Wisconsin Conference Life

Summer 2009 Edition

This issue of Wisconsin Conference Life will bring you pictures and reflections on both the Annual Meeting of the Conference and the General Synod of the United Church of Christ. We hope that they will give you a little of the flavor of both events in the life of our UCC.

The Wisconsin Conference at General Synod

The United Church of Christ holds a national gathering every two years. This meeting is one part celebration and worship, one part legislative body, and one part giant family reunion. The Wisconsin Conference is entitled to send 33 delegates along with staff and visitors. This year there were more than 50 Wisconsin folks in Grand Rapids for the synod meeting.

Grand Rapids provided an exceptionally welcoming location for the Synod, with incredible meeting and hospitality facilities, all in a beautiful setting along the Grand River. It is a bit unusual for a smaller city to host the Synod, but Grand Rapids definitely put out the "welcome mat." With some 4000 people present for at least part of the Synod, this was the largest meeting the city had ever hosted.

On the Saturday of Synod, a program called "River City Saturday" allowed people to participate in a wide array of speakers, programs, workshops and concerts. This feature of Synod has become popular, and it offers an opportunity encounter leaders from religion and theology, but also from the media and also speakers and authors who are popular in the wider culture. Some participants also took the opportunity to walk across a pedestrian bridge to visit the President Gerald R. Ford presidential museum, a very engaging archive of the career of the "man from Grand Rapids."

Synod worship was beautifully planned and led around the Synod theme of "Immerse Yourself". We heard the Rev. Otis Moss III, the new Senior Minister of Trinity UCC in Chicago. Supported by voices of the Trinity Choir and by youth and young adult dancers, Rev. Moss spoke of the critical nature of punctuation in understanding that God isn't finished with us yet.

The Sunday worship provided the last opportunity for the entire church to hear our General Minister and President, Rev. John Thomas, preach. He took the theme of baptism and immersion in the challenges of ministry for his powerful and grace-filled message calling the church to courage and vision.

The preacher at closing worship worship was the Rev. Pat de Jong, a native of Grand Rapids who grew up in a tradition that did not value the gifts of women in ministry. She spoke of finding a home in the UCC and of having her gifts affirmed and being offered avenues to leadership in the church. She is currently minister of First Congregational UCC, Berkeley, CA.

Friday night allowed the Synod to say "Thank You!" to General Minister and President, John Thomas who had reached the limit of his terms in office. A retrospective on his years in office was offered in video clips and testimonies. One of our Wisconsin pastors, Rev. Dr. Dale Bishop, formerly an executive in the national setting of the church, interviewed John Thomas in a video presentation that ranged over the years of John's leadership as well as looking forward to the challenges ahead for the church. John Thomas spoke eloquently about the moments to celebrate, including strong stands and leadership in social issues but also about missed opportunities and the disappointment of the church not being able to turn the corner on membership and financial loss. He challenged the church to work to make the kind of changes needed to minister in an era where the culture no longer provides support to the church as it once did. He also spoke about the deep sacrifices that are required of the families of anyone in a significant leadership position requiring almost constant travel and nearly all personal energy. The warmth of those present in the hall showed a genuine affection for John and a deep appreciation for his leadership.

As part of the election process, the Synod heard a speech from the Rev. Geoffrey Black, the current Conference Minister of the New York Conference and the nominee for the next General Minister and President. As he was elected as the 7^th head of the denomination, Rev. Black pledged to maintain the progressive agenda of the UCC as a leader in issues of justice but also to draw out an emphasis on spiritual practices and peity that are part of the richness of the UCC tradition. Rev. Black will take office on October 1, 2009.

Two women from Wisconsin were recognized as Honored Lay Women at a luncheon during Synod. Carol Merriman of River Falls has been a leader in her local church and in many settings of the Northwest Association and the Wisconsin Conference. She currently serves on the Board of Directors. Lisa Hart is the Coordinator of Youth Ministries for the Conference and active in her local church and in Southwest Association leadership. We celebrate the gifts of these two women.

Lisa Hart, along with other adult leaders, brought a group of 8 youth to Synod to participate in a youth program that included a variety of work projects in the city and also presence at Synod events. The group attended the Wisconsin Conference morning caucus and reported on their experiences of helping others as well as hearing speakers and listening to Synod debates.

The work of Synod begins with each issue (and there were 20 on the agenda) being reviewed in committee. Each committee considers the issue and then brings a recommendation to the floor of the Synod. This year there were issues on health care; on improving relations with Iran; the economy; diversity teaching in public schools, and many more.

A little excitement was generated in the committee and then on the floor of Synod when the Synod considered several resolutions to move the UCC toward a unified system of governance. The delegates strongly supported this unified governance, but there was small and well-organized opposition that opposed the proposed changes. Their attempt at amendments and then their lively demonstration when the vote went in a different direction provided an engaging moment in the midst of a long day of business. The next two years will now offer the challenge for national leadership to develop a governance proposal that can be voted at the 2011 Synod in Tampa, FL.

Our Synod delegates (listed at the end of this newsletter) are open to being invited to your church to report on their experiences and to share a perspective on the national setting of our United Church of Christ. Contact them to check on availability. You can also read the blogs of Rev. Don Niederfrank and Liisa Analore at the Wisconsin Conference website (http://www.wcucc.org/). Over the years many people have said that every UCC member should have the opportunity to attend Synod. Many go as visitors, but if you would like to be a delegate, speak to your Association Minister.

Reflections on Annual Meeting

Biking To The Meeting...

8:00 and the Conference staff wishes the two Davids, Yochum and Moyer, a good ride. Gail O'Neal rings the bell in front of the Trost Center to send them off and Ann Moyer prepares to drive the "SAG wagon" ("support and gear") to provide some snacks and lunch along the way.

The route was beautiful! Using almost entirely country highways and township roads, the riders had long stretches of solitary and quiet riding on a perfect day. Rich fields of hay and corn; lovely wetlands; dairy farms and homes in the woods made for a varied ride. Amish buggies waved a friendly 'hello'.

Lunch was in the small Dutch village of Cambria with a lovely park by a lake. Just about half way there. The afternoon snack stop was by an open-country Lutheran Church and cemetery, and the riders found the perfect theme for the ride. Rolling hills as the route neared Green Lake provided some challenges, and then the only venture on a state highway, with a 5 mile stretch on Highway 73. There was a nice shoulder most of the way, and the best part was it was just slightly downhill all the way, for the fastest ride of the day.

About 7 hours after leaving, the "Riding Reverends" rode through the arch into the grounds of the Green Lake Conference Center, and a mile last pulled up to register for Annual Meeting. Total distance from the Moyer home was 71 miles. After showers, the two treated their support driver, Ann, to dinner. Riding to Green Lake was great fun and offered a different experience and a much greater appreciation of the beauty of the great state of Wisconsin. Thanks to all who supported David Moyer, repaired knee and all, with your encouragement and your gifts.

"Beyond the Worship Wars"

Our Thursday workshop this year featured our musician for the Annual Meeting, the incredibly gifted Ken Medema. Centered in San Franscisco, Ken travels the country providing unique musical reflections for meetings, retreats, and concerts. At our Thursday Worship Workshop Ken tried to help people see how to move beyond the current conflict in many congregations between "traditional and contemporary music."

His main theme was to find music that creates the kind of environment and experience that allows people to encounter the living God and one another and to be formed for service to Christ in the world. He told a lovely story of a young boy from a village way back in the hills of Kentucky. The boy learned the piano and organ early and played for his little Baptist Church. The community and church loved him, and they saved money to help him to go to college, the first person from their community to do so.

After his first semester he returned home and everyone was excited that he would play in church. Now, as a piano performance major, he had learned some new music. He played a very involved and unusual Bartok piece for the offertory, and people didn't know what to make of it. Some were offended: "Who does he think he is? If this is what college does for you, I wish we hadn't sent him off!" But his Auntie offered her feelings by saying, "I sure don't know that music, but I do know Joey, and if that's the music he wanted to offer to Jesus, then it's all right with me." The key to music for worship is if it offered to the service of Christ.

Ken illustrated his presentation with many bits of music and involved the group in singing and exploring how the congregation might explore different kinds of music in worship. He also has an online podcast in which you can listen to his music.

Annual Meeting

"Living Grace-Fully": God's Creation and Our Care of the Environment was the theme of the 2009 Annual Meeting. 500 people from 140 congregations attended at beautiful Green Lake Center.

Greeting the delegates and visitors was a beautiful mandala created by Dan Krumenauer and set on stage by the Conference Committee on the Arts. The four directions and symbols from world religions were a constant reminder of the unity of creation and the Creator's hope for the oneness of all people. Later in the program one of the speakers showed a tapestry from a Spanish cathedral dating from the 15^th century and, while explicitly Christian, having a remarkable similarity to the mandala.

A variety of speakers, workshops, worship, music, and Bible studies helped all those present to grow in understanding the relationship of human beings to creation and the need to care for the natural environment.

Professor Karl Kuhn gave the opening address, and using historical and biblical themes, he made the case for humans understanding the earth and other parts of life as "relatives". He used two additional voices reading scripture to show how often this idea of relationship to creation is present in our sacred texts. Rather than understanding the natural world as something to use, and thus to damage and perhaps destroy, to see all of life as a sister or brother offers a new perspective.

Conference Minister, David Moyer, in the sermon at the opening worship, offered the possibility that especially Protestant theology needed to confess its misunderstanding of the word "dominion" in Genesis 1. To focus on dominion is to be drawn to see the earth only as there for our use. He suggested that the corrective is also found in Genesis 1, and that is God's declaration that every part of creation is "good", that is, in relationship to all other parts and having an intrinsic value. It is this value in its own right that will help human beings to grow in their stewardship of the earth.

Pastor Marion Navarro, preaching at the closing worship, made the connection between care for the creation in Genesis, which is God's most precious gift to us, and living in great hope and expectation toward the "new creation" that is promised as the scriptures conclude in the book of Revelation.

Wisconsin Public Radio host of the program "Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders", Jean Feraca illustrated her presentation with beautiful slides from space and from the Hubble telescope. Her first slide was the classic picture taken by the astronauts who landed on the moon 40 years ago. It is the earth, brightly illuminated and delicate in its colors, having in the dark void of space. Her opening remark was that after that picture (seeing the earth clearly as a fragile part of the universe), all theological thinking had to change in a fundamental way. The change is coming slowly as we understand an expanding universe of which our beautiful home is only a tiny part; as we see that from space there are no borders, which humans defend with increasing violence. She told of just how precise conditions had to be at the moment of creation and offered this as evidence of a creator, and she offered rich resources from Christian tradition of spiritual practices that see humans as within the fabric of creation.

Jean Feraca's case for seeing God in the midst of every part of creation, rather than standing above, and humans as a connected part of the web of life was then discussed with a distinguished panel representing the natural sciences, education, biblical theology, spiritual disciplines, pastoral ministry, and agriculture. The amazing perspectives of the panel enriched our understanding. Joining the panel was Dr. Karen Halbersleben, president of Northland College, Rev. David Saetre, Northland campus minister, Dr. Karl Kuhn, Lakeland College, Rev. Marina Lackecki, pastor at St. John's UCC in LaPointe, Mr. David Williams, UW Extension agricultural specialist, and Dr. Mark Leach, botanist teaching at Northland College and the Sigurd Olsen Institute.

Finally, throughout the weekend, our guest musician, Ken Medema, followed each presentation with an original musical piece that responded to the speaker or the context of the meeting. It is difficult to imagine anyone forgetting his expansive image of traveling through space; passing galaxies and stars, and then returning to earth to let the human family know just how small and beautiful and fragile the planet is and how worthy of every effort toward caring for it and valuing one another in this unique place where the gift of human life exists. Ken's Saturday night concert ended with him asking people to go to a microphone and to tell stories of their life that would witness to their experience of connection to creation. Ken then brought these stories to life through original songs.

Delegates heard reports on the budget and on ongoing studies of Conference staffing and organizational structure. The budget presentation showed that while giving to the wider church is still strong, shifting patterns are making the support of the wider settings of the UCC (association, conference, national, educational, health and human service, ecumenical) a challenge. The 2008 Annual Meeting adopted a balanced budget, but the economic crisis has meant that the Conference anticipates an approximately $70,000 deficit for 2009, even after cuts. The 2010 budget that was presented and adopted contains about $40,000 in deficits. Work will continue to provide support for the mission we have adopted of being faithful partners; supporting pastoral ministry; spiritual nurture and leadership development for laity; and beginning and renewing congregations.

We extend thanks to all who made the Annual Meeting possible, and especially to Janet Pugh of Madison, who served as meeting coordinator, and to Rev. Mark Schowalter, who moderated the meeting with exceptional skill and a large measure of grace-filled humor. The many others of the planning committee, board of directors and staff who worked so hard to provide the meeting may find the comments of a workshop leader who is the environmental issues specialist on the staff of our UCC Justice and Witness Ministries. Rev. Carlos Correa Bernier sent a note following the meeting to say that he had never been welcomed with so much hospitality nor experienced the strong spirit of a UCC gathering as he had at this year's Annual Meeting. Those words encourage all who worked on the event to know that their efforts did not go unnoticed nor unrewarded.

Now we take a short break and then planning begins in earnest for the 2010 Annual Meeting on "Renewal in Faith and the Church", featuring Diana Butler Bass and Jim Griffith as well as David Schoen from the UCC national staff. Mark your calendars for June 10-13th, 2010. Thanks to all who came this year and hope to see you in 2010!

Friday PM Meditation   Rev. Moyer's Sermon   Saturday AM Meditation   Rev. Navarro's Sermon