The regular meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ was held on Friday, March 9, 2007, at 10:00 AM, at the First Congregational Church in Waterville, the Moderator being in the chair and the Clerk being present. The minutes from the January 26, 2006 meeting were approved as corrected.

Present: Ron Beinema, Chelsea Bicknell, June Boutwell, Ernie Campbell, John Deal, David Gaewski, Linda Gard, John Glover, Todd Goodeill, Denise Goodman, Judith Hubley, Connie Insley, Dan Johnson, Sue Kaplan, Jane Lowell, Herb Oliver, Anne Roundy, Mark Schussler, Marty Shaw, Linda Smith, Victor Stanley, Sue Stevens

The Treasurer (Linda Gard) reported:
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
The fellowship dues process has begun; it’s a long, tedious process.
This year we’ve had to borrow from the bank to cover current expenses. This is the first time in Marks tenure that we’ve had to do this.
Debbie and Jay Shaw, CT, donated funds to purchase and to maintain the truck for four years. They also gave some additional money for other things for the Honduras Partnership.
She is working with the finance committee regarding cuts to the 2007 budget

The Business Manager (Mark Schussler) reported:
A written report was received and is filed with the minutes.

The Transitional Associate Conference Minister (June Boutwell) reported:
A written report was received and is filed with the minutes.

The Conference Minister (David Gaewski) reported:
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
From the search committee:
• They believe they will be presenting a candidate to the Coordinating Council at the April meeting.
• June 9 is the tentative date for a special Conference meeting to vote on accepting the candidate.
• David will ask Lorin Cope to determine if the person should be named, and what information should be included in the call to the special Conference meeting.
There are accountability concerns with the Amigos program which is York Association program. The Honduras Partnership committees of the York Association and Maine Conference have worked together to set up accountability.
David requests that “Now is the Time” support be on a future agenda.

Resolved that the loan to the national GISS initiative be forgiven – motion carried.

David Gaewski reported on the 2007 budget cuts/adjustments.
A written report was received and filed with the minutes.
The three proposal groups are:
1,2,3 – prioritized proposals from the finance committee
4 – proposals from the commissions
5 – Staff suggested cuts

Resolved that we regretfully accept the adjusted budget as proposed in the report – motion carried.

Recess for lunch

Resolved that The Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ supports the ministry of the York Association Honduras Mission Committee AMIGO project under the oversight of the Maine Conference Honduras Partnership Committee; this project only includes the collection of buckets containing food for the purpose of feeding children in communities in Honduras; these communities are chosen with recommendations for the Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church of Honduras.
Amended by appending, “be it further resolved that the Honduras Partnership will send the Coordinating Council its policy on accountability for the AMIGO project”. – amendment carried.
Motion was defeated.

David made the following statement for the record,” This is not something that I have taken lightly. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into this as have many members of the Honduras partnership committee.”
It was requested that David and the Executive Committee follow up on this issue.

Resolved that the members of the Covenanted Ministries be regularly invited guests to the Coordinating Council meetings and that they be requested to attend two meetings per year and send reports on their meetings to the Coordinating Council, and that they receive the Coordinating Council minutes – motion carried.

Resolved that the Coordinating Council inform Robert Ackroyd that we shish him well with his effort with “Rock Across America”, but that his request does not fall in line with the mission of the Maine Conference – motion carried.

Resolved that the Coordinating Council politely decline the request of the national 50th Anniversary Committee to make a donation of $2007 for “Synod in the City” due to our financial situation, and note that we haven’t cut basic support, and we’re forgiving a loan – motion carried.

Resolved that the Coordinating Council will ask for Aaron Gould’s resignation following General Synod, with deep appreciation for his services, because he has moved out of the Conference – motion carried.

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 and the Pennell Center, etc.)
They are actively working on plans.
The meeting schedule for March 2 was canceled due to weather, so it will be discussed next at their April 14 meeting.
It is strongly felt that the facilitator should be someone from outside of the Maine UCC and should be paid.
It was strongly suggested that a power point presentation be created of all three properties and be made available to all churches.

David reported on the work on the Special Appeal and Gift Policy:
He drafted the section, financial guidelines for receiving of gifts for the Small Church Mission Team.
The Small Church Mission team requested more time to review and comment on the document, so it is expected to come to the Coordinating Council for approval at the June meeting.

The 50th Anniversary committee reported (David Gaewski):
They request that they lead a 50th anniversary service at the expected June 9 Conference meeting.
They are asking all ministries to create a 4’x8’ banner with specific shades of red, black, yellow and white, which can be used for celebrations throughout the conference.
They will set up a Google group for people to share ideas on ways to celebrate.

David gave an update on General Synod:
Delegates will be meeting in April.
38 visitors have signed up who will be using the busses.

The State Youth Council (Chelsea Bicknell) reported:
The first meeting of the Executive Committee of the SYC will be on March 18.
The newly elected officers are:
• Amanda Butler, Windham, President
• Veronica Foster, Saco, Vice President
• Morgan Brockington, Saco, Secretary
• Natalie Milliano, Gorham, Treasurer
• Chelsea Bicknell, Windham, Coordinating Council Representative
• Alex Foss, Gorham, Electronic Multimedia Coordinator
• Lexi Carter, Saco, 1st member at large
• Kattie Kullard, Old Orchard Beach, 2nd member at large
• Bret Miler, Saco, 3rd member at large.
They will start the process of looking for new advisors

The Commission for Community Life (Herb Oliver) had nothing additional to report.

The Hancock Waldo Association (Linda Smith) reported:
They clergy have been meeting to dialog about how to rejuvenate their association.
They are planning on having a Family Fun day in Monroe on May 20, possibly instead of having their Spring Association meeting.
There is an Ecclesiastical Council for Mary Coleman, who graduated last year and is doing street ministry in Portland, on March 10 at 1 PM at the Lincolnville Church.

The Commission for Spiritual Life (Anne Roundy) reported:
The minutes from the last meeting were received and filed with the minutes.
They are working on some retreats.
They hosted a Lenten retreat in February at the Waterville church that was well received by a small number of people.
There will be a training workshop for Church in Ministry committee members on March 13 in Saco.
May 1 and 2 will be the Clergy Spring retreat at Living Waters in Waterville presented by Catherine Booth and Joan Grant Larson.
They also worked on the budget cuts/adjustments for the 2007 budget.

The Commission for Witness Life (Ernie Campbell) reported:
The minutes from the last meeting were received and filed with the minutes.
They spend most of their last meeting on budget cut/adjustment proposals.
Jean Davis, one of the Commission members has been working quite a while on developing an email network for Justice and Peace action in the State. We should be hearing more about that in the future.

The Penobscot Piscataquis Association (John Glover) reported:
Their annual meeting is on mother’s day

The Franklin Association (Sue Kaplan) reported:
They have an Executive Committee meeting on March 11.
Their spring meeting will be May 6 at Old South.

The Kennebec Valley Association (Jane Lowell) reported:
Their Executive Committee will be meeting soon to set a date for their next Association meeting.

The Oxford Union Association (Dan Johnson) reported:
Their meeting will be on April 29 in Bridgeton. The will be celebrating the renovation of that Church.

The Washington Association (Marty Shaw) reported:
Their spring meeting will be May 5. They are hoping to share with Aroostook County and have the meeting in Houlton.
On April 21 they will have their second session of Boundary training with June which will be open to clergy and lay people, especially pastor and parish relations committees.
They had 21 people at their first session in Calais, which occurred on a snowy day.

The Trusties (Ron Beinema) reported:
They are now following socially responsible investment practices.

June reported on the working group for what is currently being called the Academy for Congregational Leadership.
This group reports to the Commission for Spiritual Life.
They currently have a subcommittee working on a program model for the purposes of enhancing educated lay leadership in the conference, preparing persons for lay ministry and preparing persons for lay preaching as well as increasing people’s skills in the areas of preaching, worship, justice, stewardship, youth ministries and religious education.
It will probably be a two year core program with an additional year module to do any specialty areas.
Eventually the ACCT (Community of Christian Teachers) program will be incorporated into this program.
Right now ACCT is scheduled for 2007, 2008, then they’re hoping to implement the new program in the fall of 2008.
They expect to be requesting funding from the 2008 budget for startup funds for the program.

Denise reported that we need to start the planning process for the June, 2008 Annual Meeting.

The meeting minutes from the Outdoor Ministries Committee were received and filed with the minutes.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 PM.

Todd Goodeill, Clerk