Fall Meeting 2012: GO BIG!

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Online Registration

Call To The 145th Fall Annual Meeting

Middletown High School
200 LaRosa Lane, Middletown
Saturday: October 20, 2012 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM

September 14, 2012

To: Lay Delegates From Local Churches
Youth Delegates From Local Churches
All Authorized Ministers Of The Conference
All Officers Of The Conference
Moderators Of Associations
Former Moderators Of The Annual Meetings
Board Of Directors And Committees Named In The Bylaws

This comes to you as the Call and invitation to the Fall Annual Meeting of the One Hundred Forty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ (Connecticut Conference of the Congregational Christian Churches).

Remember that all sessions are open to registered visitors as well as delegates, so be sure to tell others about the events of the day!

Go Big! Embrace God’s Plan

Registration and Agenda

Registration is available on-line at www.ctucc.org. Pre-registration for meals must be received no later than Sunday, October 14 on-line and Friday, October 12 by mail. Registration will begin at 8 AM at Middletown High School. Hearings on the three resolutions, the budget, and the Search Committee will take place from 12:30 – 1:10. Food is not permitted in the hearing rooms so please be sure to grab your lunch right at noon. The meeting will begin with worship at 8:45 AM. The Interim Conference Minister’s address will be during the morning plenary. Other highlights of the day include the Living Waters Award which will be presented to Carole Fanslow, member of Unity Hill UCC in Trumbull, recognition of our Korean Partners, Generous Churches, new Open and Affirming churches and the usual budget and Conference business that comes before the Fall Annual Meeting. Click here for the day's agenda.

Keynote Speaker

The Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Minister of the United Church of Christ’s Local Church Ministries, will give the Keynote Address. Rev. Guess was installed as the Executive Minister at General Synod in 2011. He has served at the national setting since 2000 in a variety of capacities including the successful creation of Publishing, Identity and Communication that merged staff and fostered a more cooperative and strategic environment for communications within the national setting.

Authorized Ministers’ Lunch

The Authorized Ministers’ Lunch will be Friday, October 19 from 11:30 AM to 4 PM at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell. Those attending the Authorized Ministers’ Lunch may register at that event for the Annual Meeting. Ordained ministers celebrating their 50th and 25th anniversaries of ordination will be honored at the luncheon. Keynote Speaker will be the Rev. Christopher L. Webber-Presenter, Author of American to the Backbone, the Life of James W.C. Pennington, the Fugitive Slave Who Became One of the First Black Abolitionists. Rev. Webber is a retired Episcopal priest living in Sharon, CT

Hospitality

Please check our website (www.ctucc.org) for information about child-care, special needs and a hotel list.

A Worship Committee, led by our Conference Preacher and Chaplain, the Rev. Alison Buttrick-Patton of Saugatuck Congregational Church, has planned our worship experiences. We invite members from congregations of area churches to attend the major celebrative worship service on Saturday afternoon at 1:15 PM. An offering will be received at this worship service for Our Church’s Wider Mission.

The following business will be discussed and acted upon:

Actions Recommended by the Board of Directors of the Conference
1. Consent Agenda
  Our Board of Directors uses a method in their meetings called the “Consent Agenda.” Attached to this Call are the items on the Consent Agenda with an explanation about a Consent Agenda.
2. Distribution of Monies
  Suggested Action:
  Upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, the Conference adopts the following distribution of monies received for the Connecticut Conference and the ministries of the United Church of Christ during 2013:
  1. Basic Mission Support monies to be divided on the basis of 50% for the Conference and 50% to the United Church of Christ nationally for distribution among the ministries according to the payment schedule adopted by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ;
  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.
  4. The Board of Directors recommends to the Conference that per capita contributions for 2013 shall be maintained at $8 per member to be used entirely for Conference work.
3. Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM)
  OCWM Goal for 2013
  Suggested Action: Upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, the Conference adopts a Basic Mission Support Goal of $1,530,912.90 for 2013.
4. 2013 Proposed Budget
  1. Proposed 2013 Budget for the Missionary Society of Connecticut
    Suggested Action: Upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, the 2013 Proposed Budget of $3,576,712 for the Missionary Society of CT are adopted, and the Conference grants to the Society the privilege of revising the budget during the year as funds are available and needs arise.
  2. Proposed 2013 Budget for the Trustees of the Fund for Ministers
    Suggested Action: Upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, the Conference adopts the 2013 Proposed budget of $480,698 for the Trustees of the Fund for Ministers, and the Conference grants to the Trustees the privilege of revising the budget during the year as funds are available and needs arise.
Resolutions and such other actions that may come before the meeting.

When we assemble at Middletown High School, we will be the Body of Christ worshipping, praying, deliberating, and making a witness to Jesus Christ. Come prayerfully, thoughtfully, and enthusiastically to seek God’s wisdom for our common mission as the United Church of Christ in Connecticut.

Sincerely in Christ,

The Rev. Charles L. Wildman
Interim Conference Minister

Available On-Line at ctucc.org/annualmeeting:

Consent Agenda HTML | PDF
Fall Meeting Agenda HTML | PDF
List of Ordained Ministers celebrating 50/25 years of ordination PDF
Hospitality Flyer HTML | PDF
Flyer on Authorized Ministers’ Event PDF
Directions to Middletown High School and the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell HTML | PDF
Registration and Meal Reservation Form Online Registration | PDF
Rules of Procedure for the Annual Meeting (HTML | PDF)
Delegate Formula & Information (PDF)
12F-CTUCC GMO Resolution of Affirmation (PDF)
12F-CTWUCC Resolution of Implementation (PDF)
12F-US Constitution Resolution of Implementation (PDF)
12F-Poster for Display (PDF)