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Preparing for Synod |
General Synod meets every two years (biennially) and is a gathering of people delegated by our 38 Conferences to represent the United Church of Christ and to address important matters relating to the church. General Synod participants also include visitors from UCC churches; local, conference and national UCC staff; representatives from many diverse UCC institutions, agencies and ministries; and friends and colleagues from other faith traditions.
General Synod is a time for all who gather to worship, build friendships, celebrate our varied ministries, and recognize our relationships in the ecumenical and world community. During General Synod, delegates address the “business” of the church, approving a budget for the mission of the church at the national setting, electing the Collegium of Officers, and voting on Pronouncements, Resolutions and Proposals for Action (specific proposals for how our church can respond to significant issues facing our congregations, communities, nation and world).
CT Youth @ Synod is for youth who are participants of local churches within the Connecticut Conference, UCC and who will be in grades 9 – 12 in 2011 (including 2011 high school graduates). We will register as a group from CT Conference and will recruiting chaperons for the group. This allows churches to send a single youth and who will be part of our CT Conference group.
The CT Conference is underwriting the cost for the first 20 participants who apply and pay registration. Subsidized cost per youth is $280 + airfare. Cost per adult is $325 + airfare. (Note: Full registration is $480 for youth and $525 per adult.) Register early: we will take applicants on a first come, first served basis! Your fees cover registration for Youth @ Synod, housing, service projects, General Synod events and most meals (see below).
All meals on Thursday and Friday are covered in your registration, as well as breakfasts on both Saturday and Sunday. Each participant will be responsible for buying meals on travel days as well as lunch and dinner on both Saturday. It is estimated that $65 will cover this expense.
Local congregations and associations are asked to consider sponsoring a youth to defray travel costs.
Click here to download a CT Youth @ Synod Application Form.
Register early to be sure to get the CT Conference subsidized rate! Early registration also gives you first choice on your service options.
All registration and General Synod related fees are non-refundable. However, it is possible to substitute one registrant for another if needed. You will not be able to delete an existing registration. For billing purposes, we will handle all attendee replacements in order to allocate funds received to the appropriate replacement attendee.
In order to substitute a new participant’s name for a cancellation of another participant; you must contact Debby Kirk at 860.377.2675 or ddkirk@snet.net.
Each participant is responsible for the Synod registration as well as airfare. Plan a fundraiser, ask for support from your home church and/or solicit money from your Association to help reduce your costs.
CT Youth @ Synod will travel together as a group by plane from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. We will depart on Wednesday, June 29, and return on Sunday, July 3. Trip Coordinator Debby Kirk, trip chaperons, and Rev. McCallister will travel with the group. Once in Tampa we will use Synod shuttle service and public transportation to get to events.
Our FINAL DATE for flight reservations is Wednesday, May 25. Full payment will be due at that time. Churches or Associations that are sending checks to cover airfare for participants should make checks payable to Missionary Society of CT with “CT Youth @ Synod” and NAME of youth in the memo line.
CT Youth @ Synod begins at 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 29. Service/mission experience takes place on Thursday and on Friday. We will participate in General Synod worship, meetings and other activities through Saturday night. We will also provide orientation to General Synod activities and business, reflection on the faith and justice aspects of our service projects, and opportunities for recreation and fun! Rev. Da Vita McCallister of the CT Conference will meet with youth and youth delegates for ‘afterhours’ sessions each night. Plenary sessions for worship, keynote speeches, and deliberations will be held at the Tampa Convention Center.
Housing for all the Youth @ General Synod participants will be at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Tampa, about 1 mile from the Convention Center. Your lodging needs are included as part of your registration for CT Youth @ Synod.
Yes! There will be a pre trip gathering for all participants on Wednesday, June 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. We will meet at the Conference Office at 125 Sherman Street in Hartford.
Contact:
Debby Kirk
CT Youth @ Synod Trip Coordinator
ddkirk@snet.net 860.377.2675
Rev. Da Vita McCallister
CT UCC Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adults
davitam@ctucc.org 860.761.7115
This event is endorsed by the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ and funded in part by your church’s contributions to Our Church’s Wider Mission.
