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Annual Meeting MinutesSeptember 29, 2007
208th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (Part II) DCU Center Worcester, MA September 29, 2007
Following a prayer by Vice Moderator the Rev. Mr. Tom McMillan, Moderator Ms. Sybil Smith called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM on Saturday, September 29, 2007. She called attention to the materials in the delegate packets and reviewed what was accomplished at Part I of the Annual Meeting, which took place on June 22, 2007 in Hartford, CT. On that day, delegates received the Secretary’s Report, elected nominees, heard from Minister and President the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, heard from the Board of Directors, voted on actions related to the Conference Budget for 2008 and worshipped together. Ms. Smith then reviewed the business for the day, including hearings which had just concluded, a vote on the Board proposal, A Still More Excellent Way, a vote on the proposal for Clergy Compensation Guidelines, a lunchtime keynote speech by the Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, workshops, and a Service of Worship and Installation of the Minister and President with the Rev. Mr. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ preaching. The Moderator introduced Mr. Richard Osterberg, Parliamentarian and Mr. Willie Sordillo, Recorder. The Moderator then announced the appointment of the following persons to the Business Committee in accordance with the bylaws: Ms. Bonnie Fleming, Ms. Sue LaLone, the Rev. Ms. Linda Michel and Mr. McMillan, who, as Vice Moderator, also serves as Chair of the Business Committee. Ms. Smith noted that Ms. Michel and the Rev. Ms. Sue Moenius were appointed timekeepers, and that Ms. Fleming, as Chair of the Credentials Committee, appointed the Rev. Dr. Peter Wells and Ms. Mary Alice Stahleker to that committee. The Moderator reported that Ms. Fleming had informed her of the meeting registration statistics as follows: 232 Lay delegates 181 UCC Clergy 109 Visitors 522 Total Noting that there were more than 200 delegates present, the Moderator declared a quorum and the continuation of the meeting. She appointed the Rev. Mr. Dale Hempen and his committee as ushers and tellers. She confirmed that the Standing Rules remained in effect from Part I of the Annual Meeting and clarified procedures for motion and debate. The Moderator introduced the Consent Calendar. A motion was made and seconded to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried without discussion. Consent Calendar The 208th Annual Meeting of the Mass 07-AM2-01 Conference of the United Church of Christ adopts the Consent Calendar as presented on Goldenrod I (Appendix A)
The Moderator called on The Rev. Dr. Terry Fitzgerald, Moderator of the hearing on the Board proposal entitled A Still More Excellent Way. Dr. Fitzgerald reported that questions raised at the hearing included how laity would be gathered, resourced and formed into communities of practice, what kind of training would be made available for Committees on Ministry, how the information in the proposal might best be shared with congregations, and how the model in the proposal will be assessed. Dr. Fitzgerald further reported that Board of Directors members at the hearing stressed that regionally-based Associate Conference Ministers will continue to serve churches in the areas of search and call, crisis intervention and general resourcing, and that the intention of the proposal is not to diminish the role of the clergy but to empower lay people. The Moderator called on three members of Board of Directors to make a presentation about the proposal. Ms. Fleming affirmed that the Conference should do what no other entity of the church can do as well, and shared a personal story of how clergy in her area had worked together to meet a need which might formerly have been perceived as the sole purview of an Area Minister. The Rev. Dr. Deborah Clark stated that the central role of the Conference is to build and strengthen a web of relationships between churches and the Conference staff, but also among colleagues and churches with similar interests and commitments. She spoke of her experience as a member of a clergy community of practice, in which she can rely on the perspectives of a wide variety of trusted colleagues. The Rev. Dr. Steven Austin emphasized that the proposal addresses only those areas of Conference life in which the Board recommends change. He stressed that the proposal represents not an end point but the next phase of a journey which will involve ongoing assessment with input from the clergy and laity of the Conference. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Dr. Austin thanked the Listening Process Steering Committee, all those who attended Listening Sessions, and all who provided feedback at the June Annual Meeting and the September hearings held by the Board. He then moved that the Annual Meeting affirm the proposal from the Board of Directors The motion was seconded and the Moderator led a discussion which included the following major topics: 1) Concern over staffing cuts related to resource scarcity and whether the Annual Meeting should change the rate of retention of Basic Support in order to address Conference resource needs; 2) the importance of the role of Area Ministers in effectively supporting local churches; 3) the advantages of encouraging churches to share their strengths with one another and of encouraging lay leadership; 4) the importance of seasoned staff support in the area of Evangelism and Congregational Vitality; 5) the importance of Christian Education for both children and adults; 6) utilizing nearby theological schools as a potential resource for local churches and the Conference setting; 7) the excellent leadership already being taken by lay people in many areas of Conference life. The meeting then voted in the affirmative as follows: Conference Restructure 07-AM2-02
The 208th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ affirms the proposal from the Board of Directors titled, “A Still More Excellent Way: Transforming our use of Massachusetts Conference Resources for Vitality and Covenant (September 2007 revision)”, encourages all MACUCC members and clergy to participate in the new directions outlined therein, and calls on the Conference to realign our resources in the most effective way to nurture local church vitality and the covenant among our churches. (Filed with minutes.)
The Moderator called on The Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Minister and President, who expressed appreciation for the ministries of the Rev. Dr. Tom Clough and the Rev. Dr. Mike Penn-Strah, who had recently left their positions as Associate Conference Ministers. He introduced three new Acting Associate Conference Ministers: The Rev. Ms. Wendy VanderHart, the Rev. Ms. Jill Graham and the Rev. Ms.Carol Atwood-Lyon. Dr. Antal then introduced special guests The Rev. Mr. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ; the Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, keynote speaker; The Revs. Bill Green, Hans Holznagal and Jan Resseger, staff of the National UCC; The Rev. Mr. Jack Johnson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches; The Rev. Dr. Alice Mann of the Alban Institute; and the Rev. Dr. Bennie Whiten, past Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference. Dr. Antal recognized the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and staff and recognized and welcomed newly ordained clergy. He lifted up those celebrating the 50th anniversary of their ordination, naming those present, who were asked to stand and receive the applause of the meeting. Dr. Antal then led the meeting in prayer. The Moderator next called on the Rev. Dr. Jim Scovil, Moderator of the hearing on Clergy Compensation Guidelines, and the Rev. Mr. Frank Groggett of the Commission on Leadership Development. Dr. Scovil reported that there was no opposition at the hearing to the new proposal on continuous professional development for clergy. He encouraged churches to submit their Annual Reports so that the Conference can have more accurate information about clergy compensation. Mr. Groggett moved the proposal, which was seconded and passed by the body. Clergy Compensation The 208th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference, Guidelines United Church of Christ, adopts the proposed 2008 Guidelines for Local Church Personnel and Search Committees for Clergy Compensation and Professional Expense Reimbersement (Appendix B.)
The Vice -Moderator spoke about the proposed Resolution on a Massachusetts Innocence Commission, stating that, in accordance with the Standing Rules, a hearing had been held earlier in the day. He stated that the Standing Rules invite the resolution’s sponsors to engage with members of the Conference throughout the coming year and present an action plan for vote at the Annual Meeting in 2008. He confirmed that no further action on the resolution was necessary at the current meeting. The Vice Moderator gave the final report of Business Committee and announced that all of the business of the Annual Meeting had been accomplished. The Vice Moderator called on the Rev. Mr. Chris Dodge, Co-chair of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee. Mr. Dodge acknowledged Co-Chair Ms. Margery Eramo and thanked the Planning Committee for their work. After final announcements, the Moderator adjourned the meeting at 11:56 AM.
Willie Sordillo Recorder Bonnie Fleming Secretary |
