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Maritime Conference the United Church of Canada the 91St Annual Meeting Sackville, New Brunswick May 26

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Maritime Conference the United Church of Canada the 91St Annual Meeting Sackville, New Brunswick May 26 Maritime Conference The United Church of Canada The 91st Annual Meeting Sackville, New Brunswick May 26 - 29, 2016 SECTION 1 REPORTS TO CONFERENCE President’s Message The strength to lead a people out of slavery came to Moses in a flame of fire and the glow of that encounter scattered the bondage of oppression (Exodus 3:1-15). Behind closed doors in an upper room, the Human One appeared to his friends gathering strength that resurrection was on its way for all creation (John 20:19-31). The radiance of that encounter is the only reason we’re here today. On a road paved with discrimination and hate, Saul came face to face with a force so strong it surrounded the whole of his existence. The brilliance of that moment would ensure Paul saw himself and the world in a whole new light (Acts 9:1-18). We are a people of The Way: a people who encounter the Holy by gathering strength and scattering light. It has always been thus. Even when we changed our name and became “the church” (ekklesia), we still saw ourselves as a body of people called out and into the light we are bold to name: God (1 Peter 2:9). Yet haven’t we struggled to see in that mirror dimly? Hasn’t “the church” brought us a great struggle between bodies of wood and stone on the one hand and flesh and bone on the other? Somewhere along the journey, it’s tempting to deduce that we gathered a lot of things other than strength: buildings, budgets, bureaucracy, etc, etc. It’s tempting to look around and see the church scattering in a whole different light: buildings closing, deficit budgets, burnt out volunteers, etc, etc. As the hardened heart of grief and denial finally breaks, it’s tempting to believe we just may be humble enough to honestly ask: What really matters? Our ancestors of faith discovered that we work out our salvation by asking that question boldly and honestly. O conference delegate, you know what is good and what is required of you: To gather strength and scatter light. Our present moment and The Way of our future depend on these two commands. It has always been thus, but maybe we need a reminder. Even as your sub executive finalized the sale of dozens of properties, I was astounded by the strength of faithful trustees who scattered the proceeds with faithful generosity. Even as we gathered to mark the advent of becoming an Affirming Conference, every piece of rainbow coloured glass blazed with the strength of a people who believe the light we share spans the entire holy spectrum of life. Even as we wrestle larger than life issues about the shape of our future, I’ve met ministry leaders brimming with passion, vision, and the determination to guide our communities of faith here with us now and those that are yet to emerge. It has been an honour and a blessing to serve as your president. I want to extend my sincere thanks for your understanding this past year as my partner and I welcomed our first child. Talk about astounding, Isobel is only the second girl in my family for almost 80 years! As the prophet said and as I shared with our beloved presbyteries, “Be astonished! Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5) I trust we gather for this annual meeting of our Maritime Conference in that same spirit. Our future is an open space. Nothing is set in stone. Let’s gather strength and scatter the light of hope within us with truth and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). After all, we are not alone. Blessings, Matthew Fillier 2 The United Church of Canada INDEX President’s Message .................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of Purpose and Goals for a Conference within The United Church of Canada ......... 4 Structure of The United Church of Canada ............................................................................... 5 Manual 2013 - Proposals ........................................................................................................... 7 Parliamentary Procedures ........................................................................................................ 11 Conference Resource Persons ................................................................................................... 12 President-Elect .......................................................................................................................... 13 Theme Speaker.......................................................................................................................... 14 Representative of General Council ........................................................................................... 15 Music Leaders .......................................................................................................................... 16 Constitutional Motions.............................................................................................................. 16 Committee Reports Affirming Ministry Committee ..................................................................................... 17 Annual Meeting Planning Committee .......................................................................... 18 Archives Committee .................................................................................................... 19 Archivist’s Report ............................................................................................ 20 Christian Life and Growth Committee ........................................................................ 21 Church in Action Committee ....................................................................................... 22 Financial Support Committee ....................................................................................... 24 Finance and Property Committee.................................................................................. 25 Allocations 101 ................................................................................................. 28 Proceeds from Church Sales - 2015 .................................................................. 29 Proposed Budget for 2017 ............................................................................... 30 Narrative Budget for 2017 ................................................................................ 33 Bequest Funds .................................................................................................. 35 Auditor’s Report .............................................................................................. 39 Ministry, Personnel and Education Committee ............................................................ 56 Education and Students Committee ................................................................. 56 Biographies of Candidates for Ordination and Admission ................... 57 Conference Interview Board ............................................................................ 61 Conference Committee on Internship and Educational Supervision ............... 62 Conference Interim Ministry Committee .......................................................... 62 Settlement Committee ...................................................................................... 63 Nominations Committee ............................................................................................... 63 Directory of Membership of Standing Committees ......................................... 64 Staff Committee ............................................................................................................ 72 Stewardship Committee ................................................................................................ 73 Executive Committee Reports Incorporated Ministries Reporting ................................................................................ 74 List of Incorporated Ministries Directors ..................................................................... 75 United Church Men ...................................................................................................... 80 United Church Women ................................................................................................ 81 Other Reports Atlantic Ecumenical Council ........................................................................................ 82 Atlantic School of Theology Senate ............................................................................ 83 Ninetieth Maritime Conference Meeting 3 Atlantic School of Theology ......................................................................................... 84 Financial Services of Maritime Conference ................................................................. 84 General Council Executive .......................................................................................... 85 Hunter Church Building Fund ...................................................................................... 87 Mission and Service Giving in 2015 ............................................................................. 88 Mount Allison University Board of Regents ............................................................... 89 Pine Hill Divinity Hall Board of Govenors .................................................................. 90 Tatamagouche Centre .................................................................................................. 91 United Church Home For Senior Citizens (The Drew Nursing Home/Tantramar Residences) .................................................................................................................
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