Staff Contacts
UCCNY Staff
Rev. Dr Marsha Williams
Conference Minister
315-446-3073 | MWilliams@uccny.org
Serves as head of all administrative, search & call, and program staff. Provides consultation to all staff working with Committees on Ministry. Search and call assistance to local church search committees. Serves as the Ecumenical Officer of the New York Conference. Spiritual and administrative oversight and direction of all ministries of the New York Conference. Oversees financial development. Liaison with the national setting of the United Church of Christ.
If you’d like to book a time with Rev Dr Williams, you can access her calendar by clicking: Here
Rev. Dr. Marjorie Purnine
Associate Conference Minister for Leadership Development
315-446-3073 | mpurnine@uccny.org
Rev. Dr Marjorie Purnine has led the New York School of Ministry (NYSOM) since 2007. NYSOM provides continuing education for ministers (including Boundary Awareness Training and Culturally Responsive Ministry Training) and an educational and formational path of preparation for ordination. NYSOM offers four to five 20-hour ministry courses via Zoom each academic year. These courses are open to all. Marjorie works to identify leadership training opportunities for laity. In addition, Marjorie provides staff support for Committees on Ministry as well as search and call assistance to local church search committees based in North Country and Oneida Associations of the New York Conference. She serves as the liaison between the New York Conference and MESA (Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization Ministry Team).
Rev. Gary Ferner
Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call
315-766-8273 | gferner@uccny.org
Rev. Gary Ferner has been serving the New York Conference as the Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call since 2019. His half-time position includes assisting the Western Association Committee on Ministry in their work, as well as assisting the Western Area authorized ministers and churches in their work. Gary serves the congregations in transition in the Western Area, helping them to prepare to call a new pastor. He serves the wider Conference in the area of Search and Call. He can be a resource for creating, validating, and circulating Ministerial Profiles, implementing Welcoming Diversity Inventories, building and posting Local Church Profiles, and drafting Call Agreements. He receives all requests for profiles to be forwarded to churches in transition, and he resources the other Ministry Team members in their search and call work, maintaining a list of churches in transition, updating their status monthly. If you have any questions about any aspect of the Search and Call process in the New York Conference, please feel free to connect with Gary.
Rev. Ryan W. Henderson
Associate Conference Minister for Technology, Generosity and Mission Support
315-446-3073 | rhenderson@uccny.org
Provides staff support for Committees on Ministry as well as search and call assistance to local church search committees based in the Genesee Valley and Susquehanna Associations of the New York Conference. Oversight of youth and young adult ministry & programming in the New York Conference. Nurturing of the UCC/Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) partnership. Staff Liaison for the Global, Ecumenical International Relationship Commission and Generosity Team of the Conference. Advancement of social networking and emerging technologies among New York Conference churches. Support for online education opportunities. Oversight for Communication Budgets. If you would like to schedule a meeting with Rev. Henderson connect to his digital calendar: Here
Rev. Barbara VanOlpen
Associate Conference Minister for Clergy & Congregations
315-446-3073 | bvanolpen@uccny.org
Provides staff support for Committees on Ministry as well as search and call assistance to local church search committees based in the Hudson-Mohawk, Suffolk and Reformed Associations of the New York Conference. Provides staff support to the Commission on Ministry and NY Conference Women. Convenes and researches opportunities for spiritual nurture and continuing education for authorized ministers. Works closely with NY congregations to assist them in engaging in conversations regarding healthy vital ministries. If you would to schedule a meeting with Rev VanOlpen connect to her digital calendar: Here
Board of Director Officers
Bylaws of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ