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| Davida Foy Crabtree, Conference Minister |
Highlights of the LetterConference finishes 2009 without deficit CTUCC churches raise $122,868 for Haiti so far New ministry: the Threshold Initiative Special Commission on Conference Sustainability has begun work Spring Annual Meeting on church vitality with Steve Sterner and Cameron Trimble Fall Annual Meeting: Celebrating global missions with Robert Orr Praying with the Spirit Calendar |
HARTFORD (02/05/2010) -- The Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree has shared a new pastoral letter with church leaders around the Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ. Leading with thanks for the gifts of local congregations toward the work of the church in Conference and national settings, and with joy at the outpouring of help for the earthquake-stricken people of Haiti, the Conference's spiritual leader announced a new ministry initiative to help churches deepen and extend their life and work.
Dr. Crabtree extended profound thanks for the giving of local churches to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support (OCWM: the contributions of local churches toward work at state, national, and international settings) and to per capita Fellowship Dues. A combination of these gifts, contributions from individuals to the Friends of the Conference program, and major cuts in budget and spending closed the yawning deficit projected by financial officers last April.
Connecticut's response to the disaster in Haiti drew grateful joy from the Conference Minister. "It is in moments like this that we are indeed freed by Christ from holding on to resources that are needed by others and united in our determination to transform life for those in need," she said, in appreciation of the $122,868 that has so far been received and put to work. Because OCWM giving funds the support systems for disaster response, 100% of these gifts will be used with "those in desperate need."
"Please keep it up," wrote Dr. Crabtree, "for in our continual generosity, we learn together the way of Christ and give hope to those in despair, food to those who hunger, shelter to those without, and drink to the thirsty."
Contributions to Haiti relief may be made on the Connecticut Conference web site; click here to make a secure online donation by electronic check or credit card.
Dr. Crabtree described a new ministry pilot project, the Threshold Initiative which is emerging this year in the Connecticut Conference. The concept is to make the skills and resources of the Conference staff available to a small number of local churches that show solid signs of vitality, in order that those congregations may achieve significant growth in their ministries. "It is our belief," she said, "after much dialogue and analysis, that by investing in those who are most ready, through their growth and development, neighboring churches will also be helped on their road to vitality."
The staff has had conversations with seven churches about participating in the project. Announcement of the churches will wait until their deliberations are complete. There were a large number of churches who were suitable candidates, and it was difficult to choose the ones who would be invited.
"We know that some of you will wonder why your church wasn't selected and in most cases there is no good answer for that except the needs of the pilot project. Some of you have already stepped across the threshold and we'll be looking for ways to invite you to serve as models and as teaching churches. Some of you are great candidates for the next round. And some of you are not quite ready and have some work to do in your life together before you could truly benefit from this new ministry."
Creating staff time for the project has been a real challenge. Dr. Crabtree stated that approaches to current ministries will be amended, rather than eliminating tasks. "Through a combination of incremental changes, we will carve out the time that is essential so that all of us will learn together what it takes to be a vital church in this decade."
