MINUTES

53nd ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

June 23 – 26, 2007

Hilton, St. Petersburg, Florida

HOST

Florida Association of Congregational Christian Churches

Actions: 07-A-1 - 07-A-17

Sing to the Lord a New Song Sing to the Lord, All the Earth
OPENING/BUSINESS SESSION 1 Saturday, June 23, 2007, 1:00 p.m.
Opening	At 1:05 p.m. Moderator Dr. Helen Gierke welcomed meeting attendees to St. Petersburg, Florida.
Credentials	Jim Larson reported there are 429 churches in the NA. Twenty percent (20%) were needed for a quorum He reported that 155 NA churches were represented at the 2007 Annual Meeting. Dr. Helen Gierke declared a quorum and called the 53^rd Annual Meeting of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches to order.
Constituting Prayer	The Constituting Prayer was written by George Brown and led by Elaine and Carl Fleming, members of the Florida Association of CCC. This is their 40^th Annual Meeting.
Presentation of Colors	Carl Fleming led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Introduction of those seated on the Dais	The Moderator introduced those seated on the dais: Mrs. Sherry Glab, Parliamentarian, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, CA; Susan Carter, Association/Corporation Secretary, Heritage Congregational Christian Church, Madison, WI; Rev. Dr. Bill Fillebrown, Chiltonville Congregational Church, Plymouth, MA.
Host Chair	Dr. Gierke introduced the co-chairs of the Host Committee, the Rev. Dr. Dewey Gierke and Mrs. Louise Watson, and thanked them for all their work and dedication to the NA. The Host Committee will be wearing bright yellow vests. Louise Watson welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Host Committee.
Welcome from community	Sandy Greco, Conventions and Visitors Bureau representative extended a welcome to the attendees.
Minutes Certification Committee	Rev. Don Mullen, Martha Hermes, and Alice Murphy have agreed to serve on the Minutes Certification Committee.

Adopt Standing Rules	Parliamentarian, Sherry Glab, stated the Proposed Standing Rules were on page 12 of the Program Booklet (Exhibit 1) 07-A-1: By general consensus the Standing Rules were approved.
Approved Agenda	Moderator, Dr. Helen Gierke, referred attendees to the meeting agenda in the Program Booklet. (Exhibit 1) 07-A-2: By general consensus the Agenda for the 53^nd Annual Meeting was approved.
2006 Annual Meeting Minutes	Moderator Gierke announced that the minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting (Exhibit 2) were available to all member churches on the NACCC website. Several copies were available for delegates to review. The accuracy of the minutes was certified by Sherry Glab, Cindy Bacon and Dewey Gierke. 07-A-3: By general consensus the minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting were ratified.
Moderator’s Address	Moderator, Dr. Helen Gierke, addressed the assembly. Exhibit 3.
Executive Secretary’s Address	Executive Secretary, Dr. Rev. Thomas Richard, addressed the assembly. Exhibit 4. Dr. Richard introduced the NA staff.
Mission Statement	Becci Cox and Joelle Sommers presented the new Mission Statement to the Assembly for action. Bringing together Congregational Churches for mutual care and outreach to our world in the name of Jesus Christ Action will be taken on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
Vision Reports	The Moderator directed the delegates to the written reports of the following leadership groups found in their registration packets (Exhibit 1). They were asked to share ideas, dreams, and hopes for their division or committee as they look to sing a new song to the Lord in service to our member churches. · Executive Committee – Rev. Richard Hotchkin · Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies – William Lange · Division for Ministry – Barbara Mullen · Church Development – Joy Baumgartner · Missionary Society – Leo Christian Plymouth Church of Brooklyn, NY presented a gift to the National Association – CCD of $50,000.
Funding Our Vision	· Congregational Foundation – Howard Lewis Received gift of $100,000 from Plymouth Congregational Church of Brooklyn NY. · Financial Services Committee - – Arthur Wallach Developed DVD entitled You Are Not Alone that will be made available to all churches. The DVD is an introduction to the Financial Services Committee and how they can be of service to the local church. · Campaign for Leadership and Growth – Diana David Diana introduced Rev. Karl Schmipf, North Shore Congregational Church, Milwaukee, WI. Rev. Schmipf spoke in support of the RSI Capitol Campaign and challenged delegates to go back to their churches and Sing a New Song. George Brown was introduced as Honorary Chair of the Campaign and Meryl York as Chair. Rev. Dr. Tom Richard, NA Executive Secretary, introduced representatives from RSI. They gave an update on the “Branching Out” campaign. Rev. Cindy Bacon, Heritage Church, Madison, WI, spoke to the local church campaign. Heritage was the first NA church to go through the campaign process. To date $1,510,650 has been raised. The Campaign will now go public. The Implementation Team handed out packets to everyone in attendance. Dick Hotchkin announced that the NA Executive Committee has authorized continuation of the contract with RSI.
Presentation of New Churches	Rev. Richard Hotchkin presented the names of those churches wishing to join the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. 07-A-4: Rev. Hotchkin moved that the following churches be received into the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches: Church of Christ of Winsted, Winsted, Connecticut Stuart Congregational Church, Stuart, Florida First Congregational Church, Zephyrhills, Florida First Congregational Church, Tonganoxie, Kansas Union Congregational Church, Wollaston, Massachusetts McGraft Memorial Congregational Church, Muskegon, Michigan First Congregational Church, Owosso, Michigan Ashby Congregational Church, Ashby, Nebraska Hemingford Congregational Church, Hemingford, Nebraska Hyannis Congregational Church, Hyannis, Nebraska First Congregational Church, Little Valley, New York Second Congregational Church, Ashtabula, Ohio Pilgrim Church, Toledo, Ohio Knightsville-Franklin Congregregational Church, Cranston, Rhode Island VOTE: Motion Adopted
New Song Presentation	Pianist Deborah Nuss, songleaders Cindy Bacon and Casey vanderBent.
Break	The Moderator declared a brief recess at 4:30 p.m.
Congregational Lecture	The Moderator reconvened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. and introduced the Congregational Lecturer, Rev. Dr. Terry Bascom.
Dinner	At 6:00 p.m. a general dinner was held poolside.
Plenary Session	Introduction of the new Congregational hymnal Hymns for a Pilgrim People led by Rev. Cindy Bacon.
BUSINESS SESSION II Sunday, June 24, 2007, 12:30 p.m.
Call to Order	Moderator Gierke called the meeting to order. She then introduced Alan Seltzer, Chair of the Communication Services Committee, for presentation of the 2007 Media Awards. 1. Best Worship Bulletin – First Congregational Church, St. John’s, Michigan 2. Best Church Newsletter – North Shore Congregational Church, Fox Point, WI 3. Best Church Website – Plymouth Church of Pilgrims, Brooklyn, NY
Vision Reports Continued	· Communications Services Committee – Alan Seltzer · Church Services Commission – Becci Dawson Cox Church Services Commission presented the following three proposals: 1. To Create a Task Force on Women’s Issues 2. To Create an Event Planning Commission 3. To Create a Christian Education Task Force · The Congregationalist – Jim Eaton · Youth Services Commission – Bobbie Chapman
Treasurer’s Report	Treasurer Jeff Dillon was called upon to present the Treasurer’s Report. (Exhibit 5)
Nominating Committee	Richard Miller Todd was called upon by the Moderator to give the report of the Nominating Committee. The following slate of officers was placed in nomination: Moderator-Elect Lottie Jones Hood First Congregational Church of Detroit Detroit, Michigan Secretary Susan Carter Heritage Congregational Church Madison, Wisconsin Treasurer Jeffrey H. Dillon Faith Community Church Franklin, Wisconsin Historian Lloyd M. Hall, Jr. Plymouth Congregational Church Plymouth, Michigan Credentials Committee Patricia Jipson North Shore Congregational Church Fox Point, Wisconsin Executive Committee Earl Crutchfield Tallahassee, Alabama Harry G. Holz First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa Elm Brook, Wisconsin Lowell W. Linden First Congregational Church of Redlands Redland, California Bobbie Chapman Founders Congregational Church Harwinton, Connecticut Moderator Gierke asked for nominations from the floor. There were no further nominations. 07-A-5 By general consensus the nominations were closed. Vote will be taken on Tuesday.
Nominations and Appointments	Dr. Gierke asked Anne Butman, Chairman of the Nominations & Appointments Subcommittee of the Executive Committee to present her report. The following names were presented:
Nominations and Appointments	2007 Communication Services Committee (7 members appointed for 1-year terms – up to 5 years Alan Seltzer, Chair – 2003 – Church of the Gardens, Forest Hills, NY Rev. Samuel Schaal – 2005 – First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, WI Franklin Pierson – 2004 – Barnstead Parade Congregational Church, Barnstead Parade, N.H. Rev. Donald Mayberry – 2004 – First Congregational Church, South Paris, ME Dawn Carlson – 2006 – First Congregational Church, Terre Haute, Indiana Kathleen Rust – 2007 – Central Congregational Church, Galesburg, Illinois 2007 Financial Services Committee (1 year appointment) Arthur Wallach, Chair – First Congregational Church, Akron, Ohio Harold Frentz, Chair, Oneonta Congregational Church, South Pasadena, CA Thomas King, Jr. – First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA Thomas Lootens – First Congregational Church, Royal Oak, MI William Barnes, Plymouth Congregational Church, Plainfield, Illinois 2007 Appointees to Investment Advisory Committee(1 year appointment) Robert Brunner, Chair – North Shore Congregational Church, Fox Point, WI James Walsh – First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa, WI Ron Heiligenstein – North Shore Congregational Church, Fox Point, WI Keith Naeve – Plymouth Congregational Church, Racine, WI Richard Peterson – Faith Community Church, Franklin, WI Richard Stanley – People’s Congregational Church, Bayport, MN 2007 Nominee to Commission for Youth Ministries (1 four year term) Marylou Hall, First Congregational Church, Hanson, Massachusetts 2007 Nominees to Congregational Church Development (2 four year terms) Mark Long, First Congregational Church, Anchorage, Alaska Stu Merkel, Gurnee Community Church, Gurnee, Illinois 2007 Nominees to Congregational Foundation for Theological studies (2 four year terms) Janet Bell Garber, Congregational Church of the Messiah, Los Angeles, California Carl Francis, First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts 2007 Nominees to Division of Ministry (2 four year terms) Cindy Bacon, Heritage Congregational Church, Madison, WI Ellen Sutphin, First Congregational Church, Anchorage, Alaska 2007 Nominees to the Missionary Society (2 four year terms) Chris Bryan, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Louise Watson, Friendship Community Church, Treasure Island, Florida 2007 Nominees to Church Services (3 four year terms) Joyce Acree, Methodist Congregational Federated Church, Demorest, Georgia Glenn Lawson, Plymouth Congregational Church, Racine, Wisconsin 2007 Nominees to World Christian Relations (1 four year term) Joyce McVeigh, Plymouth Congregational Church, Racine, Wisconsin The Moderator asked for nominations from the floor. There were no additional nominations. 07-A-6 By general consensus the nominations were closed. The proposed slate will be voted on Tuesday.
Nominations for Nominating Committee	The Moderator asked for nominations for the Nominating Committee. The following names were placed in nomination: Diane Williams, Heritage Congregational Church, Madison, WI Anne Butman, First Congregational Church, Hanson, MA Beth Borland, First Congregational Church of Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, MI 07-A-7 By general consensus, the nominations were closed. Vote will be on Tuesday, June
Presentation of the Budget	Don Sturgis, Chairman of the Budget Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee, was called upon to give his report (Exhibit 6 ). Dr. Gierke reminded the delegation that this would be discussed and acted upon on Tuesday.
Membership and Procedures	Bonn Clayton, Chairman, Membership and Procedures Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee, was invited to present the proposed amendment to the Articles of Association to be voted on by the delegates. The amendment was introduced at the 2006 Annual Meeting. Article III. Membership Section 1. Current: “There shall be two classes of member Churches: active and inactive. An active member Church is one which (a) makes a yearly financial contribution to the general fund of the Association, and/or (b) makes a yearly statistical report for the Yearbook, and/or (c) sends a delegate to the Annual Meeting. A member Church which does not make a yearly financial contribution, send a delegate to an Annual Meeting, or does not submit an annual report to the Yearbook, is in breach of fellowship and is considered to be an inactive member Church. If a member church is in breach of fellowship for three successive years, its name shall automatically be removed from the roll of member churches, and the name of its minister shall be removed from the list of ministers in the Yearbook.” Amendment: “There shall be two classes of member Churches: active and inactive. An active member Church is one which (a) makes a yearly financial contribution to the general fund of the Association, and/or (b) sends a delegate to the Annual Meeting. A member Church which does not make a yearly financial contribution or send a delegate to an Annual Meeting is in breach of fellowship and is considered to be an inactive member Church. If a member church is in breach of fellowship for three successive years, its name shall automatically be removed from the roll of member churches, and the name of its minister shall be removed from the list of ministers in the Yearbook.” Call for the Order of the Day. Vote: adopted
BUSINESS SESSION IV TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2007, 10:00 a.m.
Call to Order	Moderator Gierke called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Opening prayer was given by Jeremy Wood– CFTS Graduate.
Membership and Procedures	Resumed discussion on Amendment to Article III, Membership Section 1. After considerable discussion the following motion was made: 07-A-8 Moved by Douglas Loux, second, that the proposed amendment to Article III, Membership Section 1 be sent back to the Membership and Procedures Committee for further clarification and be brought back to the Assembly in 2008. Vote: Motion adopted Bonn Clayton presented the following Amendment to the delegates for action next year. Article IV, Section 2(d) of the Articles of Association: IV.2(d) The Executive Committee may appoint an Executive Secretary and Associate Executive Secretaries for the Association, whose term of office, remuneration and duties shall be as agreed upon at the time of appointment: such appointment and agreements shall be subject to relevant provisions of the Bylaws and subject to the approval of the next regular meeting of the Association. An individual serving as Executive Secretary and/or Associate Executive Secretary may serve up to ten (10) years combined and shall not be eligible to serve thereafter. There shall be no limitation on the term of the Executive Secretary and/or Associate Executive Secretary, including incumbents who are in these positions on the date of the final adoption of this amendment.
Church Services Commission Awards	Becci Cox presented the following awards: · Christian Education Achievement Award – Stuart Merkel, Gurney, Illinois (John Carson accepted the award for Stu). · John Alexander 2007 Award – Patti Dando Haaheim
Historian	Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hall was called on to give his Historian Report. (Exhibit 7)
Executive Committee Citation	Rev. Richard Hotchkin, Chair, Executive Committee presented the 2007 Executive Committee Citation to Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Bingham, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pomona, CA
Approval of the Budget	07-A-9: Donald Sturgis moved that the General Operating Budget for fiscal year 2007-2008, as presented, be adopted by the Delegates of the NACCC. (Exhibit 6) VOTE: Motion adopted
Credentials Committee	07-A-10: The Nominating Committee moved that the following people serve on the Credentials Committee: Marjories Weidlich, South Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut James Larson, First Congregational Church, Peterson, Iowa VOTE: Motion Adopted
Election	07-A-11: Motion by Nominating Committee to accept the 2007/2008 Slate of Officers for the Association. VOTE: Motion Adopted 07-A-12: Motion by Nominations and Appointments Sub-Committee to accept the 2007/2008 slate of candidates. VOTE: Motion Adopted
Ratification of the Executive Committee Actions	07-A-13: Motion by Noreen Boes, second, to accept the 2006/2007 actions of the Executive Committee (Exhibit 8). Second. VOTE: Motion adopted
Mission Statement	07-A-14: Moved by Executive Committee that the following Mission Statement be adopted by the assembly. Bringing together Congregational Churches for mutual care and outreach to our world in the name of Jesus Christ. 07-A-15: Moved by Dr. Arvel Steece, second, that the word Christian be inserted between Congregational and Churches. 07-A-16: Rev. Dr. Steven Peay called for the question on the amendment. VOTE: Adopted VOTE on amendment to add Christian to Mission Statement: Adopted VOTE on amended Mission Statement: Adopted Mission Statement now reads: Bringing together Congregational Christian Churches for mutual care and outreach to our world in the name of Jesus Christ.
BUSINESS SESSION V – FINAL SESSION JUNE 26, 2007, 2:30 P.M.
Acknowledgements	Dr.Gierke acknowledged and thanked all volunteers: Host Committee, individuals and song leaders. David Smith spoke to the Assembly thanking everyone for their prayers and encouragement following a stroke.
Division of Ministries Awards	Harry Butman Award: 1. Rev. Mark Jensen 2. Rev. Noah Vanek 3. Rev. Dr. Beth Bingham Jeanette Butman Award: Nancy Rudman 2007 Sermon Award: Rev. Dr. Steven Peay
CFTS	Arbela Society: Rick Hartley named Fellow of Society Jeffrey Siegel named Fellow of Society CFTS best paper 2007 Alfred D. Gray Award to Seth Jones
2008 Annual Meeting	Rev. Dr. Bill Fillabrown gave a presentation on the 2008 Annual Meeting. A Journey of Rediscovery June 21-24, 2008 Plymouth, Massachusetts Hosted by the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches
Installation of Officers	All members of the newly elected leadership team were invited to come forward for installation. The installation service was conducted by Rev. Dr. Tom Richard, Rev. Dr. Bill Fillabrown and Rev. Dr. Arvel Steece.
Presentation of Certificates	The following certificates were presented: · Rev. Dick Hotchkin for service as Chair of the NA Executive Committee · Florida Association of Congregational Christian Church in appreciation for hosting the 2007 Annual Meeting. · Dr. Helen Gierke for service as Moderator of the 2007 Annual Meeting.
Passing of the Gravel	Gavels were passed: 2007 Moderator Dr. Helen Gierke to 2008 Moderator Rev. Dr. Bill Fillabrown Rev. Richard Hotchkin, 2006-2007 Chair of the Executive Committee, to Rev. Wendy Van Tassell, 2007-2008 Chair of the Executive Committee.
Adjournment	07-A-17: By consensus the 2007 Annual Meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Recorder: Susan Carter, Secretary