HARTFORD (08/02/2006) -- Conference Minister Davida Foy Crabtree has announced that the Fall Session of the 2006 Annual Meeting will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The announcement of a "cooling off" period in the contention between union organizers and management at the development make it possible for the Conference to fulfill its long-held plans to gather in the new facility.
Dr. Crabtree writes:
"Within the past week, we made the decision to move our fall Annual Meeting on October 20-21, 2006 from the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford to South Church in New Britain. Then this past Saturday, we learned that Mayor Perez had called for a cooling off period and the unions had responded by calling off their boycott and picketing.
"In light of that decision, and out of a desire to support the possibility of resolution of the dispute and to support our Connecticut Convention Center, and after consultation with Rev. Bonnie Bardot, Interim Co-Pastor at South Church and chair of our Annual Meeting planning committee, we have decided to resume our plans to meet at the Convention Center. We are pleased to be able to do this and look forward to a wonderful two day meeting at this beautiful location.
"We wish it were possible for next June's General Synod also to be held at the Convention Center because of its beauty and facility, but we affirm that the planning for Synod has progressed beyond the point at which such a decision could be made. The Annual Meeting of the Conference involves about 600 people for about a 24 hour period, whereas this General Synod will involve over 10,000 people over a minimum of five days. Needless to say, the planning for such a massive meeting requires a firm decision a full year in advance, and so the Synod will proceed with plans to use the Civic Center coliseum in downtown Hartford.
"Our fall meeting theme is 'Let It Shine... Around the World.' Our keynoter and forum leadership will be our national global and wider church ministries staff, including the Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries; Susan Sanders, executive for Global Sharing of Resources; Rev. James Vijayakumar, Area Executive for Southern Asia; and Rev. Felix Ortiz, Area Executive for Latin America and the Caribbean. Betty Frank, missionary in Turkey, will also be present, as will Florence Coppola, executive for Disaster Response Ministries. This is a great time to learn about the mission of the United Church of Christ around the world. Visitors as well as delegates are always welcome!"
Click here for more information about the Fall 2006 Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ.
