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209th Annual Meeting - initial report
By Tiffany Vail The Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, held its 209th Annual Meeting in Worcester on Saturday, November 1st - and it was a meeting like no other in recent memory. The day began in the morning with Keynote Speaker Rev. Martin Copenhaver telling delegates he was looking to "foment revolution" by urging churches to get away from Robert's Rules to conduct church business and to take up the more difficult process of discerment instead.
"Robert's Rules are seriously flawed for the work of the church," Copenhaver said. "Majority rules is hardly a model for a Christian community ... Majority rules is what happens when we take God out of the process." Copenhaver said discernment involves not trying to build a consensus about what we think should be done, but instead seeking together to discern what Christ would have us do. He also spoke about the importance of making space for silence and prayer during discussion, and of being open to the knowledge that we never know through whom God will speak. After Copenhaver spoke, delegates to the meeting sat in small groups to discuss the issue of how local churches are called to support the wider church. As the meeting progressed, some elements of a discernment process were woven in to the business, with regular breaks taken for prayer and silence and delegates pausing to say in unison "May the Holy Spirit speak through us" after each person spoke. But the meeting was still operating under Robert's Rules, and delegates were put to the test later in the afternoon, when a difficult vote on a resolution left the body divided by just 12 votes. The delegates were struggling over some specific language in a resolution on working for the development of a Massachusetts Innocence Commission. The vote came after a packed hearing resulted in some amendments to the language, which was followed by some passionate debate on the floor of the Meeting. After the vote, Copenhaver immediately called for a reconsideration, saying the Meeting had clearly not come together as one body on the issue. Many delegates echoed his concern, saying no one wins when there is such a close vote. Others felt the vote should stand. Eventually, delegates agreed to reconsider their decision, and to table the resolution until the next year. Dick Osterberg, long-time parliamentarian of the Meeting, encouraged everyone to feel good that they had taken baby steps in a new process of discerment, and to not leave feeling discouraged because no consensus was reached. "You should leave feeling you've learned something," he said. In other business, delegates voted to authorize the Board of Directors to sell Warner Farm, Conference property in Western Massachusetts. The Board intends to sell it to a UCC pastor who wishes to develop it into a year-round retreat facility. Delegates also approved the Conference budget and clergy compensation guidelines. In addition to the business conducted, delegates were also able to attend workshops and visit the marketplace. On Friday, a clergy-lay leader event was held followed by an Annual Meeting Celebration dinner, where awards were made and the Pommern Village Choir from Tanzania performed.
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Photo gallery from Friday's Annual Meeting Reception and Celebration Dinner.
Copenhaver told delegates that Congregationalists have lost some of their rich history for decision-making - clinging to the importance of democracy while losing track of the importance of listening to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst.