North Central New York
June 1-4, Liverpool, N.Y.
It was a combination of revival and comedy club, family reunion and carnival,
business and compassion--this was the North Central New York Annual Conference.
The revival started with a swinging Praise Band leading camp and rock songs
followed by inspiration and humor in the preaching of retired Bishop Judith
Craig of Ohio. Hearing 700 lay and clergy delegates singing lustily stirred the
soul. It continued throughout the conference. Laughter was a frequent visitor.
The carnival atmosphere was headlined by hand puppets singing enthusiastically,
mouths opened widely as the notes seemed to come from their throats. It
continued when Bishop Violet Fisher spontaneously began to auction a plastic
gnome to support camper scholarships. The $15 gnome finally sold for $550!
When it was revealed that there were 90 unfunded campers, Bishop Fisher
announced she was increasing her scholarship contributions to two and invited
conference members to do likewise. She soon had 90 people standing in support,
ready to make donations of $335 each ? more than $30,000! It was a sign of the
spirit of compassion and confidence within the conference.
In one event, conferees processed to the stage, symbolically placed a stone (a
burden they were setting aside) on the altar, and made a donation for United
Methodism’s program to help HIV/AIDS victims worldwide. The total was $8,810.37!
The check for $7,245.64 from Cokesbury will be given to support health insurance
and pensions for the conferences in Africa. The conference also agreed to begin
dialogue with African conferences with the intention of providing support in the
years to come.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 General Conference resolution to
allow women full rights, the North Central New York committee presented each
female elder with a unique gift: a set of 50 trading cards. The cards, with a
photo of a clergywoman in the corner, included information such as the current
charge, previous appointments, name of seminary, year of ordination as an elder,
interests and hobbies, honors and publications, as well as a favorite quote.
The laity luncheon featured United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men
reports of Miracle Month projects. Most of the churches in the conference
participated in the May Month of Miracles during which they completed special
mission projects.
In actions taken, the conference agreed to ask congregations to receive an
AIDS-HIV offering in September.
A 3.5 percent budget increase including full payment by the conference to
conference, national and world ministries was approved. It will total
$3,811,284.
There was overwhelming support of a resolution reaffirming a policy of “Open
Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors by the conference’s United Methodist
congregations.
Conference delegates approved a process of dialogue, share holder action, and as
a last resort, divestment of investment in companies “that are supporting in a
significant way the occupation of Palestine by Israel.” The preamble to the
resolution noted the success of disinvestments in changing the policy of
apartheid in South Africa.
Dialogue with three other conferences in New York State ? Western New York, Troy
and Wyoming ? will continue.
This conference was full of spirit and confidence, their eyes on the future.
Bishop Craig may have summarized the spirit when she said that “it is good to be
with a conference known for its generosity and faithfulness.”
There were five people ordained as elder and two commissioned. Six elders
retired.
Membership in 2005 stands at 77,291, down 1,758 from 2004. Average worship
attendance is 23,086, down 1,320 from 2004.
--Nelson Price and Sharon Fulmer
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