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Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

Annual Meeting
Promises A Full
Net Of Fellowship

by Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor

March/April 2005

Comments the Rev. Mr. Dale Hempen, Associate Conference Minister in the Southeast Area, "We are a blessed people, growing in discipleship, being deepened in our faith and faithfulness, as well as called to the New . growth, challenges, and opportunities. No one dare say, 'God said it, I believe it, that settles it!' Even the oldest 'tried and true way of doing church' is subject to review, if not rethinking and discernment of what God is requiring of us now and in the future."

New Interim Minister and President Steve Sterner looks forward to the event and personally meeting more of the Con-ference members during the workshops, debates, resolutions, clergy gathering with Dianna Bass, conversations, and fellowship that will fill the halls for the two days. He is especially looking forward to hearing the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. address the membership as the keynote speaker. Wright, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago since 1972, is a recipient of numerous awards, including three honorary doctorates and three presidential commendations. Wright is also an accomplished musician, has written four books, numerous articles and countless sermons and is known as a superb preacher.

The Rev. Ms. Laura Lee Kent, Associate Conference Minister in the Central Area, agrees with Hempen. "We are busy with new challenges and opportunities - discussions on church marriage policies, a divisive election and an ongoing war have called us all to discover what it means to seriously disagree with one another, find common ground and remain together in faithful covenant."

During the business portion of the Annual Meeting, delegates will be asked to vote on the following resolutions.

.A Resolution to Affirm and Encourage the Pledge of Time, Talents and Treasure as a Sign and Seal of our Commitment as Individuals and Churches to Christ and Christ's Mission, was initiated by the Commission on Stewardship. Says Andy Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship & Financial Development, "The Commission wanted to elevate the emphasis on stewardship and pledging as a sign of commitment to Christ and His mission. We recognize the practical value to churches and denominations of knowing resources for budgeting, but this is something we as Christians need to make to show our commitment to Christ."

.Resolution to Send a Call for Environmental Education and Action to General Synod.

Barbara Darling-Smith, the co-chair of the Consumption and Justice Committee at Church of the Covenant UCC in Boston and a member of the Environmental Task Force of the MACUCC says that the Church of the Covenant is concerned with the environment and wants to help local congregations and communities get involved in preventing the destruction of the earth. "Faith has a lot to say about our earth and our church hopes the MACUCC can bring its concerns more to the forefront. We want the world to know that the UCC cares about the protection of our world, and we have the resources to make an impact."

 "We can and must encourage, support and coordinate efforts to assist churches, conferences and other entities of the UCC to develop environ-mental initiatives. Considering the spiritual and practical imperative of responsible stewardship of the natural systems that nurture us and God's other creatures, Church of the Covenant proposes that it be recommended that the twenty-fifth General Synod of the UCC approve this Resolution. God created the world and it's the responsibility of all of us to care for God's earth."

.Resolution In Support of Jubilee Congregations and Jubilee Sunday within the United Church of Christ.

  Stan Duncan, speaking on behalf of the United Church of Christ in Abington, proposes to get churches involved and voice opinions that past debts of poor third-world countries - whose original loans have been paid, but are burdened with interest payments - should be cleared. "In these major countries, infrastructure is crumbling and school programs have been canceled, because they are laden with debt. This is a faith-based advocacy program to help cancel external third world debt and let the poor start with a clean slate." Jubilee Sunday is a day proposed by the Jubilee USA Network to spiritually recharge supporters and promote God's call for restoration, renewal, and the righting of relationships to bring about Jubilee cancellation of debt and justice for all. Jubilee Sunday, held on January 30th of this year, has not yet been scheduled for 2006.

.Resolution Promoting Peace for All in Sudan

First Congregational Church UCC, Williamstown, proposes that the 206th Annual Meeting call upon its member churches to support efforts to call upon the Sudanese government to cease hostile actions against civilians, to end support for militant groups committing violence, and to engage immediately in efforts to end the crisis in the Darfur region of the Sudan.

  "In the summer of 2004, the world began to notice the atrocities taking place in the western region of the Sudan, including genocide of over 70,000 civilians, destruction of hundreds of villages, and displacement of 1.5 million people of a diversity of religious faiths and ethnicities," explains First Congregational's spokesperson Virginia (Jina) Ford. "I believe that there is a strong imperative in our biblical tradition for standing with those who are oppressed and in need, those who are being slaughtered, raped and displaced by their own government and its minions, working diligently to stop the injustices and indignities that are being inflicted upon them."

.Clergy Compensation Guidelines.

Proposed by the Commission for Leadership Development in support of clergy compensation guidelines that call for salaries that are 3 percent higher than last year's recommended salaries.

.Resolution to Call the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church Of Christ to Defend the Cause of the Poor in the Budgetary Process.

  First Congregational Church, Leverett, and North Hadley Congregational Church brought about this resolution because of the concern of 'commandeering' of the Christian agenda with issues of abortion and same sex marriage. Jim Perkins, speaking on behalf of the two churches, comments that in his mind, Jesus' biggest concern was the poor. "Our churches wanted to make it loud and clear that we need to defend the cause of the poor. The proposed 2006 national budget of the United States would enact deep cuts in programs that critically impact the health, education, and welfare of the most vulnerable of our population. The American people and our leaders should give serious consideration to the values expressed in our budgets. This resolution affirms that our faith calls us to speak and act not only in our private lives and in our churches, but also in the public arena."

For details on the Resolutions, see the MACUCC website at www.macucc.org.