Central Atlantic Conference
United Church of Christ
Minutes of the Annual Meeting
June 10-12, 2005
The 41st Annual Meeting of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ met at the University of Delaware, Newark, DE, June 10-12, 2005.
PLENARY I
Moderator Gordon Forbes called the 41st Annual Meeting of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ to order. He then opened the meeting with prayer.
Report of the Registrar
Registrar Connie Healey reported that there are 66 clergy, 100 lay delegates, and 15 visitors registered for the meeting. The Moderator then declared a quorum.
Minutes of the 2004 Annual Meeting
It was moved, seconded, and
VOTED to accept the minutes of the 2004 Annual Meeting of the CAC
05 AM 01
A copy of the 2004 Annual Meeting minutes are on file in the Conference office
Standing Rules
The Moderator referred all delegates to the standing rules which are projected on the screen. It was moved, seconded, and
VOTED to adopt the standing rules..
05 AM 02
A copy of the Standing Rules is attached to these minutes as 05 AM Exhibit 1
Agenda
The Moderator reviewed the agenda. Plenary III will begin at 2 p.m. The report of the Nominating Committee will be given at Plenary I. The vote will be taken at Plenary II. Plenary IV (if necessary) will still occur, but if there is not business the Rev. Adora Lee will address the body regarding her work in Southern Africa. It was moved, seconded, and
VOTEDto accept the revised agenda.
05 BD 03
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
A copy of the revised agenda is attached to these minutes as 05 AM Exhibit 2
Introductions
The Moderator introduced the Associate Moderator, Enid Krieger. She asked CM John Deckenback to introduce the following guests who will be spending time at the Annual Meeting of the CAC:
Peter Makari, Wider Church Ministries; Cheri Lovell, Cornerstone Fund; Susan
Minasian, Lancaster Theological Seminary; Felix Ortiz-Cotto, area executive for Global Ministries for Latin American/Carribean. Later joining the meeting will be Congressman Bennie Thompson, who will be giving the address on Saturday, and Donaldson Hill, Office of General Ministries. Also attending are Barbara Brown Zikmund, Adora Lee, and Mari Castellanos of the Justice and Witness Ministries.
Nominating Committee Report
Ralph France, chair of the Nominating Committee referred delegates to the Nominating Committee Report (B-2) and then introduced nominees to the Board of Directors. It was moved, seconded, and
VOTED to receive the Nominating Committee Report. The vote will be taken in
05 AM 04Plenary II.
Distribution of Offerings of the Annual Meeting
The AMTF and the BOD recommend that the offerings be divided equally among three groups: Earl=s Place in Baltimore (transitional housing program for men), Small Conference Fund (to assist conferences with limited resources and often geographic challenges), and international partnerships with Colombia and HIV/Aids ministries in Southern Africa.
The Moderator announced that plenary would be in recess until 8:30 a.m. on June 11.
PLENARY II
Moderator Gordon Forbes called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and led the group in singing AGloria.@
State of the Conference
John Deckenback - Conference Minister
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
John highlighted the many events that have taken place in the past year: Amistad visit in Baltimore which CAC helped to host; political conventions and elections; visits from John Thomas throughout the CAC; defeat of slots in Maryland; anti-racism training for the Board of
Directors; generous giving to OCWM and Tsunami relief. He then introduced members of the ministry team to share stories of their associations.
Kwame Osei Reed - Potomac Association ACM:
Kwame highlighted the community ministries in the Potomac Association. He called upon several clergy and lay persons who shared community, volunteer, and lay ministries.
Jim Bell - Chesapeake Association ACM:
Jim expressed sorrow that Trinity closed in Baltimore. He then called upon several clergy and lay people who celebrated the ways the AGod Is Still Speaking@ in the Chesapeake Association.
Sherry Taylor - New Jersey Association ACM
While on sabbatical in Germany, the NJ Association held a very successful Association Meeting, Several clergy and lay celebrated opportunities to develop music ministry, technology initiatives, church development efforts, workshop opportunities, and new clergy.
John Deckenback
John highlighted some of the positive effects of the Identity Campaign. Many activities in our CAC surrounding the Still Speaking Campaign and introduced Bill Federici, who coordinates Still Speaking activities for the CAC..
Jerry Foltz - Cotactin AssociationACM
Jerry noted that lay training events continue in Catoctin Association. The Still Speaking Campaign is very strong in the association. Jerry and other Catoctin clergy and lay persons shared many local church, interfaith, and youth efforts as well as various celebrations.
Richard Vaught - Shenandoah Association ACM
Richard shared that much building is going on in the association both to update and enlarge facilities. St, Stephen=s, where association offices are housed, was forced to do renovations due to a fire. Sojourners UCC, Charlottesville, bought a new church. St. Andrew=s has been renovating basement to make it available to youth of the community.
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
John Deckenback
$Marilyn Aston, conference bookkeeper, left on disability at the end of January. Many thanks to Arnetta Jones and Donna Williams-Nix for taking over responsibilities until the hiring of Michele Jubilee in May. CAC has three international relationships: partnership with EKU in Germany for nearly 25 years; continuing peacemaking activities in Colombia; newly established relationship with HIV/Aids Ministry in Southern Africa.
$Finances: John shares several anecdotes about the encouraging signs regarding financial giving, including major gifts to several churches. John recognized the tireless work of Pierson Kemp with the Church Development Committee, who will be retiring from this position. John recognized the collaboration with Don Hill and the national office on fund-raising efforts.
$One final thought: We are living in a time of war. Walls are being built between people. We become numb to the images. The climate is one of fear. This is not what the gospel calls us to...we in the UCC are here to offer message of extravagant hospitality.
$John then called upon Felix Ortiz, who oversees missionary efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean. Felix extended greetings from his Global Ministries Team to the delegates and visitors of the Annual Meeting. Felix and Peter Makari presented John with a gift representing the ecumenical partnership between the UCC and Disciples in Global Ministries.
Financial Report - Jill White reporting
$Jill White, chair of Budget & Finance on BOD, shared good news of financial situation at end of 2004. OCWM giving for 2004: 79 churches increased OCWM giving, 56 kept giving the same; only 7 (down from 19 in 2003) gave nothing. Jill gave a detailed analysis of OCWM giving trends in the CAC. She challenged all churches to give 10% of budget to OCWM or to increase giving by 1%. Budget projection for 2005 is $1.245 m which is an increase of $32,000. Giving to three special offerings is decreasing, although other special campaigns (Still Speaking and Tsunami relief) have received generous monies.
Treasurer=s Report - Jeanne Boone reporting
$A new accounting system is now fully installed. Marilyn Aston, conference bookkeeper, left on disability on January. Donna Williams-Nix and Arnetta Jones capably took over the responsibilities. Michele Jubilee was hired at the beginning of May as new bookkeeper. The 2004 audit has been received and is clean.
$2006 Proposed Budget Summary: Jeanne highlighted projected income and expenditures and noted that this is a deficit budget of approximately $22,000.
The Moderator declared the meeting in recess until 2:00 p.m. with another rendition of AGloria.@
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
PLENARY III
Moderator Gordon Forbes introduced Dr. Peter Makari from executive for Middle East and Europe for Global Ministries Team. Peter shared insights relating to the many issues in the Middle East and the role of the church in helping deal effectively with situations.
The planning team, led by Lucy Brady, shared information about the Mid-Atlantic Regional Youth Event to be held at the University of Delaware next July 13-16, 2006..
2006 Proposed Budget
It was moved by Craig Sparks, seconded and
VOTEDto adopt the 2006 Proposed Budget as presented.
05 AM 05
A copy of the 2006 Budget is attached to these minutes as 05 AM Exhibit 03
2005-2006 Pastors= Minimum Compensation Guidelines
It was moved by Christine Shesler, seconded, and
VOTEDto adopt the 2005-2006 Pastors= Minimum Compensation Guidelines.
05 AM 06
A question regarding commissioned minister for Christian Education and compensation was raised. It was noted that this question should also be
extended to other church workers. This issue will be addressed by the BOD. John Deckenback noted that the Pension Board is already beginning to address this matter.
A copy of the 2005-06 Ministers’Compensation Guidelines are attached to these minutes as 05 AM Exhibit 04
Nominating Committee Report
The Moderator asked for further nominations. Hearing none, the Moderator entertained a motion to cast a unanimous ballot. It was moved byHugh Nash, seconded, and
VOTEDthat the secretary cast a unanimous ballot.
05 AM 07
A copy of the Nominating Committee Report is attached to these minutes as 05 AM Exhibit 05
Resolution for Temporary Protected Status for Indonesians
It was moved by Dean Swanson (P) and seconded to adopt a Resolution regarding the Temporary Protected Status for Indonesians. Dean Swanson then offered the following amendmentswhich are a result of the hearings: line 25 change to read” …that will enable those already in the United States to gain employment authorization…” Line 27 add “ to help” after “in order” Change line 29 to read “ AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that delegates and attendees to the 41st Annual Meeting of the Central Atlantic Conference be encouraged to send copies of this resolution in supporting letters to their representatives in the U.S. Congress.” and moved their acceptance. The amendment was seconded and
VOTED. To accept the proposed amendments
05 AM 08
It was then
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
VOTEDto accept the Resolution for Temporary Protected Status for Indonesians
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
05AM 09as amended.
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
Resolution for the Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ to be a Fair Trade Conference
It was moved by Winifred Robert (P), seconded and
VOTEDto adopt the Resolution for the Central Atlantic Conference, United
05 AM 10Church of Christ to be a Fair Trade Conference.
Resolution in Support of Marriage Equality
It was moved by Liz Colton (Ch), seconded, and
VOTED to make the following changes to the Resolution in Support of Marriage
05 AM 11Equality: Line 15 - insert Athe spirit of@ after the word Aendorse;@ Line 16 - add the words Aand call for more detailed theological and biblical background foundations@ at the end of the line.
After some discussion and debate it was moved, seconded and
VOTEDto extend debate.
05 AM 12
After additional discussion and debate it was
CAC Annual Meeting, June 10-12. 2005, p. 1
VOTEDto adopt the Resolution in Support of Marriage Equality as amended.
05 AM 13
Moderator Gordon Forbes announced that all business has been completed. John Deckenback thanked Gordon Forbes for his leadership as moderator. It was then moved, seconded, and
VOTEDto adjourn the 41st Annual Meeting of the Central Atlantic Conference
05 AM 14after worship on Sunday.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hodgkins, secretary