Massachusetts Conference at General Synod
A number of familiar faces with MACUCC ties were honored at the 26th General Synod.
On Saturday, June 23, the UCC Council on Ecumenism presented the first Avery D. Post Ecumenical Achievement Award to the Rev. Diane C. Kessler, a prominent theologian and UCC clergywoman who recently retired after ministering for more than three decades with the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
Rev. Post, for whom the award is named, served as the UCC's fourth president. Earlier, from 1970 to 1977, he served as the Massachusetts Conference's Minister and President.
The award was presented during the ecumenism dinner at General Synod 26.
On Friday evening, past officers and other leaders of the national setting of the UCC were called to the plenary stage to be recognized and as a result, three former Massachusetts Conference leaders were on the stage.
In addition to Post, two other former Minister and Presidents of the MACUCC were brought to the stage for recognition:
- Nancy S. Taylor, who was honored for her service as UCC Moderator, was MACUCC Minister and President from 2001 - 2005. She now serves as senior pastor at Old South Church UCC in Boston.
- Bennie S. Whiten, who was honored for his service as acting executive minister of the UCC's Wider Church Ministries and his work heading the UCC Insurance Board, served the MACUCC from 1991 to 2000.
One of the presenters honoring them was the MACUCC's own Elizabeth King, pastor of the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth, UCC. King served as assistant moderator of this year's General Synod. (King is standing at the podium, above, while Taylor is in the background.)