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
Look at what we can do
together
THE RESOURCE CENTER | DAY IN THE LIFE | YOUR RESPONSES
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TABLE of CONTENTS
A DOLLAR GOES A LONG WAY Where does your dollar go? Learn how your giving promotes ministry locally and around the globe.
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MAKING THE CONNECTION The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding explains why the Connection is important for local churches by using three common images.
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SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH Find out how the Media Resource Center is funded and how it impacts our youth.
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SUPPORTING OUR PASTORS Learn how Equitable Compensation is changing lives in communities throughout Upper New York.
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CONAM What is it and why is it important? Learn the amazing ministry the Committee on Native American Ministries is doing on your behalf.
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SUPPORTED MINISTRIES So many of life-changing ministries are supported by Ministry Shares. Learn about some of the results of those ministries and how to go deeper with past issues of the Advocate. Students graduate from United Methodist-supported Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. photo by Andra Stevens 2 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
FROM the PUBLISHER
A DVOCATE
Ministry Shares: the financial expression of our United Methodist Connection
Upper New York
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eing a United Methodist is special. Our local churches are connected to each other in a way that uniquely enables life-changing ministry on a scale that not even the largest church could manage on its own. When you give to your local church, a small portion of what you give goes far beyond your local church. Realize that this small portion accomplishes amazing things. A small part of what you give helps: prevent the spread of deadly diseases around the world, train and equip clergy and lay leadership throughout Upper New York and beyond, people in need far beyond the reach of your local congregation, to respond with God’s love in times of unimaginable crisis, and so much more. When the little portion of what you give is combined with what the millions of United Methodists around the world give, incredible ministry happens in a way that is unique only to the United Methodist church. This issue of the Advocate seeks to do three things: share the story of ministries that exemplify some of the amazing ministry that is empowered though Ministry Shares and our Connection, examine why and how some churches right here in Upper New York worked hard to increase their Ministry Share giving, and provide useful resources to learn more about Ministry Shares and the story with more members of your congregation. The hope is that this issue will not only inform, but also, inspire. Ministry Shares and the United Methodist Connection not only make us unique among denominations, but also, they equip, extend, and enhance ministry throughout Upper New York and the world—ministry that can only be done though our amazing connection. That is something to be grateful for and to truly be excited about! Stephen J. Hustedt, Editor/Publisher Our apologies
In issue 3 of the Advocate, we left out the following retiree names: Rev. Jay Roberts Rev. Ellen Robinson Rev. Mariana Rodriguez Rev. Jan McClary Rowell Rev. Jane Sautter Rev. Dale Schneeberger Rev. Margaret Scott Rev. Barbara Silk Rev. Gail Wilson Rev. Carl Phillip Young
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
Look at what we can do
together
Follow us online:
www.unyumc.org www.facebook.com/uppernewyork www.twitter.com/uppernewyork
THE RESOURCE CENTER | DAY IN THE LIFE | YOUR RESPONSES
Vol. 8, Issue 4
Upper New York Area
BISHOP MARK J. WEBB Resident Bishop (315) 422-5027 bishopwebb@unyumc.org Editor/Publisher
STEPHEN J. HUSTEDT
UNY Director of Communications (315) 424-7878 x307 stevehustedt@unyumc.org
Writer/Editor
SHANNON HODSON
Conference Writer/Editor (315) 424-7878 x319 shannonhodson@unyumc.org Weekly Digest
KAREN CAMPOLIETO
Administrative Assistant to the Director (315) 424-7878 x304 karencampolieto@unyumc.org
Social Media/Web
ASHLEY RIDDELL
Multimedia/Web Coordinator (315) 424-7878 x320 ashleyriddell@unyumc.org Video Specialist
MARY DALGLISH
Conference Video Specialist (315) 424-7878 x304 marydalglish@unyumc.org
The Advocate is a publication of the
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.
Why Ministry Shares Matter
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nited Methodists accomplish big things together. That is true around the world and it is certainly true in Upper New York. We share a common mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” It is this mission that propels us into the world around us. We live out this mission in a variety of ways, including the sharing of our financial resources. Shared Giving or Ministry Shares is a distinctive feature of our United Methodist identity. The willingness of each congregation to participate fully in connectional giving allows us to engage together in ministry beyond the local church, as well as support multiple resources that have as their primary goal to partner with the local congregation for the purpose of increasing vitality and fruitfulness. Connectional giving is an amazing opportunity and gift, not a dreaded obligation! I have been blessed many times over, as I have witnessed the generosity of United Methodists in Upper New York. The response of giving financially for ministry that stretches throughout our Conference and around the world is amazing. As local congregations participate fully in Ministry Share giving, our dreams for living out God’s call upon us together in this time, become a reality. Not only do we strengthen the impact of our local congregations, but also, we support ministry and mission that no one congregation could accomplish alone. United Methodists do big things together. We have much to celebrate, but we also must recognize that too often we have been living beneath our potential in the opportunities God gives us through connectional giving. There are realities beyond our control that have limited the resources we are able to share. To ignore that truth would be irresponsible.
However, we must also wrestle together with the truth that sometimes our inability to participate fully in connectional giving has been about other things. Sometimes, it’s been about our failure to recognize that God is enough and to give fully in a spirit of trust. Other times, it’s been a way to demonstrate our disagreement toward “something” or “someone.” When we fall short in our giving, ultimately it is us that suffer the impact. Our ability and the ability of sisters and brothers, right here in Upper New York, to accomplish the mission is compromised. I am so grateful for the hundreds of congregations that participate in payment of Ministry Shares. The commitment and the work that has been done to strengthen this area of our ministry over the last few years is inspiring. Watching churches stay committed to 100 percent giving and seeing other congregations working tirelessly toward that goal has been incredible! Thank you! I believe we are better together and I believe that we can continue to increase our impact through Ministry Share giving. In the pages of this Advocate, you will find information that continues to help us to understand the value and purpose of connectional giving.You will discover resources that can be used in your local congregation to increase the overall health of giving. But most importantly, you will discover the stories of the difference Ministry Share giving makes, right here in Upper New York and around the world. United Methodists have always been known as a generous people. United Methodists have a strong theology of giving. May we continue to live into our identity and recognize the power of what we do together!
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@BishopMarkWebb
In your own words... We surveyed our friends around the UNY Conference to find out the answer to one simple question: What is the ministry made possible by the United Methodist Connection that is most exciting to you?
“The summer camp opportunities made possible through our camp ministries!”
“World-changing Director’s Invitational.”
“Disaster response work.”
“Imagine No Malaria.”
“Children’s missions.”
“Camp and Retreat Ministries. When churches ask, ‘Where are the youth?’ This is where they are. Life changing, Tranfsormational ministry.”
“I am so grateful that Ministry Shares support the Conference staff. As a pastor, I find so many resources on your webpage that I use regularly for everything from my Sunday sermons to learning about leadership trainings that can help me to “I am happy become that Minismore try Shares effective in support my church.” my District
Superintendent. She has offered me so much advice and support!”
“UMCOR.”
“Safe Sanctuaries Training available at no cost.”
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Your giving is already doing more than you know When you put your gift into the offering plate, where does it go? As a United Methodist, your offerings promote positive change across the globe. United Methodism is unique because of the Connection. Every single local United Methodist church is linked to an interconnected network of organizations that join together in mission and ministry, allowing us to accomplish far more than any one local church or person could alone. While 85 percent of your offering stays right at your church, your giving also helps ministries throughout the UNY Conference, and the world.Your weekly gift is a tool that enables the UMC to live out its mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.�
7% supports vital ministries close to home through Annual Conferences and Districts.
2% of every dollar supports our apportioned funds.
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85% of every dollar given in your local congregation stays in your local church.
6% of all gifts goes to 2nd mile giving such as Special Sunday offerings and the Advance.
Ministry Shares toolbox: Learn more about Ministry Shares by visiting www.unyumc.org/resources/ministry-shares-toolbox
Find local resources and view stories shared by those who are impacted by Ministry Share giving.
Missionaries Alex and Brenda Awad have served United Methodists in Isreal and Palestine for over 26 years. They continue to spread the mission with the help of Ministry Shares. Watch the video at: https://vimeo.com/139707602
Fresh Start is now self-sustaining, but it was Ministry Shares that kick-started this New Faith Community. Learn more about their story. Watch the video at: https://vimeo.com/153365008
Learn how this New Faith Community in Syracuse, has formed it’s community into one big family with the support of Ministry Share dollars. Watch the video at: https://vimeo.com/170653630
View our online video Library
https://vimeo.com/uppernewyork/videos unyumc.org 7
The Connection:
What Ministry Shares mean for the local churches By the Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding billg-f@unyumc.org
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hen I started serving as the UNY Conference’s Director of Connectional Ministries, it wasn’t long before I was asked, “so what do we get from the Conference?” This question, asked by both clergy and The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding laity, usually came up in a discussion about shared ministry payments and conference budgets. Heard in the wrong way, it could sound like a consumer demanding a vendor to justify the price of a product. But churches aren’t consumers and the Conference isn’t a vending machine. We’re more like a family bound by a covenant. We work together to serve a common purpose: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. With this in mind, I hear this question as a plea from the frontlines to understand what resources are available to help ministry happen. While churches aren’t consumers, they are the primary deliverer of all our ministries. Ministry happens in and through the local church. The conference structure exists solely to support the ministries of local churches. I am a visual learner and have been answering the question of what churches get from the Conference with three simple images: a compass, a lever, and a bridge. 8 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
Compass First, a compass, which symbolizes for me how the Conference equips churches for ministry by growing Christ-following leaders. Leaders equipped with a compass help guide people forward through rough terrain and into new and promising places. The primary way the conference equips leaders is through recruiting, training, credentialing, deploying, supporting, and supervising ordained and licensed clergy. In other words, the simplest way to answer the question “What do I get from the conference?” is to point to your pastor! He or she is with you because of our connection as a Conference. Your pastor’s call to ministry was recognized and nurtured by the Conference; his or her gifts and skills were developed with Conference resources; and he or she was sent to minister among you by the conference. Although laity are primarily equipped and supported by their local churches, the leadership of lay people is also increased through Conference initiatives and programs (e.g., Lay Servant Ministries, Conference Council on Youth Ministries).
Lever The second tool the Conference offers local churches is a lever, a symbol for how the conference enhances local church ministries by developing and “scaling up” resources to be shared by all. With a lever, you can magnify and stretch your efforts. Examples of how churches leverage their efforts through the conference include our conference’s camp and retreat ministries and our Media Resource Center. No single church could own a camp and retreat center or purchase 1,000 DVDbased Sunday school programs, but churches linked together have access to all of these things.
Bridge The third and final tool offered by Conference is a bridge. Like a bridge, the Conference extends the reach of local churches beyond their particular neighborhood or community. Bridges allow people to connect across geography and culture. Conference “bridging ministries” include conference Volunteers in Mission (VIM) programs, our disaster response ministries, and conference support of Global Ministries’ missionaries and UMCOR aid workers through our General Church apportionments. These three tools – the compass of spiritual leadership, the lever of shared resources, and the bridge of connection– are what we get from the Conference. Better put, they are what we build together as a Conference to support the work we do as local churches.
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Philadelphia UMC embraces creative fundraising We placed our trust in God to guide us in our attempts to make our shared giving a current reality. Editor’s Note: In 2015, Philadelphia UMC (located in the Our regular members have stepped up to the plate Northern Flow District) increased their Ministry Shares through increased sacrificial giving. by 45 percent. In 2016, Philadelphia UMC has paid 100 In the summer, we have Chicken B-B-Qs in the percent of their Ministry Shares. month of July and an End of Summer Social at the end of August. Proceeds from these events go directly he Philadelphia UMC is a small church composed to the church trustees to aid in the payment of our mainly of people over 50 years young. Our Ministry Shares. local area is impoverished with no industry and few We also have held monthly All-You-Can Eat Roast if any employment opportunities available locally. Beef Dinners that have given us monies to supplement Our younger families have moved from the area to our regular offerings and enabled us to make regular seek employment while others with pre-teens and monthly payments on our past owed shared ministries teenagers do not attend due to school obligations. as well as make regular monthly payments on our These factors have had a devastating effect on our current year’s Shared Ministries. abilities to meet our Shared Ministry giving as well as Fundraisers can be truly effective in raising Ministry our weekly expenses. Shares and fulfilling our promise to be actively involved At first we relied on the generosity of our church in the UMC Connection. trustees in loaning the general fund what was needed to meet our Shared Ministries. From there, we paid only the very basic essentials and then through prayer, we were reminded that, as United Methodists, we are a part of the connectional system that encompasses the world and that we made a promise “As members of the Philadelphia United Methodist Church, we would faithfully participate in its ministries by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.” By Beth Johnston, Philadelphia UMC
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We raised our Ministry Shares over the past couple of years through a combination of increased sacrificial giving and specific fundraisers. Community Dinner Photos provided by Beth Johnston 10 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
r t s i n i M d e r a h S t u o b a e g a My mess
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ns my congregatio ll te s ay w al I , ot limited to Ministry Shares ’s ministry is n st ri h hen pondering C s su Je bal, as noted realize that rches; it is glo u ch t is d that we must o h et M onsible!” ewfield United ns, we are resp N io r at o n e l ill al f sv o ld s o Reyn e disciple art of these , “Go and mak s possible, as p ie in Matthew 28 tr is in m al b o roader help make gl which funds b s, ie tr is in M Ministry Shares al to fund on eral Connecti ample, it helps en ex r G Fo to . h go rc s u h ie mon hodist C he United Met initiatives of T atement: To ty. our mission st w Africa Universi llo fo to d ghbors an to remember ve with our nei t lo an ’s rt d o o p G im e b is It to em so this doesn’t se sus Christ and t, Je is f d o o el h et sp o M G tain a nited live the we must main ose to be a U , y o rs o ch b u gh yo ei n If r s. Pastor Kell ith ou ving. w gi ve in all place ed lo ar ’s sh d o gh G u er to be possible thro optional. In ord which is made y, it n g else, u m m co e erything bill or anythin t h lig r u o presence in th shares fund ev y ay p tr is e in w m e lik as , st egational uck Ministry ju ensation, congr bang for our b p re m o o C m t le We pay Shared lo ab a it t e ge salaries, Equ ence is that w nference staff o C to the only differ s ie tr is Retreat Min ministries. from Camp & try Shares. ice and mercy st ju d an t, ment of Minis ay en d, it is p d an n io developm ct ministry. Instea e colle ed th ar in sh le ay p ro y to ke lay a es it optional And pastors p cipline that mak is D of k oo B us?” ce in The e. nce done for n re o d fe n is There is no pla co it e at th th e le to do se: “What has e pastor to se ould not be ab eard the phra w h the duty of th e rs av to h as I p y, , tr es is gy. In ar to shared min d support cler out Ministry Sh es an h m it p, o co W el ” it ev e! d en er h t, h in W ell, I’m r us; hasn’t ordain, appo response is, “W ne has done fo s helps teach, ie eo n o m m so e at My most basic es h th w f be looking at because part o e should never what they do w , st ri h C f this o isciple for supporting es h rc u addition, as a d ch y m f ough? so proud o Christ done en ission, and I am m er th o y an y is just like per New Shared ministr then heard Up e W . y. tr is in ssible and ed m 0 percent if po nt of our shar 0 1 ce mission. er an p th 0 0 re 1 o cent. d m ai additional 3 per urches to give ldsville UMC p ch o an n r h it ey fo R w ll , ca ar ed ’s d ye b n Last ark J. Web others are nt and respo ident Bishop M hes can’t help, our 100 perce rc d u ai ch p r C u o M U en York Area Res d h el realize that w percent. Newfi ists. We must d o h paid another 5 et M ed it appen f being Un . Just make it h es ar Sh y That is part o tr is in is?” nt M aid. going to pay th e pay 100 perce w ill e w ar es w h o there to lend h rc u f how ch me, “Pastor, ecial formula o es don’t say to h rc u ch y M . There is no sp n tatio pay in full. early the expec because it is cl we are going to at th d te ec p st ex ol. Instead, it is ju God is in contr at th re su e mak Have faith, and lly
e Ke By Pastor Mik
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Pastor Mike Kelly serves at the Reynoldsville and Newfield United Methodist churches. unyumc.org 11
Resources to help congregations learn about stewardship By Diane Miner
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iving is a hard concept for many church members to grasp. How much? Why? When? For what ministries? These are several questions that members of a church may be wrestling with.
Bishop Mike Coyner, retired, expresses why he and his wife Marsha give to help others contemplate why they should give in the offering plate. According to Bishop Coyner, “We give because we believe that the secret to living is giving. Giving is what life is about – giving our love, our prayers, our support, our material gifts, our efforts, etc. Life is meant to be lived, shared, and generously multiplied. God has designed life in such a way that when we try to hold onto life, we lose it, but when we give life away, we receive life in more abundance.” Together, United Methodists do remarkable ministry around the world. We care for survivors recovering from earthquakes and storms; we invest, long term, in vulnerable communities; we implement the most effective solutions to diseases like malaria; we equip the next generation to lead the Church and society. In all of this, we share the good news of Jesus Christ. Below are some stewardship study resources that can further help church members from youth to older adults to develop a deep understanding of the importance of giving and stewardship campaigns. Each of these resources are available to borrow from the UNY Conference Media Resource Center.
Defying Gravity: Break Free From the Culture of More By Tom Berlin Our possessions can create unbearable weight and affect our ability to serve and thrive. How do we defy gravity and find freedom? In this fourweek small group study and stewardship campaign, pastor and author Tom Berlin explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism. Kit includes: program tools flash guide, pastor guide, DVD, leader guide, and book.
Earn. Save. Give: Wesley’s Simple Rules for Money By James A. Harnish John Wesley believed money was important as a way of expressing and living out Christian faith. To Wesley, the task was simple: earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can. In this essential little book, pastor and author James A. Harnish presents Wesley’s concepts and beliefs in plain, useful language, suitable for individuals to grapple with and groups to discuss and act upon. The four chapters of this book form the basis for a four-week, church-wide stewardship program, along with the DVD, leader guide, devotional readings for home, youth study book, children’s leader guide, and the program guide on flash drive. The Program Guide, delivered in electronic files on a flash drive, gives an overview of the four-week stewardship program and provides guidance and advice on planning and implementing the program, including: announcements, letters, email and Twitter text, plus graphics for presentation slides, posters, and flyers. 12 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity By Adam Hamilton Church leaders are struggling to help their congregations respond to the violent ebb and flow of the economy. While their members are simply trying to stay afloat financially, the budget of their church is suffering as well. In the midst of all of this, there is God and a divine calling for each of us. Adam Hamilton offers a simple campaign that will transform how the church and individuals view the role of money in connection with their life’s purpose and the positive impact that transformation will have on the world.
Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving By Michael Reeves and Jennifer N. Tyler An innovative stewardship program designed to move the entire congregation toward goal-oriented, mission-minded giving. The program includes: program guide, overview timeline, 28-day devotional, small group leader guide, and DVD with meditations for small-group use and 60-second worship videos.
first: putting God first in living and giving By Mike Slaughter In First, pastor and author Mike Slaughter conducts a four-week, allchurch stewardship program to help participants reassess priorities and create a culture and a lifestyle of giving with a special emphasis on missions. To help parents educate and model generosity for their kids, First includes components for children and youth that help families explore financial decisions together. Sessions include: Naming Our Idols; Money, Work, and Debt; Earn—Save— Give; and Heart Giving. This program kit includes: program guide with flash drive; children’s leader guide; youth study edition; DVD with leader guide; and devotional book. Treasure by Jacob Armstrong Whether you are in plenty or in want, money has a direct connection to your values, your faith, and the health of your relationships. It’s no wonder that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presented a radical message about our “treasure” and our hearts. In this four-week stewardship program and church-wide study, Jacob Armstrong uses Matthew 6 to reexamine how we look at our finances and possessions, through the counter-cultural teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Sessions include: Week 1: Where Is Your Treasure? Matthew 6:19-23 Week 2: The Problem with Two Masters; Matthew 6:24 Week 3: How to Give; Matthew 6:1-6 Week 4: Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing; Matthew 6:25-35 This kit includes one each of the daily readings, the DVD, the program guide, and flash drive. unyumc.org 13
Why Carlton UMC values Ministry-Share giving over half-time appointment
Carlton was passionate about getting younger people engaged and involved in worship and Editor’s Note: Carlton UMC improved their Ministry Shares in 2015 supporting young people, so in worship and committee by almost 80 percent. At the time of this writing (October, 2016), meetings, I simply reminded them that our Ministry they have already surpassed 100 percent of their Ministry Shares for Shares goes to help these vital ministries throughout 2016. the Conference and Connection. For stewardship espite the very difficult transition from a half-time Sunday last year, I also asked some of my friends pastor to a quarter-time pastor, Carlton UMC has from college and seminary who had been involved in found a way to pay our Ministry Shares in full. I am camping ministry or campus ministry to share their a new pastor at Carlton and I entered an environment where the congregation was unsure of their future. I faced the challenge of calming their fears and encouraging them in their ministry. I had to re-energize them for ministry, because of course, the change from a half to quarter time pastor, was discouraging to them. I, as their pastor, had to wisely invest my time in ministries and after more than a year at Carlton, I am still figuring it out. I made it clear from Day One that we would pay our Ministry Shares. I am a product of a United Methodist campus ministry; that ministry fueled my call to ordained ministry, and I was open about sharing that story. Campus ministry, camping ministry, other youth and young peoples’ ministry... all of those are only possible if churches pay their Ministry Shares. By the Rev. Melanie Ollett, Carlton UMC
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Youth at Carlton UMC. Photos by the Rev. Melanie Ollett 14 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
experiences with me so I could share them in worship. I received some touching stories of how these ministries truly transformed lives. I’d like to think that made a difference in helping my congregation understand why we pay Ministry Shares, and why we are a part of a connectional system. For an aging congregation, it can be hard to feel like they are making a difference if they are not “out there” on the ground doing mission work, and through their Ministry Shares, they are connected to important
mission, relief, and ministry work world-wide. Of course we still give and reach out to local missions, too! Occasionally, I prodded our admin board to write a slightly larger check as a portion of their Ministry Shares as needed, until eventually not only did we pay up for the year, but also, we paid all the Ministry Shares we had owed for past years, too.
churches like Carlton. Another of my lay leaders, Deb Heuer, responded that we are “absolutely better off” than we were a year ago, right when I began ministry here and we began paying up more of our Ministry Shares. She said that yes, we went to quarter time, but “we didn’t just lay down and die,” as a church. Ministry has gone on, has grown beautifully, particularly with youth, and more people are more optimistic about the church’s future. She says she hopes that someday soon we can increase to half time again, but in the meantime, we have an incredibly generous congregation that “believes paying Ministry Shares is important, that the work that happens through the District and Conference is important.” Ministry has flourished, despite the decrease in pastoral time in the church. We recently had a youth fundraiser where our youth raised over $500 for a campus ministry the church is connected with. We’ve hosted the first church dinner that the church has had in years. We are able to put up a new sign so our community can stay current on the events happening in the church. I made a church website (carltonumc.wordpress.com.) It requires creative use of my time, but it is a joy to be in ministry with this congregation. They are alive, and with Christ’s help, we are moving forward into a new future that God has for us! We are proud of all the ministry that has happened because we are now able to fully pay our Ministry Shares.
I asked some of my lay leaders for their thoughts about Ministry Shares. I got many responses that the pastoral transition from 1/2 to 1/4 time was challenging and difficult. One of my lay leaders, Dorothy Follman, was encouraged by our youth and the revitalization of that ministry over the last year. She mentioned how important paying Ministry Shares was, recalling seeing the disaster of a hurricane and the amazing work the United Methodist Church was able to do in the relief effort due in part to generous Ministry Shares. I also told her about the great news that due to UNY’s generosity, we have been able to reinstate the chaplain position at Syracuse University, Carlton UMC members enjoying the first churchand it is due in part to the increase in giving from hosted dinner held in years.
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How Ministry Shares support young people at the local level: The example of the UNY Conference Media Resource Center
How the Media Resource Center is funded The Media Resource Center receives all of its funding from the Conference’s budget for Conference Connectional Ministries and this support allows the center to continue to invest in new resources to be used for youth and young adult ministry in the future. Recent acquisitions include group studies like Half-Truths by Adam Hamilton-which covers common Christian clichés in a way applicable to both youth and young adult groups-and Get Their Name-which focuses on ways churches can reach out to the un-churched, a substantial percentage of whom are young adults. How the investment in media resources impacts young people Resource Center Director, Diane Miner
By Tasha Gottschalk-Fielding
hile Conference Ministry Shares fund youth W and young adult outreach on a national and even global level, the ministry provided by churches’
connectional giving also returns to the youth of the churches themselves. A key example of this level of ministry is the Conference’s Media Resource Center in Endicott. which lends resources to youth and young adult groups in churches all across the Conference. Diane Miner, the Resource Center Director for the past six years, noted that a substantial portion of the Center’s curriculum is specifically targeted to youth and young adults. A keyword search in the Center’s online catalog, accessible from the conference web page, brings up 778 results for youth ministry and 1,611 results for young adult ministry. These resources span a wide range of media, including: books, DVDs, curricula, kits, CDs, and even a 24’x24’ portable canvas labyrinth that Diane said was used at a recent Conference youth event. Once a church has selected one of these resources to borrow, the Media Resource Center mails it to the church, arriving within a couple of days, at no charge.
“The investment in resources is an ongoing ministry,” Diane explained. “I continually look for new and relevant resources to offer the local church. I am always planning at least a season ahead when previewing new materials.” For Kevin Klippel, youth coordinator at Lansing UMC, the results of this careful selection are evident in the responses of his youth group to the study kits he has recently borrowed, including Surrender by Francis Chan and Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris. “Many of the well-done resources help our youth think more deeply about particular ideas about and within Christianity, in a much more eloquent way than I or a volunteer may be able to present them,”
The Resource Center Photos by Mary Dalglish 16 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
Kevin noted. “The efforts that the publishers put into producing these resources are clear and that lends them a lot of credibility with the youth.” Kevin emphasized that these materials have also allowed him to provide his youth group with a more flexible and diverse curriculum than he could have achieved without the help of the Resource Center. Brenda Brunzey, the Director of Religious Education at Vestal UMC, frequently turns to the Media Resource Center for books, curricula, and more. She said, “We have borrowed too many resources to list ,but I can affirm that our Senior High Sunday school class as well as young adult classes have borrowed dozens of resources throughout the Sunday school year every year“
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10 ways the Media Resource Center can support the Local Church 1. It’s simply an awesome part of our connectional system! 2. It saves your church money. 3. It’s a free lending library supported through your Ministry Share dollars. 4. It has a wealth of up-to-date materials to support your vision in mission and ministry. 5. There is a knowledgeable person to consult to address your needs.
How the Media Resource Center saves funds for churches Truthfully, the Ministry Shares that support the Media Resource Center produce cost-savings for youth education. According to Kevin, “Our budget is very carefully crafted and has little wiggle-room. So, if I suddenly decide to use a media resource without planning for it in the budget potentially a year ahead of time, being able to simply borrow it is a huge cost-saving advantage which frees up those funds for use in other aspects of ministry.” Brenda expresses a similar sentiment. She said, “There are many benefits to borrowing the resources instead of buying them. The obvious reason is that it makes using new resources very cost effective because there is no cost associated with borrowing them. This allows us to use a variety of materials without the added expense. Also, in many cases, we will borrow the resource before it is needed to preview and decide if the content is actually what we are looking for. For both Kevin and Brenda, the Media Resource Center is a key example of the way Ministry Shares allow their churches to save money on programming, while continuing to provide quality education and outreach to youth at the local level.
6. You have a chance to preview studies when deciding what you would ultimately like to use. 7. Resources are available for all age groups. 8. Resources provided have varied theological views. 9. Vacation Bible School Kits are available for summer, school break, or after-school programs. 10. Resources can be mailed right to your church. Watch the video to learn how the Media Resource Center can serve your local church.
Watch
https://vimeo.com/183496388
online
Video by Mary Dalglish unyumc.org 17
Together we can do more: A worship series at Homer First UMC
By the Rev. Rachel Morse
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t Homer First, our stewardship campaign barely addresses the question, “Why should Christians give?”
I know, I know. I know that we’re supposed to explain every year why God wants us to commit to give. We did that last year and our pledges increased by 30 percent! But there is still resistance to giving generously in the offering plate. It’s strange, because we have a generous congregation. Whenever there has been a need, whether it has been for Africa 360, refugee families, our food pantry, local children, or UMCOR kits, we responded to those needs wholeheartedly. So what is the problem with funding our General Budget? For too many years, the story has been told that we have to give a lot of money to the Conference and somehow it hurts our local church. Our Finance Team kept hearing this question: “What do we get from them?”
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In response, we decided to use our stewardship campaign to offer clear information about why we give Ministry Shares; it isn’t about what we get from them. Ministry Shares are about extending our impact beyond our community. We believe that when we pool our resources as United Methodists, we can make a greater impact on the world. Not only that, when we have centralized administration, the local churches are focused and more effective at the local level. I used information from umcgiving.org in a worship series on the UMC Connection that helped explain to my congregation that most life-changing ministry happens at the local church level. Eight-five percent of the funds collected in the offering plate stay in the local church. The rest goes to funding ministry at a regional and global level, extending our impact. I spent five weeks educating my congregation on this impact. It wasn’t a part of a service; it was an entire worship series, “The Connection: Together, We Can Do More.”
Here is what I focused on each week: Week 1: Ministry of the Conference Guest speaker and UNY Conference Multimedia/Web Coordinator, Ashley Riddell, spoke about her experience growing up in and working for a connectional church. The work of the Conference is to help to extend the reach of the local church by supporting and offering lifechanging ministry through Camps and Retreats, Ministerial Support, Connectional Ministries, trainings, and more.
Week 2: Global Ministry On World Communion Sunday, we celebrated the work of the General Board of Global Ministries and the World Service Fund. The congregation learned more about the ways we reached out in ministry around the globe through our Ministry Shares. Over 11 percent of our Ministry Shares go to the World Service Fund, aiding people in need and supporting discipleship worldwide.
Week 3: Ministry of the local church The local church is the primary place where life-changing ministry takes place. The local church is in mission with the community and trains Christian leaders to live their daily lives in light of their relationship to God. The members of a local church are living changed lives while going out into the community changing lives, participating in the global mission of the United Methodist Church.
Week 4: Ministry of the laity At the time of this writing, this will be next week. Some of our key lay leaders will share about their significant experiences with the church, whether it is at the local level or beyond. The congregation will celebrate the role of the laity and their varied gifts.
Week 5: Pledge Sunday This will be a day of baptism and new beginnings. We will ruminate over the fact that our baptisms and our Social Creed is a way of connecting back to our call as United Methodists. Members will bring forth their pledges for 2017, more new members will join, adults and children will be baptized, and we will celebrate the opportunity to be free to give to the Connection.
This is crucial information for our United Methodist identity. United Methodists are special people who are part of an amazing institution whose mission is about changing the world. When we put money in the offering plate at a United Methodist church, we are contributing to that mission. Homer UMC worship series. Photos by Rachel Morse
unyumc.org 19
Blog gives a glimpse of ‘A Day in the Life’ of Conference staff T he Upper New York Conference recently launched a new blog series on its website called “A Day in the Life.” The series features articles, videos, and photos that chronicle a day in the life of UNY Conference staff members.
Each week, the blog features a member from one of the Conference’s Ministry Areas. These individuals share what their day is like, what type of work they do, and how the local church can use these vital people to make disciples for the transformation of the world. Many of these posts also include videos so that you can see Conference staff in action.
Episcopal Office Manager Mary Bradley shared that “each day is its own and can change at the answer of one phone call.”
Mary Bradley
Accountant Mike Weaver said he’s often asked by Conference committees about budgets and how to complete expense reports. “I’m here to help these teams with the details so they can focus on their ministry.” Mike Weaver
Receptionist and Support Services Clerk Kay Jackson shared that while filing is not the most exciting part of her job, she knows it must be completed and done well in order for Ministry Areas to be organized. Kay Jackson
Media Resource Center Director Diane Miner said she plans at least a season ahead for resources in the center and always has a wish list next to her computer. Diane Miner
Administrative Assistant for Communications, New Faith Communities, and Vital Congregations Karen Campolieto said, “It’s a rewarding experience to help the many ministries and answer questions for people that need help.” Karen Campolieto
Check out the rest of blog series at: bit.ly/UNYdayinthelife. To view our “Day in the Life” video library visit: https://vimeo.com/channels/1132314 20 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
A quantitative portrayal of how the Conference staff engages in Ministry 2% 2% Leadership Development
17%
Telling the Story Clergy & Laity Care
23% 7%
1
Hands-on 2Mission 3
Evangelism4 5
2%
Social Justice 6 7 Stewardship & Administration
5%
8
23% 10%
9 Local Church & District Support 10
Community Outreach
9%
Diversity Concerns
“I AM OFTEN A RESOURCE, other times an outlet, sometimes a stopping point, hopefully, more often, a starting point. Anything I can do to help processes become more efficient, employees and leaders become more empowered and productive, and churches, more supported, just ask. I’m here to help” ~Debi Marshall, Human Resources Generalist unyumc.org 21
Connectionalism and mutual trust drive giving at Champion Second UMC Sunday by Sunday for many years. My congregants stated that inconsistency of the pulpit was the major factor that caused the decline of the congregation. In spite of the hardship, the strong commitment, faithfulness, and sacrifice of the few remaining congregants had maintained the church. The strength
By Pastor Sung Ah Choi, MSW, MDiv, PhC, Champion Second UMC and Carthage UMC Editor’s Note: In 2015, Champion Second UMC increased their Ministry Shares by 81 percent. In 2016, Champion Second UMC has paid 100 percent of their Ministry Shares. Pastor Sung Ah Choi is the pastor of Champion Second UMC and Carthage UMC; both are small rural churches in the Northern Flow District that have accomplished the great work of increasing their Ministry Shares. Here is the story of how Champion Second UMC accomplished this goal.
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efore I write something about the wonderful increase of the Ministry Shares at the Champion UMC in 2016, I would like to offer a special thanks to my congregants who have received a Korean female pastor as their spiritual leader with their welcoming heart and love. The Champion UMC is one of the two parishes that I began my Christian ministry as a local pastor in July 2015. Since then, the Champion UMC has been a delightful kingdom family to me.
The Champion UMC was organized in a rural community of the northern region in 1827. The Champion UMC has great potential, wonderful spiritual heritage, and strong unity. It is a rural church where people are connected to one another, rejoice together, and support one another. We celebrated the 189th church anniversary and invited our old church members to the service this year. The number 189 does not have any special meaning attached; however, by remembering and celebrating our church tradition, we renewed our dedication to serve the Lord and our church. Set a priority for the Ministry Shares After our church anniversary, congregants made a critical decision. The congregation made a commitment to set aside 50 percent of the offerings from the second Sunday of each month to pay the ministry shares. It was a consensus made within the congregation. It required
The challenge The Champion UMC was one of the six parishes under the leadership of one minister before my arrival. The six parishes had shared one clergy for nine years. With collaboration of few devoted lay speakers in the parishes, the congregation hardly maintained the church service 22 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
Youth participate in ‘Hanging on the Green.’ Photos provided by Champion Second UMC
each congregant great courage and faith in God, the Provider, since church finances had always been an issue in the congregation. The Champion UMC used to pay the apportionment at the end of the year after paying pastor’s salary and all other bills first. Now, the Champion UMC has set the ministry shares as one of its top priorities. It was a critical change at the congregation. The consistency in attendance and finances As the pulpit has been consistent by one lead pastor, the Sunday attendance has also been consistent. Our lay speaker, Linda Wiltse, stated that there was a season when people couldn’t even expect who would be in or not be in the sanctuary each Sunday. Due to my background as a social work researcher, I believe that statistics and numbers give important messages to us. I found that the congregation stopped recording the weekly attendance several years ago. Now, we have a devoted congregant whose Sunday mission is to count the numbers. The average Sunday attendance has become consistent in every quarter and increased about 46 percent compared to before and after the six-parish structure. Along with the consistency and increase of the regular attendance, the church finances have naturally and gradually increased as well.
commented that there was a time when they honestly felt that their voices were unheard by the Conference. However, once they gained consistent leadership, they found new hope for spiritual growth and the trust between the local congregation and the Conference was naturally restored. They carefully heard my concern and followed me regarding the apportionment. The Champion UMC is a place where people feel the presence of God every Sunday morning. We don’t even have a pianist. We worship with a CD player, but we are a true worshipping community where passionate worshippers praise and honor our Lord, Jesus Christ in freedom. Before I wrote this article, I had a conversation with all of the congregants and separately with our lay speaker to know more about their honest opinions about the Ministry Shares. They stated that they feel that they are now spiritually being fed, and because they are spiritually satisfied, they want to give more back to the Lord. There was no special education or strategic meeting to develop a plan to increase the apportionment at our congregation. I don’t have any formula or knowhow about the matter. However, I can say with confidence that the Champion UMC is being empowered and revitalized by the Holy Spirit, and devoted to do the will of God as a missional church. These are the major factors that made this small rural congregation to be a cheerful giver.
Making its vision real Although it is a small rural church, the congregation has made a wonderful vision to be a missional church for the nations. I have helped the congregation to actualize its vision by making a connection between the congregation and a Christian NGO in Malawi. The Champion UMC did not do any special fundraising events to increase our Ministry Shares or church incomes, but they did a fundraising to help children in Malawi with the Carthage UMC. I believe that God always blesses and specially uses local churches and individuals who are committed to do missions for the nations. In our congregation, the Church, Society, and Missions committee didn’t exist, but we newly formed the committee this September. The committee is new to us. I believe that this small rural church will be continually vitalized by the Spirit of God, as it reaches out people in our global community Connectionalism I understand connectionalism as a vital relationship in the UMC. I believe that the relationship should be mutual, interactive, and based on mutual trust between the local church and the Conference. The congregants
3 year old Eden Choi Han poses in traditional Korean dress to celebrate Korean Thanksgiving Day. Photos provided by Champion Second UMC unyumc.org 23
Equitable Compensation keeps UNY churches, ministries alive
By Kathleen Christiansen, guest writer
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ccording The United Methodist Church’s website, Equitable Compensation is “the procedure for establishing minimum compensation in an Annual Conference for pastors.” A conference’s commission on Equitable Compensation recommends compensation standards to the conference. Congregations that cannot pay the full compensation for their pastor(s) can receive additional funding, provided by the Equitable Compensation Fund, to help cover a pastor’s salary, and that fund is made possible through Ministry Shares. The Rev. Patience Kisakye, pastor at the Lyons United Methodist Church and Emmanuel UMC in Newark, said Equitable Compensation occurs through the intentional work of insuring equity within the Conference. Churches or charges approve a pastor’s compensation, which means salaries vary according to the wealth of the community in which the church is located, the size of the congregation, and more. “What this means is that pastors who are appointed in well-to-do communities may be compensated more, whereas pastors who serve in poor or struggling communities always struggle … ” she said. “Therefore, pastoral compensation in The United Methodist Church is made equitable with the assistance of the Commission on Equitable Compensation
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being in conversation and consultation with both the Cabinet and the district superintendents to insure that the playing field is even.” Rev. Kisakye said her two congregations appreciate Equitable Compensation because without it, the two churches could not to afford her appointment, which in turn allows her to devote her time to mission and ministry. Because of Equitable Compensation, Emmanuel UMC is able to serve hot meals to the community and Lyons UMC has been able to increase enrollment in Kingdom Kids – 48 kids this year, up from 32 last year – a ministry that gives children a Christian education as well as teaches skills to deal with issues, such as bullying, every Friday. “Parents are able to receive time that makes it possible for them to care for other things, knowing that their children are in a safe environment receiving instructional programming … ” Rev. Kisakye said. Many other churches throughout the Upper New York Conference rely on Equitable Compensation not only to help pay their pastor’s salary, but also, to help keep the church’s ministry and mission work alive. The Tri-Parish Church in Brocton tried to set up its Feed Our Children mission and applied for a $5,000 grant to start the program, but never heard back. When Pastor Barbara Brewer found out the church
would receive Equitable Compensation to help pay her salary, she said it was a huge “God wink.” “By being able to have the $5,000 to put toward my salary, we were able to come up with the money to start the Feed Our Children mission, which we’ve already started and it’s been a huge success,” she said.
“a ministry of clothing.” Rev. Nowak said this is the ministry the community takes advantage of the most, as it provides free clothing to the public. The church collects donations from the community – usually deposited in its clothing shed – sorts the clothes, and then gives it away.
Feed Our Children provides three meals a day on the weekends for children in need. Congregants pack food every Friday and take the packages to Brocton Central School to pass out to about 70 middle and elementary school students.
“Shepherd’s Cloak is accessed very heavily by the community, especially in the winter time, when hats, coats and gloves are needed,” Rev. Nowak said. “Usually, there are lines waiting to get into our Shepherd’s Cloak.”
and aren’t being fed enough,” Pastor Brewer said. “It’s really worked out.”
“The people who come to our church at Bethany would probably not come if we emphasized either tithing or pledging,” Rev. Nowak said. “It would be very uncomfortable for them if finances were a big part of what we were doing.”
What the congregation can’t give away locally, they In addition to this mission, the church has created send to other parts of the world. programs for congregants “to be the Church,” whethIn addition to helping to keep ministry alive at the er it’s a monthly community breakfast or Bible studies. Bethany UMC, Equitable Compensation keeps people “It’s bringing in people from our community who don’t necessarily have a church or who have a church walking through the doors of the church.
Some UNY churches may have closed if not for the Equitable Compensation Fund. The Bethany UMC in Watertown resides in the economically distressed, north side of the city, and the church was on the verge of closing just a few years ago. The Rev. Jeffrey Nowak, pastor of the church, said that what has helped and encouraged the congregation to continue is the Equitable Compensation they receive and that it also helps enable ministries tocontinue. “Without Equitable Compensation, their existence would really be in jeopardy,” he said. “It has really kept the congregation going and kept them focused on doing the ministry and not worrying so much about finances, which is always going to be a challenge for them as a congregation … ”
The Rev. Cindy Beth Klopfer-McCune, pastor at the Attica Trinity UMC, said Equitable Compensation has helped the church to keep a full-time pastor, which in turn helped the congregation to be more involved in the community. “I am very involved with the ecumenical community, and we just did a crop walk, which wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t around,” she said. “The visitation is more involved than it would be if we had a part-time pastor.” The Equitable Compensation, which helps many churches throughout Upper New York, is funded through Ministry Shares, and Rev. Klopfer-McCune said Ministry Shares help churches unite. “I feel very strongly that they [Ministry Shares] are how we are connected in the connectional Church, and we can do so much more together than as a single church,” she said. Rev. Kisakye echoed the sentiment.
The Bethany UMC holds occasional free dinners for the community as well as Thanksgiving dinners, but the church’s main ministry is the Shepherd’s Cloak,
“Ministry shares remind our congregations that we are not isolated congregations … we are equally a part of the bigger Church, we are equally a part of an annual conference that continues to build bridges not only with congregations but also with communities, and the communities equally celebrate that,” she said. unyumc.org 25
Mission church values their Ministry Share giving over comfort I am now a lay appointment to the Onondaga Nation Mission Church where 100 percent of our Shared Ministries are paid. We are not a wealthy church by any means. Last winter, we went for two weeks without any heat. Shared Ministry got paid though. When our friends at the Committee of Native American Ministries (CONAM) heard of our shortfall, they gave us an emergency grant. CONAM is also a recipient of Shared Ministries funding. I asked our treasurer, Debbie Jacobs, how we did it, and she replied, ”We make it a priority, ahead of even heating ourselves. We understand that there are other people in need too, and it is what the creator wants us to do: share.” Our Native American Transportation Outreach Program is also a recipient of Shared Ministry. We currently are the only transportation to serve the elders and the disabled on the Onondaga nation. The program is administered by CONAM and the people of our church.
By Rose Kingsbury
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
All three of our native churches are challenged by aging congregations. We wish to remain current with our neighbors. Our congregation, like many small churches, seeks to be in community with their neighbor for the transformation of the world through Jesus Christ. Shared Ministries help make that happen.
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any Christians leave monetary stewardship to other people. I am no different in that respect. Yet the need to pay our bills and provide for the work of ministry is at the heart of ministry. Until I attended Annual Conference, I had no idea about what Shared Ministries (formerly known as apportionments) were, and why the church collects and uses them. I had a chance to reflect on the usage of shared ministry, and started to put a line on my check to indicate that one dollar each week would go to paying our share. At that point, my home church wasn’t paying its ministry share.
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Treasurer, Debbie Jacobs, prepares a free Sunday breakfast for the community. Photo by Rose Kingsbury
CONAM:
What it is and how Ministry Shares support it By Blenda Smith
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ONAM, the Committee on Native American Ministries, is part of the Upper New York Conference and receives Ministry Shares to function effectively. Native peoples need community in order to connect, build relationships, work together, and move forward. Because of the regular connections through our CONAM meetings, we are able to worship together, hearing Christian biblical teachings from a Native perspective. What a gift to share the joy of this holy time. Meeting face-to-face in Upper New York several times a year and supplementing with conference calls as needed are vital connections for our community. Every year, Ministry Shares fund our meeting expenses, mileage, tolls, lodging, and meals. Without this fund, some people would be eliminated from attending because it is difficult for them to pay this out of their own personal finances, particularly those far away. Ministry Shares pays expenses for three to six people to attend the Northeastern Jurisdiction CONAM meeting once a year: This is an important ministry because it is the time CONAM receives necessary training and connects those from UNY’s CONAM with other Native American UMC members in the jurisdiction. Since 2013, we have sent four different UNY CONAM Native Americans to various learning opportunities through the United Methodist Connection: “Cook Native American Missions Workshop” (New Mexico); Native American Comprehensive Plan’s “Strengthening CONAMs” (Kansas); “Exploration 2013” (Colorado); and “Native American New Fellowship Summit” (Oklahoma). CONAM is very grateful to be receiving this Conference support. Without this funding, the work of CONAM would be very limited.
Photos provided by Blenda Smith unyumc.org 27
Ministries supported by Shared Giving Leadership The past year has been filled with opportunities for people across the Conference to increase their leadership capacity. November of 2015 saw the launch of the UNY Leadership Academy attended by 17 people throughout the Conference. The Rev. Anne Cole had this to say about her experience, “Leadership Academy has equipped me to better care for self spiritually while leading adaptive change in the congregation I serve. I am blessed to serve a congregation with a missional focus that is engaged in collaborative ministry with other congregations and agencies in the community. Leadership Academy has served to affirm the work our congregation is doing and given us tools to clearly communicate mission and vision.” Leadership Academy was not the only opportunity as over 500 people came together to hear from Jorge Acevedo of Grace Church in Cape Coral, Florida about how having a strategy for ministry makes all the difference. Opportunities such as the Bishop’s Retreat, district training events, Hand-to-Plow, Transitional and Intentional Interim Ministry training, and Tending the Fire were engaged as well. The Conference is committed to increasing the leadership capacity of Christ-following leaders. Opportunities like those above and others in development show how together we can do more than individual congregations. To learn more about UNY Leadership, refer to our Advocate issue that highlighted UNY leadership at http://bit.ly/LeadershipAdvocate.
New Faith Communities Since 2012, the UNY Conference has been actively engaged in following the Holy Spirit’s lead to plant New Faith Communities. How have we done this? • The Annual Conference budget has allowed us to hire a full-time Director of New Faith Communities to oversee the creation of an entire system to support individuals and churches that have a vision to reach new people in their communities by planting. Under the leadership of Bishop Webb, this Director sits on the appointive cabinet, enabling a close working relationship with each district superintendent, and wise deployment of gifted planters where they are most needed. • By Conference action, 60-70 percent of the income from the proceeds of sold church properties has been used to help us place gifted planters in the places where God is calling us to plant. Each dollar has been invested in teams of people, all focused on building relationships with new people, and creating safe places for them to explore God’s love and grace. What are the fruits of this work? As of September 30, 2016, the people of our Conference have planted a total of 71 New Faith Communities! Fifty-eight of these are currently active. And, today some 2,000+ people who were not connected to a United Methodist Church in 2012 are now actively living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Many are new Christians. To read more about UNY’s New Faith Communities, refer to our Advocate issue that focused on UNY New Faith Communities at http://bit.ly/NFCAdvocate. 28 UNY ADVOCATE 2016, Issue 4
Camp & Retreat Ministries Our UNY camp and retreat centers offer sacred places “apart” dedicated to God and a community of Christian practice. By retreating to God’s creation and the distractions of everyday life, camp and retreat participants often experience transformation in their self-understanding and deeper relationships with God and others. Participants come from all backgrounds and traditions, some active in their faith, others exploring. Our investment in ministry shares supporting camp and retreat ministry outreach makes the following possible: • 2,084 children and youth attended camps in 2016; nearly 30 percent received scholarship support. • Servant leadership development through teaching, modeling and experiential education. • Welcoming Christian hospitality to all, offering care, connection and community. • Facility and site improvements to meet the needs of all ages. • Equipping and inspiring persons to live out their transformational faith in their daily lives. • Nurturing Christian faith and discipleship; over 50 percent of clergy and over 40 percent of lay leaders had a singularly significant faith experience at a camp or a retreat. • Partnerships with congregations connecting with youth and families in their communities through shared camp and retreat experiences. • Sacred space and Sabbath opportunities; a recent study documented that retreating to God’s creation reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. To learn more about the UNY Camp and Retreat Ministry, refer to our Advocate issue that highlighted the UNY Camp and Retreat Ministry at http://bit.ly/CRMAdvocate.
Revitalization Moving from being stagnant or declining as a congregation requires significant effort and willingness to invest in the life of the congregation from clergy and laity together. Increasingly, the congregations of the Upper New York Annual Conference are investing their time, talent, and treasures in this ministry work. Throughout the Conference, congregations engage in the Hand-to-Plow process through peer learning and consultation weekends. For example, Whitney Point UMC has used the energy and direction of their consultation weekend to sharpen their focus on intentionally developing disciples, increasing their stewardship understanding, and building greater connection with their community. The Syracuse United Methodist Churches have been journeying through a customized Hand-toPlow process to help the seven congregations find a common vision for the city while celebrating the unique gifts each congregation offers. Through this process, momentum is building and lives are being impacted in the city of Syracuse. Excitement, discipleship, and attendance in worship are increased across the city as a result. Additional efforts are being made as congregations reach out to each other and staff of the Annual Conference to explore the road ahead. Congregations like Clifton Springs UMC, Findley Lake UMC, and Calvary UMC Latham are investing in increasing their vitality through connections provided through the Conference. A group of leaders from East Randolph UMC invested time and resources in learning what it will look like to be more intentional in their ministry. This was encouraged by visiting other congregations and a retreat time with Conference staff. All of the efforts being undertaken by local congregations are made possible by what we do together. Sharing the journey of being the church together provides more opportunity than being an isolated congregation trying to move to greater vitality. To learn more about UNY Revitalization, refer to our Advocate issue that highlighted UNY Revitalization at http://bit.ly/RevitalizeAdvocate. unyumc.org 29
Ministry Shares make global mission work possible By Sam Mudge Editor’s Note: While Ministry Shares help support many functions and programs within the Upper New York Conference, they are also utilized within the greater United Methodist Church. The General Board of Global Ministry (GBGM) uses Ministry Shares to help fund missionaries who work both within the United States and globally. Without these funds, many missionaries would not be able to carry out their work. For example, Sam Mudge, 25, a member of the Boonville UMC, is involved in Generation Transformation, a GBGM mission movement that allows young adults to become a Global Justice Volunteer, Individual Volunteer, or Global Mission Fellow. He shares his experience here.
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n the winter of my senior year of college, I found myself doing something that had become very popular amongst my classmates: panicking. There were a great many well-meaning friends and family members asking the question, “What are you doing after graduation?” And the honest answer was that I had no idea. It got me thinking about something I had always wanted to do, which was mission work. The more I looked into the US-2 program, the more I wanted to be a part of it. I liked the idea of service with people, instead of for or to people. The Global Mission Fellows program is split into two different groups: US-2 and International. The US-2 fellows are from the United States and are sent somewhere within their home country for their two years of service. International fellows can be from anywhere around the world and are sent to another country for their service. I chose to apply for the
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US-2 program, and after much discernment and three full weeks of training, I was sent to Seattle and then to Tacoma, Wash. In Seattle, I worked at a center for homeless women and their children. This center provided resources for homeless women as well as a safe place for them to be during the day when overnight shelters were normally closed. There were also three overnight shelters that were located around the city and were run by the same organization. I worked as a Family Advocate, leading activities and field trips with the families, conducting intake interviews for new guests, and overseeing one of the overnight shelters. Many of the mothers I worked with were either refugees or victims of domestic violence. I had the honor of working with some incredibly strong, resilient people, staff, and guests. In Tacoma, I worked in a tutoring program called Read2Me for children in first, second, and third grade who were struggling with reading. I assisted with leading the tutoring sessions and was also given the opportunity to be a tutor myself. Read2Me was run through Tacoma Community House (TCH), which offers many different services, including educational resources, client advocacy, employment help, and immigration services. I learned a lot about social justice and immigration working in such close quarters with the many different departments at TCH. The two years I spent in the US-2 program have, without a doubt, changed my life.
Giving in The United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we affect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ. These are some of the ways in which the UMC fund ministries throughout the world. Learn more at umcgiving.com.
The World Services Fund This fund serves as the financial lifeline to several ministries throughout the denomination. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCWorldService. The Africa University Fund This fund educates and empowers students from across the African continent. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCAfricaUniversity. The Black College Fund This fund supports United Methodism’s historically black colleges and universities that create vibrant spiritual environments. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCBlackCollegeFund. The Episcopal Fund Bishops’ salaries, pensions, and benefits are covered through this fund. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCEpiscopalFund. The General Administration Fund This fund implements trustworthy administrative oversight, supports the legislative processes of The Church, and curates The United Methodist Church’s rich history. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCGeneralAdministration. The Ministerial Education Fund This fund prepares women and men for effective ministry. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCMinisterEducation. The Interdenominational Fund This fund works in partnership with ecumenical organizations to bear witness to a common Christian faith. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCInterdenominational.
Photos courtesy of umcgiving.org Photos courtesy of umcgiving.org
Special Sundays In addition to UMC Ministries described above, there are also six Special Sundays. On these Sundays, your giving supports everything from social justice to disaster relief. Learn more at bit.ly/UMCSpecialSundays. unyumc.org 31
324 University Ave., 3rd Floor Syracuse, NY 13210
YOUR GIVING DOES MORE THAN YOU KNOW