Conference Minister’s
2015 Annual Report
John R. Deckenback
June 12, 2015
Welcome to the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ!
On the home front
Attendees at the 2014 Annual Meeting may recall that our oldest grandson, Will Deckenback, now 2, attended and tried to take over the podium. Much to our surprise Will and his mother moved in with us for three months later in the year so that our daughter-in-law Emily could complete requirements for her certification as a mid-wife.
Grandmother Carolyn retired as pastor of the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley at the end of September, thus giving her the opportunity to help with grandparenting Will as his mom hurried off to help with births. Carolyn also joined our son Jeffry and the rest of the California branch of our family as they moved from Southern California to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Planners of my 50th Santa Barbara High School reunion originally proposed that we merge our event with our cross-town rivals. The SBHS alums would hear nothing of that bright idea. Old rivalries die hard, even after 50 years. We had a great time on our own…swapping stories and sharing pictures of the grandchildren…even got a picture of me visiting with my high school football coach.
In November, Kate, our other daughter-in-law gave birth to John Michael Deckenback. John joins his dad, Aaron and brother Charlie at their home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We join them whenever we can to help with remodeling projects on their 100+ year old farm house.
And, sometime just after the start of 2016 another grandchild is on the way. Jeffry and Emily have already signed grandmother up to help.
Freddie Gray’s death
I watched the outrage explode in Baltimore on April 27 on a tiny TV screen on the back of a United Airlines seat. I was on my way home from the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Conference where I had been invited to speak. It was an arduous, uncomfortable trip as CNN’s images portrayed streets the CVS burning in neighborhoods not that far from our offices.
Tragically, Baltimore is on the list of cities where the credibility of police and their role in “enforcing the law” is in serious question. But that list of cities continues to grow and we must ask ourselves—why?
A few days later UCC and Disciples clergy gathered at our offices for conversation and prayer with the General Ministers and Presidents of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples). We were honored by their caring and compassion.
In the coming months we will be partnering with Baltimore-area churches and clergy to bring healing to these horrific wounds. One small step is the replenishment and support for Heritage UCC’s Foot Pantry. Heritage is just a few blocks north of the Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore. Your non-perishable or financial gifts are most welcome.
For me the outrage in Baltimore is but one illustration of the New Jim Crow and its failed War on Drugs (see Michele Alexander’s book by that title).
A trip to Colombia
In May a small delegation from the Connecticut and Central Atlantic Conferences visited our missionary in Colombia, Michael Joseph. For nearly 15 years our two Conferences have collaborated together to understand the dynamics of peacemaking in that region along with Colombian Mennonite partners from Justapaz.
Rev. Joseph took our delegation into the campo. Early one morning we flew for an hour north to Barrancabermeja, then transferred to a high speed “water taxi” for a 2 ½ hour ride down the Magdelena Media, which has been described as Colombia’s Mississippi. At a riverbank “port” we were met by Pastor Salvador of the Four Square Church in El Garzal, a village of 500 residents.
Not that long ago Pastor Salvador and the residents had been driven off land they have farmed for decades. When they returned they discovered landing strips and processing facilities for drug trafficking. One basic issue is that the compesinos have been unable to obtain clear title to the land they farm.
The Pastor continues to live, like many other church workers, amidst treats. This was the other end of the War on Drugs and “the war” failed miserably here too.
Pastor Salvador told me he loves the people and the land…but he’s never gotten used to the mosquitos. After one night of trying to sleep in a hammock on his front porch under a mosquito net, I agree.
Back in Bogota a staff person took careful and detailed notes about our experiences to pass along to the Human Rights desk staff person who was way.
Our other international and ecumenical partnerships with the UCC of South Africa and the Evangelical Church in Middle Germany (EKM) are flourishing. Ten church leaders from Germany visited in CAC congregations this spring to learn “how we do what we do…”
Our German friends are looking ahead to the 2017 anniversary celebration of the Reformation.
Our Ministry Team
Throughout my tenure with the Conference I appreciated having Kwame Osei Reed as a “just down the hall” colleague always available to confer. In October, Kwame retired and his office looks very empty.
Happily, Ruth Harvey was available to capably step in as Interim Associate Conference Minister. We will miss Ruth when her contract expires at the end of August.
Kwame’s departure came as we were initiating our new staffing pattern with regional assignments and Conference-wide responsibilities for the three Associate Conference Ministers. We have been moving forward with the plan and believe that in the end we will better serve the churches and associations.
Associate Conference Minister David Popham is based in the northern region (New Jersey and Delaware) and oversees “search and call” and the committees on the ministry Conference-wide. Marie Bacchiocchi is the Associate Conference Minister for the Western Region and oversees boundary training and other clergy educational activities Conference-wide.
A major new feature of the revamped search and call process will be the addition of trained search and call coaches to supplement the work of the Ministry Team with local church search committees. David Popham has been coordinating this.
At this meeting we hope to introduce the newly elected Associate Conference Minister to succeed Kwame. This person will relate to churches/clergy in the eastern region of the Conference and have Conference-wide responsibilities for social justice ministries.
As Kwame was preparing to retire Alex Vishio approached him with a marvelous offer of part-time volunteer staffing assistance to our social justice initiatives. In collaboration with First and St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ and the Chesapeake Association Alex was ordained as Assistant Minister for Social Justice Ministries in the fall. He has been of great assistance to us and was the primary person responsible for preparing the three CAC-sponsored resolutions for consideration at this summer’s General Synod:
- Dismantling the New Jim Crow
- Change the Racially Demeaning Name, Mascot, Imagery of the Washington National Football League Team
- A Call for the United Church of Christ to Take Actions Toward a Just Peace in the Israel-Palestine Conflict
The success of our New Visions! Fund Raising Campaign led to the addition of Kendal Brown to our Ministry Team in the fall. Kendal’s three-year appointment strengthens our efforts regarding new church development and congregational vitality. We have been blessed with numerous new church (or affiliating church) opportunities. Since last year’s Annual Meeting two new congregations have joined the Conference – Veritas UCC in Hagerstown and Beloved Community UCC in Prince George’s County, Md. Kendal will also be overseeing the Conference’s on-going relationship with the Center for Progressive Renewal as well as our congregational vitality seminars.
An untimely death
The chair of our New Visions! Campaign and the Senior Minister of Peoples Congregational UCC in Washington, DC, Michael C. Murphy died at Christmas-time. Michael brought passion and commitment to our church development activities and his death has left a tremendous void. We continue to work with the congregation as it too works to recover.
Church Building Projects
A few years ago one or two of our congregations initiated major building projects. In recent years, however, this trend has grown into a significant wave with multi-million dollar projects planned, underway or just-completed at nearly a dozen locations Conference-wide. Many of these projects modernize existing buildings and provide for handicapped accessibility, while others provide new program and/or worship space.
Changing demographics
Recently the leaders of one of our historic African American churches invited me for an extended conversation regarding their future.
A consultant, arranged through the Center for Progressive Renewal, has been working with them for several months.
Once their neighborhood was almost entirely African American and church attendees walked to church. As time went on the congregation’s members and their children moved away and the neighborhood looked tired. Then, in just the last couple of years, things changed.
The neighborhood is now 55% white, 15% Hispanic and only 23% African American. No church members live in walking distance and parking is a major headache. The city recently replaced two valuable parking spaces near the church with bike racks and the street out front has been designated as a bike route. It is a walking/biking neighborhood again and the median age is 30.
The end of a long legal situation
Happily the Conference and former members of the Paramus Congregational UCC in New Jersey have finally concluded extended litigation brought by two former members of the church. The litigation was both disruptive and expensive. In the end, virtually all rulings supported positions taken by the congregation and the Conference. One positive result is the establishment of the Paramus Trust for congregational renewal and new church development. The new Trust made its first grants this year and works in tandem with our pre-existing Trinity Trust.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead we are excited about the prospects for hosting the 2017 General Synod in Baltimore. Jill White will be our overall chair. She will be joined by co-chairs Bob Ziegler and Sia Barbara Ferguson Kamara. In order to host the Synod we will be responsible for recruiting some 400+ volunteers as well as providing hospitality for a wide variety of events.
It promises to be a fabulous opportunity to showcase CAC, our churches and communities, and a recovering Baltimore.
The bottom line
Bottom line, I believe there are many opportunities for vital, vibrant ministries in this Conference and thank you for the opportunity to minister among you.
2015 Conference Minister’s Annual Report / 1