by Sharon Bassett, chair of the NCNY delegation

2004 General Conference is just around the corner and your delegation has decided on some ways to keep you informed and to allow us to hear your comments on petitions and proposals.

Here's how we will provide information to you:

• Articles in Connections until April
• Conference website at www.ncnyumc.org.
• The Conference News, sent by e-mail. (If you are not receiving Conference News e-mails, please send an e-mail to Karen Campolieto)

For more in-depth information on each General Agency's proposals and petitions visit www.umc.org

Here's how you can provide the delegation with your comments:
Send us your comments to Sharon Bassett or US mail to the attention of Sharon Bassett, PO Box 1515, Cicero NY 13039.

All comments will be more effective if referenced, preferably in the subject line, to the Legislative Committee to which they pertain. Here is a list and description of each.

1. Church and Society. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to social issues and the work and concerns of the Boards of Church and Society.

2. Conferences. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the composition and activities of the general, jurisdictional, annual, provisional, missionary, and district conferences, and missions, including the jurisdictional, annual and district connectional ministries or equivalent. Legislation relative to Central Conferences shall be referred to the Commission on Central Conference Affairs.

3. Discipleship. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the work and concerns of the Boards of Discipleship.

4. Faith and Order. To this committee shall be referred all petitions relating to doctrinal standards and our theological task, the ministry of all Christians and the meaning of ordination and conference membership.

5. Financial Administration. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the work and concerns of the Council on Finance and Administration, the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, and the United Methodist Publishing House. The budget and recommendations prepared by the General Council on Finance and Administration shall be submitted to this committee for study and review. Thereafter, when the General Council on Finance and Administration presents its report to the General Conference for action, the committee shall present its recommendations and may propose amendments.

6. General Administration. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the work and concerns of the General Council on Ministries, including the Advance. The report of the General Council on Ministries shall be submitted to this committee for study and review. Thereafter, when the General Council on Ministries presents its report to the General Conference for action, the committee shall present its recommendations and may propose amendments.

7. Global Ministries. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the work and concerns of the Boards of Global Ministries.
8. Higher Education and Ministry. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the work and concerns of ordained ministries and superintendency, higher education, schools of theology, and the Division of Chaplaincy and Related Ministries.

9. Independent Commissions. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to commissions, and ecumenical concerns. This shall include Archives and History, Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Communications, Religion and Race, Status and Role of Women, United Methodist Men, and membership or relationship to the World Methodist Council, Councils and Consultations of Churches, and the American Bible Society.

10. Judicial Administration. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, all resolutions, etc. relating to the judiciary, the Judicial Civil Administration review committee, and investigations, trials, and appeals.

11. Local Church. To this committee shall be referred all petitions, resolutions, etc., relating to the organization of the local church and its membership, programs, boards, councils, commissions, committees, etc., or relating to local church property.

Thank you for helping us to communicate effectively with you by using this process. 

NCNY endorses Devadhar, Hill

The North Central New York delegation to the Northeast Jurisdiction has endorsed the Rev. Dr. Sudarshana Devadhar and the Rev. Dr. Robert Hill for the episcopacy. Elections will take place in July at the NEJ Conference to be held in Syracuse.

Born in Mulki, India, Devadhar began studies in the US at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. He also earned a master of philosophy and a Ph.D., both from The Graduate School at Drew University, Madison, NJ. He currently serves as DS for the Ontario District.

Hill is senior pastor at Asbury First UMC, Rochester. He was appointed to that church in 1995. Hill originally served in the Central New York and NCNY conferences. He received a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University and continued on to receive his master of divinity from Union Theological Seminary and his PH.D from McGill University in Montreal. Bob has had several teaching experiences including his current involvement with Colgate Rochester Divinity School and LeMoyne College.

The call for nominations came several months ago, after which the NEJ delegation responded with a letter and questions. Each nominee was given the opportunity to answer several questions which had been given to them before the interview process. In addition, they were given one more question at the interview, and were given the opportunity to provide additonal information.

The delegation then spent time and determined by consensus that they would endorse Devahdhar and Hill.

Fassett endorsed by Native American International Caucus

The Rev. Dr. Thomas White Wolf Fassett has been unanimously endorsed for the episcopacy in the Northeast Juristdiction by the Native American International Caucus. Noting that in the United Methodist Church there are ongoing discussions about a "common table," the Caucus stated that the time is now past to elect a qualified Native American to the episcopacy.

"It is time to right this wrong," says the Rev. Alvin Deer, executive director for the caucus. "The church now has an opportunity to bring to the common table a leader with the gifts and graces Dr. Fassett now possesses."

DS for the Finger Lakes South district, Dr. Fassett served many years as the general secretary for the General Board of Church and Society in Washington, DC, and conference superintendent in the Alaska Missionary Conference.