The Council at its beginnings was called the New York Sunday School Association. We invite people of all ages to reflect deeply on their faith through study, worship, and action. We strive to help congregations organize themselves to live out their faith in the public square. Towards this end we offer a variety of resources, seminars, opportunities for relationship building and travel, including our annual trip to Washington DC for High School youth.
Description: Every year, the New York State Council of Churches sponsors a trip for high school students to reflect on a social justice topic where we help young people translate faith into action. Typically, the trip occurs during the scheduled February break for New York schools. Examples include study of institutional racism in New York City and Health Care and Anti-Poverty Policies in Washington DC.
Planning is underway for February 18-25, 2025. We will take the train to and from Washington, DC. We will work and sightsee.
More information coming soon. Please contact take us at office@nyscoc.org with questions.
Description: The New York State Council of Churches brings to the attention of Youth leaders and high school students, attention faith formation opportunities sponsored by our denominational partners and ecumenical based programs such as the Youth Conference at Princeton University, Summer camps, and the summer Ecumenical faith formation program at Emory University.
Member Denomination Programs for Youth
Parish ministry and chaplaincy is stressful! Clergy need community, colleagues, support groups, spiritual guides and therapists to do their work. We urge all clergy to find a support group of colleagues where they are free to confidentially explore the joys and and challenges of ministry.
Description: There are a plethora or resources available to congregations to aid them in worship development and curriculum for classroom instruction. We also profile anti-racism materials produced by denominational partners and our recommendations on best practices.
Union Theological Seminary Course on Jewish-Christian Relations in Spring 2024
The complex and largely contentious history between Jews and Christians constitutes a significant dimension of current crises and conflicts—both abroad and here at home. Yet this difficult history isn’t the full story. Remarkable advances in understanding and collaboration reveal new hope in the possibilities of repairing and strengthening the bonds that link both traditions. In response to the relevance of the topic, Union is featuring a course offered in the 2024 spring term, Studies in Jewish-Christian Relations, taught by Professor Mary Boys
This in-person course, offered to religiously diverse students from schools in the NY Metro area, will be offered weekly on Mondays (January 29-May 6 2024) from 9-11:50am on Union’s campus. The deadline to sign up for the course is January 11.
The standard audit fee is $600, but a reduced fee ($150) will be available by request to those for whom the higher fee would be a financial hardship. Please email David Gastwirth (dgastwirth@uts.columbia.edu) no later than January 4 with a reduced fee request (and prior to completing the sign up form) or any other questions about the course. Learners from all religious and spiritual backgrounds are encouraged to join.
If you are interested in auditing this course, and would like to learn more, PLEASE join us for a brief overview of the course and some Q&A via Zoom on December 20, 5:30-6:30pm.
85 Chestnut Street
Albany, New York 12210
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