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A tongue of fire leaps up in praise in worship at the Connecticut Conference Spring Meeting. Still from video |
by Eric Anderson and Drew Page
SUFFIELD (05/14/2012) -- Two weeks before their own Pentecost celebrations, delegates and ministers from around the Connecticut Conference gathered at Suffield High School and gave thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In a profoundly moving service at the Conference's Spring Meeting, voices murmured, wind and thunder rumbled, and a tongue of fire leapt up in praise, before the hundreds of worshipers came forward to lay aside their obsession with perfection and partake of the broken bread.
In her keynote address, the Rev. Lillian Daniel laid out a clear challenge to the United Church of Christ: to declare unafraid what its members believe, and to challenge those who misrepresent or discount its gifts.
"Here's my word for the UCC," she announced: "You can be open minded and still know what you think. You can be accepting of other people's ideas, but still willing to articulate your own. You can rejoice in the many diverse paths to God, but still invite people to Church. Just say it."
Daniel took on both the easy "touchdown theology" that promises worldly success, and those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious," and find their sustenance in sunsets. "As if you and I don't see God in the sunset," she said, "like we're these sad little rigid gnomes with blinkers on, taking orders from some sexist, homophobic controller of our Christian cult, waiting to get the spiritual but [not] religious news flash 'You guys don't have to sit in pews, you don't have to read the Bible, you don't have to judge other people. We could all be free!'
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The Rev. Lillian Daniel Photo by Eric Anderson |
"To which I want to respond, 'What church community are you describing? Because it is not mine. And how dare you paint me with such a broad brush.'"
She compared a self-created spirituality to cut flowers, carefully chosen and assembled into a bouquet. It lacks roots, the deeper sources of fulfillment and reflection offered by a religious tradition with a history of conversation and discernment. "It's easy to play by the rules of a religion in which you write your own script; much harder to find meaning in the words of a book that we did not get to write from ourselves from a radically different time. Easy to create God in your own image and just follow her; harder to work with a God who created you and for some reason she did not ask for your instructions."
Why does church matter? Four reasons, she asserted: the Church is grounded in tradition, centered in worship, called to serve, and free to dream.
During the afternoon session, the delegates debated revisions to the United Church of Christ's Constitution voted last July by General Synod 28, and submitted to the Conferences for ratification. The proposal, which will reduce the denomination's governing structure from five boards to one, was opposed by some delegates because of membership requirements on the new United Church Board, and concerns about implications for accountability. Supporters noted the considerable cost savings and projected a new flexibility and responsiveness for the Church. When debate concluded, the delegates voted to ratify the amendments, 101 in favor, 25 opposed, and with on abstaining.
Church members walked the long hallways of Suffield High School to participate in the twenty-seven workshops offered. Many of the afternoon's workshops focused on youth and young adult ministry while others focused on broader aspects of the church.
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The burnt wood of this cross comes from the fire at the Saugatuck Congregational Church UCC in Westport. Photo by Eric Anderson |
The Rev. Jennifer Whipple, Associate Pastor at the Congregational Church of Brookfield UCC, and the Rev. Matt Emery, Senior Pastor as Storrs Congregational Church, shared their experiences in the Thinking About Working For God program, which encourages young people to consider ordained ministry as a profession. The ways that people encourage and nurture another's gifts, they observed, help young people see their self-worth and find courage to take risks in thinking about their future.
Another session involved a panel of young adults who answered questions from delegates interested in reaching more young adults in their local church ministries. Missy Sturtevant, Kate Byers, and John Ramos, Jr., provided insight on the spiritual experiences, frustrations, and desires of their generation. The discussion ranged from exploring alternative worship services; to the accessibility of traditions, theology, and biblical language; to methods of connecting with youth in their college years.
The Power of Story was a workshop led by the Rev. Cindy Maddox, Pastor of King Street UCC in Danbury, and Jackie McNeil, a member of King Street, which explored the value of sharing and listening to personal testimony in discovering why church matters. The two leaders shared vastly different faith experiences and encouraged others to share stories that explored the many benefits of church.
Delegates also elected and installed new leadership for the Conference: Seven officers, seven members of the Board of Directors, and three members of the Nominating Committee. The Environmental Ministry Team presented Green Church Awards to nine congregations:
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Delegates Photo by Eric Anderson |
As the Search Committee came forward to report on their progress, Interim Conference Minister the Rev. Charles L. Wildman -- who has seen his projected tenure considerably extended -- prompted laughter (and a standing ovation) throughout the house as he stood to applaud them. "It's all good," said committee chair the Rev. Gordon Rankin, "and that's my Search Committee report to you today: It's all good!" Expanding somewhat, he announced the completion of their listening work, and that the conference profile and position description would be submitted to the Board of Directors in June, and then the work of recruiting candidates will begin.
As the day drew to its end, the assembly turned once more to worship, and to Ezekiel's ancient image of the dry bones, summoned to new life by the breath of God. "By our gathering, we have been empowered with the Living Spirit and have been asked to bring this message vitality and life to our communities of faith," the Rev. Liz Miller and Lindsey Levenson reminded the body. "We will not be lone messengers. God will be present and will continue to empower us."
And in a voice of energy and hope, the delegates declared, "Alleluia!"
| Slideshow: Photos from Spring Meeting. |
The Rev. Eric S. Anderson is Minister of Communications and Technology for the Connecticut Conference UCC. Drew Page is Media Assistant for the Connecticut Conference UCC.
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