The Vine "A weekly Email Update ... Keeping Us Connected in Christ"
Northwest Ohio Association
United Church of ChristMay 18, 2005
Attention Christian Educators, Youth Workers, and Pastors! At the Sandusky Valley Region’s MarchFest, a group of folks met concerning the issue of Youth Ministry and Sunday School. At that time, those in that small group decided that we would try to meet quarterly. Our first time together will be SUNDAY, MAY 22nd at 4 p.m. We will gather at St. John’s, Bucyrus located at 120 S. Lane St. This time our particular focus will be on Summer Youth Activities and Summer Sunday School Resources. Feel free to bring resources to share concerning these topics – or other issues related to Christian Education/Youth Ministry. Questions about the group? Contact Joel Fetter, Peace Community UCC, at 740-726-2808. Need directions? Don’t ask Joel (if you really want to find your way!) —call St. John’s at 419-562-8271.
YOUTH TO MEET AT OHIO CONFERENCE GATHERING - June 18, 2005
While we won't have a formal youth delegates program at Ohio Conference gathering this year due to the one day format, we do want to meet with any youth who are attending the gathering. If your congregation has youth attending as visitors or delegates, please let them know that we will gather at noon (after they get their lunch) to eat together and share thoughts about the meeting, to share ideas for youth ministry, to get to know other youth in the conference. We'll gather under the Outdoor Ministries tent. If you have youth who are attending General Synod, please invite them to participate in the conference gathering and to meet under the tent at noon. There are lots of events happening in the coming year that we'd like to share with all youth -- we hope to see them with lunch at the tent! - Margaret Mills
REMINDER: PERIODIC SUPPORT CONSULTATION. June 14 at the Association office, 10 am – 3 pm. The focus is on Professional Ethics.
RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT GENERAL SYNOD RESOLUTIONS. The resolutions are available on the UCC website (www.ucc.org, click on General Synod and on Resolutions). At the end of this email is a two page summary of the process which may be helpful in responding to questions.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordination Anniversaries in 2005
Rev. Ed Shelly 50th Anniversary May 29, 1955--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECENT EMAIL & MAIL CHANGES and ADDITIONS
If your personal (or church) email address or mailing address has recently changed, let us know!
Trinity United Church of Christ
17955 W. Third St.
Elliston, Ohio 43432
Phone # 419-862-3417
Is now online! Our email address is: tucc1862@wcnet.ord
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Prayer Requests
The Rev. William Nirote had his gal bladder removed Tuesday, May 17, 2005. and will be recovering at home for the next two weeks. Bill serves St. John UCC in Defiance.
Pastor Terry Kohanski (First UCC, Findlay) remains in the hospital at MCO.
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Deadlines and Meeting Dates
Upcoming
May
18 NWOA Interim Ministers 12:00 noon Calvin UCC, Toledo
18 Timely Topics – Association Office, 1-3 pm
19 Search Committee Noon – 3:00 pm
19 Witness & Proclamation Team 10-1 pm
21 Finance & Budget Committee 9 am
21 Flight School St. John’s, Mansfield
21 Lay School Banquet –
St. John’s UCC, Bucyrus
24 Search Committee - Afternoon
25 Firelands Clergy 9:30-11:30 am
Zion-Fireside UCC, Bellevue
26 Sandusky Valley RCT 5 pm
College Hill UCC, Bloomville
26 Faith Formation Team 10 – 2 pm
30 Office Closed
31 Change to Association office
Summer Hours 8- 4 pm
31 Auglaize Valley RCT 3:30 pm Spencerville
General Synod XXVResponding to Some Questions About the Process of Resolutions
For the Northwest Ohio Association
May 18, 2005
In preparation for General Synod (July 1-5, Atlanta GA), various news media often include stories about resolutions going to General Synod, particularly if they are considered controversial. The texts of the resolutions are available on the website at www.ucc.org. Click on General Synod and look for Resolutions. In addition, the Delegate Handbook is also accessible and describes the process of working with Pronouncements and Resolutions (page 28+).
Below are some summary statements which might be helpful to get the overall picture.
What is General Synod?
Composition. General Synod is a representative body of the UCC composed of delegates chosen by each Conference, and the voting members of the Boards of Directors of the four Covenanted Ministries (which are elected by General Synod). Each Conference has at least 3 delegates and more, depending on the number of members of local churches in the Conference. The total number of delegates is between 675 and 725. This year Ohio Conference has 63 delegates. General Synod meets every 2 years.
Authority. The UCC General Synod is different from many other denominational national bodies. The General Synod can speak only for itself. It can speak to other settings of the church (local churches, associations, conferences) providing guidance, urging the consideration of issues, etc. But General Synod cannot speak for those other settings of the church. The General Synod is designed to honor the local church autonomy as described in the UCC Constitution (Article 5). At the same time Article III of the Constitution addresses covenantal relationships – calling all settings of the church to listen and consider the advice, counsel and request of other settings.
How is a business item submitted to General Synod? The Media usually notices issues that come through Pronouncements and Resolutions (again, the Delegate Handbook provides the detail).
Pronouncement. This year’s General Synod has 1 Proposed Pronouncement (Ministry Issues: Forming and Preparing Pastoral Leaders for God’s Church). A pronouncement is defined as a statement of Christian conviction on a matter of moral or social principle and requires a 2/3 vote. After a Pronouncement is voted, Proposals for Action are considered that implement the Pronouncement. Proposals for Action may also be proposed at a later General Synod.
Resolution of Witness. This is an expression of the General Synod concerning a moral, ethical, or religious matter confronting the church, the national, or the world adopted for the guidance of the officers and various settings of the church. It requires at least a 2/3 affirmation by the voting delegates. It represents the views of those who agree.
Prudential Resolution. This establishes policy, institutes or revises structure or procedures, authorizes programs, approves directions. It requires a majority vote.
Who can submit a Pronouncement or Resolutions?
A General Synod Delegate or Delegate-elect with the written concurrence of at least 10 additional General Synod delegates from two or more conferences
A local church with the written concurrence of at least five other local churches of the UCC
An Association
A Conference
A Covenanted, Associated, or Affiliated Ministry or other body as defined in Article VI of the Bylaws of the United Church of Christ
How does the Resolution process work at General Synod?Delegates are encouraged to study all nineteen of the pronouncements/resolutions prior to the General Synod and attend scheduled hearings on topics the afternoon of General Synod.
Delegates are randomly assigned to a Committee (there are up to 15 committees). The committees meet during General Synod to discuss the particular Pronouncements and resolutions that are assigned to them at General Synod (delegates do not know what resolutions their committee will be addressing until General Synod). Each Committee reports its recommendation to the General Synod in a plenary session and suggests a specific action in the form of a main motion. A Committee may recommend approval, amendment, consolidation (if several resolutions are similar), referral, or no action.
What Happens to Pronouncements/resolutions after General Synod?
The text as voted on the pronouncements and resolutions will be available to everyone. Some resolutions may ask for information to be shared in a certain way or educational materials created, etc. It will depend on the direction stated in the resolution. However, it is hoped that churches/pastors will consider the actions of General Synod as an encouragement for considering issues and concerns expressed by another setting of the church.
The above is a short summary is written by Char Burch. The purpose is to assist church leaders in responding to questions raised by parishioners. This often happens when news media refer to actions being considered at General Synod. Please use the Delegate Handbook and UCC Constitution and Bylaws as the final source for information.
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