A Synopsis of Affirmations and Resolutions

Acted on at the 136th Annual Meeting
Connecticut Conference, United Church of Christ
Saxe Middle School, New Canaan, Connecticut
October 17-19, 2003

The following documents were passed by the delegates:

1) An Affirmation on Equal Civil Rights and Responsibilities for Same-Sex Couples.

Summarizing three decades of resolutions by the Connecticut Conference on the topic, this affirmation calls on the conference churches to "reaffirm our support of equal civil rights and responsibilities for same-sex couples in fully committed, faithful relationships." It also voiced the commitment to "work toward expanding the rights and responsibilities of same-sex couples," to "address the inequalities that still exist and to further the cause of justice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and couples in our generation." The affirmation was amended to reflect the polity of the UCC which makes clear that it is an affirmation "of the delegates attending the 2003 Annual Meeting...that...the vote is not binding on churches within the Connecticut Conference" who are "free to follow the affirmation, reject the affirmation, or to take no position on the affirmation."

Text as approved: HTML PDF

2) A Resolution on Religious Expression in the Public Schools

Based on Mark 12.17, this Resolution sought to make more transparent the "principle of neutrality" required by the laws pertaining to this topic. With references to the words of the U.S. Secretary of Education, the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Education, and the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Resolution reaffirmed "our commitment to the two-fold constitutional standard of support for privately initiated religious expression and activity by students in public schools and opposition to government-sponsored religious expression and activity by school officials." It called for resources on this topic to be made available to churches by the Conference Office of Justice Witness Ministries and the Public Education Advocacy Group and urged congregations to study them and it offered consultative services by both units of the Conference to churches who seek assistance so that "no child be compelled to worship in the public school setting, and ...no child be denied the right to private religious expression."

Text as approved: HTML PDF

3) A Resolution on the Essential Role of the Professional Christian Educators and Youth Ministers in the life of the Local Church.

Pointing to the Apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 4.11-12, this Resolution spoke to the historic development of Christian Education and the historic role of professional educators in the church. It called for local churches to affirm this aspect of congregational life, to provide opportunities for education, training and support for Christian educators, and to provide fair wages and benefits in accordance with accepted guidelines as a way to show our appreciation for the work being done on our behalf to help our children in each new generation embrace the Christian Faith.

Text as approved: HTML PDF

4) A Resolution on Prison Reform and Education.

Based upon passages from Psalm 146.7, Isaiah 61.1 and Luke 4.18, this Resolution sought to connect our Christian Faith to those in prison and jail by focusing upon the desperate need for more educational opportunities for offenders, especially the 50% of all inmates who have neither a high school diploma nor a General Educational Diploma (GED). Citing the positive experiences of offenders who do receive exposure to education and the data which indicate that education is one of tools needed to reduce crime, this resolution calls for the Office of Justice Witness Ministries to provide resources on this topic to churches and for the Conference Policy Advocate to keep the Conference abreast of pertinent legislation. It ends with request that the Board of Directors and the Conference Minister "communicate frequently with the Department of Corrections recommending establishment of incentive programs that will encourage inmates to continue their education while in prison."

Text as approved: HTML PDF

The following Resolution was Tabled and Referred to the Board of Directors for consideration:

1) A Resolution in Support of Legal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples.

A full text of this resolution is available on the website at the links below or by contacting Cecile Gilson at 860-233-5564 or 866-367-2822 Toll Free in CT.

Text as proposed: HTML PDF