asking for others to join me in praying for this new undertaking. 2. Focus on his own learning. I will be hiring a coach to walk with me and help me make leadership choices that will move us toward our goals. I will be attending at least one Path 1 leadership training event in the summer or fall. I will be picking the brains of people in similar positions in other annual conferences that are ahead of us in this work. And, I will be building relationships with every person, team and church that is already engaged in planting new ministries in our Annual Conference. 3. Recruiting gifted, likehearted people to work with him in building the systems needed to grow our new faith community work. The way I envision it now is building teams to do each of the following things: Start an academy for equipping church planters; create a process for recruiting and evaluating new planters and teams; work with the Cabinet to identify new high-potential areas and people-groups that we would like to connect with in new ways; create a system for recruiting and training persons to serve as coaches of church planters; and create an oversight team to assist me in making decisions about funding priorities. 4. Church planting can be a very lonely journey; hence the need to create a system of peer support/learning groups for all those involved in planting new faith communities. I do not want any planter to ever feel alone. Each planter needs a safe place to share dreams and frustrations, a group of friends who will hold them accountable for their spiritual lives and their goals. I will be sharing this vision with all of the persons planting new faith communities now, and enlisting their help in building peer groups that meet their needs. Then, I will spend time each month pouring myself into the lives of the people I have asked to serve as conveners of these groups developing them as leaders, so that they can in turn work at developing the leadership of the other planters they will be meeting with. 5. Working with the Communications staff of the Conference to develop a plan for telling the story of what God is already doing in the area. Many new faith communities are already well under way. Folks are constantly discovering new ways of connecting with their neighbors. These planters are using a wide variety of strategies and approaches. And I want to get their stories out for all to hear. These people will inspire each of us, and help us to envision new ways of reaching new people in our own contexts. With God s blessing, Rev. Masland hopes to see more than 100 new faith communities actively reaching new people in 100 different ways in five years. I envision people gathering for worship in unusual places and times. I envision people drawn together by their passions to do hands-on work in their communities, attracting lots of young adults to work with them. I envision new small groups gathering in restaurants, bars, coffee shops and homes each one marked by a DNA of invitation and multiplication, he He is hopeful about the future. I envision United Methodists worshipping in a multitude of languages and music styles. I envision new ministries that attract runners and hikers, quilters and knitters, boaters and bikers, singers and musicians, weight lifters and yoga enthusiasts, cooks and home builders, hikers and gardeners.. I do not know for sure what the future churches will look like, but I know that they will be very diverse, because they will grow out of the unique passions and interests of the people who plant them, and the people that they attract. I envision new ministries that attract runners and hikers, quilters and knitters, boaters and bikers, singers and musicians, weight lifters and yoga enthusiasts, cooks and home builders, hikers and gardeners. Rev. Masland, who likes the outdoors, is an avid runner. He and his wife of 30 years, Leslie, enjoy our two sons, Josh and Mark, and their wives. Process for selecting new faith communities director included nationwide search Continued from cover Bishop Webb then talked with Binghamton District Superintendent Rev. David Masland to see if he might enter process at that point. Rev. Masland indicated he could and would. He submitted the same application materials as the other candidates. After the receipt of the application from Rev. Masland, Bishop Webb and Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding asked the New Faith Communities Team to interview Rev. Masland. The team interviewed Rev. Masland and did recommend him for consideration by Bishop Webb and Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding, who also later held a second interview with Rev. Masland. After that second interview, Bishop Webb and Rev. Gottschalk-Fielding felt comfortable and confident that Rev. Masland would be a good fit for this role. He was offered and accepted position. Bishop Webb has placed the position of Director of New Faith Communities in the Appointive Cabinet to emphasis its key role in the future development of new churches and leaders in the Upper New York Annual Conference. Kofahl will be Binghamton DS Continued from cover team and the joint committee on disability. The Rev. Dr. Kofahl, 58, and his wife, Diane, have three adult children, Matthew, Jonathan, and Rachel. He will replace the Rev. David Masland, who was earlier this month named as the Conference Director of New Faith Communities, effective July 1, Both will serve on the Appointive Cabinet. DS TERMS EXTENDED Rev. Sung Ho Lee and Rev. Cathy Hall Stengel will serve another year Page 12

9 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate February 2013 Page 9 Hand to Plow training under way By Maidstone Mulenga Advocate editor The first gatherings of the Hand to Plow, a process of revitalization of churches in the Upper New York Annual Conference, are under way. Director of Vital Congregations the Rev. Aaron Bouwens, who is spearheading the process, said as of Jan. 30, 174 congregations are participating in the process. Hand to Plow, which was affirmed at the 2012 Annual Conference Session, is a three-year process available to churches to help congregations grow in effectiveness at living the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The first year of the Hand to Plow process involves gathering in peer learning groups for conversation, discussion of assigned books and planning on how to bring the information to the local church. Participating churches commit to sending at least three to five lay members to participate in these groups. The church s pastors must also commit to participating in a peer group with other clergy. For 2013, there are nine peer learning group sessions for the clergy and four sessions for the laity. Each of the gatherings will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and lunch will be provided. The initial sessions for clergy ended Feb. 4; this is the schedule for laity sessions by location: March 2, April 13, Sept. 21 and Nov. 16 Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center Feb. 9, April 13, Sept. 28 and Nov. 23 Asbury Camp & Retreat Center Feb. 9, April 13, Sept. 28 and Nov. 23 Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center March 2, April 20, Sept. 28 and Nov. 16 Findley Camp & Retreat Center Feb. 9, April 20, Sept. 21 and Nov. 23 Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center March 2, April 13, Sept. 21 and Nov. 16 Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center If you have any questions, contact Rev. Bouwens at aaronbouwens@unyumc.org or (315) , ext On Jan. 8 at Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center, the Upper New York Annual Conference kicked off, Hand to Plow, a process of helping local congregations revitalize. Both Hand to Plow and the planting of new faith communities are part of the Plentiful Harvest initiative. TOP LEFT: Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb. TOP RIGHT: The Rev. Aaron Bouwens, director of Vital Congregations, who led the first session of facilitators who will help training church leaders. ABOVE: From left: the Rev. Leland Carlson, pastor of Webster UMC (Genesee Valley District); Cornerstone District Superintendent Sherri Rood, Mountain View District Superintendent Cathy Hall Stengel, Northern Flow District Superintendent Rebekah Sweet, Executive Assistant to the Bishop Christine Doran and the Rev. Hoyt Brown, pastor of Faith UMC in Henrietta (Genesee Valley District). RIGHT: From left: the Rev. B.J. Norrix, pastor of Christ UMC in Amherst (Niagara Frontier District); the Rev. Charles Smith, pastor of First UMC in Cortland (Finger Lakes District), and Finger Lakes District Superintendent Richard Barton. For more information about Hand to Plow, Rev. Aaron Bouwens, director of Vital Congregations, at aaronbouwens@unyumc.org or call (315) x338. Rev. Bouwens also writes a blog revitalizeunyumc.blogspot.com. Photos by Maidstone Mulenga CONAM Committee on Native American Ministries Honoring the UN declaration on indigenous rights By Kae Wilbert Chair of the UNYAC Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) The annual commemoration of the United Nations Human Rights Day, which included celebrating the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was held Dec. 10 in Buffalo. Agnes Williams, Seneca, is the founder of the Indigenous Woman s Initiative, and hosts the commemoration event every year. The declaration was originally passed in 2007 after more than 30 years of talks on the part of the Indigenous negotiating party who traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, annually to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Counted among them were many Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people from our area. A key part of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was acknowledgement of the destruction caused by the ancient document the Doctrine of Discovery, taken from papal bulls of 1452 declaring war against all non- Christians throughout the world and sanctioning and promoting the conquest, colonization and exploitation of non-christian nations and territories. The passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls into question the validity of the Christian Doctrine of Discovery, which for centuries served as legal rationale for stealing land and dehumanizing aboriginal peoples, including being used as the justification for the establishment of boarding schools throughout North America to civilize Indian children. This has been a significant year for the celebrators of the UN declaration, because five religious groups, as well as the World Council of Churches, have issued statements repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery: The United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Universalists, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the United Church of Christ. Speaking at the commemoration was Onondaga Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, a retired professor from the University of Buffalo who has been involved in the negotiations and the writing of the text of the UN document. I can t find the words to express my appreciation to the religious community that has supported our efforts by their repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery. This is a significant support, Lyons As chair of the UNYAC Committee on Native American Ministries, I attended the Dec. 10 event. It was very meaningful to hear Oren Lyons speak in this way. I was nearly moved to tears, knowing how hard the Native people have worked to gain this recognition and that my church is now a strong supporter. Many UMC people are listening. The acknowledgement of the Act of Repentance at General Conference in May 2012 has started an awakening among our parishioners that I see as only the beginning. Doors are being opened to new and positive relationships between our peoples.

10 Page 10 February 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Students urged to apply for UNYAC scholarships United Methodist high school seniors and college students are invited to apply for two scholarships offered by the Upper New York Annual Conference. Application forms and guidelines are available now. The two scholarships awarded are: The Conference Merit Award is funded by the United Methodist Student Day Special Offering (typically held in November or December). Of the total funds collected, 10 percent stays within our Annual Conference; the remainder goes to national scholarships and loans. This scholarship is for students who are members of their local UMC and are attending a United Methodist school, university or college, and whose local church participated in the Student Day Special Offering the year before. The Lottie Brown Grant is offered to students regardless of which institution of higher education they attend, but in their statement of faith, students must explain how their education will facilitate them entering into some form of Christian service. District youth events Second Chances the theme of Finger Lakes first youth event Youth in the Finger Lakes District are invited to toss out the things they no longer want in their lives and get a second chance and a fresh start. Second Chances: Reset Your Life is the theme of the Finger Lakes District Council on Youth Ministries first district-wide event for youth in grades six to 12, which will take place Feb When Finger Lakes District formed a few years ago, it hadn t had a district youth ministry, and we re trying to get one going, said the Rev. Eleanor Collinsworth, pastor at the Seneca Falls UMC, who is helping organize the event. This is our first formal event; we hope it s not the last. The Finger Lakes District Council on Youth Ministries is hosting the weekend event as a way for youth to have fun, explore their faith, and first and foremost, experience the connection, she (It s a chance to realize) they have friends they haven t met yet in other United Methodist churches in the area and the region. They can also learn about what s out there for them beyond the local church, she Rev. Collinsworth said youth groups from various churches can use this time to connect and share ministries and worship experiences that they enjoy and give leaders some fresh ideas, as well as talk about possible cooperative projects. As for the theme, Rev. Collinsworth said the youth organizing the event are going to design worship experiences (starting with) sin and God s grace and then forgiveness and new beginnings. The idea, she said, is to give youth a chance to evaluate what changes they would like to make in their lives and make them. A trash can will symbolize this opportunity to throw away what they d like to get rid of in their lives and start again, Rev. Collinsworth There will also be plenty of time for fun including games and a movie, she Second Chances begins with registration at 6 p.m. on Friday and it ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday. It takes place at Clifton Springs UMC 13 Pleasant St. The cost is $10 a person to cover food. Adults are free. Groups are asked to send one adult for every eight youth. Those attending should bring a sleeping bag, a change of clothes and toiletries. Participants can sign up through their church youth group or contact Rev. Collinsworth at (315) or the Rev. Sandi Perl, pastor at the Branchport and Milo Center UMCs, at (315) Beth DiCocco Both scholarships require a certified transcript, a letter of recommendation (from a teacher for high school students, a professor for college students or an employer if a student has been out of school for at least a year), and a certificate of church membership from the student s pastor. For application materials and more information visit the Conference website, The application deadline for both scholarships is April 1. Youth participating in the 2012 Albany Youth Summit work at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in the Albany area to help prepare food donated there for distribution by local food banks. A mission project is part of this year s event as well. Photo by Rebecca Kohler. Immigration and the Bible topic for Albany youth The Albany District Ministry Team is inviting all youth from the Upper New York Annual Conference age 14 and up to Immigration and the Bible. Held Feb at the First United Methodist Church, 603 State St., Schenectady, this Albany District youth event will feature films, speakers, music and a local mission project. The registration fee is $20 per person and is due with your registration form; churches registering three or more youth need to provide an adult chaperone. The registration deadline is Feb. 10. A registration form and event flyer can be found on the Conference website at For more information, contact Shirley Readdean via at whirrly@earthlink.net.

11 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate February 2013 Page 11 Get ready for UP!WWORD Hello! My Name Is. I am a Child of God. UP!WORD 2013 will explore what it means to be called a Child of God through music, worship, workshops, and friendships. It s shaping up to be another exciting weekend for teens in the Upper New York Annual Conference. Register now rooms book up quickly! The form is below, or you can download one from the Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) page of the Conference website. On Friday, April 26, registration opens at 6:30 p.m. The event ends at noon Sunday, following morning Sunday school and worship. Highlights of this year s event will include: Inspiring worship, praise, music and dance led by the youth of the Conference Council on Youth Ministries. Surprises will abound as we consider who we are as children of God. Games led by the staff of our own Camps and Retreat Ministries look for familiar faces among our awesome CRM team! Late-night options like Wacky Olympics, Open Mic on the main stage, a giant game of 4 Square, YSF laser tag, and a Saturday Night Dance Party. Choose from workshops with titles like: Hello, My Name Is MOP; Hello, My Name is YSF; Hello, My Name is Justice; Hello, My Name is Youth Advisor; Hello, My Name is Mingler, or Teach us How to Pray. The Barefoot Band (aka members of CCYM) who get us warmed up for worship with songs and dances. Things to remember: All meals are on your own. The Registration fee covers your room at the hotel, and your event registration only. The Youth Service Fund (YSF), has terrific items for sale, including T-shirts with this year s theme, and (new this year) sweatpants with the YSF dove, as well as snacks and drinks. The YSF auction table has themed baskets filled with all sorts of goodies to be auctioned off throughout the weekend. All youth groups are expected to follow their home church s Safe Sanctuaries policies in terms of adult supervision and room arrangements. TOP: Zach Stahlsmith and Brad Whittemore perform at UP!WORD LEFT: Past Mission of Peace trips have included Nicaragua where youth worked with Proyecto Chacocente or Project Chacocente, which moves families from the city dump of Managua, Nicaragua, to Masaya where for five years, the people learn skills for living independently. Applications for the 2014 MOP are due March 1 (see story at right). ABOVE: Items like these bracelets were sold at UP!WORD to raise money for the Project Chacocente. Photos courtesy of CCYM. Apply now for MOP to Zimbabwe The Mission of Peace (MOP) is an annual journey of discovery and Shalom to nations in our global community sponsored by the Northeast Jurisdictional Council on Youth Ministries of The United Methodist Church (NEJCYM). Each year, every Annual Conference in the jurisdiction may select up to three youth to share in this experience. On each MOP, participants worship in churches, meet youth in churches and civic organizations, and share with people who have a similar longing for peace and understanding. These times have been the high points of each MOP experience. The next MOP, to Zimbabwe, is scheduled to take place Dec. 28, 2013 to Jan. 15, Applications, which are available on the Upper New York Annual Conference website (www. unyumc.org) are due March 1. Interviews will be conducted on Friday, April 26, at Up!Word in Syracuse. Those selected will be notified on or about May 1, The MOP is life changing! It is a journey that leads each participant to discover God s Spirit at work in the world. It is an experience of God s extended family. It is primarily a people-topeople experience in which we learn how our hosts live as disciples of Jesus Christ in their country. Each year the Youth who represent our Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church must raise the money that supports their MOP. In the spirit of Shalom, our Conference Council on Youth Ministries humbly asks each church, UMW unit, UMM unit, UMY, and individuals for prayerful consideration of a monetary gift to the Conference MOP participants. Each youth who journeys on the Mission of Peace is expected to share their experience at least five times upon their return. Each MOP participant is looking forward to telling their story of Shalom. They may be contacted individually or through the Conference youth coordinators. The MOP has traveled to the USSR ( , 90), The People s Republic of China (89, 97, 2001, 06, 11), Eastern Europe (91,92), Zimbabwe (93, 96, 99), Guyana (94), India (95, 00, 05, 10), Nicaragua (98, 03, 07, 12), Brazil (02, 04), Cuba (08, 13), and South Africa (09). Genesee Valley District Superintendent Ted Anderson is Conference youth co-coordinator and the NEJ MOP coordinator. For more information about MOP contact Rev. Anderson at (585) or via to ted@crcds.edu.

12 Page 12 February 2013 The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate Bishop extends terms of two superintendents Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb has announced his intention to appoint the Rev. Dr. Cathy Hall Stengel and the Rev. Dr. Sung Ho Lee to the office of District Superintendent for a seventh year. Both will continue to provide leadership to their current districts: Dr. Stengel in the Mountain View District and Dr. Lee in the Mohawk District. I am pleased that Dr. Stengel and Dr. Lee continue to sense a call to the ministry of superintendency, Bishop Webb said, and I look forward to their outstanding leadership and gifts continuing to Dr. Stengel be shared in the life of the Annual Conference and the Mountain View and Mohawk districts. After college and military duty in Korea, Dr. Lee came to the University at Buffalo, where he earned a master s and PhD in chemical engineering. In 1992, he returned to the United States to attend seminary. He has served churches in Corning and Ithaca. For 24 years, Dr. Stengel served Dr. Lee churches in the former Western New York Conference before becoming a DS in During that time, she earned a doctorate in pastoral supervision. The normal term for a district superintendent is six years, but may be extended up to eight years at the bishop s discretion, in consultation with the Cabinet and the District Committee on Superintendency. Former Finger Lakes DS dies The Rev. Charles Charlie H. Marks, who served as district superintendent in the now Finger Lakes District from 1977 to 1983, died Jan. 15, He was 82. Before retiring in 1995, he served churches in a number of communities in the Upper New York Area including Cherry Valley, Westmoreland, Clark Mills, Remsen, Minetto, Rev. Marks Swales was a champion of Casowasco By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Joan West Swales and her husband, the Rev. William R. Swales, were inseparable in life. Those who knew them can hardly mention one without the other. Mrs. Swales, 80, passed away on Jan. 3, 2013 at her home in Owasco. She and Rev. Swales wed In During the 1970s, Rev. Sales served as the director of Camps and Conferences for the Central New York Annual Conference, a volunteer position at the time. Rev. Swales died on April 22, I was shocked when I heard about Joanie, said the Rev. Bob McCune, retired. We have been friends since her husband was in seminary. Joanie, Bill, my wife and I were constant companions. We just had great times together. Robert L. Mann, Mr. Methodist, dies By Christian Vischi Advocate Writer Robert L. Mann, 91, a former Conference lay leader and president of the United Methodist Men, has died. He passed away Dec. 30, Mr. Mann was the Conference lay leader for the former Central New York Annual Conference from 1976 to 1981 and a past president of the Conference United Methodist Men. Additionally, Mr. Mann served as the Geneva District lay leader ( ), Seneca Falls, Baldwinsville, Utica, Ithaca, and Oswego. He served after retiring as well, most recently at Palermo. Rev. Marks received his master's degree in Christian education from Syracuse University. An author, Rev. Mark's Letter to a Modern Parent was published in 1975, and he was in Those times together included Conference events and camping retreats. Actually, Bill s (Rev. Swale s) dad was the one that got me into camp, Rev. McCune Camp was clearly a passion for Swales. Especially, the Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center in Moravia. They were great advocates of the sailboat camping, the canoe camps, the Adirondack camps, they were very much into expanding the camps beyond the institutional patterns of camp, Rev. McCune They were instrumental in helping to get all the property across from Casowasco, and the vision they had for that was just phenomenal. Mike Huber, the associate director for Camp and Retreat Ministries of the Upper New York Annual Conference, said he was quite the process of writing a history of the former North Central Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Rev. Marks also traveled, and went to India, Syria and Lebanon on behalf of mission studies. He was born Feb. 13, 1930 in Mt. Vision to William and Mabel Gray Marks. He is survived by his wife, the former Marilyn Cone, and his children daughter Valerie (Xerxes) and their sons, Darius and Blappu; daughter Michelle (Riccardo) and their children, Gabriella and Matteo Lotti; son Drew (fiancee, Terri Radder) and their children, Kirin and Brittany; and son Robert Marks. He was predeceased by his grandson Joel. Contributions in Rev. Marks memory may be made to the Mexico United Methodist Church, Feed the Children or a charity of your choice. saddened by her passing. Joan Swales and her husband, Bill, are champions of Casowasco. The Swales Room, a multipurpose space within Emmaus Commons, is a physical dedication to the impact their ministry had on so many people. Joan Swales was a gentle, loving servant that gave of her gifts freely. Her fingerprints have left a powerful imprint on this ministry and on many lives, Huber The couple loved the area so much that they purchased a camp on the shore of Owasco Lake, directly across from Casowasco, so that they were always close by, Rev. McCune Contributions in Swales name may be made to Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center, 158 Casowasco Drive, Moravia, NY Conference Council chairman ( ), delegate to the World Methodist Council (Denver, 1971) and delegate to the General Conferences in Atlanta (1972) and Portland, Ore. (1976). He was elected to General Conferences five times spanning 20 years. Awarded a life membership in United Methodist Men in 1989, Mr. Mann was named a John Wesley Fellow of the former North Central New York Conference in Church colleagues nicknamed him Mr. Methodist. Born on March 10, 1921 in Varick, Mr. Mann married the late Norma Rarrick in the Dundee Methodist Church. The couple had two sons, Paul and Philip. A decorated Army-Air Force World War II veteran, Mr. Mann is listed in the Official Registry of World War II veterans enshrined at Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. Online condolences can be sent by visiting Remembrances Bill Roseman, 47, died Dec. 26, He was the husband of Upper New York Annual Conference payroll clerk Linda Roseman. Condolences may be sent to her at: 7867 Route 13, Canastota, NY Lucille Taylor, 89, died Dec. 29, She was the widow of the Rev. Dr. Walter Taylor, who served United Methodist churches in Voorheesville and East Greenbush (Albany District) prior to becoming executive director of the Albany United Methodist Society. Robert L. Mann, 91, died Dec. 30, Mr. Mann was the Conference lay leader for the former Central New York Annual Conference from 1976 to 1981 and a past president of the Conference United Methodist Men. (See story below left) Joan West Swales 80, died Jan. 3, 2013 at her home in Owasco. She was the widow of the Rev. William R. Swales, who served as the director of Camps and Conferences for the Central New York Annual Conference, a volunteer position at the time. Rev. Swales died on April 22, (See story right). Cora Elsie Dame, 88, died Jan. 6, She was the widow of the Rev. John Dame, an associate member of the Conference; he died in Rev. Dame served churches in Mechlenburg, Edwards, LaFargeville and DePaulville, in addition to churches in the New England Annual Conference. Condolences can be sent to her son, Christian Dame, 446 Main St., Waltham, Mass The Rev. Carlos E. Rosa, retired, died Jan. 11, Rev. Rosa served as a full-time local pastor at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Rochester (Genesee Valley District) from 1988 to He is the father of the Rev. Carlos Rosa-Laguer, current pastor of Emmanuel. The Rev. Everett Hendrickson, 79, died Jan. 13, He was a retired elder who most recently served churches in Salamanca, West Salamanca, Middleport and Lockport. The Rev. Charles H. Marks, 82, died Jan. 15, Before his retirement, Rev. Marks most recently served churches in Utica, Ithaca, Oswego, Syracuse and Palermo. (See story above). Junia Moss Jones, 89, died on Jan. 15, She was the widow of the Rev. Dr. Tracey K. Jones, Jr., a member of the Upper New York Annual Conference and the former General Secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries; he died on Dec. 16, Condolences may be sent to their daughter, Deb Breitenbach, 20 Delaware Ave., Silver Bay, NY March 8-10 Women s chocolate getaway Casowasco March 16 Conference Leadership Team meets March 20 Trip to Africa University departs Calendar April CCYM Up!Word Syracuse/Liverpool May 30 to June 1 Annual Conference Session Syracuse June CCYM Training Camp For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit our website