Maine
Conference of the United Church of Christ 
God is Still
Speaking,
"Never place a period where God has placed a comma"
- Gracie Allen
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maine Conference
United
Church of Christ
To
Believe Is To Care
And To Care Is To Do
Please
duplicate and use as an informational piece
Welcome
to the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ!
We
are 175 congregations spread throughout the state of Maine.
We gather in large Cathedral
like churches with sizable
congregations and we unite in the
Meeting Houses of small rural communities.
On Sundays we will hear from our Sanctuaries traditional hymns as well as
contemporary Christian music. From
our pulpits we will hear Good News preached which can comfort our souls, prick
our conscience, and provoke deep spiritual reflection.
We are a Christian community of faith, all 25,000 of us.
Throughout
each week we find each other serving our churches, our ten Associations, and our
Conference. We are a committed
laity and clergy working together to build up the realm of God in our midst.
Whether we are stocking a food pantry, singing songs of praise, splashing
in Lake Cobbosseecontee, or reroofing a seminary in Honduras we are people
united in Christ. We are also a
diverse community, a people of integrity, as we express our faith and struggle
with difficult issues which face our churches, our communities, our state,
country, and world.
The
Conference is served by two Conference Ministers. Our role is to be "pastor
to the pastors and the local churches".
We provide service and support to ministers and congregations throughout
the state. However, in the areas of
placement of ministers, conflict mediation, and Church and Ministry issues we
divide the Conference geographically. Jean
Alexander covers York, Cumberland, Oxford Union, Franklin and Aroostook
Associations. David Gaewski covers Lincoln, Hancock Waldo, Washington,
Kennebec Valley, Penobscot
Piscataquis
Associations. The Conference is also served by a competent staff including our
Business Manager, Mark Schussler; Administrative Assistant, Cheryl Tibbetts;
Conference Secretary, Cathy Croudis; Placement Secretary Mary Ann Wallace;
Director of Local Church Resources, Annette Mott; Resource Center Assistant Mary
Angela Davis, Russell Lane, Bookkeeper; Rockcraft Manager, David Brown; and
Pilgrim Lodge Manager, Bryan Breault. We
are here to serve the churches, the Associations, and Jesus Christ.
This
booklet is designed as a resource to further describe who we are and what we do.
Please feel free to make copies and distribute it widely.
Use it as a resource for church members as well as potential members.
Blessings
upon you and your congregation as we share in our common ministry.
David
R Gaewski
Jean
M. Alexander
Conference
Ministers
Who
We Are
On any given Sunday in Maine, we will find about 9,360 worshipers in our more
than 175 UCC churches all across the state (a day s drive from one end to the
other), gathered in buildings dating from 1730 to 1994.
In the shadow of majestic mountains, on the rugged, rockbound coast, in
fertile valleys and fields, in mill towns and downtowns, we gather together in
work and worship.
These
churches range in membership from four to over a thousand; some are yoked
parishes, others have multi-staffed ministries. The average OCWM (Our Churches Wider Mission) giving local
churches, represents 5.3% of current
expenses and an additional 5.2% of current
expenses goes to other mission giving. In addition to supporting strong local churches, we join
together in the following facilities and relationships.
PROGRAMS,
PROPERTIES AND RELATIONSHIPS
Rockcraft Retreat Center: A stately stone villa overlooking
beautiful Sebago Lake is the inviting and comfortable Conference retreat center. Formerly a fashionable vacation home, it includes a main
lodge, carriage house, boat house and chauffeur’s house. It provides a beautiful setting for spiritual nurture and
development and is used for retreats and workshops primarily for adults and
youth groups.
Pilgrim
Lodge: Nestled on the shores of Lake Cobbosseecontee in West Gardiner,
more than a dozen cozy cabins linked by a rustic boardwalk welcome each year
hundreds of children, youth and church families for a summer camping experience
of spiritual challenge and growth. It
is also becoming a site for individual churches to hold retreats.
The
Pennell Center: This is the main office of the Maine Conference UCC
located in Yarmouth, Maine. There
are two Conference Ministers with one having a home office in Belfast, the
Business Manager, Administrative Assistant, Conference Secretary, Placement
Secretary, and Bookkeeper. The
Resource Center is also located at the Conference office.
The Conference office is the business office for all the UCC church in
the state of Maine.
Resource
Center: The Resource Center provides print and audio-visual resources
for all areas of church life and mission to individuals and congregations.
Each church receives a catalog of video resources, along with
twice-yearly supplements. Trained staff are available to recommend Sunday School
curricula, Bible study resources, books and videos which cover a wide range of
topics.
A.C.C.T. (A Community of Christian Teachers) is a two year
educational leadership training program sponsored by the Maine Conference. Through a series of sessions relating to Bible study,
theology, Christian ethics, program resources, youth ministry, and spiritual
nurture, participants gain new confidence, insights, and ideas to strengthen
their ministries. Graduates of the
program may seek certification as a Maine Conference Church Educator.
State
Youth Council: The Council is comprised of all the high school aged
youth in the Maine Conference and led by an Executive Council of eight elected
youth with three adult advisors. This
group holds two retreats a year, leads one of the worship services at Annual
Meeting, and offers opportunities for our youth to gather together in fellowship
throughout the year as well as supporting participation in regional and national
youth events. A member of the
Executive Council sits on the Coordinating Council.
Women
of the Maine Conference: These women strive to be a reflection of God=s
love as it assists women in becoming mature Christians, to develop programs
which deepen their Christian witness, and to help women understand and
participate in the whole task of the church through worship, education, women's
issues and especially mission. As
the name indicates, it is an avenue for covenantal relationship of individuals
as well as local church organizations.
Resourcing
the Local Church: The
Coordinating Council appoints the members of the Resourcing the Local Church
Committee. This committee maintains a policy for and oversees the disbursement
of the income from that portion of the Capital Campaign gifts designated for the
Resourcing the Local Church Endowment Fund.
Applications for these funds may be obtained from the Conference Office.
(1-800-244-0937)
Maine
Council of Churches: The Maine Council of Churches is involved in social
service issues of social justice especially in the criminal justice system and
prison reform and rehabilitation. The Maine Council of Churches provides a
unified voice of mainline protestant and Roman Catholic churches.
They annually sponsor the Seeds of Promise, an ecumenical conference and
offers workshops for Christian education.
United
Church of Canada: Through the exchanging of visitors for Annual Meetings
and occasional clergy retreats, the Maine Conference maintains a friendly
relationship with the Maritime Province of the United Church of Canada.
Maine
Seacoast Mission: This is a multi-denominational effort providing
ministers and ministry to coastal and island churches of downeast Maine.
With its flagship, the Sunbeam, Maine Seacoast Mission helps connect
often isolated islanders and bring relief to the needy.
The
Wilson Center: Named after author Dorothy Clark Wilson, it is the home
of the Maine Christian Association and provides Protestant chaplaincy to the
University of Maine at Orono. Supported in part by the Maine Conference. It=s recent
chaplains have all been UCC clergy.
Honduras:
The Conference has a growing relationship of our church with the Evangelical and
Reformed Church of Honduras and its social service arms.
This has been a challenging and rewarding mission activity which has
included work team visits, Honduran visits to Maine and project funding
assistance.
Maine
Ministerial Relief Society: Provides confidential, emergency financial
assistance to Maine UCC clergy and their families through a fund which is
administered by trustees from the Maine Conference.
History
and Background
Carved
from the receding glacier of the Ice Age, Maine gradually took shape.
Jagged edges of the drowned coast emerged, scattering islands, safe
harbors and dangerous reefs along its length.
Melting ice poured toward the sea, forming great rivers.
Millions of tons of rubble created pockets for lakes and ponds.
Gradually birch trees migrated from the south, followed by pines and
spruce and then maple and other hardwoods.
Forest animals, land and sea birds and hardy plants gradually claimed
residence throughout the area. The
result has been a state that is harsh and demanding, incredibly beautiful and
exceedingly rich in natural resources.
People
came to the area also. The
earliest, or Stone Age culture, is sometimes known as the Red Clay people
because of their practice of using clay stained red from iron oxide. More recently the Wabanaki (the People of Dawn) settled
throughout the more southern areas and the Micmac in the north of what was to
become New England. They greeted
the European traders and settlers. Very
quickly, however, the indigenous people were either killed, or forced to flee
westward and adopt English culture. With
the exception of three reservations, the Europeans claimed possession of all the
land.
Maine
was part of Massachusetts until 1820. Since then it has had political
independence, but it has remained in many ways much like a colony.
Initially, trading practices and later manufacturing and lumbering
interests from away have come to Maine and provided jobs but also
exploited its natural and human resources and took away much of the profit. Still today, Maine ranks thirty-eighth in the country in
average wages.
Power
within the state has traditionally been in "Yankee" hands, immigrants
of English descent. Working people
from French-Canadian areas have come into the state to work in the mills and
lumbering industries. More
recently, immigrants from Eastern Europe and Asian countries have moved to
Maine. Although they still
individually and collectively form only a small percentage of the population,
today over seventy languages are spoken in Maine.
From
the time before Maine was an independent state, African Americans lived here.
Many of them were freed slaves or those fleeing slavery through the
underground railway route through the state.
Others came to find work on the ships sailing out of Maine ports, or as
teachers, ministers and as other professions.
Although their numbers are few, they have been an integral part of Maine's
story from the seventeenth century on.
The
English settlers brought their churches, notably the Puritan Parish system, and
many Congregational churches trace their roots back to the early and mid sixteen
and seventeen hundreds. In 1826,
Maine Congregationalists established the first state conference in the country.
From the beginning, the Conference had an ecumenical stance.
It sought conversation and ties with Congregational churches throughout
the country and in England and with our Protestant denominations in Maine.
It
also expressed concern about issues of social justice.
At its annual meetings, throughout the nineteenth century, delegates
passed resolutions supporting peace, and William Ladd of Maine founded the
American Peace Society in 1828 to illustrate the inconsistency of war with
Christianity.
They
supported temperance efforts. And
generally they supported emancipation, although not all agreed that immediate
emancipation was the way to proceed. As
the Conference moved into the twentieth century, delegates urged are from of the
social order during the Depression, advocated for a world court, supported
conscientious objection and recommended birth control.
Early
in the century, the first Congregational woman was ordained in Maine - the
Reverend Isabelle Phelps. Today,
out of a total of 243 ordained UCC ministers, fifty-eight are women.
Following
the General Synod of 1957, when the Congregationalists and Evangelical and
Reformed delegates voted to become the United Church of Christ, the Maine
Conference approved the merger, although a few congregations either did not vote
or voted not to join the new body. Today
some churches are still members of the Maine Conference but not of the United
Church of Christ.
In
1992, the Conference voted to implement a five-year capital campaign to repair,
upgrade, and expand Rockcraft, Pilgrim Lodge, and the Pennell/Resource Center.
In addition, the campaign created an endowment fund to help local
churches make needed improvements and develop leadership, set aside scholarship
funds for seminary students, and contributes to new church development and
community projects. It also
provided for our share to the national church Make A Difference! Campaign!
A
NEW BEGINNING
In
1993, the Conference embarked upon a period of self-examination, to assess the
pastoral and structural needs of the Conference. Following the departure of a Conference Minister and
Associate Conference Minister, who had served for nearly two decades, the Board
of Directors appointed a Transition Team. Over
the next two years, meetings were held with every congregation, every
Association, every division and committee or other group within the Conference
that wished to have its concerns, questions and visions heard.
Taking the results of those numerous gatherings, the Transition Team
fashioned a Vision Statement for the Conference, which was adopted at the 1995
Annual Meeting.
The
Vision Statement set the tone and ethos for proceeding to develop a new
structure for the Conference which would reflect the relational vision of shared
ministry. At a spirit-filled
Special Meeting of the Conference in Waterville in June of 1996, the new
structure was adopted.
In
1996, the Maine Conference committed to a visionary and daring challenge that we
believe is consistent with both the Gospel message of the new realm of God and
the longings of church members; to embody a church deeply rooted in our
relationship with God, caring and nurturing one another and committed to serve
the world in love and justice. All
of our voices also must become part of the dialogue that shapes the future of
the church and world. We want to
model how to be a church together and we are prepared to work together.
Structure
of the Maine Conference UCC
The
Model identities three areas of Ministry as: Spiritual Life (Relating to God),
Witness Life (Relating to Gods World), and Community Life (Relating to One
Another). Each of these areas will have its own commission, and a
Coordinating Council for Conference Life will have responsibility for
coordination of the work of the Commissions and setting policy for the Conference.
Commissions:
Each Commission will be composed of 15 members, one from each Association, plus
5 at-large members to be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference.
The Commission will choose its Chairperson.
The individual Commissions will be charged with responsibilities and
programming which relate to their area of ministry.
The Commissions will determine how to accomplish their tasks, not by
doing it all themselves, but by involving others in on-going committees, or more
short-term task groups.
Commission
for Spiritual Life (Relating to God)
Areas of responsibility:
Christian Study
and Nurture
Stewardship Team
Leadership
Development
Clergy Compensation
and Renewal (Clergy and Lay)
Church Leaders' Convocation
Pastoral Care
New Clergy Gatherings
Worship
Church and Ministry
Interim
Ministry
Rockcraft Ministries
Pilgrim Lodge
Ministries
Commission
for Witness Life (Relating to God's World)
Areas
of responsibility:
Our Mission is:
Serving human need, Peace and justice,
Integrity of Creation
Evangelism in these settings:
Global, National, State-wide, Local
Ecumenical/Interfaith
UCC Identity
Seminarian/Seminary Support
Honduras Committee
Commission
for Community Life (Relating to One
Another)
Areas
of responsibility:
Mission Team on Small Church Development and Support
Resource Center Ministry Team
Youth Ministry Team
Women of the Maine Conference
Coordinating Council for Conference Life
The
Coordinating Council for Conference Life is composed of the Officers of the
Conference (elected at Annual Meeting): Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk,
Treasurer, two persons chosen from/by each Commission (one may be, but is not
required to be the Chairperson), one representative from each Association, a
representative of the State Youth Council a representative of the Women of the
Maine Conference and a representative of the Board of Trustees.
This
body will support the work of the Commissions by attending to the business of
the Conference. It acts on behalf
of the Conference between Annual Meetings.
In addition to its regularly assigned duties, it will establish Search
Committees for the hiring of paid staff, when necessary.
An
Executive Committee, consisting of the Officers of the Conference and one of
each Commission's representatives to the Coordinating Council, will function on
behalf of the Coordinating Council between its meetings.
Coordinating
Council for Conference Life
(Supports the work of the Commissions)
Areas of responsibility:
Board of Trustees
Finance
Properties - program Commissions report
site needs to this body
Communications: Publications, Marketing
& Public Relations
Personnel
Long Range Planning & Evaluation
Nominating
Policy
Administrative Support
Maine Ministerial Relief Society
Conflict Response Team
Vision
Statement
We are the Maine Conference, United Church of Christ.
We affirm that the Conference, as a part of the Body of Christ, includes the
local church, its members, associations, and all the ministries of the Maine
Conference, working together in shared mission.
We are called to be the church of Jesus Christ in all times remembering that:
In this time of cultural change, we will journey and wrestle together in
Christian faith and mutual ministry
to discern God's leading;
In
this time when local churches are facing many issues we will empower the church
for its local mission;
In this time of temptation to withdraw, we will think and act beyond ourselves
and in God's world;
In
this time of feeling isolated, we will be attentive to one another's voices and
needs;
In
this time of distrust and cynicism in our culture and the church, we will model
a climate of trust and respect;
In
this time of confusion about our identity, we will ask profound questions of our
faith and ourselves;
In
this time of lost connection we will renew our partnership in ministry with our
congregations, associations, the wider church and other ecumenical
members of the Body of Christ;
In
this time of competition for resources, we will be good stewards and accountable
for the resources we share;
In
this time of deep hunger for meaning and substance, we will nourish our faith
with one another through worship, study and prayer;
In
this time of unrecognized potential, we will invite, affirm, strengthen and
celebrate the individual gifts and talents already among us;
In
this time of changing values, we will affirm our commitment to children and
young people;
In
this time of suffering and violence, we will seek God's peace and justice in
God's world.
Remembering
that Jesus Christ is the head of the church and relying on the power of the Holy
Spirit to lead us,
we seek to respect one another
challenge
one another
empower
one another
support one another
in our struggle to build a loving community of faithful servants to the glory of
God.
Aroostook
Association:
Ashland
East Millinocket
Fort Fairfield, Fed.
Fort Kent
Houlton
Island Falls
Masardis
Oxbow
Presque Isle
Saint Francis
Sherman Mills
Cumberland Association:
Auburn, High Street
Auburn, Sixth Street
Auburn, West
Brunswick
Casco
Cumberland Center
Durham
Falmouth
Falmouth, Foreside Com
Freeport, First
Freeport, South
Gorham
Gorham, North
Gray
Minot Center
New Gloucester
North Yarmouth
Portland, State Street
Portland, Stevens Ave
Portland, Williston-West
Portland, Woodfords
Raymond Community
Raymond, East
Scarborough, Blue Point
Scarborough, First
South Portland
Standish
Westbrook, Highland Lake
Westbrook, Prides Corner
Westbrook-Warren
Windham, East
Windham Hill
Windham, North
Yarmouth
Franklin Association:
Farmington
Industry
New Sharon
Phillips
Rangeley
Weld
Wilton
Hancock
Waldo:
Bar Harbor
Belfast
Blue Hill
Brooks
Brooksville
Bucksport
Castine
Cranberry Isles
Dedham
Deer Isle,
First
Deer Isle, Sunset
Ellsworth, First
Ellsworth Falls
Frankfort
Freedom
Frenchboro
Hancock
Isle au Haut
Jackson
Lincolnville
Little Deer Isle
Monroe
Northeast Harbor
Otter Creek
Sandy Point
Seal Harbor
Searsport
Somesville
Thorndike
Tremont
Kennebec Valley
Augusta
Benton Falls
Gardiner
Hallowell
Jackman
Litchfield
Madison
Monmouth
Pittsfield
The Forks
Vassalboro
Waterville
Winslow
Winthrop
Lincoln Association
Bath
Boothbay Harbor
Bristol
Camden
Edgecomb
Matinicus
Newcastle, First
Newcastle, Second
Phippsburg
South Bristol
Thomaston
Wiscasset
Waldoboro
Woolwich
Oxford Union Association
Albany
Andover
Bethel
Bridgton, First
Bridgton, North
Fryeburg
Harrison
Locke Mills
Lovell
Magalloway
Mechanic Falls
Mexico
Norway, First
Norway, Second
Oxford
Poland
Rumford Point
Stoneham, East
Sumner, East
Sweden
Upton
Waterford, First
Waterford, North
West Bethel
West Paris
Penobscot Piscataquis
Amherst/Aurora
Bangor, All Souls
Bangor, Forest Avenue
Bangor, Hammond Street
Brewer, First
Brewer, Second
Brownville
Greenville
Hampden
Holden
Lincoln
Milford
Monson
Newport
Rockwood
Springfield
Stillwater
Washington Association:
Calais
Cherryfield
Eastport
Machias
Milbridge
Perry
Waite/Talmadge
York Association:
Acton
Alfred
Biddeford
Buxton, First
Buxton, North
Cornish
Eliot
Kennebunk
Kennebunkport, First
Kennebunkport, South
Kittery, Second
Kittery Point
Lebanon
Limerick
Newfield, West
North Berwick
Saco, First
Saco, North
Sanford
South Berwick
Wells
York
York Beach
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