ADVOCATE Upper New York
A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church A publication of the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church
Your uide g e t a ultim he 2015 ce to t onferen C l e a h u t n f n A ssion o ork se New Y r e e p c p n e U r e f n o C AC ’15 PREVIEW 2015
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BE BOLD In this Advocate column, Bishop Mark J. Webb says it is both our privilege and responsibility to boldly be the Church.
TABLE of CONTENTS
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USING LOCAL WATERS Members from across Upper New York will bring water from their community – streams, ponds, and lakes – for use during the Act of Repentance service.
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AC ’15 PRIMER New to an Annual Conference session? An “old pro”? We have assembled a primer of the key things that you should know.
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LUNCH WORKSHOPS The tradition of luncheon workshops continues when a half dozen workshops will be offered on Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
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GUEST SPEAKERS Find a preview of what the three AC guest speakers will talk about.
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AFRICA 360 Big things are planned around Africa 360 at this year’s session; get the scoop here.
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CONVERSATIONS A new technique for enhancing dialogue is being proposed for the topic of human sexuality: conversation circles.
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Lunch time during the 2014 Annual Conference session at the OnCenter in Syracuse. UNY archive photo by Matthew Williams
FROM the PUBLISHER Looking to Annual Conference and beyond
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his is a special issue of the Advocate dedicated to connecting those who will not necessarily be at the 2015 session of Annual Conference to what will be happening. This will allow all members of our local churches to talk to each other, and especially their Annual Conference delegates, about decisions that will impact local churches in the coming year and beyond. This is an especially important Annual Conference session year because it is the year before The United Methodist Church’s General Conference session, the top decisionmaking body that gathers every four years. As such, much of the time at Annual Conference this year will be spent electing delegates to and sorting through legislation for the General Conference session. There will also be a lot of Upper New York Conference business to deal with, including the Conference budget, resolutions, and petitions. However, the Annual Conference session is not all about business. It is also about worship, mission, ministry, and being together as people of God. This issue of the Advocate will preview much of what is happening, but the preview will not stand alone. Following the Annual Conference session, a second special edition of the Advocate will wrap-up the happenings. The hope is that this bookend approach will help keep members across Upper New York connected to the Annual Conference session and each other as we work together to fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation Stephen J. Hustedt, Editor/Publisher of the world.
On the cover Patricia Smith sings during the Celebration of Ministry at AC ’14 UNY file photo, Matthew Williams Can’t be there? Find information about the live stream on p. 8 Follow us online: www.unyumc.org www.facebook.com/uppernewyork www.twitter.com/uppernewyork
A DVOCATE Upper New York
AC ’15 PREVIEW
Vol. 7, Issue 3
Upper New York Area
BISHOP MARK J. WEBB Resident Bishop (315) 422-5027 bishopwebb@unyumc.org
Editor/Publisher
Weekly Digest
STEPHEN J. HUSTEDT
KAREN CAMPOLIETO
UNY Director of Communications (315) 424-7878 x307 stevehustedt@unyumc.org
Administrative Assistant to the Director (315) 424-7878 x304 karencampolieto@unyumc.org
Graphic Designer
Social Media/Web
CHRISTIAN VISCHI
ASHLEY RIDDELL
Communications Associate (315) 424-7878 x313 christianvischi@unyumc.org
Multimedia/Web Coordinator (315) 424-7878 x320 ashleyriddell@unyumc.org
Writer/Editor
Video Specialist
KATHLEEN RUBINO
MARY DALGLISH
Conference Writer/Editor (315) 424-7878 x319 kathleenrubino@unyumc.org
Conference Videographer (315) 424-7878 x304 marydalglish@unyumc.org
The Advocate is a publication of the
Upper New York Conference 324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210 (855) 424-7878 www.unyumc.org The Upper New York United Methodist Advocate is a publication of the Upper New York 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. Periodicals postage paid at Utica, New York 13504; USPS 14025. Subscriptions: $15 per year paid in advance to 324 University Ave., 3rd floor, Syracuse, NY 13210; or call (855) 424-7878; or visit www.unyumc.org. Postmaster: send address changes to Upper New York United Methodist Advocate, 324 University Ave., 3rd floor, Syracuse, NY 13210. We reserve the right to edit or decline any items submitted for publication.
Our privilege and responsibility:
To boldly be the Church in the 21st century E ach year, members gather at the Upper New York Annual Conference session to pray, worship, cast vision, learn, and celebrate the connection we have to God, one another, and the communities that surround us. Central to our time together is a renewed claiming of our identity as followers of Jesus Christ and a continual reminder that our God invites us to join in the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” As we gather together in Syracuse, our days will be filled with times of worship, study, mission, and fellowship, along with some vital times of discernment, conversation, and decision. The time we spend together will allow us to grab hold of who we are in relation to God, one another, and the world around us, as we fully understand the awesome privilege and responsibility we have to boldly be the Church in the 21st century! Our theme this year is Planting God’s Future in Hearts and Neighbors – The Promise of Harvest. Through all that we do during our time together, we will be guided by the truth that we have been invited by God to claim the transforming work of God’s amazing grace in our lives and in the lives of others. The Worship Team for the 2015 Annual Conference session has planned some powerful services of worship for us to share in. Our Act of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons service will be
a powerful witness in acknowledging our past sin – by recognizing our current consequences – and celebrating the hope we have for a future that is one of wholeness. For repentance and healing to be genuine and sincere, we must be willing and open to listening and learning from indigenous persons, and this service offers a path for the Church to embark upon to restore the shalom of our corporate body. The Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett will be the preacher for this service on Wednesday evening. The Rev. Susan Shafer, pastor at Asbury First UMC in Rochester will be the preacher for our memorial service on Thursday evening, as we remember our sisters and brothers who have served faithfully and now are part of the Church Triumphant. I am delighted that Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar will be present with us and will lead us in Bible study on Friday and Saturday mornings. Bishop Devadhar will focus on the topic of prayer. Again this year we will have a hands-on opportunity to address worldwide poverty through participation in Stop Hunger Now. Our goal is to assemble 150,000 meals during the four days we will be together. This goal will be met through the energy and efforts of those present in Syracuse, but also through the financial gifts by each of us. In order to meet our goal of 150,000 meals, we must raise $43,500 – that’s just 29 cents per meal! We are well on our way to this goal, but we still need your help. You can contribute by sending a check to the Upper New York Conference (please put “Stop Hunger Now” in the memo line) or by visiting www.tinyurl.com/UNYSHN Donate). We will offer our gifts to meet
FOLLOW BISHOP WEBB ON TWITTER
the challenge of eradicating malaria and providing scholarships to Africa University, through our Africa 360 Challenge. In previous years, Upper New York made a commitment of $2 million dollars for this campaign. Every local congregation has been challenged to bring an offering of at least $1,000 to present during our opening worship service. It has been exciting to hear the stories of how congregations have worked to meet this challenge. Imagine the announcement we will share if every congregation presents their offering of at least $1,000. As we gather together, we will share in fellowship and learning through various workshops. We will have the awesome task of electing delegates to General and Jurisdictional conference sessions in 2016. And, of course, what would the Annual Conference session be without some reports, resolutions, and recommendations to surround in holy conversation and act upon. I am grateful to be a part of this place called Upper New York and to share a journey of ministry with each of you. God is accomplishing amazing things in us and through us, the reality and promise of harvest is real! I know we are ready to allow God to use us in ways we have not yet dreamed or imagined. My prayer is that this time of gathering at the OnCenter will be an amazing experience of faith, community, and celebration. I look forward to greeting you, worshipping with you, and claiming what God is promising!
@BishopMarkWebb
Pri n ciples for Holy Conferencing Holy Conferencing Principles of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church “(Make) every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
Every person is a child of God. Listen before speaking. Strive to understand from another’s point of view. Speak about issues; do not defame persons. Disagree without being disagreeable. Pray, in silence or aloud, before decisions. Let prayer interrupt your busy-ness. Strive to accurately reflect the views of others.
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AC ’15 Agenda Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
7:30 a.m. Registration 8:30 a.m. Blessing of the space
8:15 a.m. Bible Study: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar 9:30 a.m. Plenary
9:30 a.m. Clergy session Laity session
Noon Lunch/workshops/Stop Hunger Now
11:30 a.m. Lunch/Extension Ministry luncheon
2 p.m. Plenary
1:30 p.m. Opening Worship: Bishop Webb preaching 3 p.m. Plenary
5:30 p.m. Dinner/Stop Hunger Now 5:30 p.m. Set aside dinner for Retirees and Ordinands 7 p.m. Celebration of Ministry
5:15 p.m. Dinner
8:30 p.m. Plenary
7 p.m. Act of Repentance
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015 8:15 a.m. Worship led by Young Adults
9 a.m. Plenary
9:30 a.m. Plenary
Noon Lunch/Stop Hunger Now
Fixing of Appointments
2 p.m. Plenary 5:30 p.m. Dinner/Memorial Dinner: Set-aside dinner for families
8:15 a.m. Bible Study: Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
Noon Lunch
2 p.m. Ordination and Commissioning, Bishop Webb preaching
Stop Hunger Now
7 p.m. Memorial Service 8:30 p.m. Ordination Rehearsal
Note: All events are at the OnCenter, except the meal packaging for Stop Hunger Now which takes place at the War Memorial
To help prepare Upper New York’s members for the Annual Conference session, there were six Pre-Conference Briefings held across the state. If you could not attend one of the six, a video of the presentation has been posted on the Conference website at www.unyumc.org/events/annualconference. Do you have questions not addressed by the Pre-Conference Workbook? Send them to ACQuestions@ unyumc.org and watch the Conference website for a master listing of submitted questions and answers. unyumc.org 6 For updates to the schedule prior to the Annual Conference session, visit the Conference website at www.unyumc.org.
‘Waters of Repentance’
How local waters will be used during the Act of Repentance service
“But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty river.” – Amos 5:24
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ivers, lakes and water flow freely in Upper New York. As a symbol of flowing together with a genuine desire to journey toward justice with our Native American sisters and brothers, each local church is asked to bring a small plastic or glass jar or bottle of water from its geographic area. Please have your local church pray over and bless the water before bringing it to the Annual Conference session. These waters will be used during our Act of Repentance service at 7 p.m. on May 27. These New York waters with which Native Americans and European Americans have quenched thirst, navigated, irrigated land, sustained life and health, played, and produced crops will come together that evening at the Annual Conference session to symbolize our desire to acknowledge and repent for the history, historic trauma, and current realities of Native Americans in the Upper New York area. Why an Act of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons at Annual Conference? At General Conference 2012, the worldwide United Methodist Church experienced a Service of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons. That service guided people to understand the history, historical trauma, and current realities for indigenous persons around the world. A resolution passed at that time committed all United Methodists to listen and learn from indigenous persons – Native Americans for Upper New York – before being ready to experience an Act of Repentance & Healing at their own Annual and Central Conference sessions. Repentance means understanding wrongs, truly apologizing, and turning in new directions to build trust, healthy relationships, and hope. Only then will people be ready to build authentic relationships with our Native American sisters and brothers. Since 2012, the Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) in Upper New York has led Annual Conference session workshops and presentations, 14 District Learning Sessions, and United Methodist Women’s district events to help United Methodists listen and learn. Wherever your local church is on this journey of listening, learning, and preparing to repent, please join us as we move forward toward righteousness and justice. Submitted by the Conference Committee on Native American Ministries. unyumc.org 7
AC ’15: What you need to know
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he 2015 Annual Conference session is nearly here. For those of you heading to the session – and even for those planning to watch the event through the comfort of your high-speed Internet connection – here’s what you need to know: Pre-Conference Booklet reminder If you need the Pre-Conference Booklet, you can find links to download a PDF version or purchase a print copy through online publisher Lulu.com at www.unyumc.org/ events/pre-conference-workbook. Answers to questions submitted prior to the Annual Conference session will be available at www.unyumc.org/events/annualconference. Onsite registration If you did not register online by May 1, you will have to register at the OnCenter. Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on May 27. A $50 fee will be assessed to any registrations completed onsite. Clergy/Laity sessions The Clergy and Laity sessions will start at 9:30 a.m. May 27 at the OnCenter. The Clergy Session will be in Exhibit Hall A and the Laity Session in the Grand Ballroom. For a complete schedule, see page 6.
Worship booklets To better utilize Conference resources and be responsible stewards of the environment, we will not be doing a general printing of the worship booklets this year. The service information will be available on the large screens at the session, and a PDF of the information will be available for download on the Conference website at www.unyumc.org/events/ annual-conference. A large-print version of the worship booklet – including the Opening Worship, Act of Repentance, Memorial Service, and the Celebration of Ministry – will be available at the OnCenter for those who need it. A separate commemorative booklet of the Memorial Service will be available exclusively for family members. The Service of Ordination and Commissioning booklet will be printed; you will not need to download this booklet. Live stream Live streaming of the 2015 Annual Conference session will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. To watch the live stream when it becomes available, visit www. unyumc.org/events/ac-live. A schedule with approximate times will be listed near the video window for your convenience. A live stream primer will be posted on the Confer-
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ence website that will include tips to make watching the stream easier. Connect with us The Annual Conference session is a great opportunity for brothers and sisters from around the Conference to reconnect. And you’ll probably take photos; lots of photos. You can share those reconnections by tagging the “Upper New York Annual Conference” when you post to Facebook, using the hashtag #UNYAC15, and emailing those photos to news@unyumc.org with the subject line “AC ’15 photo.” Robes, Stoles, and the BAC The Service of Commissioning, Ordination, and Reception will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the OnCenter. Clergy robes and stoles for the service can be hung on the racks in Gallagher Hall. For vesting guidelines, visit www.unyumc.org/ministries/bompolicies. An email will be sent to all clergy with a link to download the Business of Annual Conference (BAC). Clergy are reminded to download and bring a copy of the BAC to the Clergy Session. If you have difficulty downloading a copy of the BAC, you may contact the Bishop’s Office prior to May 15 for assistance. Daily Advocate If you miss an important piece of business from the session, the Conference Communications Ministry will be publishing a daily Advocate with a brief round-up of that day’s news and events. Articles will also be posted on the Conference website at www.unyumc. org, and in the post-Conference special issue of the Advocate. Offerings The theme of the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference is Planting God’s Future in Hearts and Neighbors – The Promise of Harvest. God calls us to harvest through the offerings that support missions and ministries, and this year five offerings will be received during the session: • Clergy Care Fund offering (taken on Wednesday at the clergy session) will be used to assists clergy who are in need of financial support • Helping Hands Fund offering (taken on Wednesday at the laity session) will be used by the Cabinet to assist congregants in need of financial support • Offering to support Africa 360 (taken during opening worship on Wednesday), Upper New York’s campaign to provide ministry to the people of Africa • Offering to support Mission of Peace
(taken during the Celebration of Ministries on Friday) that will help support the annual “journey of discovery and shalom to nations in our global community” • Offering to support Stop Hunger Now (taken during the Service of Commissioning and Ordination on Saturday), a non-profit organization committed to ending world hunger Slate of nominees The Pre-Conference Booklet does not include the 2015 slate of nominees for Conference boards, committees, commissions, and teams. The report of the Nominations and Leadership Development Committee, including the 2015 slate of nominees, will be included in the registration packet handed out onsite at the session. Meal service Menus for lunch and dinner – the meals served during the Annual Conference session – will be available on the Conference website. To allow for greater flexibility and personal choice, there have been no arrangements made for breakfast at the OnCenter. Some hotels offer a complimentary breakfast; others have their own restaurants. Meals provided with your registration will be served in the room adjacent to the main meeting room. If you have any questions about specific dietary needs, contact Julie Valeski at the Conference Office at (855) 424-7878 or via email to julie valeski@unyumc.org. Meal-packaging mission Members who will be volunteering to help package the 150,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now will be doing so at the OnCenter’s War Memorial Arena on Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29; the meal-packaging shifts will take place each day during the lunch period, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and during the dinner hour, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. You can register at www.unyumc.org/mission/ stop-hunger-now. Extension Ministry lunch The Extension Ministry luncheon is by invitation only for those clergy appointed to extension ministry. The luncheon will take place on Wednesday, May 27, immediately following
the Clergy Session. Retiree/Ordinand dinner The Retiree/Ordinand set aside dinner is also by invitation only. This celebration of transition meal will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29, in the lower level Grand Ballroom. Lunch-time workshops Members will again have the opportunity to attend a workshop on a variety of topics during the extended lunch hour on Friday, May 29. The workshop spaces have limited capacity, so some workshops may be filled. Grab-and-go lunches will be available so that folks can participate in their workshop. (See pages 10-11 for workshop descriptions.) Take a walk To encourage healthy activities while visiting the city of Syracuse, there are three different walking maps available that you can use during your off time in Syracuse: a one-mile map, a 1.5-mile map, and a twomile map. If you want to walk more than that, feel free to just double or triple up on the maps. These maps provide easy walking paths as well as some interesting Syracuse landmarks along the way, including the Everson Museum, Fayette Park, The Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), Armory Square, and Clinton Square. To access the maps, visit: www.tinyurl.com/Syr1-0MileWM (1-mile map)
www.tinyurl.com/Syr1-5MileWM (1.5-mile map) www.tinyurl.com/Syr2-0MileWM (2-mile map) Blueprint for Wellness screening Quest Diagnostic will again host Blueprint for Wellness screenings during the session. They will be set up at the OnCenter’s Exhibit Hall B – Alcove B on Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29 from 6-10 a.m. Pre-Registration is strongly recommended. You can register for an appointment up to May 12. For more information about registering, visit www.tinyurl.com/ RegQDAC15. A limited amount of walk-ins will be allowed depending on time and supply availability. Walk-ins must provide a HealthFlex ID number at the time of the screening. Shuttle service There will be shuttle service provided for the Annual Conference session. Shuttles will run only between the OnCenter and these hotels: the Parkview, Crowne Plaza, Genesee Grande, and Sheraton-University on the following schedule: • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 • 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28 • 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 29 • 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30
Electronic voting to debut at Annual Conference session
For the first time, the Upper New York Conference will make use of electronic voting technology during the 2015 Annual Conference session. This technology will make voting considerably more efficient and will greatly reduce the turnaround time in receiving results. However, as with anything new, there will be a learning curve. The good news is there will two training sessions: for clergy during the Clergy Session and then the entire body prior to taking the first full vote. There will also be technicians and others available to help with any difficulties during the voting process. While there are sure to be some challenges, strong planning and patience will make this new experience a good one. The hope is to make the voting process as simple as possible so the focus can be on discernment rather than the process. If you have any questions, send them to ACQuestions@unyumc.org.
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LUNCHEON WORKSHOPS A
ll attending the 2015 Annual Conference session are invited to attend a workshop over lunch beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29. The workshops are a great opportunity to learn something new and to interact with others from across the Conference. You will be scheduled for the workshop based upon space availability. Here are the options and descriptions of the workshops offered this year:
Walking the labyrinth
the desired outcome that God has inspired: What objective has the Lord put on our heart? Who are the people we should involve (the team) to ensure success? What is our timeline? Do we have congregational support and funding sources? How do we make sure we achieve the objective? All these questions relate to “how will the project be managed?” Scripture supports the contention that using the concept called “project management” is our best option. As such, this workshop will examine the theological foundation for church project management and teach the fundamentals of project management, along with the importance of the concept in doing the Lord’s work.
Rev. Jan Marsi
Welcoming Labyrinths are an ancient method for focusing and drawing closer to God. The workshop will include a brief history and descriptions of labyrinths, guidelines for walking labyrinths, and of course, actually walking the new labyrinth available to borrow from our Conference Resource Center. This workshop will be a true spiritual oasis in the midst of our Annual Conference Session.
Why we’re here: A dialogue of faith journeys with young adults Young Adults of Upper New York
The young adults of Upper New York invite you to an inter-generational dialogue of our shared experiences – why we, as young adults, are disciples of Jesus Christ within The United Methodist Church in the 21st Century. Converse with us as we share our journeys about why we’re here.
Project management for fruitful ministry Rev. Vincent Howell
For church projects, there are a number of questions that come to mind as we work to make sure we achieve 10 UNY ADVOCATE AC ’15 PREVIEW
United Methodist Communications
The welcoming training is designed to expand your own understanding and lifestyle of welcoming: “extending the radical hospitality of Christ to everyone, all the time, both inside and beyond the walls of your church.” You also will find additional resources to help you lead others in establishing and maintaining a dynamic welcoming ministry that transforms your congregation and engages your community. Participants will learn what it means to be welcoming and hospitable. They will also be given tools to assess personal and congregational welcoming levels and learn how to reach out to the community.
Sharing your hope: Visitation ministry for the local church Rebecca Naber
Are you interested in building a thriving and affordable visitation team in your church? In meeting the challenges of today’s rapidly changing family and healthcare structures, visitation ministry equips the laity for bringing the hope of Christ to the sick and homebound. We will cover such topics as: the calling of visitation team members, the hands-on/practical training program, supporting roles/ responsibilities, visitation resources, and supervision and renewal. Please join us and see how Sharing Your Hope: Visitation Ministry can empower the laity of your church
to bring the good news to those who can no longer attend worship services and build new faith communities in senior residential facilities.
Peacemaking in Israel/Palestine Linda Bergh and Karen Peterson
What is the Palestinian situation? What can local churches do to work for peace with justice? – Sponsored by the Upper New York Task Force on Peace with Justice in Palestine/Israel.
The Promise of Harvest
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od of harvest, you feed us, equip us, and provide us with the resources needed for a great harvest. We pray that this day you may feed us once again as we prepare to do the work of your church and look toward a renewed harvest of fruitful lives in service to you and to others. God of harvest, feed us, prune us, harvest us so that our work might bring glory to you. AMEN
35 honored as class of 2015 clergy retirees T
here are 35 in the 2015 class of retirees. The retirees will be honored at an invitation-only dinner that will be held to honor them and this year’s class of ordinands. That dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, for honorees and their guests. The 2015 class of retirees are: Carol Ames Larry Robert Baird Donald W. Briant Patricia Lois Brown Rene Carrillo Virginia Sand Deyo Gail Eddy Mark A. Erway Craig R. French Dale Thomas Fryer Helen J. Hadley Olu W. Harding Linda Jean Harris Keith Robert Haverkamp Alan Robert Jagger Ellen Knight Daniel E. Knopf Margaret “Peggy” A. Knopf Peter Williston LeValley Raymond G. Lighthall Stephen William Loan Douglas Ray McGaughey David Glenn Meade Marion May Moore-Colgan R. Brown Naik Beth O’Neil William Joseph Palmer Robert Peters Sharon Marie Sauer Susan S. Shafer David H. Snyder Lynn B. Spence Diane K. Walker Edward George Whited Gary O. Wickard Marilyn J. Wood
Deviant Art image by Zhi Lin unyumc.org 11
GUEST SPEAKERS
By Kathleen Rubino, Writer/Editor
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar Bible Study leader
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ishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the New England Conference will serve as the keynote speaker during the two-day Bible Study at the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference. The Bible Study will take place at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. “I am grateful to Bishop Webb for his gracious invitation to lead Bible Study and for this opportunity to return to Upper New York; it’s been 11 years,” Bishop Devadhar said. “I am very excited to
Rev. Dr. White Wolf Fassett to lead Act of Repentance
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he Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett, retired, is a member of the Conference Committee on Native American Ministries and emeritus General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society. He will be the guest speaker during the Act of Repentance & Healing of Relationships with Indigenous Persons service at the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference. Rev. Fassett said he hopes to bring some clarity to the continuing role of Native Americans
Rev. Shafer guest preacher at the Memorial Service
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he Rev. Susan Shafer, pastor at the Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, will serve as the guest preacher at the Memorial Service which will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 28 at the OnCenter. “I am very honored. I hope to bring a fresh word of faith,” she said. “I hope that my preaching can honor the families of the loved ones who have passed away. In remembering, we can be inspired again.” Rev. Shafer said those at the
come to the Conference that nurtured me at the beginning of my ministry. There are many people, colleagues, who helped me along the way, and I am Bishop Devadhar looking forward to reconnecting with my brothers and sisters in Upper New York.” In 2012, Bishop Devadhar was assigned to the Boston Episcopal Area, which includes more than 600 congregations in six states within the New England Conference. Before serving in this role, Bishop Devadhar served a number of churches in what is now the Upper New York Conference: as
pastor at the Moira, Brushton, and North Bangor United Methodist churches until 1990, as supervising pastor at Nicholville, St. Regis Falls, and Fort Jackson UMCs from 1989-1990, as pastor at the Canton UMC from 1990-1996, and as district superintendent for the Ontario District of the former North Central New York Conference from 1996-2004. He was elected to the episcopacy in July 2004 at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and was first assigned to the New Jersey Episcopal Area for eight years. Bishop Devadhar said he hopes to bring passion for prayer to this year’s Bible Study. “What I am today in my life is because of God’s grace and
in the United States’ society, the realities of their conditions, their relationship to the Church, and the historical dilemma produced by the Rev. Fassett Church’s treatment of Native Americans from the beginning of colonial times. “I think as an Act of Repentance people will need to understand what they’re repenting from and what treatment the Church accorded Native Americans, which needs to be acknowledged,” he said. While Rev. Fassett has not yet chosen the Bible verses for
the Act of Repentance, he said the focus will be on Jesus’ teachings. To move forward, he said, the Church must plan its relationship with Native American communities around the nation. “It raises the questions about the kind of priority Native Americans will have in the future life of the Church,” he said. “What resources the Church is willing to invest in a relationship, in terms of developing new ministries, supporting native people in theological training, and ultimately understanding its detrimental role in the disappearance and the assimilation of Native people throughout the past two centuries.” Rev. Fassett said people must develop a new way of living with
Memorial Service can expect moments of remembering and reaffirmation of their Methodist faith. “I want to emphasize that no Rev. Shafer experience in life, either living or dying, separates us from God,” she said. “In eternal life, we are enfolded in God’s love that will never let us go.” Rev. Shafer was the first ordained female minister appointed to Asbury First UMC, and has served there for 34 years. That church is Upper New York’s largest, with nearly 2,300 members and a weekly worship attendance
of approximately 700. She said she enjoys pastoral care, and has served as membership care minister for most of her time at the church. She is known for her compassionate care to members facing challenging times, guiding many individuals and families through the cycle of life – from births to baptisms, weddings, personal crises, and end-of-life care. In 2011, Rev. Shafer was named the church’s first female senior pastor, leading the church to marked growth and vitality, most notably increasing the church’s outreach efforts to the homeless, the hungry, and those suffering from illness or loss. In addition to being a pastor, Rev. Shafer is also an adjunct
my dependence on prayer,” Bishop Devadhar said. “I hope that people will leave the Annual Conference session able to really see the tremendous power of prayer. I hope that they will bring prayer more fully into their daily lives.” Bishop Devadhar was born into a family of clergypersons and has been a follower of God all of his life – the name “Devadhar” translates to “follower of God.” He said his job as a preacher is to preach, and the rest is left to the Holy Spirit. “My words may open a door, if you will, to allow the Holy Spirit to enter and move people,” he said. “How that happens is something that will be different for each person, and I cannot predict that. I do hope that we all will be open to the Holy Spirit
moving among us and attentive to where the Spirit is leading us.” Bishop Devadhar plans to talk about the role of prayer in the ministry of Jesus and The Lord’s Prayer. He has selected two key verses as the foundation for his bible study – Luke 11:1 and The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:7-14 – though they are not the only texts he will reference. Bishop Devadhar said he will seek to answer the question, “What does it look like when we live The Lord’s Prayer?” “ … I want to talk about how we can live The Lord’s Prayer,” he said. “If The Lord’s Prayer became the living prayer of every local church, the harvest would be plentiful. We would reap a bounty. It would be transforming. We would, as the mission of our Church calls us to do, bring about the
transformation of the world by creating new disciples for Christ.” In his most recent open letter to the members of his Conference, Bishop Devadhar referenced a familiar song often sang at Easter and asked how are new disciples being made. “As we worship our Creator God on Easter ... we sing, ‘He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today.’ The question before us is: How do we share with people outside our church building, ‘He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today?’” “If a stranger were to drive through our neighborhood and ask a gas station attendant or waiter or waitress, ‘Where is the United Methodist Church?’ would they get an accurate reply? In other words, are we known in our community?”
each other and Native American people in the U.S. “And, of course, it’s not just the United States because we’re talking about indigenous people throughout the world also, where the Church has had a big impact on their lives and culture,” he said. “So it’s a question of how receptive people will be to changing their lifestyles, their church institutional lifestyles to respond to the needs of marginalized people.” An internationally-recognized champion of human and civil rights and an outspoken defender of Native and indigenous rights, Rev. Fassett has traveled the world to assist those whose voices need to be heard – to Zimbabwe and Mozambique as part of a team investigating human rights,
to Guatemala as a leader of the International Justice Forum, and to Copenhagen, Denmark as delegate to the United Nations Summit on Social Development. Rev. Fassett has worked in the field of faith, politics, and issues of justice. He received advanced degrees from the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and American University in Washington, D.C. In addition, Rev. Fassett has written Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival, co-authored
four books, has had more than 200 articles published in periodicals and scholarly publications, and served as an adjunct faculty member at CRCDS, Bexley Hall Seminary, and Crosier Theological School. Recently he has served as a founding board member of the Institute for the Study of Harassment of African Americans in Washington, D.C., and advisor to the President’s Commission on Race. He is also a life member of the NAACP and the National Congress of American Indians.
professor of pastoral care at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary, both in Rochester. Rev. Shafer said her call to ministry began at the age of 12, and again at age 30, when she went to the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School; she received her Master of Divinity degree in 1982. Upon graduation, she was awarded the institution’s highest award, the Theodore Louis Trost Memorial Prize, which is given to the student with the most promise as a future preacher. Before earning her master’s degree, she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Rev. Shafer will retire this June. “It’s been a privilege to serve,” she said.
Proposed 2016 Ministry Share budget T
he UNY Conference Council on Finance and Administration is proud to present our proposed 2016 Ministry Share budget for consideration and adoption by the Annual Conference session. The preparation of the budget began in the fall of 2014 with the distribution of budget worksheets and compensation information to the various Conference ministry teams. Each team drafted and submitted a preliminary budget request for their area. Conference staff worked with the teams to compile the requests for review by Conference CFA and executive staff. CFA met with several team leaders to review requests and ensure our plan for 2016 was clear and in alignment with the Conference mission and strategies: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by equipping our local churches for ministry and by providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church. Our 2016 Ministry Share Budget represents our primary operating plan for the Conference ministry activities and participation in the global initiatives of The United Methodist Church. The 2016 budget totals $10,079,236 compared to the 2015 budget of $10,340,438, a decrease of $261,202 (a reduction of 2.5 percent). The actual expenditures under the plan are dependent on the level of Ministry Share payments by churches throughout the year. Our priority for the 2016 plan was to focus Conference efforts to support and develop Clergy and Lay leaders throughout the Conference. Initial 2016 budget requests were significantly higher than in the 2015 budget. Conference teams reviewed priorities and securitized costs to better align our work and reduce the financial impact on our churches. Costs were lowered by re-aligning and reducing staff, reducing Conference grants, and cutting discretionary costs. Approximately 60 percent of the 2016 budget covers our fixed costs with the balance available to support General Church apportionments, variable costs, and grant funding con14 UNY ADVOCATE AC ’15 PREVIEW
tingent on actual receipts of Ministry Share payments. The budget does assume the relocation of the Conference Center office with commensurate costs. As in past years, the Conference will develop a spending plan to monitor and control costs as 2016 unfolds. General Connectional Ministries represent the Conference’s apportionment determined by the General Church to fund the broader initiatives of the denomination. The Conference’s ability to pay these apportionments is directly dependent on the level of Ministry Share payments by our churches. These apportionments are approximately 21 percent of our 2016 budget. To better understand what the Connectional Ministries, Ministerial Support, and Administrative Ministries include, read the full budget report in the Pre-Conference Workbook. General Budget explanations and descriptions: • Staff costs in the Conference are expected to decrease resulting from the elimination of one senior staff position, some positions changing from full-time to part-time and a shift of staff within the operations. • Staff compensation includes a pay increase of 0.8 percent. Senior staff will receive no pay increase in 2016. • Medical insurance costs incorporate an estimated 5 percent increase over 2015 rates. • Payroll taxes and employee benefits are at levels commensurate with compensation levels. • Lease and property costs are budgeted consistent with current levels except for Conference office costs in 2015 under a lease arrangement changing to an ownership situation at an overall cost increase of approximately $60,000 in 2016. Line Item Budget explanations and descriptions as labeled: A. General Church apportionments are based on the actual amounts assessed for 2016. B. These reductions represent the Conference’s realignment of resources in order to concentrate on leadership support and development.
C. General cost reductions in these areas resulted from review of current practices and a realignment of various budget line items. D. The increase is related to training and personnel costs based on current activities. E. Lower rent and operating costs are anticipated when these teams relocate to the new Conference Center. F. The 2016 budget includes specific grants payable only to the extent that church Ministry Share payments meet expected budget levels. G. Conference support for the Syracuse University Chaplaincy were under budgeted in 2015. H. Camp & Retreat Ministries operates in six locations across the Conference, with a total budget of $3.5 million. CRM revenue and expenses are expected to remain stable at 2015 levels. The small increase allocation of Ministry Shares for 2016 represents personnel cost changes and alignment of other anticipated costs. I. The reduction of the Annual Conference session’s costs 1 reflects the need for one less meeting day and not needing electronic voting equipment for the 2016 conference compared to 2015. J. Equitable Compensation has been reduced as a result of revisions to the method and criteria for making grants. K. The Episcopal Office reflects a reduction in personnel costs resulting from the elimination of a senior staff position. L. Communications personnel costs were reduced to reflect the shift of a full-time position to two part-time jobs. M. Budget changes for the Benefits and Treasurer teams represent staff realignment. N. As anticipated with the plan to relocate the Conference Center offices to an owed property by 2016, these costs have been reconfigured to include personnel costs for property staff and the other costs of ownership. These costs replace the lease costs currently incurred by the Conference for rented space.
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Every congregation can make a difference with Africa 360
A
t last year’s Annual Conference session, the Africa 360 initiative was created: a holistic approach to health and education in Africa. As the first conference to combine the Africa University Scholarship Fund and Imagine No Malaria initiative, Upper New York has taken a creative approach to a broad range of needs. “The systemic iniquities and poverty that faces millions of people every day in sub-Saharan Africa can be overwhelming. Africa 360 gives the Upper New York Conference the chance to be a tangible part of the solution for everything from maternal and child health to scholarships that will train the next generation of world leaders and professionals,” said Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Mark J. Webb. The goal for Upper New York is to have 100 percent of its congregations participate in the Africa 360 campaign by the next Annual Conference session. Whether that participation is through calendar year materials or creative events, congregations of every size can make a difference. Before and during the 2015 Annual Conference session, attendees will be given many opportunities to get involved at both the congregational and Conference level: From now until Conference begins, participants are invited to join the Rev. Jeff Childs as he walks to the session to raise funds for Africa University scholarships, one important part of Africa 360. “The scholarship recipients have to find transportation in creative ways, and so should we! This is a creative way to raise awareness and much-needed funds,” said Rev. Childs, chair of Africa 360. If you are interested in getting involved and feel moved to ride your bicycle or walk to
18 UNY ADVOCATE AC ’15 PREVIEW
the session, or the equivalent distance, email Rev. Childs at revchilds@ outlook.com. At the session, a beautiful quilt will be on display at the Africa 360 table and auctioned off to benefit Africa University scholarships. On Wednesday evening, churches from across the Conference are coming together in response to Bishop Webb’s Africa 360 Challenge. The bishop offered the first gift of $2,000 and challenged each congregation to bring $1,000 to the session for Africa 360. With an aggregate goal of $2 million for both initiatives, this offering will go a long way toward reaching the Conference goal. The $2 million raised will not only save 100,000 lives through Imagine No Malaria, but will endow 10 permanent Youth at the Brockport UMC share their excitement with the camera about the Africa 360 Challenge. Submitted photo
scholarships at Africa University so that the next generation of leaders can be equipped to be who God has created them to be. Thursday will be an all-day voting event for the Mosquito Net Fashion Show, officially launched after morning worship. “Mosquito nets, improved health clinics, other prevention measures, and widespread education and communication really do save lives. The death rate from malaria since 2010 has been cut in half thanks to the efforts of The United Methodist Church, and Upper New York is now a part of that legacy,”
said Laurel O’Connor, field coordinator for the Conference’s Imagine No Malaria initiative for the next year. The funds raised will go to Imagine No Malaria, the second piece of the Africa 360 initiative. Any church or group from the Conference is welcome to submit a completed outfit, whether you have a group that wants to create a superhero or a ball gown. Votes can be cast for $1, and the outfit that raises the most money will be worn by the bishop for a commemorative photo. For more information about that event, and to get your church involved, email O’Connor at LaurelOConnor@unyumc.org. On Friday evening, an Africa 360 presentation will be made to the entire body. There will be practical tools for each congregation in the Conference packets, and other resources to help each congregation imagine how they can be best involved. There will be another District Day challenge for Imagine No Malaria as well. It doesn’t require a wallet, but it does a cell phone – the full details will be released that day.
FAQ about Africa 360
How does giving to Africa 360 work? Can I just give to Africa University or Imagine No Malaria? Giving to Africa 360 automatically supports both incredible initiatives. Any congregation can make designated contributions that can go to Africa University scholarships or Imagine No Malaria if they choose. Contact the Conference Treasurer’s Office with questions. Where can I find more resources? Who do I contact to get more involved? Email Field Coordinator Laurel O’Connor at LaurelOConnor@unyumc.org, and she can send you resources for upcoming events or help brainstorm how your church can get involved. AU scholarship recipients for 2014-2015 This past year, two students received Africa University scholarships thanks to the generosity of the members of Upper New York. The Upper New York Annual Conference Scholarship was awarded to Tatenda Frank Mwadiwa of Zimbabwe, a third-year student enrolled in the Faculty of Management and Administration; the Rev. Carl John and Shirley Drake Byers Scholarship recipient is Kudakwashe Musanhu of Zimbabwe, also a third-year student enrolled in the Faculty of Management and Administration. Keep these students, and all students at Africa University, in your prayers as they finish their final exams and march forth into their fourth year. The mosquito net at the Park UMC in Hamilton
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M
RESOLUTIONS and PETITIONS
embers at the 2015 session of the Upper New York Annual Conference will consider for adoption 17 resolutions that would directly affect the Conference and 23 resolutions that if adopted would be sent to the 2016 General Conference session for deliberation. Even if the 23 General Conference resolutions are rejected by the Upper New York body, they can still be submitted by their creators to the General Conference without endorsement from Upper New York (the deadline to submit a petition to the General Conference is Oct. 13).
Upper New York Conference resolutions and petitions
This year’s Conference resolutions include: • Issues around human sexuality • Change rules of order in relation to ending debate • Support a fair minimum wage for New York state • Alternate location of Annual Conference sessions • Provide New Faith Community lay representation at Annual Conference session • Reducing inequality in earned income • Have the Conference Leadership Team create a bridge team to foster civil discussion around divisive issues • Creation of a voting process and process of reporting outcome of votes • Support the Turtle Island Trust and the people of Ganienkeh • Removing recognition of Columbus Day • Study the location of the Conference headquarters in a local church building • Providing health insurance for all clergy and local pastors • Allow local churches to secure property insurance as best fits their needs • Protecting Seneca Lake by preventing gas storage
Understanding resolutions and petitions
What is a resolution and a petition? According to the Conference Committee on Petitions and Resolutions, “Appropriate petitions and resolutions will be in accord with the Conference’s purpose and seek actions that advance its vision.”
Resolution A resolution is a document that states something that the Upper New York Conference, itself, resolves to be a Conference position or statement. Any member of a local church, a local church council, a district or annual conference agency, or a United Methodist affiliated caucus, could have submitted a resolution (the deadline has passed). Although there is no limit to the number of submissions, each resolution must only address one topic. Save for the resolutions that address human sexuality (see the article that starts on page 22), members can engage in debate on, request an amendment to, and approve or decline a resolution. A submittor can withdraw his/her/its resolution. 20 UNY ADVOCATE AC ’15 PREVIEW
in the nearby salt caverns • Provide a fair allocation of platform time and resources for proposed actions at Annual Conference session • Allow Conference media to be used for the presentation of diverse points-of-view on issues and actions coming before the Conference • Form a Upper New York Conference United Methodist Historical Society
General Conference resolutions and petitions The General Conference resolutions for endorsement include the following topics: • Reducing inequality in earned income • Removing recognition of Columbus Day • Issues around human sexuality • Readopting a resolution that affirms support for members of the armed forces and veterans • Helping to make The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions easier to use • Extending to licensed pastors the right to be elected as clergy delegates to GC and Jurisdictional Conference sessions • Create protections against and divest from companies that are involved with the Israeli occupation or with the production of petroleum, coal, or natural gas • Readopting a resolution that affirms The UMC’s stance against torture • Removing discrimination and prejudice in relation to persons with disabilities, and ensuring better access to facilities for them The full text of the 40 resolutions can be found in the Pre-Conference Workbook on pages 49-128. Links to purchase a hardcopy or download a PDF copy of the workbook can be found at www.unyumc.org/ events/pre-conference-workbook. Petition A petition is a formal statement requesting the Annual Conference – through its staff, commissions, committees, teams, boards or agencies – to take a certain action. A petition could also be sent to the General Conference (or to the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference) requesting a specific action of the General Conference and may be a modification of The Book of Discipline or of The Book of Resolutions, or of General Conference rules or a modification to Northeastern Jurisdictional rules, policies, or procedures. A modification is an addition, or a deletion, or other change. Similar to a resolution, members can engage in debate on, request an amendment to, and approve or decline a petition. A submittor can withdraw his/her/its petition. Going into effect Unless a specific date is included in the resolution or petition, approved resolutions and petitions go into effect on July 1. Resolutions and petitions that are not approved during an Annual Conference session can be resubmitted in subsequent years.
IN MEMORIAM W
e give our thanks to God for these brothers and sisters whom we remember and honor. In their living and in their dying they have shown us the way. They now rest in the arms of their Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, but continue to remind us that we are not alone. God of tender mercy, infinite love, and comforting presence is indeed with us.
CLERGY Margaret “Mari� Rockwell David Franke Ruth Gray Daniel Berry Eric Blidberg Frederick Jackson Eric Roy King Arthur Andrews Arthur Melius Charles Hess III Joseph Fiske
June 25, July 5, July 9, July 26, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 16, Sept. 30, Oct. 2, Oct. 24, Oct. 26,
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014
Richard Elliott Alice Hobbs Marian Thomas Malcolm Howard L. Alden Smith Claude Corbett Jane Borden Robert V. Smith Billie Jean Melton Donald H. Turk Victor Zaccaro
Nov. 6, 2014 Dec. 2, 2014 Dec. 12, 2014 Dec. 13, 2014 Dec. 19, 2014 Jan. 14, 2015 Jan. 15, 2015 Feb. 12, 2015 Feb. 13, 2015 March 4, 2015 March 18, 2015
Jan. 12, Feb. 13, May 28, Aug. 11, Sept. 15, Oct. 19, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Dec. 8, Dec. 17, Dec. 20, Dec. 26, Dec. 30,
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014
Ireta Beeghly Roma Marie Gould Nancy Vanloon Beverly Boston Ramona Andrews Deborah Campbell Jane Babcock Joan Kirk Louise Rees Frances Ackley John Poorman Florence Benton George D. Vineyard
Jan. 26, Jan. 27, Feb. 5, Feb. 9, Feb. 17, Feb. 24, March 6, March 7, March 29, April 3, April 5, April 6, April 13,
CLERGY SPOUSES Barbara Brockway Evelyn Young Dean Nelson Kathleen Mihaly Marjorie Greenfield Ellen Stanton Reta Karan Harry Maines Ruth Wait Patricia Arnold Wilma Burt Ashton Bruce Cornell Barbara Vollmer
2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015
The Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in Exhibit Hall A at the OnCenter. unyumc.org 21
Human sexuality
to be discussed in
conversation circles By Kathleen Rubino KathleenRubino@unyumc.org
T
he 2015 Upper New York Annual Conference session will feature a proposed new dialogue technique: conversation circles. The goal of these circle groups is to allow everyone the chance to share their reflections and opinions on petitions and resolutions related to the issue of human sexuality. There will be 100-120 circle groups consisting of 10-12 individuals. Each group will be led by a trained facilitator, who is also a Conference member. Over the course of two hours, participants will be asked three questions. They will have up to five minutes to respond to the first, up to two minutes to respond to the second, and up to three minutes for the last. At the end of the process, each person will have up to a minute to share their reaction to the conversation circle. Just prior to breaking into the circle groups the petitioners that submitted the resolutions on human sexuality will have the opportunity to address the Conference directly for three minutes; to further inform Conference members, petitioners have also been invited to submit a 22 UNY ADVOCATE AC ’15 PREVIEW
one page statement. If it is adopted as written, the Organizational Motion proposes that following this process, Conference members will vote on all submitted resolutions and petitions related to human sexuality issues without debate or amendment. This is a different approach to this important discussion, so Upper New York Conference Writer/ Editor Kathleen Rubino spoke with the Rev. Bill Allen, pastor at Bemus Point United Methodist Church, the Rev. Marti Swords-Horrell, pastor at Christ UMC in Troy, Noel John, a lay member at the Emmaus UMC in Albany, and Jami Breedlove, a lay member at St. Paul’s UMC in Ithaca, who have been the driving force in developing the circle conversation groups for this year’s AC session. The group explained how the process came about, why they chose this process, and what they hope people will gain from conversation circles. Kathleen Rubino: What brought about this process of conversation circles being developed? Jami Breedlove: This has been a compilation of ideas, thoughts, and feelings of a larger team that has worked really hard, prayerfully and thoughtfully together for the last two
at AC 2015 years. Folks have come from far and wide to be a part of this team, and I am really proud of the heart and soul of every one of us. Rev. Bill Allen: We sensed a need to talk about the topic of human sexuality in a way that would allow everyone’s voice to be heard. Rev. Marti Swords-Horrell: Thanks, Bill. You’re right about how we wanted everyone’s voice to be heard. Also, we asked each other to think about how we wanted the Upper New York Conference members to feel when they get in their car after the session is over; what would be the first thing they would say to folks back home about how Conference went? Noel John: I agree with Bill and Marti (about having this) instead of having three for and three against. Rev. Swords-Horrell: We (also) heard about how the BaltimoreWashington Annual Conference session had voted to change its rules in order to talk about these issues in conversation circles, and it sounded intriguing to some of us. Rubino: What role did each of you play in its development? Rev. Swords-Horrell: One quick answer: I think I came up with the idea of asking ourselves to think
Rev. Allen
about what we want Conference members to think about and to feel when they get in their cars to leave. Rev. Allen: I think my most urgent feeling was that no one should exit the process of discussion and voting with a sense that they had been disrespected. I worked hard to make sure that the process did not feel weighted in any particular direction. John: First, when this idea was presented to us I was very nervous and did not think it was possible to accomplish this task. I may have been a negative energy. But the more we talked about this the more I felt comfortable with this idea. Breedlove: We have not agreed on all things, but we have listened and respected each other, and we all hope for the same things for our Conference: that Jesus would be glorified. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I agree with what Bill said. I think others of us, including me, also wanted, above all, for people to walk away from the circles feeling they had been heard and had been respected, and that it was fair. John: Finally, when I understood the reasoning behind it, I was okay with the circle of tables idea. Breedlove: I especially thank Bishop (Mark J.) Webb and the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding for leading us and staying invested in the process. There are those who were suspect in the beginning, but they have proven to be thoughtful and caring. I have been grateful for their commitment to see this process through. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I was reassured by the conference call we had with two members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, sharing their experience of the conversation circles. It seemed more possible after that. Rev. Allen: I remembered back
Breedlove
John
Rev. Swords-Horrell
to a similar experience we had in the former Western New York Conference, when we sat around in small groups and discussed the topic of human sexuality. That was a very positive experience, and I felt we could do a similar activity in this upcoming Annual Conference session. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I think they did something like this in the former Troy Conference as well, although I was not a part of it at that time. John: Well, in the former Troy Conference we took a training class from Eric Law. We read one of his books, (The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb). It was three days of training we took. The idea was similar to this small group round table conversation, where everyone felt inclusive in a conversation about diversity and other topics in general. (Similarly, conversation leaders for these talks will be trained using materials from Just Peace).
sense to just let people voice their opinions in small groups and then let everyone just vote the resolutions/ petitions up or down, without arguing over small changes in wording, etc. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I agree with Bill. Many of us felt, “more of the same won’t help.” John: We felt that this process would give everyone a chance to speak how they feel about this “human sexuality” issue. As you know, some people have anxiety attacks speaking in front of a large group. Hopefully, this process will make these people more comfortable to speak their mind, and they will feel inclusive in this conversation and won’t feel being swayed one way or the other. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I think many on the taskforce thought: This is an opportunity for us to do something creative, to be the Church, even if we don’t agree.
Rubino: Why is this the right process to discuss all submitted resolutions and petitions related to human sexuality issues? Rev. Swords-Horrell: As we know, both The United Methodist Church and society in general here in the United States are quite polarized over this issue. There are other issues that are nearly as polarizing, but at least with issues related to human sexuality, at least from our past experiences at Annual Conference sessions, I don’t think Roberts’ Rules offer us a decision-making process that leaves people whole. Rev. Allen: We felt that speeches from the Conference floor were not going to sway the nuanced opinions that people hold on these complex issues. It seems obvious that, no matter how impassioned or powerful the rhetoric, most people are already clear about how they will be voting. Therefore, we felt that it made more
Rubino: How do you hope people will feel spiritually after the process has concluded? Rev. Allen: I’m hoping that people will feel closer to God because they have actively sought to love their neighbor through listening and respect. Any time we don’t take the easy way out and don’t just demonize someone whose opinion we don’t like, we have chosen to listen to and respect that person, even if we do not agree with them, and that is a sign of love. Rev. Swords-Horrell: Very similar to Bill – I hope that people will feel that the Holy Spirit has been in our midst – “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place ... “ because each felt listened to, and maybe learned something new about someone else. I hope they will find out that we can sincerely love and respect each other even if we don’t agree. unyumc.org 23
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John: Yes, this reminds me of when Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus took his time and listened to the woman’s side of the story and did not judge her by how many husbands she had yet blessed her with the living water. I hope we all listen to each other with open heart and open mind without judging each other and leave the roundtable feeling that we have been given the chance to speak our mind and given the opportunity to listen to others as well. And feel the Holy Spirit working among us for the goodness of all humankind. Rev. Swords-Horrell: I like to live by John Wesley’s rules, first being “do no harm”. I pray that these
circles will do no spiritual or emotional harm to anyone participating, and may even do some good and help people stay in love with God. This is my prayer. Rev. Allen: I think it is very helpful to remember that all petitions and resolutions that come to General Conference arrive with the same weight. In other words, there is no greater weight given to a petition that comes from a whole Annual Conference than there is to a petition that comes from an individual working on her/his own. The petitions are all bundled together and eventually worked on by the General Conference committees. Therefore, there is no need to feel a sense
of “all or nothing” about petitions voted upon by our Conference. They will simply be dealt with in a similar manner as all other petitions submitted. There is not a need to argue and fight in this particular context of Annual Conference. It is only the General Conference vote that really matters. John: I know the General Conference has the final say. I also think that our voice carries far and beyond General Conference. Breedlove: I have faith that even though we may not all have a vote at General Conference we can come to know each other better and we can become a stronger Body of Christ in UNY.
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Email: news@unyumc.org #UNYAC15
The Rev. John Martin’s six-part Young Pastors Network series will return in the summer issue of the Advocate!