Annual M=
eeting
Plenary =
1
September
23, 2005
The session =
was
opened with a brief worship service.
Charlie open=
ed the
meeting at 2:30 with a greeting and a
declaration of a quorum.
Emily Taylor=
read
the official call
June Boutwell led us in an opening prayer.
Charlie introduced those at the table on stage.
Charlie then
explained the confusion around the designation of the Sunday offering, and =
said
that because there was interest in the offering going to both Maine WonR=
17;t
Discriminate as well as Disaster Relief, we will have envelopes on which we=
can
indicate to which we want our offering to go. It can be designated for eith=
er
cause or both. He annou=
nced
that there will be an evacuee from
Agenda Approval: It was moved and voted that the ag= enda as presented be adopted.
Charlie plac= ed the cross, which he was given at the last meeting on the podium as a symbol of God’s presence. He also= had a feather and a Red Sox hat as symbols of our unity, and hopes.
Rules of Procedure: It was moved and voted to adopt the
Rules of Procedure.
Credential Committee and Tellers=
:
The names of those nominated for the Credential Committee and for
Tellers were presented. Tellers:
John Holt, Pam Pleas, Marcia Charles, Anna Carr, Betty Ann Haskell,
David Stansfield, and David Avery. &n=
bsp;
Credentials Committee: Hank
Harper,
It was moved and voted that those nomin= ated for the Credential Committee and for Tellers be approved. = ;
Parliamentarian: It was moved and voted that Donna Coombs, Bridgton, be approved as our Parliamentarian.
Minutes: It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the minutes of the 2004
Annual Meeting as written.
Printed Reports: It was moved, seconded and voted to
receive the printed reports as submitted.
Introduction of Guests: Guests were introduced, including Barbara Krause from the United Chu= rch of Canada who spoke briefly.
Nominating Committee Report<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>:
Martha Hoverson presented the proposed slate including the following
additions and corrections:
Spiritual=
Life:
Kate Winters the Hancock/Waldo rep, Joanne Painter the
=
Judy Hubley the
Witness L=
ife:
Susan Winter the
Community= Life: Steve Harding should be listed as from Houlton not Presque Isle;
Vice Mode= rator: Denise Goodman
It was moved, seconded and voted that the Clerk cast one ballot for the slate = as presented.
New Pastors: David Gaewski and B=
ob
Grove-Markwood introduced new pastors with a video presentation.
Ordinations: The ordinations of Darren Morgan and Susan Tierney were recognized.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
Recognition of Service
Ordination Anniversaries: 25 years Bruce Bur= nham, Marion Churchill, Nash Garabedian, <= /span>
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; = &nb= sp; 50 years Dewey Peterson, Henry Wyman
Missionaries: Annette introduced Scott Lovass and Anne Marsh
David Ray described his role as Associate Minister for Small Church Developm= ent.
Speak Outs: Carl Gunn gave us an overview of the Speak Out process.
Annual Meeting was recessed
Becky Bachel=
or from
Introduction of Conference Staff: David, with a power point presentation, offered a portrait of the staff.
June Boutwell Transitional Associate
Conference Minister: J=
une
addressed the assembly and celebrated our old and new gifts to be shared.
Pilgrim Lodge Presentation:<= span style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'> Brian Breault talked about how Pilgrim= Lodge nurtures personal and spiritual growth. He emphasized the importance of all= the people who make it possible, including the churches. He thanked all those who have contributed. He also said a few words about where we are going, about the anniversary celebration, and about the archives project he is starting. For the archives project, he asked everyone to share items and pictures they might have. He identified accomplishments of t= he year, including raising $8,500 for Seeds of Peace Camp. The biggest obstacle is the dwindl= ing Volunteer Counselor base. Bri= an mentioned the Vision Team’s goals including working on the existing s= ite, enhancing the existing program, and expanding the program, perhaps to year-round use. June 10 will be the big anniversary party.
General Synod Presentation:<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>
David showed a video, and then Kevin Pleas enthusiastically shared h=
is
experience including the challenges around making decisions about controver=
sial
issues. His hope is that these
issues not divide the church, but bring us together in conversations. David then honored
Conference Minister’s Report: David Gaewski, after teaching us a song, talked about the changes that have happened over the la= st year and what the Conference has been like over the last eight years. He emphasized its successes partic= ularly in Youth Ministry, small church development, the Honduran Partnership, and = the leadership role we have had in the denomination. He then identified where we = are now. And prepared us for our discussion about controver= sial issues. Do we lo= ve each other enough to respect each other’s opinions? Do we love Jesus enough to bring him into the middle of all our conversations? What is God calling us to be and do? He reminded us that= our Still Speaking program has a message. Our opportunity is to be hot for Jesus and justice and our challenge= is to be a witness to the world. Youth are leading the way, and that means a time of reform is here, = now, and the holy fire is burning. Will we welcome the spark? He challen= ged us to broaden our circles and include those outside the circle.
The Annual Meeting was recessed
Following a Speak-out session Charlie opened the meeting with introductions, which were followed by words from Tom Ewell<= /span>, Director of the Maine Council of Churches.= Tom complimented us for our God Is Still Speaking initiative asking = us to keep listening and really thinking about what we hear. Charlie said words of farewell to = Tom as he is now stepping down after 20 years as Executive Director to work for a Quaker peace effort.
Treasurer’s Report:
Executive Summary:= In 2004 we squeaked by, missing a fully balanced budget by 588 dollars. The note on the JBJ property was paid off. Monies for OGHS increased.
Assessment of budgeted operations: We just mi= ssed meeting budget. We need to ta= ke a long look at OCWM and the health of Pilgrim Lodge and Rockcraft—both = need work soon.
Financial controls----We have an audit each year, and this ye= ar a few minor conditions were cited that need changing.
Financial Condition—Conference assets increased for = the second year in a row while liabilities decreased for the second year.
Meeting the Challenge.<= /span> While we need to watch financial operations closely, we are better a= ble now to handle challenges.
Marc c= oncluded by thanking Mark Schussler for his support and mentoring.
It was moved, seconded and voted to rec=
eive
the Treasurer’s Report.
Presentation of Budget for 2006:=
Jane Lowell reported that the
recommendations from the Coordinating Council, the Executive Committee and =
the
Financial Committee amount to a budget with a 2.3% rise overall. It reflects anticipated income at
$1,426,783, and expenditures the same.&nbs=
p;
It was moved, seconded and =
voted
to accept the 2006 Budget as presented.
5 for 5 Churches were honored for their giving to the fi= ve UCC funds; OCWM, NIN, OGHS, Christ= mas Fund, and Strengthen the Church. Those churches are: Pa= rish Church Alfred; West Parish Congregational, Bethel; United Church of Christ, Lovell; First Congregational Church, Durham; First Congregational Church E. Millinocket; First Congregational, Eliot; Frankfort Congregational, Frankfo= rt; Second Christian Congregational Church, Kittery; Mexico Congregational Chur= ch, Mexico; First Congregational, North Yarmouth; Congregational Church, Rangel= ey; First Congregational Church, Waterville.
State Youth Council: Special mention was made of the fact that our State Youth Council is the only State Youth Council in the UCC that is 5 fo= r 5.
Recommendation for Conference Staff Leadership Adjustment was presented by Peter Mercer and Anne Roundy.= Peter explained the process of calling Jean and David as Conference Ministers to work together collegially.&nb= sp; He noted that the basic change in the current proposed plan is that rather than two Conference Ministers on whose desk the buck stops, the plan would call for one. Ann= e explained that there is nothing in the contracts of the Conference Ministers that sta= tes that if one leaves the other should also resign. The rationale supporting having one minister with 8 years of experience indicates that it would be impossible to bring in someone new who could be at an equal level. It was also noted that Co-minister model is more labor and time intensive. Concern was raised around David an= d Jean being called as a single call or was it two separate calls?
Resolution to Support Non-Discriminatory
Policies within our Congregations and the
Resolution on Quality and Equality of
Marriage was presented=
by Dawn Berry and Ernie Campbell.&nbs=
p;
The Annual Meeting was recessed
Charlie opened the meeting with some thought about how we should proceed in=
our
discussion making the assembly aware of time constraints and the need for b=
eing
respectful of each other and for keeping the symbols of our faith in front =
of
us.
From Coor=
dinating
Council came the motion:
It was moved that we adopt a leadership
pattern adjustment to affirm David’s continuing ministry as Conference
Minister; to begin the search for an Associate Conference Minister; and to
build into the adjusted pattern an emphasis on collegial staff functioning,
enhance presence with local churches, and other positive aspects of the pas=
t 8
years’ experience in Maine Conference Ministry. After discussion and the defeat of a =
motion
to postpone indefinitely this mot=
ion Passed
Concerns/=
Discussion:
We might lose the remaining co-minister and there is a dearth of fol=
ks
interested in Conference ministry.
The change would revert to a model that wasn’t working 8 years
ago. Co ministers in Chicago Association didn’t work, they kept it an=
d it
still isn’t working.
<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>It was moved, and seconded to postpone =
the
decision indefinitely. The mo=
tion
was defeated so i=
t was
back to the first motion.
Concerns/=
Discussion:
It was suggested that we postpone a decision to allow the Coordinati=
ng
Council more time to consider.
It was moved and seconded to move the
question. This motion was defeated So we went back=
to
discussion.
It was moved and seconded that this dec=
ision
be postponed until the next Annual Meeting.
It was moved, seconded and passed that =
the
question (the original motion) be moved.&n=
bsp;
It was moved that the following resolut=
ion be
adopted: Be it resolved that =
the
Maine Conference of United Church of Christ will: call upon its pastors and congrega=
tions
to remove from their Bylaws and Personnel Policy Manuals policies that are
discriminatory; Voice support=
for
the amendment adding sexual orientation on the protected classes of the Mai=
ne
Human Rights Act, which was signed by the governor on March 31, 2005; Politically [Faithfully and actively] oppose any
movement to rescind any portion of this act; and Encourage all those in the
Maine Conference and voters in the State of Maine to vote to uphold the
Maine Human Rights Act. [To lead in opposition to question one =
in the
November 8th
2005 referendum, thereby upholding the
As a friendly amendment: It was moved t=
hat
line 93 be amended by striking “politically” a=
nd
replacing it with “faithfully and actively”.
As a friendly amendment: It was moved that Lines 96-98 be a=
mended
to read: … “Encourage all those in the
It was
moved and seconded that the Resolution for churches to study the issue of
Quality and Equality of Marriage be adopted.
&nbs= p;
It was moved, seconded and passed to po= stpone the motion to adopt the “Resolution on the Quality and Equality of Marriage” until the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. Discussion: vote now and we will confus= e the two issues. People will see t= he marriage issue as a part of the non-discrimination issue. Time is now—= ;we don’t want to lose the piece about identifying what is Marriage.
Presentation by
Presentation by
CEVER is a Vocational School, Auto mechanics, industrial mechanics, sewing, welding, woodworking f= or ages 12-24 Christian school= , but accepts students of all religions. Students saw CEVER as a chance to get themselves out of poverty. There are efforts to establi= sh a support program from the Maine Conference UCC. The goal is to jump start the program helping CEVER w= ork toward independence in three years. &= nbsp; We would be Padrinos, or Godparents. $60 per month from a c= hurch allows them to be a Godparent or sponsor for a student; it would include communication with the student.
Clergy Compensation Guidelines---Presented by Denise Goodman and Anne Roundy
&= nbsp;
It was moved, seconded and passed to ac=
cept
the Clergy Compensation Guidelines for this year with the proviso that they
will be reviewed next year. &nb=
sp;
By-laws Article 10: It was mov=
ed to
revise Article X to read: … Official notification of all meetings of =
the
Conference shall be a
posting on Maine Conference web site. [may be by
electronic mail to local churches.] A local church may request i=
ts
notification be in writing. T=
his
motion passed with the following amendment.
Friendly amendment: From the Coordinati= ng Council came the motion that “official notificatio= n of all meetings of the Conference may be by electronic mail to local churches.” Amendment passed. The rationale was that this would put t= he onus on the Conference to get the communication to the churches rather than= on the churches to continually be checking the web site.
Celebrations Lincolnville church was recognized for its evangelism.
Installation of new officers:
&=
nbsp;
Credentials Committee Report:
At 10:00 A.M., September 25, 2005, it w=
as
moved, seconded and voted to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Maine Confer=
ence
of the United Church of Christ following a service of worship.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________
Emily Taylor, Clerk