Present: Steve Harding, John Glover, Peter Bauer, Kris Galasyn, Phyllis Marley, Herbert Oliver, Heidi Flick, Earl Simpson, Phyllis Marley

Guest: Susan Yaruta Young, Tina Philips

Absent: David Deas, Linda Smith, Evelyn Franson, Carolyn Lambert

Items Added to Agenda
Old Business – Discussion for bill for the New England Women’s Conference

New Business – Discussion around the Marriage Equality issue

State Youth Council

Tina Philips presented the budget for the State Youth Council. They are requesting $2407.00. Herb commended the SYC for having an itemized budget.

YMAT
Susan Yaruta Young presented the budget for YMAT. There was some discussion around the amount for advisors. The Commission for Community Life has recommended that this line item remain in the budget because, during the past year, there was only one advisor now there are four.

Susan also presented the YUMMs (Youth Uniting Maine Middle Scholars) budget. There was a YUMM’s meeting on March 4 at the Elm Street Church in Bucksport. They are also planning another event in the near future. For this reason she has requested that YUMMs get $500 where it appears to be picking up again. This is a $200 increase over last year.

It was recommended that we maintain an annual amount of $1000 under a line item called Denominational Youth Use because this would cover youth for General Synod and Regional Youth events that occur every alternating year. This would replace the line item called New England Regional Youth Event.

It was moved by Earl and seconded by Kris that we accept the YMAT budget of $5407. Motion Carried

Clergy Spouse Network

Herb reported on the clergy spouse network budget. They have requested $500 that would be used for scholarships for the clergy spouse retreats. It would also cover some of the expenses. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Kris that the Clergy Spouse Network budget be $500. Motion Carried.

Outdoor Ministries Committee

Steve reported on behalf of the Outdoor Ministries Committee. They are at the Dean’s Retreat this weekend. They have requested $2250 to cover the Dean’s Retreat, Curriculum, and travel. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Phyllis that the Outdoor Ministries Committee budget is $2250. Motion Carried

Rockcraft Center

Earl stated that there was nothing new with the Rockcraft Center

Support Staff Network

Herb stated that he had received an email from Cheryl Tibbetts. They had an over expenditure last year because they had to cancel the event but still had to pay for the Rockcraft Retreat Center. Cheryl expressed concerns around attendance and interest. There was a recommendation from the commission that they have a 1 or 2 day event once a year, rather than have it twice annually. Communication is a concern for the support staff network. Support staff events and meetings need to be put on the website and in ACE. It is also recommended that the conference remind clergy about this event and encourage clergy to have churches put such events in their budget. It was moved by Phyllis and seconded by Kris that the Support Staff Network budget be $500. Motion Carried.

Executive Committee
There was some discussion about the marriage equality issue. The Witness Life Commission is discussing the Marriage Equality Issue, today, that was tabled at the Maine Annual Meeting. They are trying to determine if they are going to withdraw the motion, revise the motion or keep the motion the same. They also talked about the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ. There is a template on the website for this event. The search committee has been formed and has had one meeting. A job description was made and will be presented to the Coordinating Council on April 28. A media policy was discussed and will be presented to the Coordinating Council.

Coordinating Council
No March meeting for Coordinating Council so there is nothing new to report.

Old Business

There was discussion around the annual fee for the New England Women’s Event. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Kris that $300 be budgeted for the Women of the Maine Conference. There was discussion around who would be able to access the money. It was decided that anyone wanting this money would have to request it from the Commission for Community Life. Motion Carried There was also some discussion about “Baby Think it Over”. When the Women’s group ceased to exist, there was no one that took over that part of the Women’s Group. One suggestion was to have a display at Annual Conference and encourage women’s groups in our local churches to support this. Another suggestion is to have something happen around “Baby think it Over” at the New England Regional Youth Event, as a mission project. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Phyllis that YMAT consider doing “Baby Think it Over” as a mission project. Phyllis will also contact Anne Marie Heald to determine where the babies that the Women’s Group purchased went.

It was moved by Earl and seconded by Kris that the total budget to be presented for the Commission for Community Life, with the dream budget included, is $45,857.00. Motion Carried

Kris discussed the New England Regional Women’s Event. About 900 women attended the event about 124 of that number was from Maine. They saw the new video of the Easter “God is Still Speaking” ad. There were a number of workshop choices, John Thomas was there and spoke, and the women there had an opportunity to meet the National Collegiums.

New Business

Two bills were presented from the New England Women’s Leadership group. We were able to get it from the line Women of Maine Conference Subsidy. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Earl that we pay $200 to the New England Women’s Leadership Team. Motion carried.

New Business

The Commission for Community Life was charged with 5 gatherings entitled “How to have a Difficult Conversation” It was recommended that the Spiritual Life Commission and the Commission for Community Life meet with Mac Bigalow. We should also invite Denise Goodman to see how the process is going to work. We need to plan on going longer than 12:30pm.
The other item of new business is how to come up with money when a need arises. One recommendation was to get the mandates that the Women of the Maine Conference gave to the Commission for Community Life. It was moved by Earl and seconded by Kris that we add a budget line item entitled Special Programs; place $1000 in it, to be used for things that come up and to amend the Commission for Community Life budget to read $46,857.00. Motion Carried.

It was moved by Earl and seconded by Phyllis that we use $500 from The Rockcraft line item in the Commission for Community Life to pay for the costs of the two women going to the Mix 06 being held in Indianapolis. Motion Carried.