FORTY-NINTH
ANNUAL MEETING
Registration Registration for the meeting took place in the Fourth Floor Foyer at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 28, 2003.
Tours Tours of the
National Association’s Oak Creek Office were conducted at 10:30 A.M. and Noon,
on the 28th.
Resource Also, at
Rooms Ballroom
Foyer and the Juneau Room.
First Timers Those
attending for the first time were warmly welcomed by the
Moderator-
Orientation Elect,
Rev. Donald Bentley, and members of the Leadership Team at
Workshop At
Opening At 3:00 P.M. the Moderator, Reverend Steven H. Ware Bailey
called the 49th
Session Annual
Meeting to order in the Crystal Ballroom and asked Ms. Marjorie Weidlich,
member of South Congregational Church, Hartford Connecticut and
Business Chairman of the Credentials Committee
to give the Credentials Report. Mrs.
Session 1 Weidlich reported there are presently 436
churches in the Association. The
Articles of Association state that a quorum requires 20% of the churches be represented. She announced that as of
03-A-01 Mrs.
Weidlich moved the adoption of this report.
Motion adopted.
Credentials Report
Annual Meeting Minutes 2
June 28 – July 1, 2003
Moderator’s The
Moderator welcomed all to this the 49th Annual
Meeting stating this
time
Remarks together gives us a chance to rejuvenate. He
went on to say that the NACCC is on the brink of celebrating its 50th
Anniversary but that this meeting marks the 30th Anniversary of his involvement
with the N.A. It is also the 300th
Anniversary of the birth of
Congregational Minister Jonathan Edwards. Rev. Bailey indicated that all announcements
should be posted on the bulletin board in the back of the room and that
Moderator-Elect Rev. Donald Bentley would make all announcements during the
meeting.
Introduction Rev.
Bailey introduced those
seated on the dais:
Moderator-Elect, Reverend
Of Those Donald
Bentley, Consulting Minister, Pilgrim Congregational Church,
Seated on
The Dais Messiah,
Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Sherry Glab, Association/Corporation Secretary,
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, California and Mrs. Gail Weber, the
Parliamentarian.
Musicians Next the Moderator introduced the pianist Mr. Rodney Loren, Organist at North Shore Church, Milwaukee and Song Leader Richard Kiefer, Music Director, North Shore Church, Milwaukee.
Marshals The
Marshals, members of the
Hosts Mrs.
Mary York, First Congregational Church,
Address of Rev.
Dr. Steven Peay,
Minister of First Congregational Church,
Welcome and
Moderator of the Wisconsin Congregational Association gave the address of
welcome and brought greetings from a number of religious and civic leaders in
Milwaukee. Dr. Peay reminded us that
Congregationalists have been part of
Committee Rev. Steven Bailey appointed the following
to the Committee of three to certify to Certify the minutes of
this meeting: Mr. Jim Larson, First
Congregational Church,
the Minutes
Annual Meeting Minutes 3 June 28 – July 1, 2003
03-A-02 There being no objection, the
Moderator declared the foregoing appointed by general consensus.
Adopt The Moderator called upon the Parliamentarian, Gail Weber to
read the Stand-
Standing Rules as printed in our notebooks. (Exhibit 1)
Rules
03-A-03 There being no
objection the Standing Rules were adopted by general consent.
Approval Rev. Bailey proposed a change in the agenda, namely to strike
the time “
of Agenda from Tuesday’s
schedule. (Exhibit 2)
03-A-04 It was moved to accept the agenda as
printed with the exception of
striking “
Ratification The minutes of the
2002 Annual Meeting held
in
of 2002 June 29 through
Annual had
been certified by
Mrs. Ellen Sutphin, First
Congregational Church,
Meeting
Minutes Church,
Rapid River, Michigan and Rev. Alice
Murphy, Minister, Colebrook Congregational Church, Colebrook, Connecticut.
03-A-05 It was moved to accept the minutes as
certified. Seconded and adopted.
(Exhibit 3)
Constituting The Moderator invited Miss Lois A. Heilmann, who retired a
year ago after ten
Prayer years
of service as the Association/Corporation
Secretary and is a member of the First Congregational Church of Etna, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania to come to the dais to lead us in the constituting prayer. She began by asking us to recall the words of
the Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Hood, who last year reminded us that “God is good,
all the time”. Miss Heilmann concluded
her prayer with “As we honor our heritage, let us build upon the Foundation
provided for us 49 years ago, so that what we do today, will be an inspiration
and challenge to those who will continue along our Congregational Way for years
to come”. She then asked everyone to
join her in reciting the Lord’s Prayer. (Exhibit 4)
Welcome The
Moderator invited Rev. Patricia Dando Haaheim, of
New Church
and Chairman of the Membership and Procedures Subcommittee of the
Churches Executive Committee, to the podium to
announce the names of those churches wishing to join our fellowship.
Annual Meeting Minutes
4 June
28 - July 1,
2003
New The Rev. Mrs. Haaheim read the names of the following
churches and asked
Churches
the representatives of these churches to stand and invited the sponsors of
(Continued)
the churches to stand with them:
Rev.
Matthew A. Winslow
16541
Sponsor: Rev. Ed White
Congregational Church
Rev.
David B. Wood
Sponsor: Rev. Richard Hotchkin
First Congregational Church
First
Congregational Church
Rev.
Ried Martin
Sponsor: Rev. Jerry Jones
First Congregational Church
First
Congregational Church
Rev.
Cayle Beagle
Laingsburg
MI 48848
Sponsor: Mr. Mike Hicks
Horton Congregational Church
Annual Meeting
Minutes
5
June 28 – July 1, 2003
New Churches
(Continued) Rev. William H. Muller
Onondaga MI
49264
Sponsor: Mr.
Mike Hicks
Horton Congregational Church
Campton Congregational Church
Rev. Bill Torrey
Sponsor: Rev.
Tom Warner
Rev. Linda Bolton
Gilmanton Iron Works NH 03837
Sponsor: Rev.
Julie Robie
First Congregational Church
Southern Ocean Christian Community
Rev. William E. Ashley
Little
Sponsor: Rev.
Rod Church
Congregational Church
03-A-06 Rev. Dando Haaheim moved that the
eight named churches, from whom documentation has been received, be received
into the National Association of Congregational
Welcome The Moderator extended a warm welcome to the eight new churches
both to the
New Association and to
Churches
Annual Meeting Minutes
6
June 28 – July 1, 2003
Rev. Bailey called on the Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Thomas M.
Richard and invited him to the dais to give his report.
Executive Dr. Richard added his welcome to
Secretary’s Association. Following his opening remarks he introduced
the office staff and
Report those in the room stood
for recognition.
“In a very real way we are here to determine whether we will balance
the inheritance of our tradition with our mission, or have to deal with it as
it unfolds. As for your staff, and your
leadership team, we would rather have a part in shaping the future than simply
inheriting it.
We are in a time of discovery, some new news, some old news
relearned: that churches aren’t
buildings, as beautiful and useful as they might be; that like our parishioners
many clergy will not care about our tradition unless they live it, and will not
know it unless we teach it; that it’s hard for a Church which has done things
one way to renew itself; that the independence of our churches has, and still
does, greatly hinder our efforts to deepen our relationship with each other;
and that our divisions, despite the economic challenges we all face, are doing
great work on our behalf.
We also have things to celebrate at this meeting. Dr. Richard completed this list of five
things to celebrate ending with a big thank-you to Mr. Jim Hopkins and Rev. Bob
Carlson and a group of committed people who have worked for two years to
develop the Congregational Foundation.”
Dr. Richard concluded with “There are many other people too numerous to
mention who have seen the light of Christ in their work with us and their
Churches. Excitement is building! I hope you can feel it. We thank you for your support, your prayers
and your commitment to our Association.”
(Exhibit 5)
Moderator’s Rev.
Steven H. Ware Bailey began his address with “The banner for the 2003
Address Annual
Meeting of the National Association of Congregational
Annual Meeting
Minutes 7 June 28 –
July 1, 2003
Moderator’s Rev. Bailey went on to explain the history of
some of the symbols of
Address Congregationalism,
i.e. the ships,
(continued) interwoven into our history and what
significance they have in the future we are facing . He then went on to review a study made by H.
Richard Niebuhr in his book Christ and Culture. Niebuhr sets forth
five ways in which
Christians have related to culture:
“Christ Against Culture”, “Christ of Culture”, “Christ Above Culture”,
“Christ and Culture in Paradox”, and “Christ Transforming Culture”.
Steven stated “The
Congregational perspective that may be of use to us today is, I believe, one
that holds in a precarious but nonetheless crucial balance of both a sense of
hard-nosed realism and a spirit of visionary expectancy”. He then concluded his address with “Modern
Congregationalists cannot set sail for years to come in 17th century
vessels, but we can use the noteworthy examples of the spirit and resolve of
those who have gone before us to inspire us to attempt deeds no less noble than
those of our forebears. Our task, like theirs, is to take stock of our
covenanted faith in God’s overruling providence and to put that faith to
constructive action as we endeavor to continue the process of transforming our
culture into that which will promote God’s purposes in the world.
Acknowledging the intrinsic value of our tradition without enslaving
ourselves to it is the only want for contemporary Congregationalists who choose
to make a difference in the world truly to make “Our God, our help in ages
past, Our hope for years to come”. Those words from Isaac Watts’ illustrious
paraphrase of Psalm 90 can still undergird our
efforts and inspire us to new heights.
Likewise, let us also affirm these words from the hymn that was written
specifically for this meeting:
You
blessed us, God, so long ago
In all we
had to face;
And now
for years to come, we know
We have
your guiding grace.
We pray in
all we do for you
That you
may richly bless;
That you
will lead us through and through,
And grant
our Way success:
Our haven
and our home,
As we
forge from foundations laid
New faith for years to come.
Amen”
(Exhibit 6)
Following his address Rev. Bailey announced that table graces at this meeting would be a
personal grace of a person to be seated at each table.
Dinner The meeting was
recessed at
Empire Ballroom the Heritage Writing Team and the Church Financial Officers & Treasurers met for dinner.
Plenary At
Presentation Arthur Ritter,
Chairman of the Division For Ministry, which is the sponsor of this
session, to introduce the speaker for
the Plenary Presentation on Interim
Ministry. Rev. Ritter introduced Rev.
Dr. Michael Halcomb who in turn gave his presentation
entitled “Intentional Interim Ministry”.
Dr. Halcomb stated that this ministry is
becoming more popular and that an interim minister can provide a church
objectivity, brings no emotional "baggage”, has no personal investment
(since he/she will not become the new minister) and can provide spiritual
renewal. He went on to say that good
leadership leads with integrity, not popularity. He concluded that the cross is God’s way of
working in the world today.
Playwriting At
7:30 P.M. the Moderator
Rev. Steven H. Bailey
introduced Rev. John Miller,
Contest Chairman of
the Communication Services
Committee, and
asked him to
Winnters present last year’s winners
of the Playwriting Contest. Rev. Miller introduced Rev. Giovan Venable King, of Hyde Park
Congregational Church, Los Angeles, for “True Confessions of a Pilgrim and a
Puritan” and Barbara Perry, of First Congregational Church,
Workshops Also
at
Concurrently
there was a workshop hosted by the Missionary Society presented by Jeff and
Julie Robi of the First Congregational Church, of
Receptions At
Annual Meeting Minutes
9
June 28 – July 1, 2003
Sunday Morning,
Breakfast At
Meetings Congregational
Church Development Division met in the Wright Ballroom.
Communion The
Communion Service was held in the Crystal Ballroom at
Service service
was conducted by the ministers of the
Musical Following
the Communion Service we were invited to the Monarch Ballrrom
for a production entitled “
Lunch At
Noon the General Lunch was held in the Empire Ballroom while AMCO met in the
Wright Ballroom A, the State and Regional Association Leaders Luncheon was in
the Wright Ballroom B&C, the Women in Ministry in the Miller Room and the
Clergy Spouse Luncheon in the Pabst Room.
Sunday Afternoon,
Call to Following the
Order Moderator
Rev. Steven Bailey. Rev. Bailey called
on Rev. Roy Backus, Chairman of the Executive Committee to give his report.