Annual Meeting 2004 of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ convened September 24 at Sunday River, Bethel, Maine. Prior to the first Plenary Session, an orientation was held for new delegates. Hearings were held on the 2005 Budget and the Fellowship Dues Recommendation. A Parade of Banners was accompanied by music with the Chancel Choir of Centre Street Church in Machias and followed by an Opening Worship led by Annual Meeting Chair, Anne Roundy.

Plenary I

Moderator, Lorain Giles, called the Meeting to order and declared a Quorum.

Conference Clerk, Lois Dennett, read the Official Call to Annual Meeting 2004.
The 73rd Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ (successor to the Congregational Christian Conference of Maine; it being the 93rd Anniversary of the Congregational Conference and Missionary Society of Maine; the 178th Anniversary of the State Conference, the 195th Anniversary of the Maine Missionary Society, the 175th Anniversary of the Maine Congregational Ministerial Relief Society, and the 37th Anniversary of the Maine Conference as a Conference of the United Church of Christ), will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel, Sunday River, Bethel, Maine and will convene at 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2004. Items to be voted at this year’s meeting will be the:
      Proposed 2005 Conference Budget
       2005 Compensation Guidelines for Clergy
      Election of the Officers of the Maine Conference
      Draft Mission Statement.
The Reverends Jean M. Alexander and David R. Gaewski, Conference Ministers of the Maine Conference United Church of Christ.

The Moderator led the Meeting in a Constituting Prayer.

VOTED to adopt the Agenda.

VOTED to adopt the Rules of Procedure.

VOTED to appoint as Tellers: Ed DeLong, Andrea McCall, Joan Morton, Allie Rimkunas, John Rimkunas, Deb Small, Rick Small. The Credentials Committee was appointed by the Coordinating Council: Eric Sheard, Beth Hoffman, Virginia Snapp-Cunningham.

VOTED to appoint as Parliamentarian, Donna Coombs.

Susan Davies, Dean of Students and Professor of Theological Education at Bangor Theological Seminary, was introduced as Theological Reflector for the Meeting.

Ben Haskell, former Moderator of the Conference, was introduced as Sergeant at Arms for the Meeting, ready to collect fines for cell phones ringing or acronyms spoken.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the 2003 Annual Meeting.

VOTED to receive printed reports as submitted.

Introduction of Guests from the Wider United Church of Christ and from the ecumenical community:
Several guests were introduced and brought greetings from the groups they represent. Bill Imes, President of Bangor Theological Seminary; Donna Kahle and Jeff McDonnell from the United Church Insurance Board; Marrianne Kettel from Andover Newton Theological School; and Nelson Murphy, Director of Marketing and Education of the United Church Foundation.

Other guests were also introduced to the Meeting: Tony Robinson, keynote speaker for the weekend; Lorin Cope, Minister of Conference Relations in the Office of General Ministries of the United Church of Christ; Nancy Himmell, Executive Director of Uplands Retirement Village; Nash Garabedian, with Seafarers Friend; Paul Day, Director of the Bible Society of Maine; Daehler Hayes of the Cornerstone Fund.

Nominating Committee Report:
The Report of the Nominating Committee was presented by Carl Gunn, Chair of the Conference Nominating Committee.
Moderator, Charles Whiston; Vice Moderator, Lisa Suarez; Clerk, Emily Taylor; Treasurer, Marc Precourt; Trustees: Gordon Claar, Mark Doty; Nominating Committee Linda Kimball; Commission for Community Life, Earle Simpson; Commission for Spiritual Life, Mary Beth Dorcey, Jeffrey Belcher; Commission for Witness Life, Ernie Campbell; General Synod Delegates, Robert Grove-Markwood, Penny Hood, Diana Richardson, Joyce Ingrisano, Brad Hirst.
In a Motion from the floor Carra Bradt was nominated as a General Synod Delegate from Women of the Maine Conference. This was noted, but Carra Bradt’s name was not entered on the slate, because Women of the Maine Conference will no longer be an official entity of the Conference after October 23.
VOTED to instruct the Clerk to cast one ballot for the slate as presented. It was done.

Pilgrim Lodge Mission Presentation:
Ben Bigney, acting manager of Pilgrim Lodge, announced that a sum of $11,165 was raised by the campers and staff family at Pilgrim Lodge for Hogar Esperanza, a non profit home for children in Santiago, Chile. Each summer funds are raised for a mission of the wider church.

Honduras Partnership Committee:
Alice Anderman introduced a video presentation of the work of recent mission teams to Honduras. Several more trips are planned for 2004-2006, among them, a Pastors’ Retreat in 2005 and an All Maine Conference Youth Trip in 2006.
David Gaewski introduced information about a Honduran Student Sponsorship Program by which individuals and/or groups will sponsor students for three-year study at CEVER, a vocational school owned and run by the E and R Church of Honduras.

Associate Minister for Small Church Development:
David Ray reported on his first year in this position with the Maine Conference. He sees the small churches developing their spirit as part of “a great company” and views his work as a significant role in encouraging that spirit and the creativity to enlarge on it. David thanked the Conference for the opportunity to serve.

Speak Out! Introduction:
Bill Inderstrodt coordinates this opportunity for delegates, visitors and staff to use a minute at the microphone to speak to the Meeting.

The Meeting recessed and delegates gathered with their Associations.

Evening Program
After dinner Jean Alexander introduced Tony Robinson, UCC pastor from Seattle, Washington, who challenges mainline churches to be open to the power of God in their midst. He particularly noted that the churches are commissioned to make “disciples” not “members’. In a new time, churches teach a way of life and change lives – transforming – by allowing the Christian Faith to be as demanding and challenging as it really is.

Plenary 2

An opening prayer was led by Annette Mott.

The Moderator called the Meeting to order.
Introduction of more guests:
Tom Ewell, Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches, outlined the particular emphases of the MCC, the loan program with the Native Americans, leadership in restorative justice in Maine, environmental and conservation work through Earth Care teams. Ellen Beairsto brought greetings from our sister Conference, the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada.
Peter Panagore hosts the First Radio Parish Church of America, the first UCC pastor to do so.

Introduction of Pastors new to their churches since Annual Meeting 2003:
Bruce Forbes, Augusta, South Parish; Gordon Miller, Buxton, North; Ruth Martin, Sandy Point; Ray Richard, Poland; Alice Hildebrand, Deer Isle; Douglas Nielsen, Saco; Linda Smith, Bucksport; Virginia Rickman, Bethel; Andrew MacLeod, East Millinocket; Susan Winter, Newcastle, First; Frank Haines, Rumford Point/Locke Mills; Carol Granger, Pittsfield; Meg Watson, Frankfort; Mary Baard, Brunswick; Darren Morgan, Brownville; Sarah Foulger, Boothbay Harbor; David Ray, Bristol; Jill Small, Woolwich, Days Ferry.

These clergy are celebrating 25 years of Ordination: Ian “Jack” Steeves, Sarah Foulger, Judith Blanchard, William “Mac” Bigelow, David Butler, Harold Smedal, Andrea Thompson McCall.
Fifty years of Ordination are being celebrated by Felix Davis, and fifty-one years by Fred Robie.

Report of the Treasurer: Marc Precourt reported on Conference Income and Expenses for the year ending December 31, 2003. Both Income and Expenses fell short of projected Budget amounts, but improved the position that the Conference met in 2002. A surplus of $30,830 was placed in reserves by a vote of Coordinating Council. OCWM giving was up significantly, and other benevolence giving was an improvement over 2002, but less than 2001. The Capital Campaign was closed, but projects continue to need attention. As expected, income from investments continues to trend lower. The note which made the JBJ purchase possible has been paid off before maturity.
VOTED to accept the Treasurer’s Report for 2003.

2005 Budget Presentation
Jane Lowell, Chair of the Conference Finance Committee, presented an overview of the recommended budget for 2005. Goals of the Budget include balanced expenses based on the expectation of an increase in Fellowship Dues and modest increases in OCWM contributions. This balance seeks to maintain basic Conference services and ministries, make efforts toward pay equity, and increase Basic Support to the national setting of UCC. A video presentation enlarged on the details of the $1,394,058 Budget, an increase of 3% over the Budget for 2004.
The Finance Committee recommended the adoption of the Coordinating Council recommended 2005 Annual Operating Budget.

Draft Mission Statement
Denise Goodman of the Mission StatementTask Force presented the Draft Statement which was first introduced at Annual Meeting 2003 and revised by the Coordinating Council in June of 2004. The intention is that this be a working document on all occasions, especially as the Conference seeks to clarify identity and goals within a limited budget. A Motion to adopt was made and seconded, and there was some discussion. It will be discussed further and voted in Plenary 3.

Speak Out! 1
There were several messages in this Speak Out! An expression of thanks for ongoing support of the Saco Church; Encouragement to groups to make use of Rockcraft mid-week when it is less often full; An appeal for creative ways of helping victims of Florida’s hurricanes; An invitation to join a fund raising group biking across Maine in 2005; A notice of sales of a calendar by the Camden Church Youth Group raising funds for their mission trip to Honduras; A word about the significance in the Seafarer’s Friend program in Maine; A presentation of gifts from Lincoln Association to OCWM and the God is Still Speaking initiative; And a description of some of the Interfaith Community Building programs at the University of Southern Maine.

The Meeting recessed and delegates attended workshops.

Plenary 3

The Staff of the Conference was introduced in a video presentation: Sandy Dyer and Ann Hodgman, Resource Center Assistants; Heidi Bennett and Brian Wallace, Bookkeepers; David Brown, Rockcraft Manager; Cathy Croudis, Conference Registrar; Cheryl Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant; Annette Mott, Director of Local Church Resources; Janean Boutin, Pilgrim Lodge Office Assistant; Ben Bigney, Acting Manager of Pilgrim Lodge; Bryan Breault, Director of Outdoor Ministries; Mark Schussler, Business Manager; David Ray, Associate Minister for Small Church Development, Jean Alexander and David Gaewski, Conference Ministers.

Return to the Draft Mission Statement
Discussion continued on the wording of the Mission Statement. Four Friendly Amendments were suggested and passed, with some rewording in the working section of the Statement. A Motion to Refer back to a Task Force for further discussion was defeated. Also defeated was a Motion to table further discussion (2 Abstentions).
VOTED to reword the opening (the Statement itself) as follows (4 Abstentions). The Friendly Amendments are also reflected in the Statement as follows:

Mission Statement
The congregations and associations called to be the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ covenant together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live out God’s unconditional love for the world by receiving and sharing the teaching, healing, liberating and reconciling ministries of Jesus Christ.
To fulfill this Mission, the Conference endeavors to:
Equip lay and ordained leaders for faithful and effective ministry and stewardship of resources;
Guide congregations when they search for new pastoral leadership;
Provide pastoral resources and support to congregations and clergy in crisis;
Listen to the concerns of congregations and the world so that we can respond pastorally and prophetically;
Support the national setting of the United Church of Christ and communicate to the churches its ministries, activities and resources;
Work collegially with ecumenical and interfaith communities and institutions;
Encourage community among congregations and associations;
Provide youth and children’s ministries to nurture present and future generations of Christians;
Support, nurture, and build up existing congregations, especially small churches;
Reach out to the unchurched and establish new congregations;
Teach respect for the global environment and promote its well-being;
Challenge one another with the prophetic implications of God’s unconditional love;
Undertake ministries of healing, compassion, justice and service within Maine and in the world.

VOTED to adopt this Mission Statement for the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ.
(3 Abstentions)

2005 Fellowship Dues Increase
Coordinating Council recommended an increase in Fellowship Dues from $7.70 to $10. which includes the expected cost of living increase for 2005.
John Holt introduced the recommendation and moved its acceptance.
There was discussion of the motion, mainly focussing on the strain this increase may place upon some of the very small churches. A motion proposing the increase be made gradually over the next 3 years was defeated. Suggestions were made for ways this strain may be eased, e.g. asking individual members to contribute, sharing of the increase by larger churches.
VOTED The Maine Conference will increase Fellowship Dues from $7.70 to $10. per member. This includes the expected cost of living increase for 2005. (14 No, 7 Abstentions)

2005 Budget
Jane Lowell, Chair of the Finance Committee, made the Motion as recommended by the Coordinating Council, it was seconded and
VOTED to adopt the 2005 Budget as presented (earlier in this Annual Meeting) and recommended by the Coordinating Council. (4 Abstentions)

Celebrations
The Whitneyville Congregational Church became the Whitneyville Congregational Church United Church of Christ, received, welcomed and celebrated. Several members of the church were introduced by their pastor, Betty Duzen, who thanked the Association and the Conference for their encouragement and support.

Open House United Church of Christ, a New Church Start emerging out of State Street Church UCC in Portland. Members were introduced by their pastor, Steve Carnahan. Each made a statement about becoming a member of this new congregation, and again there was celebration for them as they were received and welcomed.

Speak Out! 2
This forum again opened the microphone for brief contacts and announcements. Information about a position at the Saco Church; Reminder of a celebration in Waterville for Women of the Maine Conference; A CD of the music of the Machias Church; Retreat opportunities for Support Staff and for clergy; York Association Mission Committee’s food buckets for Honduras; West Paris Church celebrated as a “Parish of Promise”; Accessibility in language as well as physical plant as a goal in 2nd Christian Church in Kittery.

The Meeting recessed for Workshops and dinner.

The Evening Program was again addressed by Keynote Speaker, Tony Robinson, who confessed to being “awestruck” by God’s capacity for working a new thing with people like us.
The focus in worship is not about “us” but rather it must be about God. We are worshipping congregations, not attendees at a performance by clergy and choir, and we are always in a process of Christian Formation.

Youth Grooups led Worship following the Evening Program and an offering was received for the Standish Church, recently devastated by fire.

Plenary 4

The Meeting was called to order by Moderator-elect, Charles Whiston, who led an opening prayer.

Reports by Conference Ministers
David Gaewski called on the Meeting to focus on the real meaning of the “God Is Still Speaking” Initiative and to ask ourselves whether of not we really want to hear. He found special evidence of God’s Speaking in the life-changing experience at the National Youth Event, attended by 122 youth and 22 advisors from 34 Maine congregations. The whole event, he said, was lit by a shared passion for the local and the wider church. The Youth Ministry Advisory Team hopes to bring the New England Youth Event to Orono in 2006. The ministry of David Ray in Small Church support and development has helped greatly to fulfill one of the Step Forward goals. The goal of an expended youth ministry is finding reality in the highest number ever of youth attending Pilgrim Lodge and in YMAT’s excitement about the future. A third Step Forward goal, stewardship growth, is made alive by the tireless work of Annette Mott and Bricker Gibson.

Jean Alexander pronounced the Conference in ”good shape”, always wanting to do more because we do have a passion for our mission. We have shared our reserves with present needs in the form of a loan to the National Church to support the test phase of the God is Still Speaking Initiative. And we take a leap of faith into the future with a marketing campaign for the 50th Anniversary of Pilgrim Lodge. As churches change, grow, and seek identity, the need to teach and live the basics of UCC Polity becomes urgent. The authority of the associations, the autonomy of the congregations, the accountability to our covenant with the United Church of Christ are all fundamentals that give strength to our churches at every level. In order to fulfill our mission as churches of the UCC, we must want to continue to spread the Good News.

Clergy Compensation Guidelines
Jeff Belcher of the Commission for Spiritual Life introduced the Clergy Compensation Guidelines. The Guidelines provide a range of recommended full-time salaries for 2005 according to church size, with a parsonage, or with a housing allowance and including an increase for cost of living and a pay raise. The Guidelines also reflect what the Maine Conference actually paid in 2004. They have been received by and recommended by the Coordinating Council.
VOTED to adopt the report on Clergy Compensation for 2005.

International Guest
Amy Porter, representing Church World Service, introduced the Reverend Baffour D. Amoa, Secretary General, Fellowship of Churches and Councils in West Africa (FECCIWA), and an Associate with the Center for Management and Institutional Development, Ghana. Mr. Amoa brought greetings and thanks for the many expressions of love and support for his work in Africa. His goal for FECCWA is “to be everywhere in West Africa”.

Celebration
David Gaewski introduced a DVD from the National Youth Event, “dynamic”, “exciting” in the words of the young people and the adults who went with them. Maine Conference had one of the largest delegations at NYE and David was the only Conference Minister among them. Several young people spoke to “How NYE changed my life”, and all thanked David and the Youth Advisory Team for the extraordinary commitment involved in making Maine’s participation a reality.

Celebration
Women of the Maine Conference is ending its present configuration at its last annual meeting in October 2004. A presentation by Dot Grosset assisted by Nancy Godfrey highlighted the contributions by this group of Maine Conference women. Many projects have been part of this long list of contributions from a Conference van to school supplies for Honduras. They have encouraged support for equal rights and worked on many social issues. They have cultivated leadership and inspired support here and abroad. The Maine Conference will continue to recognize and address the needs of the women of the Conference.
Jean Alexander led the prayer ”rejoicing in their leadership and in their faith in daring to do new things.” (See attached script of the Women of the Maine Conference)

Recognitions and Awards
By vote of the Executive Committee these Awards were presented by the Conference:
Accessibility – Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church UCC
Thorough reconfiguration of the main entrance, major doors, parking lot and rest rooms, as well as installation of a lift, are all part of an accessibility plan. A sound system for the hearing impaired has been completed.
Evangelism – Rangeley Congregational Church UCC
Contributions made possible the purchase and delivery of 268 phone cards to service men and women in a “Help Our Troops Call Home” program. Each card was accompanied by a note from the church.
Mission – First Congregational Church UCC, Waterville
A long list of the local and wider church mission programs of this church qualifies it as a “Church with a Mission” – many missions. The list includes wide variety from Housing Ministry, Food Bank, Homeless Shelter, Kennebec Valley Organization, and Maine Seacoast Mission. Beyond Maine the efforts extend to Heifer Project, Honduras Trips, and Homeless Ministry in Boston.

Jean Alexander congratulated the “5 for 5” churches, that have made contributions to all five major mission offerings of the UCC calendar: First Congregational, Eliot; Second Christian Congregational, Kittery; Lovell United Church of Christ; Congregational Church, Mexico; First Congregational, New Gloucester; First Congregational, Waterville.

Recognitions and gifts were presented to: Ruby Trouw for a dedicated service of many years with the SERRV project. As she leaves it, it will be carried on by Jean McLaughlin; to Lois Dennett for serving as clerk of the Conference: to Lorain Giles, completing her term as Moderator of the Conference and recognized for her true passion for the UCC and the Maine Conference and her legacy of transparency in Conference work, “front burner” issues, time for theological reflections at meetings and overall pastoral concern for the work – and workers – of the church.

In her closing remarks, Lorain pointed to her “front burner” issues: Leadership Development, Stewardship Education, Prophetic Witness, and the 50th Anniversary of Pilgrim Lodge. She acknowledged the presence of a “meddling” God in our midst, and the thanks we give for God’s continuing meddling in our lives.

The Conference Ministers conducted Installation of the New Officers, Commission and Committee members, and celebrated the newly elected and the continuing service of many others.

Lorain thanked the members of the Annual Meeting Committee, chaired by Anne Roundy, and including Mark Doty, Doug Dunlap, Gary Hubley, Gini King, Peggy Wight, Al Worden and Christine Guy and the choir from the Machias Church. Also thanks for Annual Meeting work by Jean Alexander, Annette Mott and Cheryl Tibbetts .
Thanks also were expressed to Bill Inderstrodt, Judy Hubley, Ann Hodgman, Ben Haskell and especially to Tony Robinson and Sue Davies and to the Coordinating Council and to all the Conference Staff.

Credentials Committee Report
Credentials Committee Report was presented by Virginia Snapp-Cunningham, Committee Chair.
Clergy – 117; Lay Delegates – 215; Youth – 28; Visitors – 112 for a total of 472 attending, of whom 360 were voting attendees.

Theological Reflections
Some thoughts through the days of the meeting were reflected upon by Sue Davies. She sensed a genuine Christian Formation happening, a reminder of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. The Covenantal relationship evidenced by the discussion and vote on Fellowship Dues showed real spiritual decision-making in busily giving away in order to make disciples and teach the Faith. Evidence indeed that God Is Still Speaking.

Speak Out! 3
Once again, there was wide variety in Speak Out! messages. Prayers for the Standish Church; Announcement of the Pastors Spouses Spring Retreat; An opening for a Christian Education Director in Kennebunkport; Working weekends at Pilgrim Lodge; A report on the Norway Youth House Project; An invitation to stay next year with a host family in Bethel; Urging by the Maine Council of Churches for more use of Maine Power and Light; A check from the Kittery Point Church for a church that may need help in affording Fellowship Dues.

Lorain Giles passed the Gavel and the Cross to the new Moderator, Charles Whiston, and invited him to adjourn the Meeting.

VOTED to adjourn Annual Meeting 2004 following the service of worship.

As the service of worship was called, names were read of the clergy of the Conference who have died since last Annual Meeting: Wallace H. Harris, Paul V. Malicote, Stanley F. Johnson, Alvin D. Strong, Irving E. Howard, Martin T. Johnson, Roland H. Wessels, and Terry A. Smith.