Highlights - 208th Annual Meeting
Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ

(Right) After hearing a presentation by Board of Directors Chair Will Sencabaugh, delegates were given 15 minutes to talk over the Board's proposal, A Still More Excellent Way.

Delegates were invited to give their feedback on the proposal in writing at the meeting, or online. They will be asked to adopt the proposal at the second part of the Annual Meeting in September.

Read the proposal.

Give your feedback using our online survey.

Find out details about Part two of the Annual Meeting, September 29th.

(Left) Conference Minister & President Jim Antal gave his report - in the form of "The Epistle of II James" - in which he told delegates "you are the leader you've been waiting for."

Acknowledging the difficult times the Conference has faced recently, Antal said: "many of us have convinced ourselves that we're on the Titanic, when we're actually on the Mayflower."

Listen to or read Antal's full report.

(Right) With little debate, delegates passed the $2.14 million budget proposed by the Board of Directors. The budget includes a $53,000 deficit, and delegates were urged to "rise to the challenge" of wiping out the deficit.

Antal told delegates that the collection rate for the per-member Fellowship Dues that churches are asked to pay was 82 percent last year. "If all churches paid their Fellowship Dues we would have the staff and programs we love," he said. Fellowship Dues were set at $16 per member for 2008.

John Hamilton (in stole, above), pastor of the First Congregational Church UCC in Norwood, led the band that provided music throughout the meeting. Also playing were Laura Ruth Jarrett, Bobby Hall and Steven McCrowssan.

At right, Ray Kostulias of United Church in Walpole held a candle high while singing "This Little Light of Mine."