Day One: The Annual Meeting Begins

Davida Foy Crabtree

A stage decked with autumn colors greeted delegates gathering in the Hill Regional Career High School in New Haven for the Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ. Outside the auditorium in the school's hallways, displays showed the wide range of interests, ministries, and concerns within the denomination. A room set aside for prayer was lit by the soft glow of low-intensity lamps, and delegates gathered as well to learn and to honor distinuished ministries among them.

Moderator Hannah Howe began the evening session by introducing the representatives of the host, the New Haven Association, under the leadership of the Rev. Louise Higganbotham of United Church on the Green. The photos of the Association's worship spaces were followed by photos of the Conference staff, featuring the two newest employees, Associate Conference Minister for Administration Charlie Kuchenbrod and Youth Ministry Specialist Albert Kim.

The primary business of the evening, was the Conference Minister's Address of Davida Foy Crabtree. She spoke of the difficulties of living in a community which has been so profoundly affected by great trauma. She spoke of the faith and courage she observed in Colombia while visiting that nation in July. She spoke of the continuing scourge of racism in American society and particularly in Connecticut, and showed just how much further down that path of redemption we still need to go.

And she announced that the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ has just decided to accept the Connecticut Conference's invitation to host the 2007 General Synod, to be held in Hartford at the new Convention Center. The delegates cheered the announcement, which will mark the first time that the Synod has been held in the Connecticut Conference.

The evening closed with a worship service whose theme was creation. A remarkable set of images projected on a screen accompanied a remarkable reading of Scripture, reflections, and prayers in four languages.