Annual Meeting 2001 -- Day Three

The three days of the Connecticut Conference's Annual Meeting ended with a final keynote address from Hartford Seminary professor and Islamic Studies scholar Jane Smith, financial commitments to the work of the Missionary Society of Connecticut and Trustees of the Fund for Ministers in 2002, approval of a resolution urging the protection of civil liberties, and the holy space of worship. Carrying new learnings in their heads, new hope in their hearts, new strength in their souls -- and for some, new Connecticut Conference canvas bags and mugs in their hands -- the delegates returned home to bear the news to their local churches that God's love is still real even in the midst of terrorism, fear, and war.

Dr. Jane Smith spoke of the reaction of the American Muslim community to the terrorist attacks which wrought destruction in New York City, Washington, and Pennsylvania:

1. Initially, Muslims reacted with the same shock and horror as other Americans, appalled in addition that the Islamic "middle way" of moderation had been twisted into extremism and mass murder.
2. A second reaction was fear: fear that the anger felt by American citizens toward the terrorists would be turned against Muslims in general. One ten year old girl asked her mother, "Mom, is this the end for us?"
3. Muslims have also responded with growing solidarity, opening themselves to each other, and emphasizing the roots of their faith which reject such atrocities as September 11th.
4. Another reaction has been outreach, developing new conversations with people of other faiths. Efforts of Christian and Jewish groups to reach out to Muslim communities has been a part of this process.
5. Muslims have engaged in introspection, looking closely at their religion and the way that Islamic power has declined from a position that once dominated much of the world. Many have returned to the Qu'ran to see what it says about war and violence.

Dr. Smith reported the happy news that in her conversations with local Islamic leaders, they have said that though they have received hate calls and gestures, they have received three to five times as many expressions of support.

The delegates voted two resolutions on Sunday morning. The first, entitled "Safeguarding Of Civil Liberties In The Wake Of September 11th," opposes new legislation that permit indefinite detention of non-citizens without probable cause, secret wiretapping without court oversight, secret searches, and new crimes that might imprison protesters whose acts do not threaten national security. [Full Text: web page | PDF]

The second was the annual Amenities Resolution, expressing the body's thanks to the many leaders and workers who made the weekend such a wonderful experience. [Full Text: web page | PDF]

The Conference approved the Budget Committee's recommendations for the financial commitments of the Missionary Society of Connecticut and Trustees of the Fund for Ministers. They voted:

• a $2,740,000 goal for local church contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support,
• distribution of monies received as follows:
  • a division of OCWM Basic Support money allocating 63% to United Church of Christ national and internation ministries, and 37% to mission in Connecticut,
  • investment income to be used entirely for Conference work unless otherwise stipulated by the donor, and
  • Special Support, capital and emergency appeal monies to be designated entirely to the purposes for which they were authorized;
• a request for a $2.00 per member contribution from local churches to be used for Conference work,
• budgeted expenses of $5,752,443 for the Missionary Society of Connecticut in 2002,
• budgeted expenses of $813,014 for the Trustees of the Fund for Ministers in 2002.

Delegates elected new leadership for the next year, including members of the Board of Directors, Nominating Committee, and ministry teams.

The Annual Meeting closed with a deeply moving service of worship led by Conference Preacher the Rev. Alice O'Donovan, Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, and several other liturgists, drummers, and musicians. The body shared in the hope and challenge offered by Rev. O'Donovan's sermon and in the body and blood of Jesus offered in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

The soft voices singing "We Shall Overcome" during the service of communion gained in conviction during the singing of the verse, "we are not afraid," moving Davida Foy Crabtree to call for its repetition, and all the worshipers to take hands as they sang and prayed.

And so, despite the fears that surround us in this world which once seemed so safe and certain, and now appears so threatening and dangerous, the delegates to the Connecticut Conference's Annual Meeting of 2001 returned to their families, congregations, and obligations with a song:

We are not afraid.
We are not afraid.
We are not afraid today.
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome
Some day.