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Welcome

Committee on Episcopacy co-chair Cassandra Salter-Smith welcomed Bishop Marcus Matthews and his wife Barbara to the New York West Area. The body welcomed Bishop and Mrs. Matthews with a standing ovation and flowers were presented to Mrs. Matthews.

Recognized

Persons on General Boards and Agencies were recognized as were those serving in Extension Ministries.

Retirees

Retiring clergy: Michael Comer, Allan Ferguson, Patrick Holder, Wesley Jenks, Elizabeth Mowry, Mary Olson, Dora Schneider, and Marcia Wickert were honored.

Elected

Pat Curtin, Robyn Hays, and Vicki Putney were elected to serve on the Joint Distributing Committee as were alternates Judy Alderman, Richard Barton, and Penni Farrington. They take office immediately upon the adjournment of the NCNY Annual Conference, May 30, 2009.

The Joint Distributing Committee will have power and authority to allocate the pension responsibility involved in the creation of the new Upper New York Conference, new Pennsylvania Conference, and expanded New England Conference out of the current New England, North Central New York, Troy, Western New York, and Wyoming Conferences, taking into consideration the pension responsibility involved, such distribution to be made within twelve months of the date of the dissolution of the committee.
To the extent not previously provided for by the conferences involved, the committee will also apportion or distribute equitably any other assets or property and any other liabilities or obligations. The committee is governed by the legal restrictions or limitations of any contract, trust agreement, pledge, deed, will, or other legal instrument.

Members are being elected to this committee from each of the conferences during their Annual Conference sessions this spring.

Opportunities

MIC Chair Nelson Price and Marilyn J. Kasperek, NCNY Conference director of communications shared opportunities for all to help develop the communication strategy in the new Upper New York Area and to receive training in ReThink Church and Weaving the Web in ministry.

All were encouraged to take the Communications survey found at www.ncnyumc.org, to make sure their church website information on Find-A-Church is updated; to have a team come to ReThink Church Workshop on September 12, at Whitesboro UMC, and to the Weaving the Web Workshop on November 7, 2009. Resources are available at www.ReThink.org and www.10ThousandDoors.org is the open door to welcoming all to join our ministry of faith.

Constitutional Amendments

Members of Conference discussed the Constitutional Amendments and voted. Individual ballots will be counted and added to ballots of members of Annual Conferences throughout the denomination to determine which amendments are approved.

A 2/3 vote of aggregate individual membership, not Annual Conferences, is required for approval.

Finance

The Report of the Finance Team indicated financial support for Shared Ministries is, at this point in 2009, ahead of giving at this time in 2008.

The 2010 budget is a zero increase budget, with the same bottom line as the 2009 budget. It will be used in the NCNY conference from January 1 to June 30. The second six months will be in the name of the new conference. That budget, using anticipated income from the uniting conferences, will be brought to the new annual conference next year, along with the 2011 budget. The body affirmed the $4,023,763 2010 spending plan.

One of the first experiences that churches will have in the new conference is paying Shared Ministries and Direct Bills. “We are working to see that every church in the new conference is apportioned in a fair and equitable way,” Rev. Bob Sherburne said. “Thank you for all you are doing to keep the mission and ministry of the North Central New York Annual Conference before you.” The body elected Patricia A. Curtin as Conference Treasurer of the North Central New York Conference for the remainder of this quadrennium.

Health Insurance

As we move toward the new Conference the team working on Health Insurance will receive a benefit proposal and price quotation from HealthFlex and Preferred Care. The group will review the plans and pricing and formulate a recommendation and evaluate funding mechanisms for both active and retired plans. Under consideration is a blended rate with some personal contribution from the participant.

The long-range goal will be to provide continuous benefits to our clergy for the rest of their lives without overburdening the source of support: our local churches.

The importance of living healthy lifestyles was highlighted.

Pensions

Motions from the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits regarding waivers of participation in the clergy retirement security program, rental/housing allowances for retired or disabled clergypersons, and Pension Funding Plan for 2009 were approved.

Bequest

The Annual Conference received with gratitude and appreciation the bequest of $131,000 from the Ercil Cady Trust.

CML policy

Members of Conference approved a motion that NCNY Annual Conference no longer require the psychological assessment for individuals being credentialed by our Districts as Certified Lay Ministers.

Christian Education Sunday

The Annual Conference directed that one Sunday in September be designated annually and observed as Christian Education Sunday and that a Christian Education Sunday Offering be received.

Twenty-five percent of the offering will remain in the local church to fund education ministries locally. The remainder will be sent to the annual conference where fifteen percent will fund “Violet’s Garden” grants and the balance of sixty percent will be used by the conference education resource ministries team to help train and fund education ministries across the conference.

Safe Sanctuaries

Revisions to the Safe Sanctuaries policy (pages 12-18) were approved.

Change in relationship

Members of Conference affirmed a resolution to discontinue the Fabius United Methodist Church and to transfer membership to Tully United Church, or other Untied Methodist churches as the individual members select.

Minimum salary

Minimum compensation for clergy will be based on the Denominational Average Salary, which for 2010 is $48,276 a 3.6 percent increase from 2009. This recommendation will be presented at all four annual conferences.

Advance Specials

Advance Specials were approved as presented in the Advance Special Booklet, effective through June 30, 2010.

Denman Award

Floyd “Duff” Powell and the Reverend William Mudge were named recipients of the 2009 Denman Award for Evangelism.