Toward Another Year's Ministry: Annual Meeting 2002 Day Three

Bernice Powell Jackson

The final plenary session of the 2002 Connecticut Conference Annual Meeting began with action on the proposed budget for 2003. The delegates voted the following actions:

• An Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Mission Support goal of $2,730,000
• Distribution of Monies:
  1. Basic Support Monies to be divided on the basis of 37% for the Conference and 63% to the United Church of Christ nationally
  2. Investment income to be used entirely for Conference work unless otherwise stipulated by the donor
  3. Special support, capital and emergency appeal monies to be designated entirely to the purposes for which they were authorized.
• Per capita contributions at $2.00 per member to be used entirely for Conference work
• A budget of $5,780,388 for the Missionary Society of Connecticut [Complete budget]
• A budget of $999,490 for the Trustees of the Fund for Ministers [Complete budget]

The delegates then turned to a discussion of the proposed revisions to the bylaws. After lengthy and attentive debate, committed mostly to making sure the document was as clear and usable as possible, the Conference voted the revisions into effect. [Bylaws as proposed] (Note: There may be some slight differences between this and the officially voted version. The final version will be posted as soon as they are available)

The delegates then elected new Conference officers, Directors, General Synod delegates, ministry team members, and members of the Nominating Committee. The new officers are:

• Moderator: Mr. Erskine D. McIntosh (United Church on the Green, New Haven)
• Assistant Moderator: The Rev. David W. Spollett (Fairfield, First)
• Scribe: The Rev. Paul F. Goodman (Interim at Enfield Congl)
• Assistant Scribe: The Rev. Thomas Ratmeyer (Mystic Congl)
• Treasurer: Mr. Robert A. Giles (Granby, First)
• Conference Preacher/Chaplain: The Rev. Dwight E. Juliani (Madison, First)
• Co-Alternate Preachers/Chaplains: The Rev. Bette Anne Crowell & the Rev. Joshua L. Crowell (formerly pastor and associate at Essex Congl; now retired)

Justice and Witness Executive Minister Bernice Powell Jackson returned to the lectern for the second keynote address. She told her own story of learning a passion for justice in positive and negative experiences throughout her life, which had given her both a background and an energy for her current ministry. She emphasized the inescapable link between peace and justice, and encouraged the delegates to join work for justice wherever they could find it. If they were confronted by several issues, she said, pick one. And work for justice.

The Annual Meeting closed with Festival Worship held at United Church on the Green. Brass, timpani, organ and handbells joined a choir of over sixty voices to make glorious music in praise of God. Conference Preacher the Rev. William Zito rejoiced throughout his sermon in the blessings that have been showered upon Connecticut's churches and members throughout the years. Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, we still hear God speaking.

And so the 2002 Annual Meeting ended: with the echoes of great music, stirring words, and the still small voice of a speaking God lingering in the hearts of all who participated.

Don't place a period where God has placed a comma:

God is still speaking.