Annual Meeting 2005

Worship

WATERBURY (10/25/2005) -- Over six hundred fifty delegates, authorized ministers and visitors gathered at Kennedy High School in Waterbury for the 138th Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ. The company joined in worship, learned from keynote speaker Tony Robinson and a variety of workshop leaders, chose to embark on an $8 to $12 million dollar capital campaign for Silver Lake Conference Center, and did the other business of the Church. The two-day schedule was extraordinarily busy despite the churches' collective decision to honor a Board of Directors' request to refrain from offering social resolutions at this meeting.

Three keynote presentations from UCC minister and consultant Tony Robinson framed the event. Robinson, the author of Transforming Congregational Culture, argued that contemporary churches need to focus on understanding and committing to their primary mission in the midst of cultural change. The era of Christendom, with its cultural support for Christian formation, has ended, as has the Modern era with its emphasis on Reason and optimism about the future. The Church must find new ways to be the Church in a new time.

Conference Minister Davida Foy Crabtree called the assembly to understand and respond to three major challenges in her Friday night address. Despite living in a culture guided significantly by fear, she spoke for courage in undertaking three great tasks: helping Back Bay Mission of Biloxi, MS, and Central Congregational Church of New Orleans, LA, recover from hurricane damage; preparing to welcome the 50th Anniversary General Synod to Hartford in 2007; and raising $8 to $12 million to preserve and enhance the ministry of Silver Lake Conference Center.

Living by faith and in deep belief in God’s abundant blessings is the most radical act of spiritual devotion in a society like ours. Living by faith and in deep belief in God’s abundant blessings is the most radical act of spiritual devotion in a society like ours. Refusing to live by fear – especially the fear of scarcity – requires the courageous integrity of discipleship. There is no other way to avoid being controlled by fear – only acts of faith in God, only acts of great generosity, can withstand that test.

The delegates chose indeed to undertake the Now for the Future: the Campaign for Silver Lake, voting overwhelmingly to authorize the $8 million basic goal and $12 million challenge goal. The funds will allow performance of deferred maintenance, construction of new adult-friendly retreat facilities, and additional meal service capacity for summer conferences. A full tithe of the funds raised will support Back Bay Mission's efforts to recover from hurricane damage and serve its neighbors in Biloxi.

Back Bay Mission Executive Director the Rev. Shari Prestemon and Central Congregational Church UCC pastor the Rev. Wilmer Brown both addressed the gathering. Both stressed the devastation wrought by the storms, which not only destroyed property but scattered communities. Both expressed great thanks for the Conference's commitment to aid them, and both emphasized the need to center decision-making during reconstruction efforts in the affected communities.

The delegates voted a $5,456,446 budget for 2006, $4.00 per member dues, and an Our Church Wider Mission Basic Support goal of $2,292,023, including $20,000 to be raised through a directed appeal to a few selected churches. Budget Committee Chair Bob Giles noted that falling OCWM support in the last five years has resulted in program and staff cuts at the Conference. The Board will be looking for approaches to renewing relationships with its member churches to reverse the contribution decline.

The meeting closed with gospel sounds and Holy Communion presided over by Conference Minister Davida Foy Crabtree and Conference Preacher the Rev. Jay Olmstead-Sawyer. Nourished with new ideas, inspiring words, and the body and blood of Jesus, the delegates returned to their homes and congregations to continue the work of being the Church in this place and time.