Annual Meeting 1999 -- Day 2
The second day has drawn to its close...
The day began with worship amid the startling beauty of Ocean Beach Park. Conference Alternate Preacher the Rev. Jared Rardin led the large circle in prayer and meditation, with each individual symbolically making their steps into the day, their souls, and God with a step into the center. The Rev. Peter Allen's and the Rev. Eric Anderson's guitars accompanied rousing choruses of a new "Kum Ba Ya" and the familiar favorite "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian;" the assembled voices created a grand sound that rolled across the sand and waves and up to the skies.
Treasurer Bob Giles described the Conference's financial condition with knowledge, clarity, and good humor, assisted by a computer generated display. A marked difference between this year and past years was the auditor's report, which found that the Missionary Society of Connecticut was in full compliance with standard accounting procedures. Until last year, the MSC has always failed to win that approbation, but the tracking of depreciation charges with this year has completed the program begun some time ago.
Conference Minister the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree then introduced the pastors and delegates of the four congregations that joined the UCC and the Connecticut Conference last year: Old Lyme, Imani in Hartford, New Fairfield, and the new Korean church start. She and UCC President John Thomas personally greeted, thanked, and congratulated the representatives of these churches as the assembly applauded.
Budget Committee Chair the Rev. Thomas Stiers then introduced the proposed budget for 2000 with a song. Written by the Rev. E. Evelyn Eddy to a Pete Seeger tune, and led by her accompanied by "Boys in Hats," the gathering sang the chorus with a will:
"How do we know how our money is spent?
Our mission dollars have got up and went.
That's the way it should be; we're passing them on
Doing God's work here at home and beyond."
As they sang, photos illustrating the words flashed on the screen behind to cheers and laughter.
Board of Directors Chair Jane Chittick then introduced the recommendations for clergy and Christian Educator salaries for the delegates' consideration. After some debate, the meeting voted the recommendation that churches pay their ordained staff a minimum of $27,000 plus housing each year, and that they compensate full-time Christian Educators at $31,000 annually (without housing).
The budget presentation continued with a detailed description of the proposed income and expense categories, again displayed on a screen for all to see.
Storyteller Valerie Tutson led the assembly in singing an energetic song of praise, and then continued the story of Esther from the point of view of one of the hero queen's maids. Again she captured not merely the spirit of the story but also the spirit of the meeting, who hardly dared to breathe when her story was done.
The morning concluded with the recognition of tithing and step-up churches, the latter those who have increased their proportion of OCWM given relative to their operating expenses by one percentage point over the preceding year. The challenge went out again to each congregation to work toward the Biblical standard of the tithe in their OCWM giving.
Many of the delegates enjoyed their box lunches on the beach front in the bright sunshine. Then came the walk down to the long line of buses that would carry them to their workshops being held at three churches in downtown New London and elsewhere.
When the seminars concluded, the highlight of the day arrived. One after another, the buses gathered their passengers for the trip to Mystic Seaport, where the large crowd (about 300) walked to the great boat construction shed where the Amistad reconstruction is taking shape. The delegates examined the vessel from a gallery above and at one end of the building were able to walk about and touch the schooner's stern post.
The vessel, which was due to receive its first coats of paint shortly after the meeting, stood in the glory of its native wood tones, fully planked and with her decks laid. Work continued around the hull in preparation for an expected maiden voyage to New York City for the July 4, 2000 Parade of Sail.
The blessing service began with the strong and exultant music of Voices of Joy, a choir of inmates at the York Correctional Institution, a women's facility. Conference Minister Davida Crabtree and United Church of Christ President John Thomas presented quilt squares fashioned by local churches to representatives of Amistad America. The quilt squares will be joined to make bedding for the Amistad's crew as they journey to tell the story of the original vessel's most famous voyage.
Storyteller Valerie Tutson brought that story vividly to life as she spoke with the voice of young Margru, one of the Amistad's captives, telling her story as if she were telling it to her mother. Tears came to many eyes as tale made its way through the brutality and despair of slavery to the first, faint hopes aroused by meeting people who had decided to help, not harm, the enslaved Africans. "They say the ship we were just on is called friendship, Mama," she said, "I hope that means that we have found real friends here."
Conference Minister Davida Foy Crabtree then spoke the blessing of the vessel, invoking the presence and witness of those who had part of the history if its namesake: Sengbe, Margru, and their companions, Roger Sherman Baldwin and Lewis Tappan and other members of the Amistad Committee, the women and men who risked their lives and fortunes bringing education south the newly freed slaves after the Civil War under the aegis of the American Missionary Association, and all the many others who, knowing or unknowing, had lived the ideals embodied in the Amistad.
The service concluded with more music from Voices of Joy, bringing a praise-filled close to the worship.
The delegates returned to Port N Starboard for dinner and the evening plenary session. The first order of business was to present the 1999 Lay Ministry Award to Robbins and Margaret Barstow, members of First Church of Wethersfield, "for faithful ministries in public education, advocacy for justice, and the stewardship of creation." The delegates applauded loud and long to honor their hard work and good will for so many years.
SouthEastern Region Youth Specialist then led in about 40 youth to report on their day of work for Habitat for Humanity and Amistad America. One hundred and fifty-two (152) young people and twenty-four adult advisers worked with hand tools and commitment to clear a brush-choked lot in preparation for later building. They showed a video of their day for all to see, and the assembly cheered them on. One night after the Conference Minister's challenge to develop a renewed commitment to ministry to and with youth, the fruits of such a commitment were there to be seen.
The delegates also began work on resolutions, and after some debate voted their approval of "Public Funds for Public Education." The remaining resolutions were deferred until Sunday.
With the debate closed, the delegates turned their attention to a "Conversation with John Thomas," the new President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ. The conversation was delayed, however, by some gift-giving, presented by leaders of the Connecticut churches in which Rev. Thomas was raised and which he had served.
Dr. Thomas invited the assembly to consider three themes which could guide the church's progress into the coming years. He called for:
An evangelical church, one that understands the centrality of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection for its self-understanding. An engaged church, which does not ignore or dismiss the needs of the world around it, but responds with love and compassion. An ecumenical church, which builds peace and harmony with other local congregations and denominational structures. An educated church, in which both laity and clergy know the Christian story, and are able to use that knowledge to develop their own relationship with God. A eucharistic church, which values the sacrament of Holy Communion and celebrates it regularly.
The evening closed with the "Congregational Café featuring both amateur and professional performers from about the Conference. The attendees enjoyed several different styles of music from folk/acoustic to rock-and-roll to contemporary Christian to classical.
Then it was home to bed. There's still another busy day tomorrow...
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