United Methodist Communications has launched the “Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom” initiative - a multi-level effort throughout the church to initiate a sustained and coordinated effort to dismantle racism and promote collective action to work toward racial justice.  The United Methodist Council of Bishops has asked all United Methodists to join in prayer at 8:46 a.m. and p.m. for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time the officer held his knee on George Floyd’s neck, for at least the next 30 days.  The denomination has a long-standing history of advocating for justice. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church recognize racism as a sin and commit to challenging unjust systems of power and access. Additional information and resources are available online at UMC.org/EndRacism. In a related commentary, Rev. Junius B. Dotson, top executive of Discipleship Ministries in Nashville TN, writes that racism is not a black problem. Service of Lament challenges church on racism

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton is pleased to announce the appointment, effective August 1, of Reverend Dr. Marvin Anthony Moss as the new Director of Congregational Development and Revitalization for the New York Annual Conference. Dr. Moss will replace Rev. David Gilmore who is departing New York to become the District Superintendent of the Heartland District in the Missouri Annual Conference.  Our prayers and love go with Rev. Gilmore as he enters into this new season of ministry. More information about Dr. Moss may be found here.   Vision Editor Joanne Utley Departs for Full-time Pastoral Ministry ‘Write the vision clearly on the tablets. . .’ Rev. Joanne Utley has served our Conference as the editor of The Vision for over 10 years.  She began when The Vision was still an actual newspaper, and brought it into the digital age as a monthly online publication. Joanne has told the stories of the New York Annual Conference with heart, faithfulness, and integrity. From filled-with-hope "It Worked For Us" stories of local church ministries, to sobering yet inspiring accounts of our clergy and laity standing against racial injustice, Joanne has captured the passions and priorities of our churches. The Connectional Ministries staff wishes Joanne all of God's blessings as she begins a full-time appointment at the Hamptons UMC in Southampton NY on August 1.  Keep telling stories, Joanne, and sharing the Vision.   To read this month's Vision and Joanne's parting editorial, please click here.

• Bishop Bickerton offers words of encouragement to NYAC churches, and practical support in the form of "starter" cleaning kits.   Read his full Memorandum here.  The application for cleaning supplies may be found here
• Please continue to follow the NYAC COVID-19 Reopening Guidelines
• Once your church is certified to reopen, ministry in your physical building should not preclude the online presence you've established during the pandemic.  Doug Powe and Ann Michel offer some insights about online worship and evangelism.
• Technology grants are available for our churches that have expanded their outreach beyond their regular in-pew attendees during the months of sheltering in place.  To help these churches maintain their online connections and presence moving forward, the Conference is offering grants/ reimbursements for technology that will enable churches to keep in contact with their virtual congregations.  Click here for more information and to apply.
• United Methodist Communications: 
  12 rules of church during COVID-19
  COVINGTON, Tenn. — As United Methodist congregations return to in-person worship, they can expect some changes because of COVID-19. To help churchgoers know what to expect, First United Methodist Church has posted a video of its Pandemic Praise Team singing new lyrics to a familiar Christmas tune. The Rev. Kathy Noble has the story.
  Read story and watch video

Hurricane Dorian - Bahamas Recovery Update: A conversation with Rev. Stephanie Gottschalk, Executive Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat
    The NYAC Missions office is pleased to be able to sponsor a conversation with Rev Stephanie Gottschalk, a Western PA Missionary serving as the Executive Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat, on Tuesday evening, June 30 from 7 to 8:15 PM EST.
    The New York Conference had a recovery team ready to travel to the Bahamas in March, one of the first as part of the Hurricane Dorian effort, when all projects were put on hold due to the coronavirus.
    This is an opportunity for interested persons to receive an update about what is happening in the Bahamas and the prospects for recovery teams in the future.
 
To participate, please register here. You will receive the zoom-link information in your confirmation email. Participation is limited to 100 and is on a first-register basis. For more information contact Tom Vencuss at tvencuss@nyac.com. 

NEJ Academy Online Course
Entry Points for Creation Care Ministry
6/26 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT
One of our most basic responsibilities as Christians is to care for the earth (Genesis 2:15). Learn how your church can integrate creation care into existing ministries and save money in the process.
Led by Rev. Jenny Phillips, Senior Technical Advisor for Environmental Sustainability at Global Ministries.
Register here.

Needed: Development/Fundraising/Grant Writing assistance
One of the needs expressed by several of our churches with emergency food, and other community-based programs, is for assistance with development, fundraising, and grant-writing. If you can provide assistance in any of these areas please contact Tom Vencuss at the Missions office (tvencuss@nyac.com).

General Board Grant: the NYAC has received funds in support of two specific COVID-19 related efforts. One is to provide hospitality stations for persons taking part in marches and demonstrations around the death of George Floyd. This would include providing water, snacks, “grab and go” lunches, and first aid supplies. A second is to assist local shop owners to repair businesses which may have been damaged as part of the protests; or, for business owners to purchase materials or supplies to mitigate possible future damage. For more information contact Tom Vencuss at the Missions office (tvencuss@nyac.com).  

UMCOR Hygiene Kits
    Every year the New York Conference provides more than 4,000 hygiene kits to UMCOR for disaster response efforts. This year, given that the NYAC Annual Conference has been rescheduled as a streamlined event in the fall, we will not be receiving hygiene kits. However, you can still support this important ministry. The parts of an UMCOR Hygiene Kit total about $12. We are asking that churches collect funds which will then be “converted” into the equivalent number of hygiene kits and sent to UMCOR for the purchase of health kits supplies. OR, churches may ship their hygiene kits directly to UMCOR (at a cost greater than the value of the kits).  Here is the link for shipping labels and instructions: https://www.umcmission.org/umcor/serve/relief-supply-network/hygiene-kit
    Thank you in advance for participating in this vital mission.  Our Conference has always had a great response to this request and we would like to keep this support going. 

Would you like to visit with missionaries? You can! You are invited to join a virtual itineration! Below you will see an opportunity to meet with and hear stories from amazing missionaries that are #stillinmission even in the midst of this crisis, without leaving your chair! Be sure to register as soon as possible.  In Mission together, Jill Wilson, Conference Secretary of Global Ministries  JULY 2; 9:00 PM EDT Registration Link:    https://gbgm.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpf-irpz8qGtRa88gi0OnStvVdWsy2fNwK Episode 6:  #StillInMission  Episode 6 This week we feature missionaries that are directly working with Youth Engagement, Empowerment, and Education. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the work of Joy Eva Bohol, Sandra Raasch, Innocent Afful, and Ellyn Dubberly. Registration is limited. You will get a confirmation email once your registration is accepted. If the limit is reached, you will get priority for future events.

 Invitation to reimagine United Methodism
CHICAGO — A group of current and former General Conference delegates from four continents invite United Methodists around the globe to start a conversation on a new way of conferencing and a new vision for the denomination. They have released a statement, "Out of Chaos, Creation: Seeds of a Vision for a Renewed United Methodism." They also invite United Methodists to join a webinar July 7. 
Read statement
Register for webinar