A total of 227 delegates and guests from ministry settings and 109 local churches brought to life an exciting Conference Fall Annual Meeting at Church of the Good Shepherd UCC in Boyertown, PA this past Saturday. Among the highlights:
- We worshiped together with music leadership from Good Shepherd’s Matt Wary, the Men’s Choir of Falkner Swamp UCC and Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman (Calvary UCC, Reading). We communed and prayed together with words crafted by the Annual Meeting Worship Planning Team and filled the sanctuary with full-throated hymn singing!
- We celebrated all that our OCWM contributions accomplished this year and committed to a 2019 spending plan that includes a retiree’s scholarship fund, increased support for young adult ministries and a 2.5% increase to staff salaries.
- Rev.s Worley and Morris introduced the Re-visioned UCC Manual on Ministry to lay leaders and authorized ministers; a revision that includes (among many other things) a move to two forms of ministerial authorization (Lay and Ordained) and “Exempt Status” for self-identified retired clergy.
- The afternoon discussion on Penn Northeast and Pennsylvania Southeast conferences coming together was spirited, thoughtful and faithful. Disappointingly, the resolution to consolidate conferences was not approved. More work needs to be done before this partnership reaches its final form and to that work many Conference members have, and will continue, to strive. We owe deep gratitude to Rev. Barbara Pence for her leadership along with the rest of the members of the Joint Conference Vision and Development Team.
Deep gratitude is due also to Ms. Jennie Strauch who successfully Moderated her first Annual Meeting; Rev.s Matt Hoover and Kim Berenotto and our gracious hosts at Good Shepherd UCC; the PSEC Staff; Members of our Conference Consistory and the Annual Meeting Planning Team chaired by Rev. Jo Ellen Mauger who, by their dedication, made our meeting a faithful success!
May God Continue to Bless Us All!
Rev. William Worley
Conference Minister
