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Minister and President’s Message
Reflections on six months of Conference ministry
March, 2002
By Nancy S. Taylor
Six months ago I began work as Minister and President. In broad brushstrokes, let me update you on what I have been doing.
Last fall, each of the five Areas of the Conference arranged a “Meet the Minister and President” event. These were opportunities to talk, share ideas and ask questions of each other. Additionally, I have worshipped and preached in a different congregation nearly every Sunday since I began. I always arrange to meet with the church leadership following worship. We discuss matters of faith and discipleship, and hear and learn from each other. In these six months, I have traveled to nearly every corner of the Conference: from Cape Ann to Cape Cod, from Cummington to Stockbridge, from Boston to Worcester… and many points between.
Establishing a good, professional working relationship with Conference staff is a priority for this first year. Most of us work out of Framingham, while others are located around the Commonwealth, from Warner Farm to Craigville, and in five area offices. Together, we are working at teambuilding, collegiality, trust and respect. We continue to assess what we do in light of the Vision for Renewal and Growth, as well as improve our coordination, innovation, communication, and efficiency. Prayer and a shared faith that Jesus is challenging and guiding our efforts buoy our work.
I represent the Conference in ecumenical and inter-religious arenas… arenas made more tender and complicated since September 11th. With the Massachusetts Council of Churches acting as a broker, I joined a small delegation of Christian leaders who met with the Israeli Consul General (New England) to discuss the plight of the Palestinians; with Christian and Jewish leaders working to bridge new religious divides; and, with inter-religious leaders gathered in prayer on several occasions since September 11th, including City Hall Plaza.
On behalf of the Conference, and with the advice of counsel, we are seeking to influence proposed legislation calling for clergy to become mandated reporters of abuse. In the environment caused by scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, we are exploring a whole cluster of issues around clergy confidentiality, potential areas of litigation, and resourcing churches and pastors about becoming “safe churches.”
As the largest Protestant denomination in the Commonwealth, we are rediscovering our public voice. These past several months the news media - The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Herald among others - have looked to us for comment or information on matters of faith, ethics, and public life.
Since September 11th many of us have been especially grateful for 21st century technology. When disaster struck, most of us were wired together, able to share ideas, resources, prayers, faith and courage. While many of our churches are expanding their use of these technologies, there are still 167 un-wired churches in our Conference. We have identified and communicated with these churches, asking how we can be helpful in getting them connected.
Beyond our 432 churches, 11 Associations, and 800+ clergy, we have a host of mission partners to whom the Conference relates: seminaries, councils, mission societies, task forces, funds, organizations, properties and facilities. I am becoming acquainted with these mission partners, and with the ways our ministries complement and inform each other.
Our ministry is permeated by the awareness that we are a people gathered in the name of Christ. In our prayers and meetings we endeavor to seek the mind of Christ…whether as staff, directors, commissioners, local congregations, Associations, or Committees on the Ministry. Our work is informed by our rich Congregational and United Church of Christ heritage…a people seeking to be as wide of heart as He in whose name we minister.