Greetings in the name and the love of Jesus Christ – our Savior and Friend.
In July, the 2024 session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to organize the life and ministry of our jurisdiction for the 2025-28 quadrennium. Upon the recommendation of the Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, I have been assigned to serve as the episcopal leader of the new Susquehanna and Upper New York area for the 2025-28 quadrennium.
Therefore, starting September 1st, I will be honored to serve as your resident bishop.
In this new configuration, I will continue serving as resident bishop for United Methodists of Upper New York. Although both conferences will continue to be distinct entities with their histories (some of which we share), leadership, and ministry, this collaborative effort establishes a new missional partnership between Susquehanna and Upper New York with the potential for productive collaboration and impactful ministry. In the months and years to come, we will explore how to leverage this new partnership, prioritizing equitable relationships and creating missional connections that allow us to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us and amplify our missional impact in the region.
As we begin this new season of ministry together, my family and I look forward to getting to know you better and doing life and ministry alongside you. I already know about your love of Jesus and your passion for embodying God’s love with your neighbors. I also know about many ways you reach new and diverse people with the good news of Christ. I’ve also heard about your love for hands-on missions and some of your worldwide missional partnerships. Your vision of building a beloved community where all people are seen and valued as beloved children of God inspires me. And your commitment to intercept and dismantle racist attitudes and systems from the church and our communities is commendable.
A lot has happened over the past four years in the world and the church, including a global pandemic and unprecedented political and religious polarization in our nation. In our beloved denomination, we have gone through an extended season of divisions and disaffiliations related to disagreements about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons. And delegates at our most recent General Conference made significant decisions that will shape our witness and mission worldwide for years to come.
As your bishop, I promise to be a shepherd and servant leader to all in the church. I will promote a form of unity that honors our theological diversity, makes grace-filled room for different perspectives, and seeks to do no harm. I am convinced unity in diversity is possible as we recalibrate our hearts back to Christ, we see and value all people as beloved children of God, and we stay focused on living the gospel with humility, inviting others to join the beloved community of the Risen Christ. Together, we will work towards healing and reconciliation, build on all the good things already happening in the conference and discern together are newed vision for the future.
As your resident bishop, I envision a Susquehanna Conference that is spiritually vibrant in the power of the Holy Spirit, that’s counter culturally relevant, and united in our shared mission of transforming the world as we nurture disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, love, mercy, and justice in the community and the world. I envision clergy and laity (claity), working together in partnership, committed to personal and social holiness the Wesleyan way, and honoring our rich and multi-faceted diversity as a gift from God. A mission-driven network and organization that is agile, creative, resilient, and that is willing and ready to innovate, experiment, and take risks to reach as many people as possible with the good news of Jesus Christ.
In October, I will tour all five districts in the Conference. I am looking forward to meet with our clergy and laity so that we can get to know each other better. I am excited to learn and hear about your hopes for our future together. The dates, times, and locations for the district days will be announced soon through the conference communication platforms.
The prophet Jeremiah, giving voice to God’s heart, proclaimed: I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
Siblings in Christ in the Susquehanna Conference, as we begin this new season, I thank God for all the good ministry that has and is taking place through Susquehanna’s United Methodist disciples and congregations, and I open my heart to be in partnership with God and with you as we follow where the Holy Spirit leads.
I look forward to journeying alongside you as we grow spiritual transformational leaders, equip leaders and congregations, connect with each other and the world, and embody Christ’s beloved community –all for the glory of God.
Paz de Dios - Peace of Christ be with you. Amen
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
Resident Bishop
Susquehanna & Upper New York Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church
In July, the 2024 session of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to organize the life and ministry of our jurisdiction for the 2025-28 quadrennium. Upon the recommendation of the Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, I have been assigned to serve as the episcopal leader of the new Susquehanna and Upper New York area for the 2025-28 quadrennium.
Therefore, starting September 1st, I will be honored to serve as your resident bishop.
In this new configuration, I will continue serving as resident bishop for United Methodists of Upper New York. Although both conferences will continue to be distinct entities with their histories (some of which we share), leadership, and ministry, this collaborative effort establishes a new missional partnership between Susquehanna and Upper New York with the potential for productive collaboration and impactful ministry. In the months and years to come, we will explore how to leverage this new partnership, prioritizing equitable relationships and creating missional connections that allow us to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us and amplify our missional impact in the region.
As we begin this new season of ministry together, my family and I look forward to getting to know you better and doing life and ministry alongside you. I already know about your love of Jesus and your passion for embodying God’s love with your neighbors. I also know about many ways you reach new and diverse people with the good news of Christ. I’ve also heard about your love for hands-on missions and some of your worldwide missional partnerships. Your vision of building a beloved community where all people are seen and valued as beloved children of God inspires me. And your commitment to intercept and dismantle racist attitudes and systems from the church and our communities is commendable.
A lot has happened over the past four years in the world and the church, including a global pandemic and unprecedented political and religious polarization in our nation. In our beloved denomination, we have gone through an extended season of divisions and disaffiliations related to disagreements about ministry with and by LGBTQ persons. And delegates at our most recent General Conference made significant decisions that will shape our witness and mission worldwide for years to come.
As your bishop, I promise to be a shepherd and servant leader to all in the church. I will promote a form of unity that honors our theological diversity, makes grace-filled room for different perspectives, and seeks to do no harm. I am convinced unity in diversity is possible as we recalibrate our hearts back to Christ, we see and value all people as beloved children of God, and we stay focused on living the gospel with humility, inviting others to join the beloved community of the Risen Christ. Together, we will work towards healing and reconciliation, build on all the good things already happening in the conference and discern together are newed vision for the future.
As your resident bishop, I envision a Susquehanna Conference that is spiritually vibrant in the power of the Holy Spirit, that’s counter culturally relevant, and united in our shared mission of transforming the world as we nurture disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, love, mercy, and justice in the community and the world. I envision clergy and laity (claity), working together in partnership, committed to personal and social holiness the Wesleyan way, and honoring our rich and multi-faceted diversity as a gift from God. A mission-driven network and organization that is agile, creative, resilient, and that is willing and ready to innovate, experiment, and take risks to reach as many people as possible with the good news of Jesus Christ.
In October, I will tour all five districts in the Conference. I am looking forward to meet with our clergy and laity so that we can get to know each other better. I am excited to learn and hear about your hopes for our future together. The dates, times, and locations for the district days will be announced soon through the conference communication platforms.
The prophet Jeremiah, giving voice to God’s heart, proclaimed: I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
Siblings in Christ in the Susquehanna Conference, as we begin this new season, I thank God for all the good ministry that has and is taking place through Susquehanna’s United Methodist disciples and congregations, and I open my heart to be in partnership with God and with you as we follow where the Holy Spirit leads.
I look forward to journeying alongside you as we grow spiritual transformational leaders, equip leaders and congregations, connect with each other and the world, and embody Christ’s beloved community –all for the glory of God.
Paz de Dios - Peace of Christ be with you. Amen
Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
Resident Bishop
Susquehanna & Upper New York Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church