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Moderator announces dates, content for Annual Meeting

By Hillary Coleman - Moderator

I am getting excited to gather as a Conference at our Annual Meeting later this month to be reminded of how we are all rooted in love. Annual Meeting 2021 is online Friday to Sunday, April 30 to May 2.

Last year at this time we were coming to terms with the fact that an in-person gathering would not be possible and gathered for a shared online worship together. This year folks across the PNCUCC have been working hard to bring together an online Annual Meeting that will have opportunities for gathering, participating in the life of the conference, taking important votes and sharing time for inspiration.

One of the great things about gathering online is that for many it can be easier to join. All are welcome. Each church has a specific number of delegate spots, but it’s possible for even those who are not delegates to join to be part of this work of the Conference.

Before attending our annual meeting, it’s important to read the Annual Meeting Report Booklet. It contains inspirational stories about the work that our Conference has done over the past year to support one another, our communities, people in need. It also highlights the work being done to support public health amid a global pandemic and the journey of our collective work to address racism in our conference, churches and other settings.

This work has been possible because of our focus on deepening relationships.

In the coming days we’ll share more “asynchronous” videos with updates from committees and about the important votes we’ll take at the annual meeting: 1) a proposed constitution change: Anti-Racism Commitment, 2) PNC Bylaws Change from the Committee on Ministry, 3) Justapaz Covenant, 4) PNCUCC FY 2022 Budget, and 5) endorsement of Alliance of Associate Conference Ministers. There will be times to talk on zoom about these proposals in the two weeks before the meeting, as well as on Friday, April 30. Follow the Annual Meeting website for more information and make plans to take in this information before we gather for our “synchronous” time together on zoom from April 30 to May 2.

During the Annual Meeting weekend, there will be gatherings for conversations around topics brainstormed by the Conference on Friday, business on Friday and Saturday, and worship, connection and sacred space throughout.

We will vote on the proposals shared above and we’ll also elect new leaders that the Ministry Resource Committee and other committees have been working hard to recruit.

On Sunday, May 2 we’ll join together for a shared Conference worship. This is open to everyone, even those who aren’t able to attend other parts of the Annual Meeting. I hope your church will share in this worship service as an opportunity to gather for worship together from across the Conference.

Visit www.pncucc.org for the information about Annual Meeting and to register.

For information, email hillarycolemanucc@gmail.com.

2021 Annual Meeting theme is ‘Rooted in Love’

The Pacific Northwest Conference Annual Meeting on the theme, “Rooted in Love,” from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2, will be online this year, and there will be opportunities for involvement, engagement, information and inspiration.

“Rooted in Love” is the same as the 2021 national UCC General Synod theme, about how love can ground and inspire people as they live into what God has in store for them.

Pre-meeting videos will be shared leading up to the virtual gathering to help people prepare so the zoom time is “fruitful and connective” and deepens relationships.

The Board and staff changed the meeting date to ensure the Samoan congregations, who have their annual meeting the weekend PNC has usually held its annual meetings.

David Anderson, who is “logistics person” for the Annual Meeting, said Jim Castrolang of Colville UCC is recruiting a team of Zoom hosts.

Andy CastroLang, Lin Hagedorn and Chris Hanson are organization Conversation Gatherings, rather than workshops.  Information on those groups are coming.

Nathaniel Mahlberg and First Congregational UCC in Walla Walla will host a prayer and candlelight worship service on Friday evening.  Other worship services will be Saturday morning and the PNC-UCC Conference-wide worship on Sunday morning, hosted by Normandy Park UCC.

Committee reports are presented by videos to invite people to be engaged in their ministries.  Videos will be presented in place of live reports during the meeting.

The Stewardship Committee has prepared an overview of the budget and PNC finances.

Information on the agenda is at pncucc.org/new-page-1.

In the business meeting, several votes are planned, offering ways to live out PNC values and commitment:

• To affirm the partnership Covenant or UCC-PNC and DOC Northern Lights Region with Justapaz-and CEDECOL in Colombia.

• To endorse Alliance of Associate Conference Ministers resolution that is also before the UCC General Synod

• To affirm a PNC Bylaws change relating to the Committee on Ministry and Manual on Ministry to be in line with the PNC’s covenant with the Wider UCC in the charge to the Committee on Ministry and its role of support and accountability for those seeking or holding standing, and the tools it uses to carry out its work, including the current Manual on Ministry.

• To change the PNC Constitution to articulate its commitment to anti-racism, racial justice and dismantling racism, while expanding understanding and awareness of the impact of racism and other intersectional oppressions such as classism, homophobia-homoantagonism, transphobia and misogyny.

• To elect leaders for conference committees.

• To adopt the fiscal 2021-22 operating and capital budgets to support ministries of the Pacific Northwest Conference.

There will be more information coming on the first four, so delegates are encouraged to come informed, and hearings on them on April 30.

In addition, there will be opportunities for informal chats in chat rooms after Friday worship, during lunch or after the meeting Saturday.  Hosts are being recruited to facilitate those.

David said that sessions will be shorter and breaks longer to avoid zoom fatigue.

There is also information in the PNC-UCC Annual Meeting Reports with reports from conference staff, the board of directors and conference committees, along with conference transitions and other special reports.

“In spite of our physical distance for this meeting, I know the Holy Spirit will be alive and at work in our midst, not deterred by distance or electronics,” David said.

For information, email david@andersondd.net, visit pncucc.org/new-page-1 for the agenda and register at https//bit.ly/2MHi5VW.

Pacific NW Conference United Church of Christ News © April-May 2021

 

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