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Go BIG with Bold, Inspirational Goals

BOLD, INSPIRATIONAL GOALS (BIGS)

The UCC is a bold, widely-known and respected public voice of Christianity in service of God’s ever-unfolding mission. There is a welcoming UCC community of faith that is accessible to all — no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey. Every UCC member is well-equipped to be growing in faith, be theologically conversant, and be active in the global mission of the church. The UCC has a wealth of prepared, excellent leaders that reflect the diversity of God’s beloved community.

MIDDLETOWN (9/19/2012) -- The 145th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference will convene this October 20th in Middletown with a message to all Conference churches: Go Big!, Embrace God's Plan.

The message does not simply refer to the BIGs alone. It is a call for churches to dream big, think big, and plan big. It is a call for congregations to act boldly in the name of justice and witness, to inspire their communities both locally and globally, and, through our own intentional vision and action, proclaim in our collectively BIG voice, "God is still speaking - and we are listening!”

In April, the United Church of Christ's Collegium of Officers unveiled a long-term plan for transforming the UCC into what Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister of Justice and Witness Ministries called, "A bold, effective and responsive servant of the Missio Dei, the mission of God." The plan focuses on four "bigbold, inspirational goals" (BIGs) with strategies to be implemented immediately and developing over a 10-30 year outlook.

"The United Church of Christ is emerging, not dying," the Rev. J., Bennett Guess, executive minister of Local Church Ministries, told those in attendance. "We have the best opportunity now to become the church that we first dared to be in 1957." Rev. Guess will deliver the keynote address at the Fall Meeting.

These goals are based on the core values that we extend extravagant welcome, actively listen to God's continuing testament, and engage in the process of changing lives.