The New York State Convention of Universalists 2003–2004 Report to the St. Lawrence and Metropolitan New York Unitarian Universalist Districts The Convention was pleased to continue its direct support of district programs this year, providing block grants of $11,000 to MNY and $17,000 to SLD. At the district level the Convention also provided $3,000 toward the hiring of a growth consultant for SLD and $5,000 to the Iroquois Chapter of the UU Ministers’ Association for continued funding of their ministerial intern program. With the completion of the capital project in Southold, NY (congratulations, Southold!), and the first scheduled repayments from the building expansion project in Williamsville, the Convention was able to make new loans of $30,000 and $40,000, respectively, to New York’s Fourth Universalist Society for emergency window repairs, and to the UU Society of Oneonta for their capital improvements project. An additional $22,500 in grants was awarded for special projects: $3,600 to the Church of the Larger Fellowship, to fund their “Church on Loan” program, which makes materials available to small, lay-led congregations over the Internet $1,500 to the First Universalist Chruch of Rochester, to support its participation in the Interfaith Hospitality Network, which provides temporary shelter for the homeless $5,000 to Unirondack for their capital campaign $1,000 to the UU Congregation of Jamestown for their "Music Salon" series $3,000 to Syracuse’s May Memorial UU Society for their Soulful Sundown services $1,500 to the UU Church of Canandaigua for their vocal music program $2,000 in continued support of UU participation in Interfaith Impact of NYS $2,400 to the UU congregations of Binghamton and Oneonta for their joint growth project $1,000 in ongoing support of the John Murray distinguished lecture at UUA General Assembly $1,500 to the UU Church of Buffalo for conservation of historic documents The 175th Annual Meeting of the Convention was held this past October at the UU Church of Middletown. The Rev. William F. Schulz, President of Amnesty International, USA, and former President of the UUA, was the featured keynote speaker. Workshops included programs on congregational growth, the Universalism of Howard Thurman, the Commission on Appraisal study of theological diversity and commonality, human rights in post-9/11 America, and socially responsible investing. This year's Annual Meeting will be held October 1–2 at the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca. UUA President Bill Sinkford will be the keynote speaker. And in a new cooperative effort devoted to denominational growth and extension, the meeting will be jointly planned by the NYSCU, SLD, and the MNY district. All Unitarian Universalists are warmly invited to attend, for a day and a half of workshops, worship, and fellowship. For further information about the Convention, the grant/loan program, or the Annual Meeting, visit www.nyscu.org, or write to the NYSCU c/o First Universalist Church of Rochester, 150 Clinton Ave. South, Rochester, NY 14604. Michael L. Scott, President 9 March 2004 The New York State Convention of Universalists was organized in 1825, and was the principal denominational body for Universalist congregations in New York State prior to UU merger in 1961. Today the Convention administers two endowments. One provides pensions* for retired NYS Universalist ministers and their families; the other is used to promote the growth of the UU movement and to uphold the Universalist heritage. In addition, the Convention appoints the majority of the Board of the St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education, which uses proceeds from a third endowment to support students studying for the UU ministry.

Last modified May 07, 2021.
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