2001 Amenities Resolution

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The 134rd Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ (Congregational Christian Churches), meeting in the 204rd year of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, gathered its members and guests from the near and the farther corners of our Conference at Killingly High School in Danielson, Connecticut, on a delightful weekend, October 19-21, 2001. The life changing events of September 11, 2001 have renewed our sense of the importance of our Christian mission and ministry to the world. Our original theme “Simple Gifts, Differing Gifts” sounds so innocent in the face of the terror we have experienced in the past five weeks and the potential for war that the world now faces.

Whereas

we are gathered here in the Quiet Corner, we give special thanks to the Windham Association that has hosted us, the host churches and pastors, and most especially The Rev. Jim Ziobro and the members of the Westfield Congregational Church of Danielson. We all gratefully accept the hospitality of the church members who have volunteered to make our time in their midst efficient and enjoyable.

Therefore be it resolved,

that we offer deep appreciation for the Authorized Ministry Lunch & Event – “Immigrants, Exiles & Refugees, Ministering to Former Catholics in UCC Congregations”, with The Rev. Dr. Mary Luti, Senior Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Cambridge, MA. We thank as well The Imperial Room for the delicious luncheon.

Be it further resolved,

that we humbly acknowledge the gifts of ministry of the seven 50 year and ten 25 year ordinands, who were recognized this year for their collective decades of service. We thank the Westfield Church for the dignified reception they presented.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank the Moderator, Graham Davidson, the Assistant Moderator, The Rev Hannah Howe, the Scribe, Phil Gerenia, the Assistant Scribe, Audrey Taber, and the substitute scribe, The Rev Scott Morrow, the Parliamentarian, The Rev. Malcolm Bertram, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alan Green, the Resolutions Committee Chair, Betty Roggenkamp, as well as all of the staff of the Conference Office for their many hours of preparation for this Annual Meeting. We offer special thanks to David Sweet, Assistant Principal of the Killingly High School and to the staff and students of the Killingly High School for their assistance. We acknowledge the Cafeteria staff for the satisfying meals.

Be it further resolved,

that we offer prayerful thanks to The Rev. Alice O’Donovan, Conference Preacher and Chaplain, The Rev. Bill Zito, the Alternate Conference Preacher and Chaplain, and Worship Committee members Jan Gregory, The Rev. Selena Blackwell, The Rev. Lee Ireland, The Rev. John Selders and all those who assisted to make our worship time meaningful. We thank The Rev. Jim Silver and The Rev. Denise Clappsaddle for creation of our peaceful Prayer Room and we thank The Rev. Sue Foster for all of the preparation of our Communion Celebration. The beautiful art work of The Rev. Lindsay Fulmer, Nancy Hoverka, and Elizabeth McCosh-Lillie, the superb musical contributions of Lou Harper, Fran Baron, David March, Frank May, Stephanie Cyr also blessed us. The many voices of the Festival Choir, the choir from the Putnam Congregational Church, and the choir from First Congregational Church, Woodstock under the direction of Ted Bradley will make a most joyful noise to the Lord and all here assembled!

Be it further resolved,

that we accept the kindness of Jane Chittick for her persistence in sheperding participants to the podium throughout these three days.

Be it further resolved,

that our Conference Minister, The Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, offers hard questions for us to ponder in a time such as this as well as bringing inspiring leadership and deep conviction from her heart for each one of us.

Be it further resolved,

that we are truly blessed to have such a committed Director of the Silver Lake Conference Center in Dana Fisher Her vision and hard work are apparent in the way she cares. We applaud her and her staff of spirited workers.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank the following guests for sharing this time with us:

The Rev. Joyce Hollyday-Southeast Conference and the rekindle the Gift Program
Rev. Don Steinle –Executive Director of the Christian Activities Council
Ben Griffin of Andover Newton
Bill Imes of Bangor Theological Seminary`
International Guests from the PROK
Bob Schmalz
Tod Gobledale
The Rev. Shari Presteman of Back Bay Mission

Be it further resolved,

that we are grateful for the candor for our Regional Ministers, The Rev. Judith Hjorth, The Rev. Kent Siladi, and The Rev. Joe Neville, they are true assets in all our lives.

Be it further resolved,

that our Youth Specialists, Merrillyn Garcia, Sandy Daly, and Cheryl Thomas, and the 216 youths and their advisors that worked on various service projects in the area in the 3nd Annual Youth Mission Day are a shinning example to all youth everywhere.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank Dale Bishop, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries for being with us, offering us his depth of knowledge and his hope for the world to come. May he travel in peace, this day and always.

Be it further resolved,

that we extend our thanks to Dr. Jane Smith of Hartford Seminary for her incredible information about Islam and the Muslim tradition.

Be it further resolved,

that we appreciate all of the Workshop Leaders and all those who set up displays for our enlightenment. We also give thanks for those who participated in the luncheon sponsored by Connecticut Women of the United Church of Christ and for the presenter, Christy Trudo, Lay Leadership and Ministry Coordinator from Cleveland. We also thank the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for hosting the luncheon prepared by the Westfield Church.

Be it further resolved,

that we send our appreciation to our treasurer, Robert Giles for his report and to The Rev. Thomas Stiers, for the Budget Committee presentation. We recognize each of the thirty Tithing Churches and each of those churches that have increased their contribution to our Church’s Wider Mission.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank those who participated in the resolutions process and we further thank Betty Jean Roggenkamp and the Resolutions Committee for all their hard work.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank Samantha Leathers, recipient of The Laity Award for her enthusiasm and her wonderful ideas on how anyone, even an eleven year old can do for others in the name of Christ. Her small sacrifices are enormous in our eyes.

Be it further resolved,

that we thank Alan Green and all of the Board of Directors for their dedication and hard work over the past year.

Be it further resolved,

that we appreciate the commitment from all of those persons who have agreed to hold an elected office in the upcoming year.

Be it further resolved,

that we extend a warm debt of gratitude to The Rev. Bonnie Bardot, Chairman of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and the entire Planning Committee for their diligence in ironing out all of the details to make this a successful Annual Meeting. Your flexibility is truly amazing!

Be it further resolved,

that the delegates of this 134rd Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, shall return to their churches to spread the word that according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “For peace must be dared. It is the great venture. It can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of safety.”