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Garden of Grace
Reports:
The Georgia/South Carolina Association of UCC Annual Meeting
April 27 and 28, 2007
Report by Richard A Kiraly, Lay Delegate
Friday, April 27, 2007:
• Upon arriving in Charleston , South Carolina , we (Andy Sidden and Richard Kiraly) located Circular Congregational Church on Meeting Street . Circular Congregational Church is one of the oldest continuously worshiping congregations in the South. Charles Towne's regional settlers founded this protestant or “dissenting” church about 1681. The graveyard is the city's oldest burial grounds with monuments dating from 1696.
• Since we had arrived early, Andy and I spent some time walking through the graveyards and then visited Market Street , we had lunch at a restaurant called Diana's where I tried Hoppin' John for the first time at Andy's suggestion. It is a southern dish of black-eyed peas and rice. We had pleasant weather and partly cloudy skies.
• Upon returning to Circular Congregational Church, we were able to enter the church and see the inside, which was beautiful. I took lots of pictures, the best of which I will make available on the web site.
• I assisted with setup and registration, which began at 4pm.
• As people arrived I was reminded of the open-mindedness and sincerity of the people associated with the UCC that I have experienced previously in UCC settings. It is a friendly and accepting group of people who remember your name and make you feel welcome.
• Circular Congregational Church showed generous hospitality by having a wonderful dinner served to us – which included baked chicken, seafood casserole, collard greens, and rice.
• We then gathered for worship, where Carolyn and Elizabeth, in-care students, assisted with the service. The offering collected for this service was given to the Christian Action Council of South Carolina.
• After dinner, we gathered for the Ecclesiastical Council, in which we were introduced to reverend Susan Mitchell, co-pastor for Sankofa United Church of Christ, of Atlanta , GA. After a review of the bylaws and a brief discussion, a vote was taken to accept Sankofa into the GA/SC Association of UCC. There were no dissenting votes.
• An ice cream social followed.
• Andy and I were hosted by a Circular Congregational Church couple in their home for overnight accommodations. It was a lovely home located on Broad Street facing Colonial Lake , near The Battery. Our hosts were gracious and friendly, and we're really appreciated their hospitality.
April 28, 2007:
• I woke up at sunrise and had a refreshing walk around Colonial Lake . Then we went in search of coffee. We breakfasted at Diana's again before joining the attendees at Circular Congregational Church. A continental breakfast was offered, another example of the wonderful hospitality of Circular Congregational Church.
• Morning Prayer was offered.
• For forums were offered: Christian Education Forum (attended by Rev. Candace), “Making Stewardship Exciting Educational Effective and Evangelical in Your Local Church” (attended by Rev Andy and Wanda), “Youth and General Synod” and “A Bevy of Bylaws Forum” (attended by me, Richard Kiraly).
A Bevy of Bylaws Forum:
Outline Of The Provisional Constitution And Bylaws Of The Southeast Conference UCC
We received an outline of the provisional constitution and bylaws of the southeast conference UCC which was adopted provisionally on June 10 2006. it is proposed for final adoption On June 09, 2007.
We were advised that this outline was the result of a five year body of work resulting from the review of national bylaws currently existing in the denomination.
Major proposed changes include: A) Selection and retention of the conference minister, and B) abolition of commissions in favor of conference representatives and task forces (organizational).
A) It was stated that the role of Conference Minister is in fact a Minister or Pastor to the Conference – the proposed change makes the term of office for the Conference Minister an indefinite term, rather than the existing six year term which could be re-elected indefinitely. This change is consistent with how a church in the UCC typically selects and retains a pastor of a church.
It was stated That the proposed changes provides for a friendly means of parting ways for the conference minister.
It was also stated that the proposed changes provides a procedure for forcing a parting of ways.
Further it was stressed that these changes mimic the prevailing practice in other conferences throughout the UCC organization.
B) If I understood this correctly, the proposed changes mean that this change is organizational, and that “Commissions” will be replaced with “Conference Representatives” and “Task Forces.” A person with a passion or calling to a particular task may be selected to be a Conference Representative or to lead a Task Force. The conference will be utilizing task forces for pursuing worthwhile causes. The proposed changes provide focus for passionate causes without the need to set up a committee ( The explanation here was that many committee members do not necessarily share the passion for the cause. This action can help eliminate deadweight committees or committee members ( Due to a lack of volunteers) through this more modern organization.
Georgia / South Carolina Association Constitution and Bylaws
It is interesting to note that the existing constitution and bylaws of the GA sc association were antiquated enough to be hard to locate and difficult to reproduce – meaning that no electronic file of this constitution and bylaws existed. They showed us the “original” bylaws and it was an overcopied copy of the copy that had been copied again over and over and over to the point where was barely recognized as an official document.
The document was recreated in the spirit of the original but modernized – and designed to approximate the current constitution and bylaws of the governing Conference (SECUCC). There were only four “working draft” copies of the rewritten constitution and bylaws with the stipulation that we could take them only if we were serious about assisting with the process.
I was one of those people who took a copy.
Note that the Working Draft provides for delegates ( Garden of Grace would have three voting delegates at this time (based on current membership and minimum), not including a Pastor in good standing with the UCC, who also gets a vote.
Note that Dr. Downs stated that this aligns with the practice of the Conference as well.
Business Meeting:
• Following an opening prayer, roll call was conducted. Garden of Grace was well represented, with 2 Clergy (Rev Candace and Rev Andy), 1 Delegate (Richard Kiraly) and 2 Guests (Carolyn and Elizabeth). In addition to Garden of Grace , representatives from Central Congregational Church, First Congregational Church, Circular Congregational Church, Midway Congregational Church, Pilgrimage, Sankofa United Church of Church, were present, among others.
• After brief but sincere Words of Welcome, and a hearty thank you for the hospitality of Circular Congregational Church, the minutes from the October 14, 2006 Meeting was approved, the Treasure's Report was reviewed and accepted, and then brief reports were heard from the Standing Committees (Christian Education, Church and Ministry, New Church Development, Social Justice, and Women in Church and Society).
• It was reported that the Constitution and Bylaws Revision Committee had completed a working draft which had been dispersed to four volunteers for review, including Garden of Grace 's own Richard Kiraly.
• Dr. Downs made several announcements, and discussed the “Covenant Keeper” churches within the Association and Conference (which includes Garden of Grace ). A “Covenant Keeper” is a church that faithfully pays the requested tithe of 10%. He also discussed the “Strive to Tithe” program, an alternative for churches not yet giving a 10% tithe, in which they can increase their tithe by 1% every year until they reach the goal of 10%.
• Dr. Downs announced the most recent commencement of TAP (Theology Among The People) classes at Garden of Grace UCC .
• Everyone and anyone is encouraged to attend the General Synod in Hartsford Connecticut , which is boldly and confidently being billed as “the best General Synod ever!” Barack Obama is confirmed as a speaker, among other special guests. Interested persons can find registration information at www.ucc.org or http://www.ucc.org/50/synod_in_the_city.htm .
• Dr. Downs was enthusiastic about the growth of the conference, stating proudly that as a result of new growth within the conference, SECUCC now qualified for 6 delegates to send to the General Synod (up from 3 delegates)!
• The next SECUCC conference will be held in Atlanta Georgia , June 8 th and 9 th , at Central Congregational Church. members of the 50 other UCC churches in the Southeast Conference! Put June 8 and 9th on your calendar and plan to attend the annual conference meeting that Central will host for our first time in several years. Rev. John Thomas, will preach, we'll indulge in a delicious ice cream social, and we'll hear choirs from sister churches!
• Cameron Trimble will be hosting “Conference Call with Cameron,” the first of which will be May 15 th . “Conference Call with Cameron” is a forum for discussion of New Church Development and Revitalization.
• Garden of Grace UCC Celebration Singers have been invited to sing at the SECUCC Conference on June 8 th and 9 th at Central Congregational Church in Atlanta Georgia .
• After a brief word from the Association's Moderator, Kim Buchannon, the next meeting date was announced for September 29-30, 2007, with the location to be announced.
• A Blessing was offered and the meeting was adjourned.
Observed Practices of Circular Congregational Church:
A Care Circle system is in place that Circular Congregational Church – However they call them tribes. A photo of the leaders and a description of the group and group members is posted in the common area of the church.
New members of Circular Congregational Church have their picture and a brief introductory bio posted in the common area of the church.
“Wiggle Worship” activity bags for children with the wiggles to keep them occupied (and quieter) during service.
Observed Practices of Sankofa UCC:
A Tithe “tip chart” is included in the stewardship information disseminated to its members – a charge that gives member is an idea of 5% tithe might mean for their income, or a 10% tithe.
The church appears to do an electronic scrapbook of their community events, activities, fundraisers, ministries and outreach programs – which includes photos and information about the year's accomplishments.
Their newsletter incorporates personal stories about members as well as featured members.
Suggested Practices for Garden of Grace :
Ask members, particularly those with a talent or passion for writing, to conduct interviews with new and existing members of and write a brief article for our newsletter and/or website (subject to permissions from the member(s) and edited for content and length).
Ask members for creative submissions to our newsletter, including but not limited to photography, artwork, poetry, short story, or short article; and/or Ask members for creative submissions to our website, including but not limited to photography, artwork, poetry, short story, or short article; (subject to permissions from the member(s) and edited for content and length).
Obtain a “God Is Still Speaking” banner for the exterior of our building to help with our identity as an Open And Affirming member of UCC. I recommend that it be mounted in a frame above the canopy of our front door to minimize vandalism. Wanda had some excellent ideas on how to accomplish this.
Feature to a greater degree member photos in our Multimedia, as well as online and in literature concerning Garden of Grace , with focus on Community Outreach, Fellowship. Solicit the participation of members in the gathering of photos for this purpose.
Other Observations:
I continue to be encouraged and inspired by the goodwill, fellowship and competency of UCC Officials, Clergy and Congregations. I am reassured that Garden of Grace made the correct decision to affiliate with this dynamic denomination!
--Respectfully Submitted:
Richard A Kiraly,
Lay Delegate, GOGUCC