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| Davida Foy Crabtree |
In October we gathered for our Fall Meeting at the new Connecticut Convention Center with a focus on the wider ministries of the United Church of Christ. We heard amazing stories from the experience of our national staff who are responsible for global outreach and were moved by each of them.
In November we began the 50th Anniversary of the UCC with a nationwide live webcast that included over 25,000 people and multiple sites right here in Connecticut.
In January we attained our first million dollars for Now for the Future: The Campaign for Silver Lake, and welcomed Bruce Barrett as chair for the Major Gifts section of the campaign.
Throughout the spring, dozens of our members spread out among our churches to invite volunteers for our hosting the General Synod and raised consciousness about our denominational life as a result.
We began to make significant progress on strategic improvements at Silver Lake as a result of Now for the Future – replacement of single-paned windows, upgrades to the Camp Family Cabin, upgrades of restrooms, and accessibility improvements all contribute to making the Lake a congenial place we can be proud of.
In May we gathered for our Spring Meeting at Silver Lake for the first time ever for a session of the Conference Annual Meeting, and celebrated Silver Lake’s 50 years of ministry. It was a glorious day for over 400 people from all across the state.
And then in June we welcomed over 9,000 delegates and visitors to Hartford for the 50th Anniversary General Synod. With moving worship, powerful speeches, empowering workshops and just plain good times, this Synod exceeded our greatest hopes. Connecticut’s extravagant welcome included not only our 1,070 volunteers, but our Governor and the Mayor, 14,000 dozen cookies(!), 70 prayer shawls, and special efforts by the police, restaurants and city workers of all kinds. We are indebted to all who led and all who served, but none more so than Sue Butler-Woodward and Rev. Jonathan Lee, co-chairs of the Local Arrangements Committee.
What a year! Yet in the midst of all those special events, the ongoing work of the Conference continued unabated.
- Your Regional Ministers worked with 100 search committees and 30 new pastors were welcomed into new ministries.
- We said farewell to Kent Siladi who was called to be Conference Minister in Florida, and welcomed Mike Penn-Strah as South Central Regional Minister.
- Ron Brown, Associate Conference Minister for Clergy Concerns, and the Regional Ministers ministered with six clergy misconduct cases this year, events which cause great anguish for those who were abused, for local churches and all our clergy, for Committees on Ministry, not to mention our staff.
- Charlie Kuchenbrod began his new work as Associate Conference Minister for Endowment Ministries to assist our churches in their faithful and effective investment and use of their reserves and endowments. He also took his first sabbatical.
- We finally saw our way clear to search for a full-time Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries and expect to call him or her soon.
- Staff has worked hard over this year to clarify our core values that inform our work together. This is a result of a shared Board and staff retreat with Gil Rendle of Alban Institute and a senior staff retreat day with Rev. John Thomas, our General Minister and President. We hope to be able to share these with you at the Fall Meeting.
- I continue to serve as a trustee and officer for Amistad America, Inc. (representing the UCC) during this historic year of its Atlantic Freedom Tour, a very challenging undertaking for a young organization.
- Andover Newton Theological School, where I serve as Trustee on your behalf, dedicated its new chapel this spring as part of its capital campaign improvements work.
- I also serve on the Cabinet of the Council of Conference Ministers, the Oversight Committee for the Nationwide Special Counsel, and the Board of Directors of the UCC Insurance Board, which is now back on sound financial footing and strength.
As always, we – your Conference staff - find ourselves nourished by our visits with local churches on Sunday mornings and other times. You teach us so much about church vitality and faithfulness every time we are with you!
