Title: A LETTER FROM PAUL. . .

Apr 29th, 2007

Paul Goodman

Interim Senior Minister

Words From the Fountain:

The United Church of Christ came into existence in 1957 after years of prayer, negotiation, and hard work of representatives of the Congregational Christian Churches, Evangelical and Reformed and Hungarian Reformed church. Recognizing that divisions within the body of Christ did not strengthen the overall health of the church, those wise men and women under the guidance of the Holy Spirit struggled to create a covenant based relationship between groups that had more in common than different.

This was not easy as there were basic differences of opinion about the role, power and authority of clergy and the ministers and elected officers who handled larger denominational responsibilities (at National, Conference and Association levels.) All of it was based largely on the Congregational model of a representative structure. Just as the local church has its “annual” meeting at which time typically officers are elected, budgets adopted, resolutions considered, etc, the wider church does the same.

The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ of Ridgefield belongs by prayerful consideration and covenant to the Fairfield West Association, one of ten Associations in the Connecticut Conference (headquartered in Hartford), and the large National United Church of Christ (largely headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.) This church sends representatives to Association gatherings (annual meetings, ecclesiastical councils – to prayerfully decide fitness for authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ – and for ordinations, installations, etc). The church and ministers also are delegates to the semi-annual meetings of the Connecticut Conference usually held in May and October at roving locations. There too officers are elected, budgets adopted, staffing issues addressed, resolutions considered, reports given on the state of the Conference and its ministerial emphasis, capital concerns, a report from Silver Lake, etc.

All of this is supported by this church’s giving to Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM) in your annual budget as well as the “dues” paid to the Fairfield West Association. These monies help to pay the salaries of Ministers who work on the wider churches behalf and maintain offices, support mission and relief work such as Church World Service (Blanket Sunday, disaster relief, etc) overseas missionaries, social, racial, environmental and economic justice issues, local church resourcing and support, and much more.

Nationally, the “annual meeting” is the General Synod. Held every two years at locations that move around the nation, elected delegates (a healthy mixture of clergy and lay) gather for a four day meeting. This is a significant event in the life of the denomination as it is the time when lively debates ensue, difficult decisions are made about budgets, staffing, ministerial/mission emphasis determined, officers elected. As important is the time spent together receiving reports on progress and programs made during the two years since the previous Synod, worshipping together as the gathered body (often with ecumenical partners such as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), celebrating the diversity within the denomination, breaking bread together, hearing inspiring and often disquieting sermons from keynote preachers, and just plain having fun getting to know our partners in ministry from across the nation and even from around the world.

Why this UCC promo? Because in Hartford this June 22-26, the Connecticut Conference and all 258 churches in Connecticut will be hosting the 2007 General Synod of the denomination on the 50th Anniversary of our covenanting together. It promises to be an exciting time. We will be hosting nearly 4,000 people, delegates, guests and visitors. The main events will be at the Harford Civic Center. All members of the UCC are invited to attend as visitors and see what’s going on, what is discussed and decided. Worship events are always memorable and the main speakers inspiring. Go to the website of either the conference (ctucc.org) or the denomination (ucc.org) and click on the synod links. All the events are laid out. And at the ctucc.org link there are still opportunities to volunteer. Greeters, information givers, hosts, parking directors, and many other jobs need handling with this large a crowd Penny Hein at another place in this month’s Fountain has an appeal for bakers to help us show some New England hospitality through a tradition begun in 1993 by our friends in Missouri – the bottomless cookie jar. Bulletin inserts will also provide information.

This is a rare opportunity for our church to get an up close look at the United Church of Christ in its fullest expression. Ask Paul Goodman for further information or go to the websites. See you in Hartford.

Shalom, Paul