MINUTES

FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

 June 26-29, 2005

 

HOST

 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF MID-AMERICA CONGREGATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

 

ACTIONS 05-A-01

Through 05-A-17

Business Session

Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Kansas City, Missouri

 

“Whom shall I send and who will go for us? And I said “Here am I; send me!””

                                                                                                         Isaiah  6:8

 

Registration   Registration for the meeting took place on the main level lobby of the Muehlebach Tower starting at 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 25th.

 

First Timers    Those attending for the first time attended an Orientation Session led by the Moderator-Elect, Rev. Richard Adair.

 

Sunday Afternoon, June 26, 2005

 

Opening          At 1:05P.M. the Moderator, Mrs. Hannah Wing Hall addressed us in the Imperial Ballroom.  She reminded us that 50 years ago a small group met in Detroit and the NACCC was born.  Today we gather to honor the past, celebrate the present and head into the future.

 

Credentials     Mrs. Hall stated that there were 118, or 27%, of our member churches represented, declared a quorum present and called the 51st Annual Meeting of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches meeting to order.

 

Constituting    The Moderator called on Ms. Jenny Falk, Director of Religious

Prayer             Education from Maple Hill Congregational Church, Maple Hill, Kansas, to give the Constituting Prayer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                                        2                              June 26-29, 2005 

 

Flag Salute     Mrs. Hall stated that at a time of conflict and turmoil around the world we live in a country that is imperfect, however, she is still the greatest country in history and we are fortunate to call ourselves Americans.  The American Flag was presented, followed by missionaries and members of the Missionary Society carrying the flags of the countries they serve, and the singing of “God Bless America”.

 

Thanks            The Moderator called our attention to the banner and told us that it was created by Dawn Carlson, member of the First Congregational Church of Terre Haute.  Dawn was also responsible for the Power Point Presentation just shown and she asked Ms. Carlson to stand.  Mrs. Hall informed us that Dawn was also responsible for the puzzle, of which we each had a piece to sign and put into the puzzle near the door.

 

Introduction    The Moderator introduced those seated on the dais: Rev. Richard

Of Those         Adair, Minister of The Congregational Church of Sun City,

Seated On       Sun City, Arizona, Moderator-Elect; Mrs. Sherry Glab,

The Dais         Association/Corporation Secretary, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, California; Mrs. Carol Cole, Assistant Secretary, Church of the Messiah, Westchester, California; and Mrs. Wanda L. Livingston, Parliamentarian.

 

                        Mrs. Hall proceeded to introduce Mr. Clinton Newby, Music Director from The First Community Church of Joplin, pianist, and the Rev. Andrew McHenry, co-chair of the Host Committee and the song leader.

 

Hosts              Next the Moderator introduced the co-chairmen for this meeting, Rev. Andrew McHenry and the Rev. David Smith.  She then called on Rev. McHenry to make further comments and introductions.

 

Committee      Hannah Hall then appointed the following to the Committee of

To Certify       three to certify the minutes of this meeting: The Rev. Terry

Minutes          Bascom, Grace United Congregational Church, Farmington, Connecticut; The Rev. Patti Haaheim, SouthCross Community Church, Apple Valley, Minnesota; and Ms. Carolyn Sundquist, Duluth Congregational Church, Duluth, Minnesota.

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                         

                         

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                                         3                             June 26-29. 2005

 

Adopt              The Moderator stated the Proposed Standing Rules were on Page

Standing          8 of the Program Booklet (Exhibit 1).             

Rules

05-A-01           It was moved and seconded that the Standing Rules be adopted.

                        VOTED: Motion was adopted.  (Exhibit 2)

 

05-A-02           It was moved that the program for the 51st Annual Meeting be

Approval         adopted as printed in the Annual Meeting booklet. (Exhibit 3).

Of Agenda      Seconded. 

                        VOTED: Motion was adopted. 

 

 

Ratification     Mrs. Hall stated that the minutes of the 2004 Annual Meeting held

Of 2004           in Providence, Rhode Island were available to all member churches

Annual            on the NACCC website.  The accuracy of those minutes were

Meeting          certified by Mr. Paul Smith of Rockland Congregational Church,

Minutes          Rockland, Maine; Mrs. Patricia White, Congregational Church of Sun City, Sun City, Arizona; and Rev. Cindy Bacon, Heritage Congregational Christian Church, Madison Wisconsin.

05-A-03            It was moved that the minutes of the 2004 Annual Meeting be

                         accepted as certified.  Seconded.

                         VOTED:  Motion adopted.

 

Greetings        Co-Chairman Rev. Andrew McHenry read greetings from Dr. Grammon of CCCC Fellowship, from the UCC Headquarters and the Word Headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene. 

                        Moderator Hannah Hall read a letter from Virginia and Ed Adams.

 

Recognition    Moderator-Elect  Rev. Dick Adair, recognized those who had taken part in the first meeting at Fort Shelby 50 years ago:  Rev. Vaughn Abercombie; Mr. Ed Adams; Rev. Dr. Harry Butman; Rev. Fred Dickinson; Rev. Arthur Rouner, Jr.; and Rev. Neil Swanson.

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                            4                                          June 26-29, 2005

  

Acceptance      Moderator Hannah Hall asked Rev. Richard Hotchkin to present

Of New             the names of those churches wishing to join our Association.

Member           Rev. Hotchkin moved that the following churches be received into

Churches         the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches::

05-A-04             

 The Community of St. Stephen

                           Elk Grove, California

 

                          First Congregational Church

                           Naples, Florida

 

                         Atkinson Congregational Church

                         Atkinson, Illinois

 

                         First Congregational Church of Beardstown

                          Beardstown, Illinois

 

                         Pilgrim Congregational Church

                         Worcester, Massachusetts

 

                         Mason Memorial Congregational Church

                         Remer, Minnesota

 

                         Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church

                         Tilton, New Hampshire

                        VOTED:  Motion adopted.

 

       The Moderator announced that following the Communion Service

       there would be a reception to welcome the new churches and their

       pastors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                                 5                               June 26-29, 2005

 

Executive           The Moderator called on Rev. Dr. Tom Richard  to give his

Secretary’s        “State of the Association” report.  He shared his “snapshot” of

Report                the Association’s condition, of its ills and growing pains, its

  needs and neglect, as well as some signs of its future health, for

  which he holds great promise.  (Exhibit 4)

 

Moderator’s      Mrs. Hall then gave her welcome and told the assembly of her

Welcome            “journey” which led her to this position in this place and time.

(Exhibit 5)  She finished her report asking all to join her in singing our theme hymn “Here I am Lord”.

 

Break                 The Moderator declared a 15 minute recess.

 

Congrega-          Mrs. Hall reconvened the meeting at 2:45 P.M. and introduced

tional Lecture    the Congregational Lecturer, The Rev. Shawn Stapleton, who

                           serves as the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Beloit,

                           Wisconsin.

 

Rev. Stapleton based his lecture on the fact that we have entered a time of diminished importance for the Church, and if we are going to survive as churches (and certainly as an association of churches) we must focus less on our past and more on our present, so we can enter the future with the kind of verve and vigor God desires for us.   Shawn ended his address with four thought provoking questions regarding our covenant, our form and purposes, the idea for us to “re-own” our covenant and a positive statement of identity. (Exhibit 6)

 

Break                At 3:30 P.M. the Moderator declared a break and urged all to attend the workshops which will be presented at 3:45 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.

 

Workshops        The following workshops were presented at 3:45 P.M.: “What Do You Do With Three Sopranos and a Bass?”; “The Power of the Cross”; “A Blueprint for the Church”and “The ABC’s of CFTS”.

 

                           At 5:00 P.M. the workshops presented were: “Learning to Use The New NACCC Hymnal”; “Tools for Efficient Committee Meetings”; “Gifted to Serve” and “The Almost-Not Quite Sunday School”.

 

 

 

                           

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                                       6                                    June 26-29, 2005

 

Dinner           At 6:30 P.M. Rev. Dick Adair welcomed us to dinner in the

Imperial Ballroom and announced that three associations had assisted in sending delegates from small churches.  Grace was given by Julius Santana of the Bread of Life Mission.

 

Fort Shelby   Following dinner Revs. Arthur Rouner, Jr. and Ed White gave their

Memories     recollections of the meeting at Fort Shelby, 50 years ago.

 

Necrology     Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hall gave a power point presentation of pictures and

                       facts on the following “saints among us” and gave thanks for each

                      of these lives: (Exhibit 7)

Troxell Paris, Seattle Congregational Church, Seattle, WA

Louise Wilmot, Central Congregational Church, Galesburg, IL

Joseph McVeigh, Plymouth Congregational Church, Racine, WI

Rev. Dr. Joe Hotchkiss, Community Congregat’l. Church, Gahanna OH

Herman Schmidt, First Congregational Church of Etna, Pittsburgh, PA

Mabel Benes, St. Jacobi Congregational Church, Richfield, WI

Rev. Richard C. Stoddard, Congregational Church of Frankfort, MI

David Ogden, First Congregational Church of Nantucket, MA

Rev. Dr. John Alexander, Congregational Church of Sun City, AZ

 

Communion   A service of Communion was led by the ministers and members of

Service          the Mid-America Congregational Fellowship.  Following the offering

 Rev. John Carson, Associate Executive Secretary, installed the

 seven new churches.  The installation service was written by Dr.

 Tom Richard.  (Exhibit 7)

 

Receptions    At 9:00 P.M. there was a New Member Churches’ Reception and a CFTS Reception.

 

                            Monday Morning, June 27, 2005

 

Pre-Meeting    Dawn Devotions were held at 6:30 A.M. and the CCD breakfast and the Institute for Congregational Studies breakfast were held at 7:00 A.M.

 

Singing             At 7:45 singing commenced in the Imperial Ballroom.

 

 

 

 

 

                       

Annual Meeting Minutes                                    7                                     June 26-29, 2005

 

 

Call To Order  Mrs. Hannah Hall, Moderator called the meeting to order at

8:00 A.M..  She announced that she had asked our missionaries to open each business session with prayer. Kenaz Soloman led us in prayer.

                           

Executive         The Moderator called on Rev. Ed White, Chairman of the Executive Committee       Committee to give his report (Exhibit 9).

Report

05-A-05            Rev. White moved to ratify the actions of the Executive

                         Committee numbered 04-E-45 through 05-E-26.

                         (Discussion and action on this motion will take place on   Wednesday.)

 

Treasurer’s    Hannah Hall called on Mr. Jim Walsh to present the Treasurer’s

Report            report.  Mrs. Hall remarked that Jim is retiring after holding this office for ten years.  Mr. Walsh gave a power point presentation of his report (Exhibit 10).

 

Budget            Rev. Dr. Dewey Gierke, Chairman of the Budget Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee, was called upon to give his report (Exhibit 11).  Mrs. Hall reminded the delegation that this would be discussed and acted upon on Wednesday.

 

Nominating     Rev. Charles Packer was called upon by the Moderator to give the

Committee      report of the Nominating Committee.  Rev. Packer placed in

Report            nomination the following slate of officers: (Exhibit  12a)

                       

Moderator-Elect:

Mrs. Carol Cole

Church of the Messiah

Los Angeles, California

 

Secretary

Mrs. Susan Carter

Heritage Congregational Church

Madison, Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                          8                                           June 26-29, 2005

 

Nominating Committee Report (Con’td.)

 

Treasurer:

Mr. Jeff Dillon

Faith Community Church

Greenfield, Wisconsin

 

Historian:

Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hall

Minister Plymouth Congregational Church, Lansing

Lansing, Michigan

 

Executive Committee:

Rev. Giovan King

                        Minister of the Hyde Park Congregational Church

                        Los Angeles, California

 

                        Mrs. Joelle Sommers

                        Heritage Congregational Christian Church

                        Madison, Wisconsin

 

                        Mr. Don Sturgis

                        Pilgrim Congregational Church

                        Pomona, California

 

                        Credentials Committee:

                         Rev. Norman Rust

                         First Congregational Church

                         South Paris, Maine

 

                         Mr. James Larson

                         First Congregational Church

                         Peterson, Iowa

 

                         Mrs. Marjorie Weidlich

                         South Congregational Church

                         Hartford, Connecticut

                        

                        

                        

                      

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                               9                                    June 26-29, 2005

         

                        (Nominating Committee Report (cond’d.)

                       

Rev. Packer thanked those who had sent in nominations and those who had answered affirmatively when asked to serve.

 

                        The Moderator asked if there were any further nominations for each of the offices.

 

                        Rev. Kathryn Rust, Thomas A. Edison Congregational Church of Fort Myers, Florida placed the name of Helen Gierke, First Congregational Community Church of Cape Coral, Florida for the office of Moderator-Elect.

  

  Mrs. Hall declared the nominations closed and the election of

  nominees for uncontested offices by unanimous consent and added her congratulations to those elected.  She then informed the delegates that the election for the contested office would be held Wednesday morning.

 

Nominations    The Moderator asked for nominations for the Nominating

For                   Committee.  The following names were placed in nomination:

Nominating

Committee                 Rev. Paul Ray nominated Rev. Phil Jackson

                                   Ms. Claudia Kniefel nominated Rev. Richard Miller-Todd

                                   Rev. Linda Anderson nominated Rev. Wayne McLeod

                                   Rev. Art Rudman nominated Rev. Bill Rafuse

Mrs. Hall announced that since there were more than three nominees, each nominee was to submit a brief biographical statement and the voting would take place on Wednesday morning.

 

Nominations       Mrs. Hannah Hall asked Mrs. Anne Butman Chairman of the

       &                 Nominations & Appointments Subcommittee of the Executive

Appointments     Committee to present her report.  Mrs. Butman presented the

                            following names:  (Exhibit 12b )

 

                            Communications Services Committee (One Year Term)

                            Mrs. Lisa Dembkowski

                            Florence Congregational Church

                            Florence, Massachusetts

 

                            Rev. Donald Mayberry

                            First Congregational Church

                            South Paris, Maine

 

                                  

    

 

                                                 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                                 10                                   June 26-29, 2005

 

                         Nominations & Appointments (Cont’d.)

                          Mr. Dwight Nelson

                            First Congregational Church

                            Holbrook, Massachusetts

 

                            Mr. Franklin Pierson

                            Barnstead Parade Congregational Church

                            Barnstead Parade, New Hampshire

 

                           Rev. Samuel Schaal

                          First Congregational Church

                          Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

 

                           Mr. Alan Seltzer

                           Church of the Gardens

                             Forest Hills, New York

                       

                           Mrs. Pamela Smith

                           North Shore Congregational Church

                           Fox Point, Wisconsin

 

                          Church Services Commission

                          Mrs. Helen Gierke (Four-year term)

                          First Congregational Church

                          Cape Coral, Florida

 

                          Mrs. Elizabeth Philbrook

                          First Congregational Church

                          Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts

 

                          Mrs. Lily James

                          First Congregational Church

                          Eaton Rapids, Michigan

 

                         

                       

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Minutes                          11                                            June 26-29, 2005

 

  Nominations & Appointments (con’td.)

 

 Youth Subcommittee (Two four-year terms)

                        Mr. Rev Mengel

  Community Congregational Church

                        Franklin, Indiana

 

                        Mr. Tom Simmons

                        First Congregational Church

                        Salt Lake City, Utah

 

                     Congregational Church Development Division  (Four-year terms)

                       Rev. Norman Bronson

                       Winthrop Congregational Church

                    Holbrook, Massachusetts

 

                    Rev. Arthur Ritter

                    First Congregational Church

                    Salt Lake City, Utah

 

                    Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (Four-year)

                    Rev. Irven Gammon

                    Rockland Congregational Church

                    Rockland, Maine

 

                    Rev. Jay Marshall