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| Carole Carlson |
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out… God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
Romans 12:2 The Message
In 2000, the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference made a significant change in the Conference staffing pattern by creating a unique position: Associate Conference Minister for Clergy Concerns. The position description identified the need for a Hartford-based ACM who would assist the Regional Ministers in gathering the largest possible pool of well qualified ministerial candidates for local church search committees. In addition, the new staff person was charged with beginning an implementation process for the 2000 Annual Meeting Resolution urging Associations to require Misconduct Prevention Training for all Authorized Ministers. The Resolution was subsequently adopted by all 15 Associations. (Since January 2001, more than 375 ministers have completed Phase One of this boundary training.)
Coordinating and supporting interim pastors, arranging continuing education events for clergy, assisting the Regional Ministers and the Conference Minister with pastoral care needs of clergy and their families, designing Committee on Ministry training sessions, and a host of “other duties as assigned” more than completed this portfolio. It has been my great privilege to serve you in this capacity.
Looking back, it becomes clear that all of the work with clergy was ultimately about transformation, about discerning the will of God for our churches. We are blessed in this Conference with exceptionally well-trained and faithful UCC ministers. They are visionary, and they know that creative leadership and reliance on the Holy Spirit can dramatically change our congregations “from the inside out.” They also know that such ministry is demanding and often emotionally draining; and they are fortunate to serve in a Conference with the resources to call faith-filled Conference staff to advise, encourage, and pray with pastors, supporting them in countless ways.
Our clergy and churches have taken risks in mission and structure and worship, risks that are possible because they have fixed their “attention on God.” I pray that you will continue to tell these powerful stories of transformation. And I pray that you will continue to raise up new leaders, risk-taking pastors who immerse themselves in scripture and provide the Christ-centered leadership so needed for our churches. God bless you.
