A few general comments to begin. The conference has experienced significant transitional strain with the departure of my colleague Jean Alexander. Defining the tasks of and staffing for the transitional period were a priority for the Coordinating Council. Then the focus turned to what the CC would recommend as the staffing pattern for the next chapter of our conference life and ministry. It has been a complicated map to read and chart. There has never been a parallel transition anywhere in the UCC. I am thankful for the leadership of moderator Charlie Whiston and vice-moderator Denise Goodman who have given heart and soul to a process with integrity and wisdom.
During the transitional time I have established a Placement Team to oversee all of the Search and Call process of the Maine Conference. First Jack Lynes and now June Boutwell together with David Ray, Karen Erickson, and I have worked collaboratively at providing assistance to all the churches of the conference undergoing pastoral transition. We have based staff deployment on a percentage system rather than geography. The Placement Team meets monthly to discuss all churches in transition and all potential candidates circulating profiles in Maine. Further David Ray has been deployed to serve the Church and Ministry Committees of Hancock Waldo and Washington Associations. I staff York, Cumberland, and Aroostook. June Boutwell staffs the remaining five. I am well satisfied with this system.
Other staff assignment changes have particularly affected Annette Mott who has re-inherited the Stewardship Team in her portfolio. I am working closely with Annette to expand, upon her request, her role of program development in the Maine Conference. In light of the General Synod action on “Multiple Paths to Ministry” Annette’s experience and wisdom has and will continue to be critical. This conference is blessed with a very, very fine and talented staff and I am personally thankful to each staff member for their input. It has also been a joy to welcome Eric Belcher to the staff who replaces retiring Rockcraft Manager Dave Brown.
The work of Church and Ministry committees is an ever daunting responsibility. Church and Ministry is indeed the “bishop” of congregational polity with “episcope” or oversight responsibility for all ministry done in the name of the United Church of Christ. This year there are several developments in this area. Situational Support Consultations, a new (yet historically very old) process designed since 2001, have taken on a much wider use within our conference. Some of our associations are now requiring clergy boundary training which, with time clergy are finding to be more of a help than hindrance in the performance of their ministry. Finally, important conversations have been to explore the feasibility of a state-wide Fitness Review committee potentially consisting of reps from the various associations.
The “God is Still Speaking” initiative has been a significant part of the life of the conference since the release of the television ads last December. Sixty-nine of our churches have designated themselves as God is Still Speaking congregations. This places Maine 10th among the 39 conferences in the percentage of our churches opting in. While some have voiced concern over the “Bouncer” commercial (most because they have interpreted the message as anti-ecumenical), the majority of email responses to our conference office have been overwhelmingly positive. Funds were secured from Maine churches to purchase additional TV air time for both commercials during the Lenten period. I believe the United Church of Christ has gained considerable positive recognition in Maine on account of the initiative. Several congregations have attributed growth in church attendance to the campaign.
The past twelve months have been an unusually complicated period for the Honduras Partnership with the Evangelical and Reformed Synod of Honduras. Due to the exponential increase in work teams, the UCC missionaries in Honduras, Linda and Bruce Hanson, backed off from assisting us with non-medical mission teams. Otherwise they would have been spending over half of their time simply assisting the Maine Conference. The partnership committee believes strongly that a priority for our conference work should be focused upon the vocational school in Yoro, CEVER. The ministry of this school is seen as a permanent answer to the poverty and suffering of the Honduran people. Also, there is clearly a future that God is revealing to us in the developing relationship between young adults of the Maine Conference and the young adult leaders of Honduras. I believe we are called to channel more of our resources toward providing young adults the opportunity to serve as short term missionaries in Honduras. The Pastor’s Retreat in Honduras last May opened a theological dialogue which made theological, sociological and cultural differences obvious and at times painful. This, together with the actions of General Synod 25, have placed some strain upon the partnership, however the committee is confident that the strength and depth of the relationship will ensure continued success.
In early September the most devastating hurricane disaster in US history was recorded in the Gulf Coast states. We are still in the early stages of understanding the consequences of this catastrophe. A Disaster Response Team for the Maine Conference has quickly coalesced under the able leadership of Rev. Dana Reed. Our goal is to raise $250,000 for long term assistance. We also intend to organize construction, medical and perhaps counseling teams for the long term reconstruction of the area.
In July 2006 our conference looks forward to hosting the New England Regional Youth event at the University of Maine, Orono. Our YMAT group has worked diligently over the past year to bring this event, which anticipates 1000+ youth from all over New England, to Maine. It is my hope that 250+ Maine youth will participate in this unique faith-energizing opportunity.
Finally, a word on my wider UCC involvement. I have now become among the more “senior” conference ministers which I find most humbling. I enjoyed representing the Council of Conference Ministers on the Board of Directors of Local Church Ministries for the past three years. With that term now expired, I was asked to represent the New England region on the Cabinet of Conference Ministers, however due to the unavailability of any other New England CM, I have been reassigned to represent the New England region on the Executive Council, UCC. For the past three years I have also served on the Brown/Make a Difference Scholarship committee. I am pleased to have directed many in Maine to benefit from those scholarship funds.
In closing I express my gratitude to God for the ministry to which I have been called. It is my prayer that I will serve with wisdom, persistence, and integrity.

Respectfully Submitted,

David R Gaewski
Conference Minister