The regular meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ was held on Friday, January 26, 2007, at 10:00 AM, at the First Congregational Church in Waterville, the Moderator being in the chair and the Secretary being present.

Present: June Boutwell, Ernie Campbell, David Gaewski, Linda Gard, John Glover, Todd Goodeill, Denise Goodman, Judith Hubley, Chuck Ihloff, Connie Insley, Dan Johnson, Jane Lowel, Doub Nielsen, Herb Oliver, Mark Schussler, Linda Smith, Victor Stanley, Sue Stevens

Welcome to Doug Neilson from the York Association, to Diane Bennekamper and Bob Curtain from the Covenanted Ministries boards and to Suzane Stevens, the new Executive Assistant for the Conference.

Denise reported that Peter Mercer is resigning from his position as York Association representative to the Coordinating Council.

Denise offered the opening prayer.

Diane Bennekamper and Bob Curtain reported from the Covenanted Ministries regarding a proposal to restructure the governing bodies of the National UCC from 5 autonomous covenanted boards and committees to one governing body.
Motivations for considering a change include significant, continuing decrease in OCWM income and the difficulties of coordinated efforts between the autonomous groups.
Problems introduced by the proposed changes include:
- a risk of losing about one quarter of the endowments, which amounts to many millions of dollars due to the conditions placed on those funds;
- a smaller number of total representatives which leads to less representation from the historically underrepresented groups, less representation for small to mid-sized conferences, and less representation for any small group.
These discussions have been difficult for some and have caused stress, distrust, anger and anxiety in some groups and with some members.
There were comments, but no motion regarding presenting this information at the Annual Meeting.

Denise requested that the Covenanted Ministries representatives send written reports to the Coordinating Council after their meetings.

Reports and letters from Covenanted Ministries and representatives were received and filed with the minutes.

The minutes of the November 11, 2006 Coordinating Council meeting were approved as corrected.

The Treasurer (Linda Gard) reported:
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
The 2006 audit has already begun even though all the information that goes into the audit is not ready. This is an accelerated process has the auditors working on the information that is available.
Moving the 2008 Annual meeting to June will require that the budget is completed earlier. This may require changes to scheduled meetings in order to perform all the work required.
There is a need for a policy on what the conference should do with unrestricted gifts. This is something that the finance committee should address.
Linda is planning to take a 3 month sabbatical after Easter.

Chuck Ihloff was elected as treasurer pro tem.
The Coordinating Council designates Chuck Ihloff be granted all of the authority of the Treasurer of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ. Resolution carried.

David Gaewski reported on 2006 deficit:
The overall trend on OCWM giving in 2006 is not significantly different than 2005. 50 churches increased giving; 53 churches decreased, and 47 churches maintained their giving.
22 churches have not contributed to OCWM for at least three years.
He has been in touch with numerous pastors regarding anticipated OCWM giving for 2006, which leads him to believe that there is conservatively another $10,000 that has not been sent in yet.
Our 2007 budgeted value for OCWM is $600,000. It is unlikely that we’ll make that amount, but it $570,000-$580,000 is reasonable. He recommended that before the end of the 1st quarter of this year that the finance committee present a proposal to the CC on how to cut $30,000 from the 2007 budget. If additional 2006 money comes by the end of the 1st quarter the budget cut should be reduced by that amount, i.e. less should be cut from the budget. He will deliver a written report to the finance committee containing his recommendation on where the cuts should come from.
Denise recommends that commissions and other groups be notified that we are looking at budget cuts.

The Business Manager (Mark Schussler) reported:
Written information on the Consolidated Trust performance was received and is filed with the minutes.
The Consolidated Trust fund, which serves approximately 80 churches in addition to the Maine Conference, did well this year. The income is approximately 7% higher than last year.

The Trusties (John Glover) reported:
The re-visiting of the Socially Responsible investment policy had to be postponed.
The trusties authorized to purchase a one year $60,000 CD from the Gorham Savings Bank. This is in line with the Socially Responsible investment policy.

The Business Manager (Mark Schussler) reported:
They recently did the next to final close on 2006.
We’re also starting the 2007 budget year.
And, we’re auditing 2006 for both the Consolidated Trust and the Maine Conference.
We’re starting the 2008 budget process.
An employee was suspended for drinking alcohol on the job. This person was let go as a result of the completed investigation.
Cheryl Tibbetts retired.
Eric Belcher moved on to a new job.
John George was hired as the Rockcraft retreat manager. His skill set is a very good match for the position.
Sue Stevens was hired as the Conference Executive Assistant.
Mark would like to officially thank everyone who stepped up and took on extra duties while positions were being filled: Tammy Foster (housekeeper at Rockcraft), Kate Luff (cook at Rockcraft), Heidi Bennett (Bookkeeper), Karen Eriksen (Placement assistant) and Cathy Croudis (Conference Registrar).

The Conference Minister (David Gaewski) reported:
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
Additional placements:
- Rev. Bruce Langford is the interim at Falmouth Foreside
- Rev. Kent Allen was called as the Sr. Pastor at Yarmouth
- Rev. William Wildman has begun at Norway
There is a frustration that many churches do not want an interim pastor from out of state.
Resolved that the Coordinating Council invite the Rev. Dr. Larry Kalajainen to serve on the Financial Envisioning and Development Committee. Motion carried.
There are a number of churches that have not been giving to the Maine Conference for a number of years. Some of these churches utilize Conference resources. David requests that we think about the idea of having an inactive list, where member churches that are on the inactive list may only use Conference resources on a fee basis.
We have been asked to consider forgiving the loan that the Maine Conference made to the Still Speaking Initiative in the amount of $26,000. This should be an agenda item for a future meeting

The Transitional Associate Conference Minister (June Boutwell) reported:
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
Placement is taking a large amount of time.
Since approximately the middle of December, 13 new churches have started the interim process. Karen Eriksen has been doing a lot of work in this area.
There have been some unusual situations at some churches that require attention.
There have been some other national gatherings.
She will be heading to the New England Ministry Issues Implementation Workshop with Anita White. Will be bring back draft documents to the spring Committee on Ministry Gathering. Parish Life and leadership have been working with three working groups to develop changes to the Manual on Ministry, the Toolkit for Committees on Ministry and the Manual on Church. It is anticipated that there will be a lot of educational efforts around these changes over the next year to two years.
There are a lot of spring meetings within the conference.

Chuck Ihloff will likely be transferring his membership from Casco to Cornish, which are in different Associations. If this occurs he will not longer be the Coordinating Council representative for the Cumberland Association.

John Glover was appointed to the Personnel Committee.

The following people were ratified as nominees for JWM: Martha Phillips, Andrea Thompson McCall and Sarah Bigney.

The Commission for Community Life (Herb Oliver) reported on their work on setting up town meetings to determine if there should be any changes in the real estate assets of the Conference (Pilgrim Lodge, Rockcraft the Pennell Center, etc.).
They had several recommendations and thoughts:
- That “town meetings” be established;
- That questions at the town meetings come from the Coordinating Council, not from a Commission;
- The facilitators for the town meetings come from outside the UCC;
- That all town meetings be within 45 minutes to 1 hour of members with the exception of some areas like parts of Washington and Aroostook counties;
- These meetings should not occur prior to the Annual Meeting, but it may be appropriate to do some education at the Annual Meeting;
- Spring Association meetings may also be an opportunity to educate and gather information.
There was a great deal of discussion, culminating in a resolution.

Resolved that, we authorizes the Commission for Community Life to begin the planning process for arranging discussions with conference members regarding the physical assets of the Maine conference and to report back to us. Motion carried

There is nothing to report on the Special Appeal and Gift Policy at this time.

June reported on the Equality/Quality of Marriage Lenten study workshops:
The sessions went very well.
There were nine attendees in Bangor, six in Waterville and 30 in Portland.
The materials from this will be posted on the web site and information from this will be distributed via the ACE.

A meeting date is being arranged for the 50th Anniversary Committee.

The Search Committee is having a meeting tomorrow. They’ve received a good number of profiles. They’re on schedule

David reported on General Synod arrangements:
Heidi Bennett is encouraging and coordinating registrations for youth and visitors.
There are two packages available for both youth and adult visitors, the full Synod package and what is being called “Synod Lite”, which is Thursday through Sunday.
Debra Breault is coordinating the youth deligation.
Brian Breault is working as a resource person for the adult visitors.
When people register online there is a question asking who the person is affiliated with. Our staff has access to who from Maine registered so we can contact them about travel and housing arrangements. We are asking the adult visitors to stay in one of three hotels in the area in order to simplify and reduce the cost of bussing. The youth are all staying at the University of Hartford. Heidi’s salary will be recouped through the bus fees.

Aaron Gould, our representative on the Executive Committee in the national setting, and the vice president of that body, recently moved out of state, but is continuing his membership in the Maine Conference. We discussed if it is proper and appropriate for him to continue representing the Maine Conference. The issue was postponed until the next meeting.
We deeply appreciate Aaron’s service to the Maine Conference.

The question of a need to schedule December Commission meetings in order to accomplish all that is required (such as completing the budget process) was discussed. Because Commissions are free to call additional meetings, the Coordinating Council did not see a need to take any action on this issue.

June reported on the Lay Leadership Development Working Group:
They are looking at developing:
- a one year core curriculum,
- some specialized skill curricula around Lay Preaching, certified in Christian Education, Youth Ministry and approaching licensure,
They are continuing to review similar lay leadership programs from all around the United States.
The education committee met with Jeff Jones, the distance learning coordinator at Andover Newton, about the possibility of partnering with them to offer courses in things that are not site based.
They raised the question that if there were a multi-year program for this, what would the site look like? From the research they determined that the successful programs either had a site or partnered with an organization that had a site with housing, class space and the appropriate technology.

The notes from the January 24, 2007 Annual Meeting Committee were received and filed with the minutes.

The minutes from the January 6, 2007 Commission for Witness Life were received and filed with the minutes.

The minutes from the January 6, 2007 Commission for Spiritual Life were received and filed with the minutes.

The Hancock-Waldo Association (Victor Stanley) reported:
They are having discussions about how the Association can improve and how they can breath new life into it.
About 8 pastors had a retreat; they are looking for ways of strengthening ties with each other and with the Maine Conference.
Joan Jordan Grant and Catherine Booth created the Alcion Center on MDI to share their passion for a contemplative, prayerful life.

The Cumberland Association (Charles Ihloff) reported:
They are trying to find a replacement for Nancy McClain as scribe. The problem is that the job is too large for an individual. They’ve divided the job into two positions, a scribe and an assistant scribe, and will soon be selecting the people.
Their spring meeting will be held on April 29. Worship may be held at Program Open House, but there may not be enough space.

Denise reported that the Washington Association has named two representatives from their Association to the Coordinating Council, Marti Shaw and Pat Donolly.

The Oxford Union Association (Don Isham) reported:
They will have their spring meeting on April 29 at 2:00 at the First Church in Bridgeton. There will be a huge celebration for the completion of the major renovation project at that church.

The York Association (Peter Mercer) reported:
They will have their spring meeting on April 22. They are reinventing themselves by recognizing that the business meeting is the deadly part of the spring meeting. They are using technology to minimize the business piece of the meeting, and they are using the 50th anniversary of the UCC to maximize the fellowship piece.
They are sending 14 youth and four adults to New Orleans from 1/27/7 to 2/3/7.

The Penobscot-Piscataquis Association (John Glover) reported:
They are celebrating the first installation of a woman in the Congregational Church Dover Foxcroft since 1824,
and the ordination of Linda Hatch on December 17.
They are having a midwinter meeting on the third Sunday in February in Newport.

The Kennebec Valley Association (Jane Lowell) reported:
They are considering having only a fall meeting each year instead of a spring and fall meeting.

The State Youth Council, Midwinter Retreat will be held February 23-25 at the Wells church with assistance from the South Berwick church. This is the meeting where they elect their executive committee. June asked that you encourage your youth to attend, especially if they would like leadership positions.

Linda reported that March 23 and 24 will be a combined Small Church Event and Church Leaders Convocation. The Guest speaker will be John Westerhoff who will speak on Friday on Living Faithfully in the 21st Century, and on Saturday on the Making of Christian Persons and Communities.
Churches are asked to send teams of leaders to this event who will bring back and use what they’ve learned. They will be asked to meet before and after the event to try to decide how they might use what they’ve learned.
It will be held at the South Parish Congregational UCC church in Augusta.
There will be a price break for churches that send a team of four. The prices are $25 per person, $75 for 4 people and $15 for Seminary students.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:54 PM.

Todd Goodeill, Clerk