Our Connections
United Methodist Church
Although broad in theology and welcoming visitors of every faith, Forest Home Chapel is formally affiliated with The United Methodist Church.
Upper New York Annual Conference
Forest Home Chapel is in The Upper New York Annual Conference. With more than 182,000 members, the Upper New York Annual (Regional) Conference of The United Methodist Church comprises 937 churches in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our mission is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."
www.unyumc.org/
Conference Office Email:
Rev. Mark J. Webb, Resident Bishop
Bishopsoffice@unyumc.org
Finger Lakes District
Along with 76 other United Methodist Churches, we are within the Finger Lakes District of The Upper New York Annual Conference.
www.fingerlakesdistrict.org/
Rev. Jeffrey McDowell, District Superintendent
Family Counseling Ministry
Wayne Gustafson, a United Church of Christ ordained minister, serves as Pastoral Counselor in the Family Counseling Ministry (FCM). Our Chapel supports this important ministry by providing counseling space for Wayne and his clients. Wayne has served many parishes and is a Fellow in the Am Assn of Pastoral Counselors, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York State.
The FCM is the longest serving Pastoral Counseling Ministry in Ithaca, and has provided professional, spiritually sensitive counseling and therapy to individuals, couples, families and groups since 1975.
Who Comes for Counseling?
- Persons who are anxious or fearful or who feel their lives are unsuccessful or unhappy
- Persons having difficulties in work or personal relationships
- Troubled or alienated marriage partners
- Parents experiencing problems with their children
- Adolescents having difficulty with family or social life
- Couples preparing for marriage or a committed relationship
- Older Adults confronting life changes
- Persons dealing with grief, trauma or other crises
Who May Seek Assistance?
The ministry has over 90 member churches and religious groups from 11 denominations, both Protestant and Roman Catholic. Those associated with member congregations or religious groups are given priority to Family Counseling Ministry services either via clergy / leader referrals or through direct contact by the persons in need. As schedules permit, counselors may choose to see persons not connected to any member congregation or religious group.
Fees are based on family income and family size. Clients are seen in the office at Forest Home Chapel.
An Ecumenical Ministry of the Susquehanna Association. New York Conference, United Church of Christ
Forest Home Improvement Association
The Chapel is surrounded by an active homeowner community. Forest Home Improvement Association (FHIA) encourages residents to "engage in such social, cultural, and neighborly activities as may promote the common welfare." FHIA members are active supporters of the Chapel.
For more information and a good history of the Forest Home community, visit http://fhia.org/
