In preparation for the Coordinating Council meeting on April 11, 2008, each member spent some time imagining where the Maine Conference will be five years from now. When brought to the meeting, we organized our “visions” into several categories:

Philosophy
- We will become a pro-active council providing leadership to all churches
- I would like to see more emphasis on the community side – with each other in a positive way - than the autonomy side
- We will continue to guide the congregations and associations with the Holy Spirit’s help, to live out God’s unconditional love for the world by receiving and sharing the teaching, healing, liberating and reconciling ministries of Jesus Christ.

New Congregations
- We will have several new start churches and helped small churches achieve their mission and increased membership
- Begin new congregations (2)
- Three new thriving churches

Money
- We will have completed a well-defined capital campaign for new directions of the Conference
- A major financial gift to the national UCC
- Increased OCWM giving to ensure funds for Conference programs and upkeep
- Do mini capital campaigns for things like PL boardwalk, Rockcraft roof – people will give to these
- Larger Resourcing the Local Church endowment
- Have a continuing 5-year plan for all assets that includes repairs and upkeep
- Remain “debt-free”, enhance our endowment for Pilgrim Lodge, Administration, Rockcraft
- Larger Consolidated Trust endowment

Program
- I’d like to see the Maine Conference lead the way for all Maine churches to become GREEN
- Green Education for churches, for individuals – through a Conference follow-up networking
- Have a BIG Conference wide program inland – to acquaint coastal congregations with inland realities, positives and challenges
- Active Maine Office Support Staff Network
- Regionalized Conference Minister’s duties to save travel and mileage expenses
- Strengthen local church ministries (and save mileage) by having part time conference staff in various parts of the state (part time conference staff/part-time local church pastor)
- We will have a strong active YMAT group that twill provide youth and children’s ministries in our state
- Created Conference-wide database of church’s strengths and gifts, and network churches
- Internet setting for ministry and community
- Subsidize mission teams
- Wellness program
- Ministerial Excellence program in full swing (2)
- Organize volunteers for Conference concerns
- Annual Clergy Retreat for theological questions and discussion
- Support Groups for young mothers, health issues, newly widowed, etc.

Facilities
Pilgrim Lodge
- Improve Pilgrim Lodge
- New kitchen for PL
- New handicap-accessible boardwalk for PL
- I’d like to see PL get off the grid within 3 years

Conference Offices
- Green Conference Office (off the grid)
- Expanded Resource Center
- Larger center for staff including conference rooms, media, parking
- A green year-round Conference Center with office/staff space; centrally located geographically
- Room and board near by to conference rooms for meetings attended by folks from afar
- Conference offices with several meeting spaces
- State of the art media/tech center
- Sell Rockcraft – more money for PL upkeep; possibly new green building to replace Pennell Ctr; free up money for more programs

Four Season Multi-Purpose Center
- Handicap/Elderly Retreat facility
- Year round Retreat center which provides programs for churches (accessible, comfortable, green)
- 4-season retreat/camping area (2)
- A place for adults to retreat that is safe and reasonably comfortable
- Create a Wellness Center
- Sold Rockcraft and built a year round retreat center on PL property
- One building – green
- Facility to hold concerts and other spiritual events

Other
- More centralized resource center
- I would like to see a closer relationship with BTS, such that classes would be available in central Maine.
- Sell Pennell Center, rent space from South Parish in Augusta. Envision more space for groups, more centrally located to state, help out local church