MINUTES
FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
CONGREGATIONAL
June 29-
HOST
HERITAGE CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH,
Through
02-A-10 Business Session
“The only thing
that matters is faith working itself through love.”
Galatians 5:6b
Registration Registration
for the meeting in the Salon Ballroom Lobby of the hotel, at
Resource the Convention Center Bay 4, opened at
Room
Association Also at
Luncheon with the Reverend John Lancz, of the
Connecticut Fellowship, serving as Moderator.
Workshop At
First Timers Those attending their first Annual Meeting
were warmly welcomed with a Reception
Reception in Salon 1 and 2 of the hotel beginning
at 2:00pm, where the Moderator and members of the Executive Committee were
happy to bring greetings to our First Time attendees.
Opening At
Session gathered in my name, there I am
also,” and welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting in Convention Center Bays 2
and 3. The Articles of Association state
that a
Business quorum requires that 20% of our
member churches must be represented by an
Session I official delegate, and the Credentials Committee Chairman, Mr. John Carter,
member of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Racine, Wisconsin, reported
that 111
Quorum churches were represented, thereby
meeting the 20% requirement. Ms.
Kniefel, with great pleasure, called to order the Forty-Eighth Annual Meeting
of the National
Call to Order Association of Congregational
Prayers for announced that Paul had undergone surgery
in
Paul Ray and would soon be returning home. She also asked for prayers for the Reverend
Wayne
Wayne Riggs Riggs, Pastor of the Plymouth Congregational
Church,
Moderator’s The Moderator recognized her Program
Committee: the Reverend Beth Bingham
Remarks (not
present due to a funeral of a friend), Mrs. Ellen Eckert, the Reverend Dr. Roy
C. Backus, the Reverend Joseph Clarke, Mr. Andy Plaut, and Ms. Betty Vos (not
present due to family concerns). Ms.
Kniefel said that she had grown up in
Introduction The Moderator introduced the people keeping
her company on the dais: the
of Individ- Moderator-Elect, the Reverend Steven H.
Ware Bailey, Senior Minister, Bushnell
uals on Dais Congregational Church, Detroit, Michigan;
Mrs. Irene Berg, the Parliamentarian, a resident of Spokane and a registered Parliamentarian
since 1996; Miss Lois A. Heilmann, Association and Corporation Secretary,
completing ten years of service as Secretary at this meeting, a member of the
First Congregational Church of Etna, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Sherry Glab, Assistant Secretary,
nominee for the position of Association/Corporation Secretary, a member of the
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, California. And finally, the Moderator introduced
herself, Ms. Claudia Kniefel, from
Pianist - The Organist for the
Song Leaders Evans, served as the Pianist. Dr. Evans is also the Organ Instructor at
Marshals Wearing Marine Corps Baseball caps
were our Marshals, led by the Head Marshal, Dave Hamm, a member of the
Host Our
Chairman faith for a small congregation, to
host this meeting, and they rose to the occasion with the guidance of Mr. Andy
Plaut, who proved to be a master of organization. Mr. Plaut was welcomed to the podium to introduce
Mr. Robert Higgins, the President of the Spokane City Council who extended a
warm welcome to the City of
Committee to As is the policy of the Association, Ms.
Kniefel next appointed a Committee of three
Certify the individuals to certify the minutes of
this meeting. Having received the
consent of
Minutes the following persons to so serve,
she appointed Ms. Ellen Sutphin, First Congregational Church, Anchorage,
Alaska; the Reverend William Rafuse, Minister,
Certifiers Rapid River Congregational Church,
Rapid River, Michigan; and the Reverend Alice
(Cont’d.) Murphy, Minister, Colebrook
Congregational Church, Colebrook, Connecticut.
There being no objection, the Moderator declared all three appointed
certifiers by general consensus.
Adopt It is customary for the delegate body to adopt Standing
Rules to guide our
Standing deliberations. To introduce the Standing Rules to the
assembly, she called upon the
Rules Parliamentarian, Mrs. Berg, to read the Standing
Rules. As read by Mrs. Berg they were:
1. Delegate, Alternate,
Attendees and Observer badges must be worn at all general meetings.
2. To obtain the floor, a
delegate should move to a microphone, be recognized by
the presiding officer, give his or her name and
church affiliation before speaking.
3. No delegate shall speak in
debate more than twice on the same question on the same day, no longer than two minutes each
time; nor shall any delegate be
recognized to debate for the second time unless a
delegate who has not previously spoken on the question has been recognized.
4. The presiding officer may
require that a motion be in writing, signed by the maker and presented to the
recording secretary.
5. Motions may be made,
seconded and then held for action later in the meeting.
6. All New Business must be
introduced under that listing in the program and
submitted in writing to the Secretary by 10:00pm
Sunday evening, June 30th, 2002.
7. The proceeding of the Annual
Meeting shall be governed by the rules in the
current edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order” newly
revised in all cases to which
they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with the bylaws of the
National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches or these Standing Rules.
The Moderator called for a motion to adopt these
Standing Rules, reminding the delegates that a 2/3s vote was required for
adoption.
02-A-01 VOTED: To adopt
the proposed Standing Rules.
Rules Standing Rules adopted)
Ms. Kniefel asked that
all speakers be respectful of the two-minute time limit and
said that the
Moderator-Elect would act as timekeeper.
Approval of The Moderator announced two changes to the
printed Agenda: the reading of the
Agenda award winning play as selected by
the Communication Services Committee in 2001,
would be read Saturday Evening following the
Seminar on Worship, and on Tuesday, the
Worship Service scheduled for 3:15pm, would take place immediately following
the end of Business Session VI rather than at a specific time
Agenda Calling for further changes and
hearing none, without objection, Ms. Kniefel
Adopted declared the Meeting Agenda adopted
with the stated changes. (Exhibit 1)
Ratification The minutes of the 2001 Annual Meeting
held in Lansing, Michigan from June 23rd
of 2001 through June 26th, were distributed
to all member churches and had been certified by
Annual the Reverend Alice Murphy, at that
time Minister of St. Jacobi Congregational
Meeting Church, Richfield, Wisconsin; the
Reverend Dr. Jay M. Terbush, Senior Minister of
Minutes South Congregational Church,
Hartford, Connecticut; and Mr. James A. Hopkins, member of Riverpoint
Congregational Church, West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Asking for corrections to the 2001 minutes
and hearing none, the Moderator called for a motion to ratify the 2001 Annual
Meeting minutes as certified and printed.
02-A-02 VOTED: To ratify
the 2001 Annual Meeting Minutes as certified.
Ratify 2001 Minutes
(Exhibit 2)
Constituting Stating that this past year has been a
year like no other, but with all the changes,
Prayer some good and some not so good, we
have always known that God has been with us, guiding, comforting, and sharing
all that we have experienced. To offer
thanks to God and ask His direction throughout this meeting, the Moderator
invited the Reverend Edith Winters, Senior Minister, First Congregational
Church, Grand Junction, Michigan, to lead us in the Constituting Prayer.
The Reverend Ms. Winters invited the audience
to stand and take the hand of the next person as we united our hearts in ‘the
only thing that matters – faith working itself through love.’ In her prayer, the Reverend Ms. Winters
offered thanks for the many blessings we have received and for the ties that
bind us together as we walk and work together.
She asked special thanks for those who worked to make this meeting
possible, that we may share in worship and prayer and song. “Send your blessing upon this meeting that
what we begin may be brought to completion by your power,” she prayed, and
ended her prayer, “May what we say be a blessing worthy of your hearing, and
what we do a service befitting your glory.
This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.” (Exhibit 3)
The Moderator acknowledged the contributions
made by those of our membership who gave of themselves in big and small ways
and who have passed away during the last year.
Calling upon the Historian, the Reverend Dr. Lloyd M. Hall, Jr., she
invited him to read the Necrology.
Necrology The Reverend Dr. Hall began the reading
of the names of those who are no longer with us by stating, “Our remembrance
today calls to mind those men and women, lay and ordained, who have officially
served in the NACCC, who have been Pastors of member Churches, and who have
been spouses of those clergy – recognizing that the categories are certainly
not exclusionary.” This year’s Necrology
included:
Necrology The Reverend Dr. Erwin A. Britton, died
October 30, 2001 in Winter Park, Florida
Dr. Britton served as the Association’s
Moderator in 1973 and as Chairman of the Executive Committee in 1965. From 1975-1981 he was our Executive
Secretary. In two lengthy pastorates, he
served the First Congregational Church of Wayne, Michigan, and the First
Congregational Church of Detroit. A long
time Trustee of Olivet College, he also served for a time as Assistant to the
College’s President.
The Reverend Howard E. Bull,
1916-2002
The Reverend Mr. Bull faithfully served
Congregational Churches in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and California. His service to our Association included a
term on the Missionary Society. He was a
member of the Executive Committee from 1965 to 1969, serving as Chairman in his
final year.
Mrs. Marion Campbell, died in August
of 2001
Mrs. Campbell was the wife of the Reverend
Donald Campbell.
The Reverend Mr. Childs served this Association as
an NAPF Leader (1963- 1967) and as a member of the Executive Committee
(1964-1968).
Mrs. Connin was an active and avid supporter of the Congregational Way. Her service to our Association included the Nominating Committee (1989-1991); the Women’s Commission (1984-1988) and the Credentials Committee (1979-1980).
Mr. Walter E. Davis of the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, died January 7, 2002
A founding participant of the National Association,
Mr. Davis was our Legal Counsel from the genesis of the Association until the
time of his death. He also served on the
Investment Advisory Committee and the Building and Loan Division.
The Reverend Boyd G.
Ellefson, born February 4, 1940-died December 12, 2001
At the time of his death, the Reverend Mr. Ellefson
was serving as Pastor of the York Community Congregational Church of Thomson,
Illinois.
Mr. Francis Duncan
Green, died June 17, 2002
Mr. Green was a Lay Minister in the service of the
Second Congregational Church, Warren, Maine
The Reverend Chet
Johnson, died June, 2002
The Reverend Mr. Johnson was a member and one time
Assistant Minister at Ozaukee Congregational Church of Grafton, Wisconsin.
Necrology
Mrs. Lucille Elsner Strang, Born
January 21, 1903 in Appleton, Wisconsin, died
(Continued) April 21, 2002 in Clarkesville,
Georgia
Mrs. Strang, Demorest Federated Church, was a loyal
Congregationalist and for forty-eight years the devoted wife, colleague, and
supporter of the Reverend Dr. Max Strang.
She and Dr. Strang had moved to Georgia in the 1960’s where each took up
service to Piedmont College.
The Reverend Lorenzo S.
Todd, 1912-2002
At the time of his death, the Reverend Larry Todd
was a member of the Craig Memorial Church of Paradise, California, where he had
worshipped and served for the past twenty years. Onetime layout and production editor of THE
CONGREGATIONALIST, he served churches in Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts,
Washington and Illinois before moving to California.
In addition to these servants of our National
Association, we remember those unnamed saints of our Churches who have
contributed so effectively to Christ’s ministry in the ways to which they were
called.
Welcome The Moderator happily remarked that it
was always a joy at our meetings to
New welcome
new churches into our fellowship. She
invited the Reverend Patricia
Churches Dando Haaheim of the Duluth
Congregational Church and the Chairman of the Membership and Procedures
subcommittee of the Executive Committee, to the podium to recommend new
churches as members of our fellowship.
The Reverend Mrs. Haaheim read the names of
the following ten Churches and recommended acceptance of the ten into the
membership of the National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches:
Phenix City First Congregational
Christian Church
Malone Simmons, Moderator
1608 14th Court
Phenix City, Alabama
36867
Sponsor: The
Reverend Earl Crutchfield
Cedarwood Community Church
Wetumpka, Alabama
New Faith Fellowship of Orange County
The Reverend Sanford L. Freud
P. O. Box 25
Yorba Linda, California 92885-9925
Sponsor: The
Reverend James Schibsted
First Congregational Church
Anaheim, California
United Church of Marco Island
The Reverend Joy A. Baumgartner
320 N. Barfield Drive
Marco Island, Florida 34145
New
Churches Sponsor: The Reverend Lee Hermes
(Continued) Friendship Community
Church
Treasure Island, Florida
First
Congregational Church of Otis
The Reverend
Lin and the Reverend David McGee
111 Marshall
Street
Winsted,
Massachusetts 06098
Sponsor: The Reverend Dr. Dewey Gierke
Florence Congregational Church
Florence, Massachusetts
Second
Congregational Church
The Reverend
Cheryl Klein
19 Crescent
Street
Biddleford,
Maine 04005
Sponsor: The Reverend Ron Lynn
Sebago Lake Congregational
Church
Sebago Lake, Maine
First
Congregational Church of East Baldwin
The Reverend
Gregory Young
26 School
Street
East
Baldwin, Maine 04024
Sponsor: Reverend Vance Jordon
South Bridgton Congregational
Church
Bridgton, Maine
Longmeadow
Congregational Church
The Reverend
H. Victor Allison
417
Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow,
Massachusetts 01106
Sponsor: The Reverend Kevin Roach
Wachogue Congregational Church
Springfield, Massachusetts
United Church of New
Marlborough
The Reverend
Joseph P. Bishop
P. O. Box
173
Mill River,
Massachusetts 01244
Sponsor: The Reverend Dr. Dewey Gierke
Florence Congregational Church
Florence, Massachusetts
Grace Union Church
The Reverend
John Carboni
10 Chapel
Street
Wilbraham,
Massachusetts 01095
New
Churches Sponsor: The Reverend Kevin Roach
(Continued Wachogue Congregational Church
Springfield, Massachusetts
Renaissance
Fellowship Church
The Reverend
Jan L. Beaderstadt
P. O. Box 8
Turner,
Michigan 48765-0008
Sponsor: The Reverend
Marilyn Danielson
First Congregational Church
Portland, Michigan
02-A-03 VOTED: To welcome
the ten named Churches from whom documentation has been
Welcome
Ten received, into the National
Association of Congregational Christian
Churches
into NA Churches.
New
with joy we would
celebrate their membership in a spirit of worship and prayer, at
Churches the Communion Service on Sunday.
Ms. Kniefel extended an invitation to the Executive
Secretary, the Reverend Dr. Thomas M. Richard, to come to the podium to give
his report.
Executive Dr. Richard thanked Ms. Kniefel for
the opportunity to speak to the assembly, saying
Secretary’s it did not seem possible that it has been
a year since his appointment to his position.
Report Today he said that he is more
comfortable with where God has led him and deeply appreciative of the renewal
of old relationships and the gift of new ones and most of all, aware that God
has been graceful and generous to him. A
few highlights of this past year are that we have taken our leadership to new
levels. We appointed 17 clergy and laity
outside our leadership team to work in areas we have identified as critical to
our future, our talent pool is deeper than ever. We need financial support – if every person
in every church gave one more dollar a year, we would have no deficit. Today there was a historic meeting when we
sponsored an Association/ Fellowship luncheon to promote the genius of the Congregational
Way of life in our churches.
We have visited over 85 churches and association
meetings in the last year and we will capitalize on every opportunity to visit
each church. Our Executive Staff is
excited about what is happening and we feel a great joy in serving the NA. By next year we hope to have twelve new
churches to introduce to the NA and we hope to add at least ten to twelve new
faces to our leadership team. We hope to
have a plan to tell our story to more churches looking for fellowship in a free
Church setting. We hope to find new ways
to tell the story of our Churches as local Churches are the backbone of our
movement. We hope to make it possible
for churches who cannot afford to attend the Annual Meeting to join us by
webstream and join in our conversations. We are moving, perhaps hesitantly, but
forward. The tie that binds us together
as Congregational Christians is not a chain, it is not a string, it is a rope;
a strong rope which gathers us in, holds us, supports us, and to which we can
cling
Executive when we are unconnected. The Executive Secretary closed his
presentation saying,
Secretary “It is still a privilege to be one of
your leaders and I look forward to what we can do
Report
(Cont.) together in the coming
year.” (Exhibit 4)
Introduction The Moderator next introduced the Keynote
Speaker, the Reverend Dr. Lottie
of Keynote Jones Hood, saying that the speaker’s
resume is outstanding with four masters’
Speaker degrees, two doctorates and a long
list of community activities and awards.
“She is a living example of our theme, ‘The only thing that matters is
faith working itself through love’” said Ms. Kniefel, and welcomed the Reverend
Dr. Lottie Jones Hood to the podium.
The Reverend Dr. Lottie Jones Hood told the
assembly that at the beginning of each
of her sermons, she says, “God is good!” and
her congregation responds, “All the
Keynote time.” She also looks at the rose window in her
church and says, “The sun is shining
Address - whether we see it or whether the
clouds are obscuring it – we know that it is shining, because the sun is
shining ‘all the time.’” As we
experience thunderclouds, dark and dreary, forbidding and foreboding, we know
they are only temporary for God is still there, and God loves us because God is
good – all the time! Dr. Jones Hood told
of the committee meeting she often holds.
It meets in her head – sometimes more frequently than at other times,
for how often it meets, and for how long, depends on the subject on her mind at
the time. Prior to this meeting,
thinking about this Keynote Address, it met regularly. She finally decided that our theme, “Faith
working itself through love,” would be her guide.
Our speaker said that for her, “faith working
itself through love” means, “Faith – representative of what I bring to the
table – is me working through God.” She
added, “When that happens, really and truly, nothing else counts.” Dr. Jones Hood said that she knows that God
loves her, and us, by what God does, for He loves us enough to make us in his
own image. However, if faith working
through love is all that matters, she asked, “Why are we (the NA) getting
smaller and older, why are our ministers or congregations not supermen and
superwomen?”
The Reverend Dr. Lottie Jones Hood told of
her first impression of First Congregational
Church of Detroit where she had been sent as a supply preacher in 1993. At the time she knew nothing about
Congregationalism but when she learned about it, she knew this was where she
belonged, and on Easter Sunday in 1994, she became the Pastor of the First
Congregational Church of Detroit. Her
dreams of filling the sanctuary every Sunday, unfortunately did not come about,
but, attendance in the building was growing.
The Hospitality Ministry of the church was bringing people in, not just
on Sunday Morning but every day and evening of the week. And so she decided to take their message out
to the people so that they could “see” a sermon, not just hear it. Although the church was busy, she still felt
the people should be in the sanctuary on Sunday Morning and then, at an Annual
Meeting when she visited a small Congregational Church on a Sunday Morning,
alone after the service, she walked through the sanctuary. Seeing the items in the church and hearing
the sounds from the fellowship hall, she realized this church was a living
museum. That’s when she realized that
the Congregational Church as a religious tradition is also a “living museum” -
and as a historical force it has shaped and
Keynote molded the life of a nation, a great
nation. Now, First Church Detroit, is a
living
Address museum as well and Dr. Jones Hood
realized people do not have to be IN the
(Cont’d.) sanctuary on Sunday Morning to hear
the message, they can SEE it during the rest of the week. People wanted to hear what the church had to
say, the church and Dr. Jones Hood just needed to serve the information in a
different container.
Dr. Lottie Jones Hood closed her address
saying, “We stand poised on the threshold of a brave new world, in many ways
not unlike the one met by our forefathers in 1620. There is however, a major difference: we
stand on the shoulders of experience…and we know everything is going to be all
right…because all that counts is ‘faith working itself through love.’ And ‘God is good – all the time.’”
Appreciation The audience stood to offer the Reverend
Dr. Lottie Jones Hood long and sincere applause in appreciation of her
inspiring message. (Exhibit 5)
Workshop Following the Keynote Address and before
dinner, a Workshop was held in the Resource Room. Mrs. Helen Gierke presented “How to Get Along
with Your Church Organist.”
Dinner At 5:30pm, dinner was in the Salon
Ballroom of the hotel. At dinners, a
copy of
Recess the English translation of the
grace, which would be given by one of our missionaries, would be on each
table. At lunch, a copy of a possible
grace will be on each table or, if preferred, a grace of your own may be used.
Grace At dinner this evening, the Reverend Teodoro Stricker
from Argentina, offered the grace with his son, Dr. Harding Stricker,
translating it into English.
Singing Prior to the beginning of the evening’s events, the meeting room was filled with music as the people “made a joyful noise unto the Lord.” The song book included in the meeting notebook was prepared by the Reverend Cindy Bacon, Minister, First Congregational Church, Burlington, Iowa, and the audience found many old favorites and some “soon-to-be” favorites included.
Introduction At 7:00pm, the Moderator called the
meeting to order and invited the Reverend Dr. Roy C. Backus of the Program
Committee, and Senior Minister of the Olivet Congregational Church in Olivet,
Michigan, to the podium to introduce the first Seminar. Dr. Backus said that our Seminar this
evening was being presented by the Worship Team of the North Shore
Congregational Church in Fox Point, Wisconsin: the Reverend Karl D. Schimpf,
Minister, the Reverend Douglas L. Gray, Associate Minister, and Mr. Rick
Kieffer, Music Director. Inviting the
North Shore Worship Team to the podium to make their presentation, Dr. Backus
said we were looking forward to hearing their story.
Seminar The theme of the Seminar offered by
the Worship Team of the North Shore
Congregational Church was “Making Worship Powerful and Real.” With the use of music, in which the audience
was involved, led by Rick Kieffer, and various slides of
services at North Shore, the Worship Team
told of various ways they make worship
more exciting, more inspiring and more
involved for their congregation. Suggestions they made for Worship Services
were: Have a worshipful attitude; Worship is about trust; Seek participation;
Worship is fresh by nature; Worship is dynamically alive. Mr. Kieffer stressed the importance of
knowing your congregation and let them help to make hymn choices. Have variety in your music; repeat new
selections, especially at first. Add
instruments. Let people call out hymns
in monthly hymn sings. For the choir,
simplify anthems and invite congregation participation. Be bold, know your music and share your love
of it with the congregation.
Samples of Sunday bulletins were offered
demonstrating the importance of communication with the congregation and
recognition and welcome of guests. An
important question for Churches to ask in order to have a meaningful Worship
Service is: Does your worship help
people give expression to their feelings and spiritual state?
Thanks to The Moderator thanked the Worship Team
from North Shore for their suggestions
Worship and said that their presentation should
breathe some fresh air into our services.
Team
Ms. Kniefel invited the audience to sit back
and relax and enjoy the next presentation
“Changing by the Communication Services
Committee. The Reverend Dr. W. Robert
Murray, a
Channels” member of the Communication Services
Committee and Minister of the First
2001 Award Congregational Church of Ceredo, West
Virginia, announced that there would be a
Winner reading of the Award Winning Play
selected in 2001, “Changing Channels” by Cindy Lowe of Preston City
Congregational Church, Preston, Connecticut.
The Reader’s Theatre Production cast offered an amusing and entertaining
reading of the Prize Winning play which was greatly appreciated by the
audience, evidenced by much laughter and applause. Congratulations to the cast and to the
author!
Missionary The evening had yet much to offer
including the Missionary Society Reception held
Society in Salons 1 and 2 at the
hotel. Everyone was invited to meet and
greet the elite men
Reception and women who give of themselves to
make our world a better place.
CFTS In Spokane Falls C at the hotel, a Reception was held
for CFTS alumni and their
Reception supporters, featuring refreshments and
conversation. Here was the opportunity
to meet and offer support to CFTS alumni, graduates and students.
Evening As a busy and eventful day’s agenda
came to an end, the meeting participants looked
Recess forward to Sunday Morning and the
Communion Service beginning at 10:00am.
Service Convention Center, Bays 2 and 3, where the auditorium was arranged for the Communion Service. Beginning at 10:00am, the Service began with the
day, comforted in spirit and renewed in Christian
love. Dr. Richard and Dr. Lottie Evans
brought a fitting closure to the service with their Postlude. (Exhibit 6)
Reception where Piedmont College hosted a
bountiful reception. Guests of Piedmont
enjoyed delicious refreshments and a delightful time of meeting and greeting
Piedmont College representatives who, as always, proved to be gracious and generous
hosts.
Lunch - At Noon the meeting attendees
enjoyed lunch in the Salon Ballroom while the
AMCO - AMCO members had lunch in the Spokane
Falls C room. The Women in Ministry
Women in gathered for lunch in Spokane Falls D
room. All luncheon attendees had a most
Ministry filling meal to supplement the
spiritual feast offered during the Communion Service.
Singing Before the business of the meeting
began, all present followed the words of Ephesians 5:19 – “…sing and make
melody in your heart unto the Lord.” The
hall was filled with joyful melody, in heart and in voice.
Drawing Mr. Joseph Polhemus came to the
podium to draw the name of the winner of the “America the Beautiful” lovely
ornaments and the winner was Lois Heilmann.
Call to Order At 1:15pm, the Moderator called Business
Session II to order stating that the first order of business this afternoon was
the Report of the Executive Committee.
She
Business called upon Ms. Carole L. Cole,
Chairman of the Executive Committee, to make this
Session II presentation.
Presentation Before Ms. Cole came to the podium, Mrs.
Janet Garber, member of the Congregational Church of the Messiah, Los Angeles,
California, came forward to present Ms. Carol Cole with a lovely floral
arrangement, a gift from her church, Congregational Church of the Messiah.
Executive Ms. Cole in turn invited the Reverend
Phil R. Jackson, to join her at the podium.
Committee The Reverend Mr. Jackson described the
Comprehensive Benefit Plans being made
Report available to provide financial security
to our member Churches’ Employees. Mr.
Jackson said that this plan will enable our Churches to offer benefits that
will help
Benefit Plan retain the ministerial talent we are
blessed to have and will attract top candidates to
For Churches our Association. This Plan is being offered through the
Ministers’ and Missionaries’
Benefit Board of the American Baptist Church
(MMBB) and will include a
Comprehensive Plan; Annuity Supplement; Tax
Deferred Annuity; Health Plan; and 403b Rollover. Enrollment will be available beginning
October 1, 2002 and complete information about this Plan will be sent to all
churches in the immediate future.
Ms Cole said that this is an excellent
Benefit Plan and one that will greatly assist our Churches and their employees. She offered thanks to the Reverend Mr.
Jackson and Mrs. Marina Rosenberg for their efforts to bring this Plan to our
Churches.
02-A-04 VOTED: To ratify
the actions of the Executive Committee as recorded in
Ratify Executive the minutes of June 21-26,
2001; October 4-6, 2001; and January 31-
Committee Minutes February 2, 2002.
ional member of the Riverpoint Congregational Church, West
Warwick, Rhode Island, to
Foundation join her at the podium to present an
outline of the Congregational Foundation.
Joining Mr. Hopkins, were Mr. Arthur Wallach, First Congregational
Church, Akron, Ohio and a member of the Congregational Foundation ad hoc
committee, and Mr. Thomas Lootens, First Congregational Church, Royal Oak,
Michigan and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee. Mr. Hopkins reviewed the brochure outlining
the Congregational Foundation, stating Matthew 5:13-16:
“You are the
salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be
restored? It is no longer good for
anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under
the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light
shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to
your Father in heaven.”
Mr. Hopkins said that the Executive Committee had
given their 100% support to the Congregational Foundation Proposal. Mr. Lootens stated the endorsement of the
Financial Services Committee as well.
Mr. Hopkins and Mr.Wallach asked the delegates to study the brochure,
come to the discussion on Tuesday morning with questions, and be prepared to
vote on the adoption of this proposal. Ms. Cole, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Wallach and
Mr. Lootens left the podium and the Moderator reminded the audience that this
matter would be taken under discussion on Tuesday Morning.
Mrs. Ellen Eckert, a member of the Program Committee
and a member of the First Congregational Church of Mansfield, Ohio, was invited
to the podium by Ms. Kniefel, to introduce the Congregational Lecturer.
Mrs. Eckert stated that our Congregational Lecturer,
the Reverend Clifford Schutjer,
Introduction Senior Minister, First Congregational
Church of Mansfield, Ohio, had pastored that
of Congre- church for forty-one years and had served
our National Association in a number
gational of roles including a member and
Chairman of the Executive Committee, and its
Lecturer Moderator.