September 24, 2004 – Sunday River – Annual Meeting
VOTED to recommend the 2004 Annual Meeting Agenda as presented.
VOTED to recommend the Rules of Procedure for the 2004 Annual Meeting as presented.
VOTED to recommend the following as Tellers for the 2004 Annual Meeting: Ed DeLong, Andrea McCall, Joan Morton, Allie Rimkunas, Deb Small, Rick Small.
VOTED to recommend as Credentials Committee for the 2004 Annual Meeting to work with Cathy Croudis, Registrar: Eric Sheard, Beth Hoffman, Ginger Snapp-Cunningham.
VOTED to recommend to Annual Meeting the 2005 Clergy Compensation Guidelines as presented to Coordinating Council by the Commission for Spiritual Life after these corrections:
Under Salary and Housing, salaries for “2005” and actually paid in “2004”; in the columns for suggested salaries, three headings – “church size, with parsonage, with housing allowance”.
VOTED to recommend an additional Annual Meeting offering to be received in connection with the Saturday evening vespers. The Youth Group will be leading the vespers and they have asked for an offering dedicated to the Standish Church, recently devastated by a major fire.
VOTED to appoint Gini King to chair the 2005 Annual Meeting Committee. “Prophetic Witness” is the theme of that meeting.
VOTED: The Maine Conference will undertake a Market Study and Survey for Pilgrim Lodge funded by a loan from unrestricted reserves, not to exceed $15,000. The costs will be repaid by revenues from an anticipated Pilgrim Lodge 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign. The Pilgrim Lodge Working Group will continue to function as a group until a Capital Campaign is launched.
VOTED: Upon receipt of a written request from Open House UCC, an amount from the Faith Fund of no more than $2500 will be authorized to be used for publicity.
VOTED: The Coordinating Council of the Maine Conference UCC authorizes the Honduran Student Partnership Program at CEVER as proposed by the Honduras Partnership Committee.
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January 21, 2005 - First Congregational Church, UCC, Waterville
VOTED unanimously to approve Chuck Ihloff as the second CC rep if Lisa is unable to serve.
VOTED unanimously that the Executive Committee serve as a Search Committee for the transitional/interim Conference Minister position.
VOTED: that the Executive Committee be charged with searching for a transitional Associate Conference Minister, who would be assigned specific duties. 9 yes, 7 no, abstention 1.
VOTED unanimously that we hold Annual Meeting 2006 at Sunday River
VOTED unanimously that David Ray be a guest of the Maine Conference at General Synod.
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March 18, 2005, First Congregational Church, Waterville
VOTED unanimously to accept Lisa Suarez’ resignation as Vice Moderator with regret and to approve the appointment of Denise Goodman to fill that position until the next Annual Meeting.
VOTED unanimously to appoint Martha Hoverson to the Nominating Committee
VOTED unanimously that Bob Kirton be appointed as the Conference Representative to Wider Church Ministries, UCC
VOTED unanimously to appoint Silver Moore-Leamon as Conference Representative to the Maine Council of Churches.
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June 18, 2005 – Pilgrim Lodge
VOTED with one abstention to designate the offering at the Annual Meeting to Maine Won’t Discriminate unless that petition does not appear on the ballot.
VOTED to change our model of leadership from a Co-conference model to a Senior Conference Minister with a second conference minister. The vote was 12 affirmative, 2 opposed, 2 abstaining.
VOTED that the Coordinating Council affirms the continuing work of David
Gaewski as Conference Minister. The vote was 15 affirmative, 1
abstaining.
VOTED unanimously to instruct Mark to provide an analysis regarding
the costs and risks of making a loan to the Four Directions Development
Corporation.
VOTED we adopt the proposed agenda for Annual Meeting
VOTED to accept the recommendation of the Executive Committee to allocate $7,200 of June Boutwell’s compensation as housing allowance.
VOTED to accept the proposed 2006 budget
VOTED that the proposed meeting dates for next year be approved.
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August 9, 2005 – Winslow Congregational Church
VOTED that the Coordinating Council recommend to the Annual Meeting delegates: revising the Conference Ministry Model from Co-Conference Minister to Conference Minister and an Associate Conference Minister; affirming David Gaewski’s continuing ministry as Conference Minister; beginning a search for an Associate Conference Minister; and building into the revised model an emphasis on collegial staff functioning, enhanced Conference Minister’s presence with local churches, and other positive aspects of the last eight years experience in Maine Conference Ministry.
VOTED to change the wording regarding the church’s insurance being yoked to the ministerial standing of its pastor was clarified to: A church with UCC insurance, whose pastor lacks UCC ministerial authorization, may have its coverage terminated.
VOTED unanimously to insert the sentence: Official notification of all meetings of the Conference shall be a posting on Maine Conference web site. A local church may request its notification be in writing.
VOTED unanimously that at Annual Meeting, the Coordinating Council recommend for passage this resolution (submitted by Woodfords Cong’l Church) to support non-discrimination with the suggested revisions.
VOTED unanimously the Coordinating Council present with its recommendation for passage the resolution on equality of marriage to the Annual Meeting.