Commission for Witness Life

Report to the Coordinating Council

May 8, 2009

 

  • The Commission has been reviewing our Mission Statement as a part of our work to prepare and submit a budget for 2010.  Two specific actions are being taken: a request that the Coordinating Council reconsider assignment of OCWM to the Witness Life budget; and research to secure up-to-date information about the Wilson Center (Univ. of Maine, Orono) regarding their program and staff.

 

  • Plans for the six state New England Justice event are proceeding, with Tara Olsen as the Commission contact.  Date will be November 6-7, in Worcester, MA with the theme, “Living Faithfully in a Changing World”.  Delle McCormick will be the keynote speaker and theologian in residence.  We will make a Conference-wide effort to invite attendees.

 

  • Plans are also underway for an Annual Meeting Workshop to help define what a Just Peace Conference is, and to assist congregations in study toward becoming Just Peace Churches.  Bonnie Haase is coordinating, with the assistance of other Commission members via e-mail during the summer.

 

  • The Commission voted on May 2, 2009 to submit a modified version of the Connecticut Conference’s Resolution on Climate Change (endorsed by the Coordinating Council at a past meeting) to the Maine Conference Annual Meeting in September 2009.  We discussed the format of the required hearing, and made plans to collect relevant material for the Resource Center.

 

  • Jonathan Falk (Peace through Interamerican Community Action) has inquired whether any UCC members might be interested in being trained to assist with workshops on trade and immigration.  Workshops will be made available to school classes as well as meetings of church and community groups.  The work is being done with the assistance of a NIN grant.

 

  • Reports were received from the Maine Council of Churches and the Honduras Partnership, in addition to the above.

 

  • Margaret Proctor, who coordinates the seminary scholarship program administered by the Commission, reported that only two applications have been received so far.  Closing date is May 15.  The policy of dividing the budgeted amount of $4,000 evenly among the qualified applicants was endorsed, and Margaret was given authority to proceed on that basis.