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YEARBOOK
Minutes and Reports of the 178th Annual Meeting With Lists and Statistics
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS
APRIL 29, 30 and MAY 1, 1977
THE BOARD OF MINISTERIAL AID
Officers President: Rev. Clarence W. Fuller, 121 W. Foster St., Melrose 02176 Secretary: Rev. Emil C. Beck, P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger
Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701 Treasurer: Rev. Daniel Leavitt, Edgell Rd., Framingham, MA. 01701
Asst. Treas.: Rev. Donald Simpson, 26 Brattle St., Worcester, MA. 01606
All applications for aid should be sent to the Rev. Clarence W. Fuller, 121 W. Foster St., Melrose 02176.
Should anyone desire to leave a legacy in aid of the benevolent work of this board, the following form of bequest will be sufficient:
I give and devise to The Board of Ministerial Aid, incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts, for the charitable uses and purposes of said Corporation
Gifts are needed from living donors.
Agreement exists between the Board of Ministerial Aid and the National Board for Ministerial Assistance by which the State Board pays all grants from its net income, calls on the National Board only for Christmas checks from its Emergency Fund created by the Christmas offering and disburses to National any unused income in excess of a reasonable reserve. The National Board for Ministerial Assistance re- ceives a portion of the funds assigned to the Pension Boards in the budget of the United Church of Christ.
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1977
YEARBOOK
MINUTES AND REPORTS OF THE 178th ANNUAL MEETING WITH LISTS AND STATISTICS
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS
April 29 and 3a, May 1, 1977
Host Churches Churches of The Hampden Association
^ NewbuiYport Press, Inc.
IHE LONGRtGATIONAL LI8H*«« SOSION. WlASS^CKUSfTTS 02109
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from Boston Regional Library System
http://www.archive.org/details/massachusettscon1977mass
NOTICES
AH communications should be addressed to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framing- ham, Mass. 01701.
All missionary money being sent through the Conference should be made payable to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and sent to: Atten- tion of The Rev. Emil C. Beck, Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer, P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701.
Unless requested otherwise, these contributions, beyond the sum the Conference retains for its own work (from undesignated money), are sent on to the Treasurer of the United Church of Christ in New York, where they are divided among the Boards and Instrumentalities according to the agreed upon percentages.
It is recommended and earnestly requested that church treasurers remit monthly such funds as are in hand, and that the final remittance for each calendar year be sent before December 31, if credit is desired in the next Year Book.
Copies of the Act of Incorporation may be had on application to P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701.
The churches are requested to contribute through the treasurers of their Associa- tions for the expenses of the Conference a sum as Fellowship dues equivalent to $2.25 for each member, based upon the total membership of January 1, 1977 and the treasurers of the Associations are requested to forward the amounts as soon as possible to the Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer, P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701.
The "Minutes" are sent to the churches by direction of the Conference, with distribution of one copy to every minister, one to every church clerk, one to every Conference official or committee member, one to each local Association official named within, and one to every life member of the Massachusetts Home Mis- sionary Society. As long as the edition lasts, other copies may be secured for Two Dollars upon application to the Registrar, P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701. It is suggested that every church preserve a copy of the "Minutes" with its other records.
The National Year Book is available to church clerks and retired ministers upon request to the United Church of Christ, 297 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y. 10010 for a fee of $7.00 a copy.
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY (AREA CODE 617)
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CENTER - Framingham - Massachusetts - 01701
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ 875-5233
Area Offices
Central Area, Worcester 853-3446
Metropolitan Boston Area, Boston 742-4450
Northeast Area, Georgetown 352-2486
Southeast Area, Plymouth 746-8330
Western Area, Amherst (Area Code 413) 253-9307
Conference Center — Craigville 775-1265
The Board of Ministerial Aid 875-5233
Massachusetts Congregational Fund 875-5233
Pastoral Settlement Committee 875-5233
CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE - 14 Beacon Street - Boston - Massachusetts - 02108
American Congregational Association 523-0470
Boston City Missionary Society 742-6830
Congrergational Library 523-0470
Massachusetts Council of Churches ■• 523-2711
Massachusetts Conference Planned Giving Program 227-1750
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The Massachusetts Missionary Society was organized on May 29, 1799, in Boston. There were thirty-€ight charter members, mainly followers of the theology of Sam- uel Hopkins. They were "impelled by a deep commiseration for the unhappy state of those who were perishing for lack of those precious means of salvation which we enjoy." Their intention, was to spread "the knowledge of the glorious Gospel of Christ among the poor Heathens and in those remote parts of our country in which the inhabitants had not enjoyed the benefits of a Christian ministry and Christian ordinances," i.e., outside Massachusetts. Nathaniel Emmons, fifty-four years pastor at Franklin, was the first president. The Society was incorporated in 1808.
Origin of Massachusetts Home Missionary Society
In 1827 the Massachusetts Missionary Society and the Domestic Missionary Society of Massachusetts Proper (which had come into being in 1818 to "see every parish in the State well supplied with a faithful Minister of Christ"), were united under the name of the Massachusetts Missionary Society. This meant that while the Domestic Missionary Society of Massachusetts Proper lost its name, the Massachusetts Mission- ary Society was henceforth to work almost exclusively in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Missionary Society became the Massachusetts "Home" Mission- ary Society in 1844. This was simply to emphasize that the work of the Society had become exclusively for America and for the Massachusetts part of America.
Origin of Massachusetts Conference
The General Association of Massachusetts came into being in 1802. This ultimately became the Massachusetts Congregational Conference. The Conference then merged with the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society in 1927, to become the Massachu- setts Congregational Conference and Missionary Society. This was the result of twenty-seven years' agitation, accelerated by a recommendation of the National Council in 1907. The charter of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society was used as the basis for the union of the two organizations. In 1953 the name was changed to Massachusetts Congregational Christian Conference. In 1966 the name was changed again to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. The Conference assumes responsibility for all Congregational missionary work done in Massachusetts. It supports a staff of eleven persons who give ministerial and ex- ecutive leadership to a broad program of work designed to help the churches, to develop the fellowship of the ministers and churches, and to cultivate practical sup- port for denominational and inter-denominational projects and programs.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Board of Ministerial Aid Inside Front Cover
Notices 3
Telephone Directory 3
Historical Sketch 4
Executive Staff and Officers 7
Board of Directors 8
Committees of the Board of Directors, 1977-1978 9
Ecumenical Commission 22
Representatives Elected by the Conference Serving on Other Boards .... 23
Massachusetts Delegates to General Synod 24
Elected to U. C. C. Instrumentalities 26
Bylaws of the Conference 28
Past Annual Meetings 40
Minutes of the 178th Annual Meeting 41
Ground Rules for the 178tli Annual Meetmg 55
Resolutions Adopted at the 178th Annual Meeting 56
Minister and President's Address 69
Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports 77
Massachusetts Congregational Fund 102
Other Reports of the Treasurer 103
City Missionary Society, Boston, Inc 106
Congregational Library of the American Congregational Association .. 107
Massachusetts Congregational Charitable Society 107
Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers 108
Statistical Tables 109
Tables of Summaries 126
Map — Showing Conference Areas , 130
Associations of the Churches and Ministerial Standing 131
Nonordained Directors of Christian Education 154
Ordinations 155
Necrology 155
Alphabetical List of Ministers 156
Massachusetts Congregational Fund Inside Back Cover
Massachusetts Conference Planned Giving Program .... Outside Back Cover Bequests Outside Back Cover
1977
MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST
Established 1799 — Incorporated 1808
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CENTER
P.O. Box 2246, Salem End and Badger Roads, Framingham, Mass. 01701
Executive Officers
Minister and President
Rev. Avery D. Post
Minister and President Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Albert J. Penner
Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer
Rev. Emil C. Beck
Secretary
Mrs. Irene M. Anthony
Stafif
Associate Conference Ministers in the Areas
Central Area
Rev. Dr. Donald A. Simpson
485 Grove St., Worcester 01605 (617-853-3446)
Metropolitan Boston Area
Rev. Charles H. Harper
14 Beacon St., Boston 02108 (617-742-4450)
Northeast Area
Rev. a. Karl Phillippi
12 West Main St., Georgetown 01833 (617-352-2486)
Southeast Area
Rev. Paul E. Sinn
8 Town Square, Plymouth 02360 (617-746-8330)
Western Area
Rev. James L. Lancaster
24 Churchill Street, Amherst 01002 (413-253-9307)
Associate Conference Minister and Director, Craigville Conference Center
Rev. Dr. William F. Hobbs
Craigville Conference Center, Craigville 02636 (617-775-1265)
Consultant in Financial Development and Stewardship
Rev. George D. Condon
Staff Associate in Organizational Development
Rev. Dr. Walter Telfer
Resources Consultant / Coordinator
Mrs. Margaret (Peg) Jacobs
Officers
Moderator: Mrs. Faith Johnson, 104 Elm St., Georgetown 01833
(617-352-8675) (Bus. 617-475-3528) Vice Moderator: Rev. Edward A. Walker, 535 West Chestnut St., Brockton 02401
(617-587-7989) (Bus. 617-586-1739) Recording Secretary: Rev. Theodore Gregg, Still River Rd., Harvard 01451
(617-456-3952)
8 Directors 1977
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairperson Rev. Richard A. Stoehr, P. 0. Drawer S, South Dennis 02660 617-394-5221
Vice Chairperson Dr. T. Nelson Baker, 31 Patricia Road, Sudbury 01776 617-443-2752
Clerk
Mrs. Eleanor M. Kell, UCC Center, P.O. Box 2246, Framingham 01701
617-875-5233
Class of 1978
Rev. Robert Berkey, 2 Birch Hill RA, South Hadley 01075 413-533-5364
Bus. 413-538-2233
Mr. Kenneth Berry, 297 Winter St., HoUiston 01746 Bus. 617-434-2200
Rev. J. Everett Bodge, 44 School St., Andover 01810 617-374-4550
Rev. Donald E. Overlook, 355 Franklin St., Melrose 02176 617-665-0422
Rev. Richard A. Stoehr, P. 0. Drawer S, South Dennis 02660 617-394-5221
Bus. 617-394-5992
Class of 1979
Mr. Robert Bates, 16 Hyatt Ave., Bradford 01830 617-375-0202
Mr. Peter Farwell, 13 Lincoln Drive, Acton 01720 617-263-0059
Mrs. Anna Hatchett, 1655 S. Branch Pkwy., Springfield 01129 413-738-3772
Bus. 413-732-4530 Mrs. Audrey MacDonald, 24 Tarleton Rd., Newton 02159 617-964-0145
Mrs. Jean McGuire, 35 Dennison St., Roxbury 02119 617-427-3245
Rev. David Norlinc, 460 Main St., Norwell 02061 617-659-4394
Bus. 617-659-2887
Class of 1980
Rev. Ira W. Chace, 164 Maple Ave., Swansea 02777 617-675-2210
Bus. 617-673-7179
Mrs. Mary Helen New, 55 Main St., Shelburne Falls 01370 413-625-6523
Rev. p. Yesu Rathnam, Mountain Rd., Princeton 01541 617-464-2785
Bus. 617-464-2837
Mr. Clement Sutton, Jr., 4 Boren Lane, Boxford 01921 617-887-8124
Mrs. Carol Wilson, 24 Bennington Rd., Lexington 02173 617-862-0689
Class of 1981
Dr. T. Nelson Baker, 31 Patricia Rd., Sudbury 01776 617-443-2752
Mr. Bertram Lee, 535 Boylston St., 3rd floor, Boston 02116 617-445-9221
Bus. 617-262-5890
Mrs. Geraldine Smith, 131 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield 01201 413-443-1506
Bus. 413-442-1559
Ex Officiis:
Moderator — Mrs. Faith Johnson, 104 Elm Street, Georgetown 01833
Vice Moderator — Rev. Edward Walker, 535 West Chestnut Street, Brockton 02401
Minister and President — Rev. Avery D. Post
1977 Committees 9
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Chairperson Rev. Richard A. Stoehk, P. 0. Box S, So. Dennis 02660 617-394-5221
Vice Chairperson Dr. T. Nelson Baker, 31 Patricia Road, Sudbury 01776 617-443-2752
Clerk
Mrs. Eleanor M. Kell, UCC Center, P.O. Box 2246, Framingham 01701
617-875-5233
Mrs. Carol Wilson, 24 Bennington Road, Lexington 02173 617-862-0689
Mr. Clement Sutton, Jr. 4 Boren Lane, Boxford 01921 617-887-8124
Rev. Donald E. Overlook, 355 Franklin St., Melrose 02176 617-665-0422
Rev. Ira Chace, 164 Maple Avenue, Swansea 02777 617-675-2210
Ex Officiis:
Minister and President — Rev. Avery D. Post
Moderator — Mrs. Faith A. Johnson, 104 Elm St., Georgetown 01833 617-352-8675 Vice Moderator — Rev. Edward A. Walker, 535 W. Chestnut St., Brockton 02401
617-586-1739 Chairperson, Council on Church Life & Leadership —
Mrs. Odessa Smith, 52 Hazelwood Street, Roxbury 02119 Chairperson, Council on Mission Outreach & Social Responsibility —
Rev. Saul Katz, 21 Marshall Street, East Longmeadow 01028 413-525-4121
Evaluation Committee
Chairperson Mrs. Carol Wilson, 24 Bennington Road, Lexington 02173 617-862-0689
Mrs. Virginia Alden, 30 Francis Street, Northampton, Mass. 01060 413-584-0353 Mrs. Helen Barnes, 20 Meadowbrook Lane, Reading 01867 617-944-5805
Mr. Rufus p. Cushman, 42 Blackland Drive, Longmeadow 01106 Bus. 413-733-1141 Mr. Richard M. Harter, 16 Arlington Street, Cambridge 02140 617-354-3512
Bus. 617-357-9300 Rev. Allen Mollis, 97 Broad Street, Lynn 01902 617-592-8718
Rev. James L. Lancaster, 24 Churchill St., Amherst 01002 413-253-9307
Mr. Keith Mann, 215 Herrick Road, Newton Center 02159 617-332-5043
Mr. Alan D. McKersie, 8 Gristone Rd., Chelmsford 01824 617-256-0531
Bus. 617-271-2300 Dr. Walter A. Telfer, 600 Salem End Road, Framingham 01701 617-879-4157
Bus. 617-875-5233
10 Committees 1977
Finance Committee
Chairperson Mr. Clement Sutton, Jr., 4 Boren Lane, Boxford 01921 617-887-8124
Mr. Kenneth Berry, 297 Winter Street, Holliston 01746 617-434-2200
Mr. Peter Farwell, 13 Lincoln Drive, Acton 01720 617-263-0059
Mrs. Audrey MacDonald, 24 Tarleton Road, Newton 02159 617-964-0145
Ex Officiis:
Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer — Rev. Emil C. Beck
Consultant In Stewardship and Financial Development — Rev. George D. Condon
Property Committee
Chairperson Rev. Ira W. Chace, 164 Maple Avenue, Swansea 02777 617-675-2210
Mr. Robert G. Light, South Mill River Rd., So. Deerfield 01373 413-665-2306
Bus. 413-545-2547 Mrs. Mary Helen New, 55 Main St., Shelburne Falls 01370 413-625-6523
Ex Officio Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer — Rev. Emil C. Beck
Personnel Committee
Chairperson Rev. Donald E. Overlock, 355 Franklin St., Melrose 02176 617-665-0422
Dr. T. Nelson Baker, 31 Patricia Road, Sudbury 01776 617-443-2752
Mr. Robert Bates, 16 Hyatt Avenue, Bradford 01830 617-375-0202
Rev. Robert Berkey, 2 Birch Hill Road, South Hadley 01075 413-533-5364
Rev. J. Everett Bodge, 44 School Street, Andover 01810 617-374-4550
Mrs. Jean McGuire, 35 Dennison Street, Roxbury 02119 617-427-3245
Rev. p. Yesu Rathnam, Mountain Road, Princeton 01541 617-464-2785
Ex Officio:
Minister and President — Rev. Avery D. Post
1977
Committees
11
INTERIM COUNCIL FOR LOCAL CHURCH LIFE AND LEADERSHIP
Chairperson Pro Tern
Mrs. Odessa Smith, 52 Hazelwood St., Roxbury 02119
Church and Education Committee
Rev. Nancy Hildonen, 26 Summit Ave., Rockport 01966 Mrs. Cheryl Perry, 2 Rich Road, Holliston 01746 Mrs. Joan P. Arnold, 64 Middle St., Gloucester 01930
Church and Ministry Committee
Dr. Charles Hand, 9 Janet Circle, North Grafton 02536
Rev. Ernest Heeren, 218 Walnut St., Newtonville 02160
Mrs. Odessa Smith, 52 Hazelwood St., Roxbury 02119 Mrs. Carol Downb, 298 Manning St., Needham 02192
Council Of The Laity
Mrs. Jean Clark, 49 Putnam St., East Weymouth 02189 Mr. Ellis Dana, 35 Woodchester Drive, Weston 02193 Rev. Peter Foss, 105 Brooks St., Medford 02155
617-546-3101 617-429-4910 617-283-4445
617-839-2762 Bus. 617-529-7729
617-527-2732 Bus. 617-244-5395
617-444-4674
617-337-9828
617-237-4966
617-396-7066
Bus. 617-395-3360
Camps and Conferences
Rev. Howard MacMullen, 23 High St., Marblehead 01945
Rev. Richard Pryce, Main Street, Rutland 01543
Mrs. Cora Brewer, UCC Center, P.O. Box 2246, Framingham 01701
To Be Appointed
Craigville Center Committee
Warner Farm Committee
Rev. Neal Lund, 91 Jasper St., Springfield 01109
Rev. Wilbur B. Sadlier, 21 N. Westfield St., Feeding Hills 01030
United Church Youth Council
Rev. Peter Wells, 52 Sumner Ave., Springfield 01108 Mary Lou O'Neil, 1388 Central St., Stoughton 02072 Becky Johnson, 69 Asci Drive, Pittsfield 01201
Women's Fellowship
Mrs. Joanne Varga, 499 West Main St., Shrewsbury 01545 Mrs. Sydney Barnes, 37-21 Middlesex Circle, Waltham 02154
Board of Directors
Mrs. Geraldine Smith, 131 Appleton Ave., Pittslield 01201
617-639-0053 617-886-4453 617-875-5233
413-732-2950 413-786-5061
413-737-0218 617-344-3018 413-447-9774
617-842-7071 617-891-5053
413-443-1506 Bus. 413-442-1559
Pilgrim Day Camp Advisory Committee
To Be Appointed
Ex Officio Rev. Michael Macuire, 250 North Main St., South Deerfield 01373 Chairperson, Church and Leadership Committee
413-665-3598
12 Committees 1977
INTERIM COUNCIL FOR MISSION OUTREACH AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Chairperson Pro Tern
Rev. Saul Katz, 21 Marshall St., East Longmeadow 01028 413-525-6068
Bus. 413-5254121
Church & Community Committee
Rev. J. Elliott Finlay, 1133 Pleasant St., Bridgewater 02324 617-697-7021
Rev. Yvonne Schaudt, 262 Otis St., West Newton 02165 617-965-6081
Bus. 617-244-2690
Mr. Horace Besecker, 14 Beacon St., Boston 02108 Bus. 617-742-6830
617-862-5156
Mr. John Pearson, 36 Berry St., Framingham 01701 617-873-3130
Bus. 617-879-7762
Church & Mission Committee
Rev. Saul Katz, 21 Marshall St., East Longmeadow 01028 413-525-6068
Rev. George Bland, 15 Richards Rd., Lynnfield 01940 617-334-4837
Bus. 617-334-3050
Rev. Dr. Westy Egmont, 36 Coolidge Ave., Peabody 01960 617-531-0477
Ecumenical Commission
Rev. Thomas Howard, 183 Main St., Franklin 02038 617-528-1020
Bus. 617-528-3803 Rev. Thomas E, Dipko, 151 Maple St., Framingham 01701 617-620-1665
Bus. 617-872-3342 Mrs. Merton Alden, 30 Francis St., Northampton 01060 413-584-0353
Mrs. Carol Wilson, 24 Bennington Road, Lexington 02173 617-862-0689
Massachusetts Commission for United Ministries In Higher Education
To Be Appointed
Hunger Task Force Rev. Richard Dodds, 1154 Great Plain Ave., Needham 02192 617-444-2510
Racism Task Force
Mr. Philip Smith, 131 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield 01201 413-443-1506
Bus. 413-445-4551
Southern Africa Task Force
Rev. E. George Hangen, 285 High St., Newburyport 01950 617-465-7734
Ms. Chilla Merrill, 12 Sherman St., MiUis 02054 617-376-8103
Mr. Tim Clancy, 106 River Road, Merrimacport 01860 617-346-8272
Board of Directors
Mrs. Jean McGuire, 35 Dennison St., Roxbury 02119 617-427-3245
Ex Officio
Rev. Michael Maguire, 250 North Main St., South Deerfield 01373 413-665-3598 Chairperson, Church and Leadership Committee
1977 Committees 13
Church and Community Committee
Chairperson
Mr. John Pearson, 36 Berry Street, Framingham 01701 617-873-3130
Bus. 617-879-7762
Vice Chairperson Mrs. Linda Cooper, Brickyard Road, Southampton 01073 413-527-3732
Clerk Mrs. Linda Glavin, Brennan Way, Holden 01520 617-829-6979
Class of 1978
Mr. Horace Besecker, CMS, 14 Beacon St., Boston 02108 617-562-5156
Bus. 617-742-6830 Ms. Lois Buchiane, 65 High Street, Greenfield 01301 413-774-2613
Rev. J. Elliott Finlay, 1133 Pleasant St., Bridgewater 02324 617-697-7021
Mr. John Pearson, 36 Berry Street, Framingham 01701 617-873-3130
Bus. 617-879-7762 Ms. Bonnie Townsend, 50 Warren St., Bldg. V, Apt. 321 617-531-5969
Peabody 01960 Bus. 617-275-1750
Class of 1979
Mrs. Linda Cooper, Brickyard Rd., Southampton 01073 413-527-3732
Mr. Philip Norris, South Rd., Westhampton RFD, Easthampton 413-527-0841
01027 Bus. 413-527-5887 Rev. Kurt Rohn, 21 Douglas St., Uxbridge 01569 617-278-3071
Rev. Yvonne Schaudt, 262 Otis St., West Newton 02165 617-965-6081
Bus. 617-244-2690
Class of 1980
Mrs. Barbara Costerus, 82 Main St., Marion 02738 617-768-2474
Rev. Robert F. Dobson, 35 Country St., Ipswich 01938 617-356-4401
Bus. 617-359-9776
Rev. Robert D. Loggi'^. Main St., Brimfield 01010 413-245-7295
Bus. 413-245-7162
Rev. Neal G. Lund, 91 Jasper St., Springfield 01109 413-567-0262
Bus. 413-732-2950
Rev. Robert Shire, 100 Baker St., Walpole 02081 617-668-6543
Bus. 617-668-0551
Class of 1981
Rev. Douglas L. Clark, Hancock Rd., Williamstown 01267 413-458-3467
Bus. 413-458-4273
Mrs. Linda Glavin, Brennan Way, Holden 01520 617-829-6979
Mrs. Thelma Peters, 20 Westmore Rd.. Mattapan 02126 617-298-5809
14
Committees
1977
Church and Education Committee
Chairperson Rev. Winifred Jones, 15 Addison Road, Wilbraham 01095
413-596-6320 Bus. 413-596-4030
Vice Chairperson Mrs. Sylvia Ellis, 177 Benvenue Street, Wellesley 02181
617-235-6765
Clerk Mrs. Linda Kellom, Willow Road, Harvard 01451
617-456-8333
Class of 1978
Mrs. Sylvia Ellis, 177 Benvenue St., Wellesley 02181 Rev. Nancy Hildonen, 26 Summit Ave., Rockport 01966 Mrs. Linda Kellom, Willow Road, Harvard 01451 Mr. James Trefry, 146 Jason St., Pittsfield 01201
Bus.
617-235-6765 617-546-3101 617-456-8333 413-499-1822 413-447-7351
Class of 1979
Mrs. Joan Arnold, 64 Middle Street, Gloucester 01930 Rev. William Clark, Box 275, Templeton 01468
Rev. Pamela Cole, 373 Maxfield St., New Bedford 02745 Mrs. Esther Kane, 66 Fox Farms Rd., Florence 01060 Dr. Loring Thompson, 5 Middle St., Lexington 02173
Bus.
Bus.
617-283-4445 617-939-2333 617-939-8688 617-992-0760 413-584-6360 617-861-1345 617-437-2132
Class of 1980 Ms. Linda Cardullo, 19 Pleasant St., Hopkinton 01748
Rev. Peter Ives, 13 Arlington St., Cambridge 02140 Rev. Winifred Jones, 15 Addison Rd., Wilbraham 01095
Mr. Maxwell Money, 39 Muskeget Lane, Centerville 02632 Mr. David B. Newbert, 69 Marlboro St., Newburyport 01950
Bus.
Bus.
Bus.
617-435-4240 617-881-1355 617-354-2385 413-596-6320 413-596-4030 617-771-3915 617-465-8566 617-956-4766
Class of 1981 Rev. James Bronwell, 79 Seventh St., Turners Falls 01376
Miss Jo Ellen Fisher, 246 Ettrick St., Brockton 02401 Mrs. Christina Kruper, Groton Rd., Dunstable 01827 Rev. Philip Joseph Mayher, 30 Common St., Walpole 02081 Mrs. Cheryl Perry, 2 Rich Road, HoUiston 01746
413-863-4664 Bus. 413-863-9844 617-586-3353 617-649-9270 617-668-0435 617-429-4910
1977 Committees 15
Church and Leadership Committee
Chairperson Rev. Michael Maguire, 250 North Main St., S. Deerfield 01373 413-665-3598
Vice Chairperson Rev. David Kreider, 89 Grove Street, Auburndale 02166 617-332-1976
Clerk Mrs. Peg Allen, RFD, Becket 01223 413-623-8759
Class of 1978
Rev. William J. Arnold, 64 Middle Street, Gloucester 01930 Bus. 617-283-1442
Ms. Winifred Eastwood, Montague Road, Amherst 01002 413-549-1029
Bus. 413-545-0111 X 2589
Mrs. Muriel Guild, 77 Ettrick Road,, Brockton 02401 617-587-2270
Rev. Elizabeth Rice, 136 West Concord St., Boston 02118 617-523-2771
Bus. 617-266-7480
Rev. Stanley Russell, Concord Road, Sudbury 01776 617-443-5089
Class of 1979
Rev. Charles W. Lynehan, 20 Lowell Street, Westminster 01473 617-874-0670
Bus. 617-874-5790 Rev. Michael Maguire, 250 North Main St., S. Deerfield 01373 413-665-3598
Dr. John Mason, Red Coach Road, South Hamilton 01982 617-468-4029
Mr. Gilbert Mitchell, 15 Parkview Street, Boston 02121 617-427-6402
Mrs. Barbara Walker, 535 West Chestnut St., Brockton 02401 617-587-7989
Class of 1980
Mrs. Peg Allen, RFD, Becket 01223 413-623-8759
Rev. David Kreider, 89 Grove St., Auburndale 02166 617-332-1976
Bus. 617-527-4636
Ms. Sally Manning, Mill Run Road, Boxford 01921 617-887-2930
Rev. Herbert T. Potter, Jr., 8 Little Cove Circle, W. Dennis 02670 617-394-1633
Bus. 617-398-9394
Mrs. Margaret Telfer, 600 Salem End Rd., Framingham 01701 617-879-4157
Class of 1981
Rev. Dr. Bruce O. Breuer, 1504 Parker St., Springfield 01129 413-782-4031
Bus. 413-782-2112 Mr. Earle I. Clemence, 210 May Street, Worcester 01602 617-752-7279
Rev. Donald H. Finley, 29 Hammond Street, Mattapoisett 02739 617-758-3312
Bus. 617-758-2671 Rev. George Tyson, 25 Bates Ave., Winthrop 02152 617-846-7666
Bus. 617-846-4005 Rev. Larry Zimmerman, 22 Arlington St., Dracut 01826 617-453-9317
Bus. 617-459-2022
16 Committees 1977 Church and Ministry Committee
Chairperson
Mrs. Carol Downe, 298 Manning Street, Needham 02192 617-4444674
Vice Chairperson
Rev. Ernest Heeren, 218 Walnut Street, Newtonville 02160 617-527-2732
Bus. 617-244-5395
Clerk
Rev. Leonard Silvester, 20 Center Road, Shirley 01464 617-425-4065
Class of 1978
Rev. Kenneth Claus, Jr., 100 Rock Street, Fall River 02720 617-679-4369
Bus. 617-679-6835
Dr. Charles Hand, 9 Janet Circle, North Grafton 01536 617-839-2762
Bus. 617-529-7729
Rev. Ernest Heeren, 218 Walnut Street, Newtonville 02160 617-527-2732
Bus. 617-244-5395
Rev. E. Richard Leng, P. 0. Box 392, Middleton 01949 617-777-2781
Bus. 617-774-3718
Mr. Carlton O. Stiles, 2 Ferry Street, S. Hadley 01075 413-532-8503
Class of 1979
Rev. Irving C. Beveridge, 453 Rt. 6A, E. Sandwich 02537 617-888-4689
Bus. 617-563-2177
Mr. Eugene DiBenedetto, 14 Scott Drive, Chelmsford 01824 617-256-7489
Bus. 617-890-7000 X 2416
Rev. Forster Freeman, 1317 Main St., Concord 01742 617-369-7544
Bus. 617-369-6309
Rev. Gilbert Harttree, 239 Porter Road, E. Longmeadow 01028 413-525-1180
Bus. 413-525-4121
Rev. Phyllis K. Ingram, 28 Claflin St., Milford 01757 617-478-0740
Bus. 617-473-5259
Class of 1980
Mbs. Carol Downe. 298 Manning Street, Needham 02192 617-444-4674
Mrs. Esther Headley, Haverhill Road, Amesbury 01913 617-388-2410
Rev. Leonard Silvester, 20 Center Rd., Shirley 01464 617-425-4065
Mr. Gordon Thorp, 10 Rence Drive, Dalton 01226 413-684-1210
Mr. N. David Witham, 934 Washington St., Whitman 02382 617-447-5269
Class of 1981
Mrs. Bertha (B. J.) Belcher, 26 Wheeler Ave., Rockland 02370 617-878-8173
Rev. David Christensen, Jr., North Silver Lane, Sunderland 01375 413-665-4787
Bus. 413-665-3639
Mrs. Jane Johnson, 35 Brooks Street, Maynard 01754 617-897-9148
Mr. Philip Nelson, 145 Main Street, Amesbury 01913 617-388-2301 Mrs. Odessa Smith, 52 Hazelwood Street, Roxbury 02119
1977 Committees 17
Church and Mission Committee
Chairperson Rev. Westy Egmont, 36 Coolidge Avenue, Peabody 01960 Bus. 617-531-0477
Vice Chairperson Rev. Saul Katz, 21 Marshall Street, East Longmeadow 01028 Bus. 413-525-4121
Clerk
Rev. Paul Barnes, 20 Meadowbrook Lane, Reading 01867 617-944-5805
Bus. 617-944-0205
Class of 1978
Rev. Paul Barnes, 20 Meadowbrook Lane, Reading 01867 617-944-5805
Bus. 617-944-0205
Mr. William A. Cook, 29 Mary Ellen Lane, Southbridge 01550 617-764-8815
Bus. 617-762-3261
Mrs. Judith A. Dean, 54 Addington Circle, E. Weymouth 02189 617-337-0357
Bus. 617-878-3308
Rev. Westy Egmont, 36 Coolidge Avenue, Peabodv 01960 Bus. 617-531-0477
Ms. Deborah Bruce-Jones, Main St., Sheffield 01257 413-229-8645
Class of 1979
Rev. Kenneth Anthony, P.O. Box 88, W. Hyannisport 02672 617-771-6736
Rev. George C. Bland, Jr., 15 Richards Rd., Lynnfield 01940 617-334-4837
Bus. 617-334-3050 Mrs. Jean E. Copp, 40 Indian Ridge Road, Sudbury 01776 617-443-6603
Rev. Charles R. Faruell, 17 Seelye St., Amherst 01002 413-256-8050
Rev. Rollin Johnson, Jr., 38 Linwood St., Andover 01810 617-475-8315
Bus. 617-682-5700
Class of 1980
Mrs. Eleanor Casteel, 16 Rowell Avenue, Lynn 01902 617-559-3855
Mrs. Kathy Criswell, 18 Hillside Avenue, Arlington 02174 617-646-6026
Rev. Lance C. Dallaire, 224 South Main St., Orange 01364 617-544-3862
Bus. 617-544-6895 Rev. Earl Miller, Jr., 30 Grow Street, North Dartmouth 02742 617-994-4591
Bus. 617-994-6422 Rev. David Wright, 8 Knollwood Drive, Shrewsbury 01545 617-844-9098
Bus. 617-844-7286
Class of 1981
Rev. George D. Chapman, Pleasant Street, E. Bridgewater 02333 617-378-2874
Rev. Saul Katz, 21 Marshall Street, E. Longmeadow 01028 Bus. 413-525-4121
Mrs. Nancy Rogers, 13 Long Ridge Rd., Acton 01720 617-263-3124
18 Committees 1977
Council of the Laity
Chairperson Mr. Ellis Dana, 35 Woodchester Drive, Weston 02193 617-237-4966
Vice Chairperson Mrs. Jean Clark, 49 Putnam Street, East Weymouth 02189 617-337-9828
Clerk
Rev. Peter Foss, 105 Brooks Street, Medford 02155 617-396-7066
Bus. 617-395-3360
Class of 1978
Rev. Walter B. Davis, 154 Highland Avenue, Winchester 01890 617-729-3541
Bus. 617-729-9180
Mrs. June S. Henneman, 161 Turkey Hill Rd., Belchertown 01007 413-323-7486
Mr. Stanley McCausland, 1066 Main St., Tewksbury 01876 617-851-2830
Rev. Paul Medling, 66 Sutton Street, Weymouth 02188 617-337-4710
Bus. 617-335-1686
Mrs. Robert H. Nordborg, 80 Whipple St., Worcester 01607 617-791-5129
Class of 1979
Mr. Ellis Dana, 35 Woodchester Drive, Weston 02193 617-237-4966
Mrs. Jesse Fuller, 877 Center Street, Ludlow 01056 413-583-3875
Mr. Ernest Holt, 67 Monroe Lane, W. Yarmouth 02673 617-394-6230
Mrs. Louise Horne, 63 Amherst Street, Lawrence 01843 617-683-7087
Mr. Ralph Johnson, 53 Simpson Drive, Framingham 01701 617-877-3375
Class of 1980
Rev. William Cunitz, Jr., 119 Washington St., Apt. 1. Marblehead 01945
617-631-3854
Mrs. Alice Goddard, North Road, Hardwick 01037 617-477-8731
Mrs. Meta Stark, Swamp Road, West Stockbridge 01266 413-232-4430
Bus. 413-298-3711
Rev. Albert Welch, 31 Quint Avenue, AUston 02134 617-254-2920
Class of 1981
Mrs. Jean Clark, 49 Putnam Street, E. Weymouth 02189 617-337-9828
Rev. Peter Foss, 105 Brooks Street, Medford 02155 617-396-7066
Bus. 617-395-3360
Mrs. Edith Hallberg, South Street, Petersham 01366 617-724-3230
1977 Committees 19
Program Committee
Chairperson
Mr. Philip Smith, 131 Appleton Avenue, Pittsfield 01201 413-443-1506
Bus. 413-445-4551
Vice Chairperson Mrs. Ruth Clark, 23 Hancock Street, Lexington 02173 617-862-2335
Clerk Mr. Howard Baker, 76 Brow Avenue, Braintree 02184 617-843-6202
Class of 1978
Mr. Howard Baker, 76 Brow Avenue, Braintree 02184 617-843-6202
Mr. Philip Smith, 131 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield 01201 413-443-1506
Bus. 413-445-4551
Rev. Paul Varga, Church Road, Shrewsbury 01545 617-842-7071
Bus. 617-844-7286
Class of 1979
Mrs. Ruth Clark, 23 Hancock Street, Lexington 02173 617-862-2335
Rev. Philip Ward, 105 Springfield Street, Chicopee 01013 413-592-4867
Class of 1980
Mr. Raymond A. N. Bradley, Wells Park Road, Sturbridge 01566 617-347-9291
Rev. Nancy Hildonen, 26 Summit Avenue, Rockport 01966 617-546-6097
Mrs. Beverly A. Mitchell, 15 Parkview St., Boston 02121 617-427-6402
Ex Officiis:
Moderator — Mrs. Faith Johnson, 104 Elm Street, Georgetown 01833
Vice Moderator — Rev. Edward A. Walker, 535 West Chestnut St., Brockton 02401
20
Committees
1977
Craigville Center Committee
Chairperson Rev. Herbert Davis, 474 Centre Street, Newton 02158
Class of 1978 Rev. Herbert Davis, 474 Centre Street, Newton 02158 Mr. Joseph £aton, 81 Thaxter Street, Hingham 02043
Mrs. Edvstard Hamlin, 2 Rowland Avenue, Lexington 02173
Class of 1979 Mrs. Grace Smith, 734 State Road, Westport 02790 Rev. Nevin Kirk, 14 Irvington Street, Springfield 01108 Rev. David Kreider, 89 Grove St., Auburndale 02166
Class of 1980 Mr. James Buffington, Woodland Road, East Walpole 02032 Rev. Richard Bauer, 60 Highland Street, West Newton 02165 Mrs. Walter McKenna, 23 Indian Trail, Centerville 02632
617-244-7617
617-244-7617
617-749-2318
Bus. 617-742-6830
617-862-1071
617-675-7288 413-788-8363 617-527-4636
617-668-0866 617-244-2690 617-775-4702
Ex Officio Rev. Dr. William F. Hobbs, Craigville Conference Center, Craigville 02636
617-775-1265
Warner Farm Committee
Chairperson Rev. Neal G. Llnd, 91 Jasper Street, Springfield 01109
413-567-0262 Bus. 413-732-2950
Class of 1978
Mrs. Malcolm D. Kilborn (Jean), 16 Mayer Drive, Holyoke 01040 413-532-4857
Mr. Francis Wells, Dodswell Road, Cummington 01026 413-634-5342
Mrs. Lance Dallaire, 224 S. Main St., Orange 01364 413-544-3862
Rev. Robert Kyte, 2 Hillcrest Dr., Wilbraham 01095 413-596-8690
Class of 1979
Mrs. Florence Ames, Box 505, Amherst 01002 413-253-5903
Mrs. Mary Helen New, 55 Main Street, Shelburne Falls 01370 413-625-6523
Mr. Alvah Sanborn, Dublin Road, Richmond 01264 413-698-2519
Class of 1980 Rev. Neal G. Lund, 91 Jasper Street Springfield 01109 413-567-0262
Bus. 413-732-2950 Rev. Wilbur B. Sadlier, 21 North Westfield Street, Feeding Hills 01030
Bus. 413-786-5061
Ex Officio Rev. James L. Lancaster, 24 Churchill Street Amherst 01002
413-253-9307
1977 Committees 21
United Church Youth Council
1977-78
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Clerk
Central Area
Roger Adair, III, 4 Hemenway Road, Framingham 01701 617-877-1181
Karen Clickner, 64 Eastwood Road, Shrewsbury 01545 617-842-4491
Yvonne Goldsbury, 122 Forest Street, Worcester 01609 617-791-6169
Alan Varga, 499 West Main Street, Shrewsbury 01545 617-842-7071
MBA
Cindy Hougham, 71 Winfield Street, Needham 02192 617-444-5940
Northeast Area
Stephen Munier, 12 Porter Street, Wenham, MA 01984 617-468-4086
Southeast Area
Jane Freeman, 434 Main Street, Hingham 02043 617-749-5995
Stephen Megquier, 295 High Street, Hingham 02043 617-749-5204 Mary Lou O'Neil, 1388 Central Street, Stoughton 02072
Western Area
Jim Clark, Cone Hill Road, Richmond 01254 413-698-3122
John Hudson, 244 Ely Avenue, W. Springfield 01089 413-788-6774
Eugene Kelly, 167 Ely Avenue, W. Springfield 01089 413-737-4616
Jane Stevens, 193 Hubbard Street, Lenox 01240 413-637-0793
Carol Schenk, 2 Woodside Drive, Wilbraham 01095 413-596-6036
Virginia Saxe, 220 Manchonis Rd„ Extension, Wilbraham 01095 413-596-6084
Becky Johnson, 69 Asci Drive, Pittsfield 01201 413-447-9774
Deb Noyes, 6 White Terrace, Pittsfield 01201 (Apt. 8) 413-443-5382
Peter Wells, 52 Sumner Ave., Springfield 01108 413-737-0218
22 Ecumenical Commission 1977
Ecumenical Commission of the Massacliusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
Appointed by the Board of Directors:
Mrs. Merton Alden, 30 Francis Street, Northampton 01060 413-584-0353
Rev. Thomas E. Dipko, 151 Maple St., Framingham 01701 617-620-1665
Bus. 617-872-3342 Rev. Thomas Hovi^ARD, 183 Main Street, Franklin 02038 617-528-1020
Bus. 617-528-3803 Rev. Ben E. J. New, 55 Main Street, Shelbume Falls 01370 413-625-6523
Bus. 413-625-2341 Rev. Joseph D. Stinson, 40 Glen Avenue, Methuen 01844 Bus. 617-683-9163
Representing the Board of Directors: Mrs. Carol Wilson, 24 Bennington Rd., Lexington 02173 617-862-0689
Ex Officiis:
Minister and President
Rev. Avery D. Post, Salem End & Badger Rds., Framingham 01701
617-875-5233
Associate Conference Minister
Rev. a. Karl Phillippi, 12 West Main Street, Georgetown 01830 617-352-2486
REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE CONFERENCE SERVING ON OTHER BOARDS
Corporate Members of the Boston Seaman's Friend Society
Class of 1978
Mr. Sumner M. Beal, Jr. , 30 Hollywood Road, Winchester 01890
Rev. Frank Cutter, 18 High Road, Newbuiy 01950
Mrs. Charles Johnston, 59 Aberdeen Road, North Quincy 02171
Rev. Charles Sangree, 24 Hollis Street, HoUiston 01746
Class of 1979
Mr. Douglas Drown, Royalston 01368
Mrs. Gerald Smith, Old Mill Point Road, West Harwich 02671
Rev, Ronald Wallen, 6 Stanford Street, Holyoke 01040
Class of 1980
Ms. Isabel Conway, 10 linder Terrace, Newton 02158 Mrs. Amy Fowler, 30 Belcher Street, Stoughton 02072 Mr. George Higgins, 97 Paradise Road, Swampscott 01907 Attorney Robert Montague, 15 Bruce Lane, Southbridge 01550 Mr. William Squires, Jr. , 27 Main Street, Belchertown 01007
Directors of the Churchmen's League for Civic Welfare
Class of 1978
Mrs. Clarence Dauber, 780 Boylston Street, Boston 02199
Mrs. James Eastham, 16 Alden Road, Andover 01810
Mrs. Marilyn Kelleher, 60 Pecksuot Road, North Weymouth 02191
Mrs. Elizabeth Kirk, 14 Irvington Street, Springfield 01108
Class of 1979
Mrs. Carolyn Berisey, 2 Birch Hill Road, South Hadley 01075
Rev. Frank Cutter, 18 High Street, Newbury 01950
23
MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATES TO GENERAL SYNOD
Class of 1977 - Delegates
Metropolitan Boston Association
Mrs. Clarence Dauber, Boston
Rev. Walter B. Davis, Winchester
Mr. Arthur Kinder, Arlington
Mrs. Cora Brewer, Roxbury
Mrs. James Smith, Roxbury
Rev. M. Freeman Strickland, Arlington
Rev. Gordon Washburn, W. Medfleld
Southeast Area
Rev. Fred Anderson, Norton Rev. Pamela Cole, New Bedford Mr. David Neild, Brockton Mr. Herbert Verry, Taunton
Northeast Area
Class of 1977 - Alternates Metropolitan Boston Association
Ms. Gail Harwood, Medfield
Mr. Jeffrey Johnson, E. Walpole
Southeast Area
Mrs. Fred Anderson, Norton
Ms. Jo-Ellen Fisher, Brockton Mrs. Herbert Verry, Taunton
Northeast Area
Mr. William Braman, Jr., Newburyport Rev. Thomas Call, Andover Rev. Robert Meier, Danvers Mr. Eugene B. Smith, Lawrence
Western Area
Mr. F. Ifyebum lynch, Byfield
Rev. Edward H. Glennie, Danvers Mrs. Ruth Yanagi, Lawrence
Western Area
Rev. Margaret L, Frerichs, Hadley
Mr. Charles Coombs, Stockbridge
MSo Winifred Eastwood, Amherst
Rev. Dr. Lawrence C. Foard, Jr. , Westfield
Mrs. Arreta Smith, Pittsfield
Central Area
Mrs. Nancy Cook, Southb ridge Rev. Charles Lynehan, Westminster Mr. Bruce Olsen, Sudbury Mrs. Charles Rogers, Acton Rev. Phyllis Ingram, Milford
Rev. Dr. Helen G. M. Galazka, Ludlow Mr. James F. Kentfield, Hadley Mrs. Florence Ames, Amherst
Mrs. Philip Smith, Pittsfield
Central Area
Rev. Leonard Silvester, Shirley Mr. Roger Adair, HI, Framingham Ms. Deborah Wells, Boxboro
Executive
Rev. Dr. Donald A. Simpson Rev. Dr. William F. Hobbs
24
MASSACHUSETTS DEI^GATES TO GENERAL SYNOD
Class of 1979 - Delegates
Metropolitan Boston Association
Dr. Max Stadchouse, Newton Mrs. Lorain MacLeod, Newton Mrs, Keith Baldwin, Winchester Mrs, Richard Briggs, Lexington Mr, Charles Downe, Needham Rev. Clyde Miller, Jr. , Boston Rev. Robert Shire, Walpole
Southeast Area
Class of 1979 - Alternates Metropolitan Boston Association Dr. William Halladay, Newton
Miss Jane Merrill, Newton Rev, David Kreider, Aubumdale
ReVo Richard Bauer, Newton
Southeast Area
Mrs, Mary Cannon, Yarmouthport Ms. Ljmda Corcoran, Norwell Rev. Ernest Geigis, Stoughton Mrs. Franklin Smith, North Weymouth Rev. David Yohn, Barnstable
Northeast Area
Rev. Ellsworth Comins, Merrimac Miss Jacqueline Copeland, Saugus Mrs. John Gray, Gloucester
Western Area
Rev, Floyd Bryan, Agawam
Rev, Lloyd Dunham, Greenfield
Mrs. Carol Christensen, Sunderland
Mrs. Jeffrey M. Lewis, Springfield
Rev. Lois Rose, Leverett
Mr. Jim Tilbe, Easthampton
Mrs. Marjorie Upson, Longmeadow
Central Area
Mr. Mark Berry, Dudley Mrs. Eugene Popp, Clinton Rev. Margaret Stoddard, Holden Mr, Robert Winterhalter, Ashland Mr. George L. Gregory, Brimfield
Ms. Elizabeth Butler, Bridgewater Rev, William Goble, Rockland
Rev. Seth Newton, Centerville
Northeast Area
Rev, George Hangen, Newburyport
Mrs, William Sentner, Salem
Mrs, Richard T, Sjrmmes, Swampscott
Western Area
Rev. William ToUey, Southwick Rev. Ben E,J, New, Shelbume I^Us
Mrs. Gary DeLong, Longmeadow Rev. Robert Knowles, Richmond Mr, Carl Madsen, Southampton Mrs. Herbert McChesney, Ludlow
Central Area
Mr. Thompson Boyd, Dudley
Mr, Raymond Bradley, Sturbric^e
25
26 1977
ELECTED TO U. C. C. INSTRUMENTALITIES
Corporate Members United Church Board for Homeland Ministries
Class of 1979
Rev. William B. Abernethy, 10 Woodway Road, Wellesley 02181 617-235-1988
Rev. Eric W. Bascom, Jr., 52 Sumner Avenue, Springfield 01108 413-739-5008
Rev. Judith Hjorth, 90 Glendale Road, Attleboro 02730 617-222-4677
Dr. John C. Hunter, 77 Hillside Avenue, Newton 02165 617-969-8052
Mrs. Gwendolyn Jacobs Miller, 57 Wilson Street, Springfield 01104 413-733-4398
Mr. James Kentfield, 4 Breckenridge Road, Hadley 01035 413-549-5467
Rev. J. Yorke Peeler, Jr., 35 Conant Street, Beverly 01915 617-922-1494
Mrs. Nancy Strickland, 20 Melch Road, Lynnfield Centre 01940 617-334-3599
Class of 1981
Mrs. Helen Barnes, 20 Meadowbrook Lane, Reading 01867 617-944-5805
Rev. Catherine Chiffelle, 10 Lincoln Street, Brookfield 01506 617-867-6262
Mrs. Carol Downe, 298 Manning Street, Needham 02192 617-444-4674
Mr. Richard Harter, 16 Arlington Street, Cambridge 02140 617-354-3512
Rev. Elizabeth Rice, 45 Rutland Square, Boston 02118 617-266-7480
1977 27
Corporate Members United Church Board of World Ministries
Class of 1979 Dr. Albert C. Pryor, Jr., 218 Newton Road, Springfield 01118 Rev. Ms. Nancy D. Richardson, 41 Ballard Street, Jamaica Plain 02130 Rev. John P. Webster, Chesterfield Road, Williamsburg 01096
Class of 1981 Rev. Charles P. Blakney, 1 Church Street, South Hadley 01075 Rev. Paul C. Clayton, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, Needham 02192 Mrs. Mary Ann Donaldson, 195 Woodland Road, Auburndale 02166 Mrs. Audrey S. Farnum, 106 .Riddell Street, Greenfield 01301 Mr. F. Ryeburn Lynch, 117 Main, Byfield 01922 Rev. a. Karl Phillippi, 12 West Main Street, Georgetown 01833 Mrs. Donald A. Simpson, 26 Brattle Street, Worcester 01606 Mr. James L. Smith, Jr., 52 Hazelwood Street, Boston 02119
Assistant Moderator United Church of Christ
Dr. Erna Ballantine Bryant, 8 Montrose St., Boston 02119 617-427-1938
Bus. 617-742-1326
United Church Executive Council
Dr. Wade M. Kornegay (Class of '77), 33 Hickory Rd., Sudbury 01776
617-443-8483 Bus. (Ex. 425) 617-862-5500
Rev. Avery D. Post, Box 2246 Framingham 01701 617-875-5233
United Church Historical Committee
Mrs. Evelyn Vradenburgh, 14 Beacon Street, Boston 02108 Bus. 617-523-0470
Dr. Harold F. Worthley (Class of '81), 14 Mansfield Ave., Norton 02766
617-285-3031
United Church Stewardship Council
Mrs. Euryne A. Wright (Class of '79), 97 Ruthven St., Dorchester 02121
617-442-4178
Office for Church in Society
Mrs. Carol Downe, 298 Manning St., Needham 02192 617-444-4674
Rev. Robert P. Noble, Jr., Rhoades Ave., East Walpole 02032 617-668-9125
Bus. 617-668-1355
BYLAWS OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE OF THE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
ARTICLE I
Purpose and Terminology
1. The purpose of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ as stated in its charter (1799) is "diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . and in concert with other ecclesiastical bodies for the general increase of Christian union and spiritual efficiency and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth."
2. Whenever in these Bylaws the word Conference is used it shall be held to refer to the Corporation as a Conference of the United Church of Christ and as a Conference of Massachusetts Congregational Christian Churches.
3. All Churches which are members of Associations in voluntary fellowship with and recognized by the Conference, whether or not such Churches are a part of the United Church of Christ, are entitled to elect voting members of the Conference in accordance with these Bylaws.
4. Whenever in these Bylaws the word "Area" is used, it shall be held to refer to those Associations or combinations of the Associations decided upon by the agree- ment of the respective Associations and recognized by the Conference.
ARTICLE II
Denominational Basis
Following Congregational principles, this Conference shall under no circumstances exercise authority over Churches or individuals or interfere with the government or discipline of the Churches. It shall advise and counsel the Churches when requested, but it is recognized that each Church has the power of self-determination in all matters.
ARTICLE III
Doctrinal Basis
This Conference declares its steadfast allegiance to the faith which our fathers confessed, which, from age to age, has found its expression in the historic creeds of the Church Universal and of this Communion.
28
1977 Bylaws 29
ARTICLE IV
Conference Meetings
1. Stated Meetings. In each year the Conference shall convene its Annual Meet- ing within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the third Friday of May (or at such other time within the period from April fifteenth through June fifteenth as the Board of Directors may deem expedient) for the election of Officers, Executive Officers, Committees, Councils, and a Board of Directors for full or unexpired terms, as the case may be, the hearing of reports, the determination of the annual rate of Fellowship Dues to be proposed to the Churches, to act on the recommendation of the Board of Directors concerning the amount or proportion to be retained from Our Christian World Mission giving of the Churches, and the transaction of other business- Each year the Conference also shall convene a Fall Meeting within said Commonwealth on the third Saturday of October (or at such other time within the period from September fifteenth through November fifteenth as the Board of Direc- tors may determine) ; provided, however, that the Conference at any Annual Meet- ing may vote not to hold the Fall Meeting that year. The budget of the Conference ordinarily shall be presented for adoption at the Fall Meeting, but in any year when the Board of Directors recommends not to hold the Fall Meeting, and it is so voted, then the budget shall be presented for adoption at the Annual Meeting.
2. Special Meetings.
a. Special meetings of the Conference may be convened by the Board of Directors, at such times and places within the Commonwealth as may be determined by the Board, provided, however, that notice of any special meeting and the purposes thereof shall, at least three weeks before the date of the meeting, be sent by mail to each of the Churches entitled to send delegates to the meeting, posted in the general office of the Confer- ence and printed in newspapers published in Boston, Worcester and Spring- field.
b. A special meeting of the Conference shall be convened by the Board of Directors upon receipt by the office of the Secretary of the Conference or Chairman of the Board of Directors of a written petition stating the pro- posed purposes, and signed by not less than one hundred persons who shall be voting members of the Conference as defined and who shall represent at least fifty Churches, within sixty days of the receipt of such petition unless an already scheduled meeting of the Conference will be held within ninety days.
c. No action shall be taken on any item of business not specified in the notice
of the meeting.
3. Call To Order. The Moderator, or in his absence the Vice Moderator, shall call the meeting to order and preside. In the absence of both of them, a member of the Board of Directors shall call the meeting to order and conduct the election of a Moderator Pro-tempore.
4. Budget. Not later than one month prior to the meeting of the Conference at which the budget will be presented for approval, there shall be mailed to each Church entitled to send delegates to the meeting sufficient copies of the budget and of the Treasurer's report to provide one copy for each minister and for each delegate to which the Church is entitled. No increases or additions to the budget can be con- sidered on the floor of the Conference Meeting unless a written proposal is filed with the office of the Secretary at least ten days prior to the meeting.
5. Quorum. At all meetings of the Conference a quorum shall consist of 200 voting members.
30 Bylaws 1977
ARTICLE V
Conference Meeting Membership
1. Voting Members. The voting membership of a Conference Meeting shall con- sist of
a. the following representatives from each Church or Congregation which is
a member of an Association in fellowship with the Conference:
(1) two delegates chosen by and from each such Church or Congregation to serve at its pleasure; and one additional delegate chosen by and from each such Church or Congregation to serve at its pleasure for every three hundred members, or major fraction thereof in excess of three hundred, as determined by the number of its members as of December 31 of the year immediately preceding; (Churches are urged, in conformity with the spirit of actions taken by the General Synod, to choose delegates from all areas of interest. This contemplates a lay delegate body with equal representation of men and women, repre- sentation of minority groups, and with a goal of 20% of all lay dele- gates under 30 years of age.)
(2) the pastor or pastors, including lay pastors, of each such Church or Con- gregation, provided such pastor shall have standing in an Association in fellowship with the Conference; and
(3) the Christian Education Director or Directors of each such Church or Congregation, provided such director holds United Church of Christ certification.
(4) the other ordained persons who are members in each such Church or Congregation and who have standing in an Association in fellowship with the conference.
b. the Officers and Executive Officers of the Conference, including any person
who shall have been elected an Officer Emeritus;
c. the members of the Board of Directors;
d. the members of the Conference Committees and Councils;
e. the members of the professional staff of the Conference, as such staff may be
determined by the Board of Directors; and
2. Honorary Members. The honorary membership of a Conference Meeting, with privilege of speaking but without privilege of voting, shall consist of:
a. the delegates from corresponding bodies;
b. the persons appointed to speak before the Conference;
c. the persons who may be made honorary members by a vote of the Board of Directors ;
d. such other persons as may be made honorary members by a vote of the
Conference .
1977 Bylaws 31
ARTICLE VI
Officers and Staff
1. As Officers of the Conference there shall be a Moderator, a Vice Moderator, and a Recording Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by ballot at each Annual Meeting of the Conference for a term of one year or until their successors are chosen.
a. The Moderator, or in his absence, the Vice Moderator, shall preside over
the meetings of the Conference.
b. The Recording Secretary shall record the complete minutes of each meeting of the Conference and shall transcribe and deliver same to the Secretary. The Board of Directors may, at their discretion, appoint a deputy to assist in the keeping of the records under the direction of the Recording Secretary.
2. The Conference Executive Officers shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treas- urer, and such other Executive Officers as the Conference may from time to time elect. Any of the said Executive Offices, except those of President, Secretary, and Treasurer, may be abolished by vote of the Conference. The Board of Directors shall make nominations for Conference Executive Officers for terms of one year. Elections shall take place by ballot at each Annual Meeting. Those elected shall hold office to the end of their term or until their respective successors are chosen. They shall bear such additional titles as the Conference or the Board of Directors may determine.
a. The President shall be the chief Executive Officer of the Conference and
shall, subject to the direction of the Conference and of its Board of Direc- tors, have general charge of its missionary and benevolent work and of its other activities. He shall be a member ex officio of all standing Committees named in the Bylaws. He shall have the power to delegate to members of the staff the authority to represent him upon any of the said standing Com- mittees. He shall be the representative of the Conference and of its Boatd of Directors among all the Churches (both those financially independent and those aided by the funds of the Conference) and in all denominational and interdenominational gatherings (including meetings of Conference Exec- utives) unless representation is otherwise provided by the Conference Pres- ident or the Board of Directors. He may seek to assist pastors and Cihurches with fraternal counsel. He shall keep informed as to opportunities for eX' tension work through founding new Churches or strengthening old ones and shall recommend to the Conference and to the Board of Directors meas- ures for meeting such opportunities.
b. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Conference, except as heretofore described and provided for. The Secretary shall perform the duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be assigned to the office by the Board of Directors or the President. The Secretary shall have the custody of the records; the seal of the Conference; and of all bonds given by the
32 Bylaws 1977
Treasurer as hereinafter provided; and shall furnish copies of the records certified under the seal of the Conference to such persons as may be en- titled thereto.
The Treasurer shall receive and hold the property of the Conference subject to the, direction of the Board of Directors and shall keep particular accounts of the Conference's funds and of the disposal thereof. He shall, under the direction of the President, assist, so far as he may be able, in the general work of the Conference and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. He shall make a report at each Annual Meeting of the Conference and shall make such other reports as the Conference or the Board of Directors may from time to time require. He shall receive all contributions for benevolences sent to him by the Churches and by individuals and shall disburse the same in accordance with the instructions of the donors. He shall give such bonds for the faith- ful performance of his duties as may from time to time be required by the Board of Directors. Any Assistant Treasurer shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Treasurer, and act in his stead in event of incapacity or absence.
3. Area Ministers. The Conference may, from time to time, employ such staff as is deemed necessary to fulfill pastoral and fellowship functions and purposes within the Conference in the established Areas of the Conference. The staff shall give coun- sel and leadership to the Churches and ministers in those Areas, and shall be em- ployed by the Board of Directors in consultation with the President of the Confer- ence, and in consultation with, or upon the recommendation of the Area Committee/ Council involved, and/or in consultation with other appropriate parties.
4. Conference Program Staff and Administrative Staff. The Conference may, from time to time, employ such staff as is deemed necessary to fulfill the program pur- poses and administrative needs of the Conference. The staff shall be employed by the Board of Directors in consultation with the President of the Conference, and where applicable with such Committee/Committees and parties as may seem appro- priate to the function which said position is to fulfill.
5. Performance Evaluation, Job Review, Professional Support, The President shall present to the Board of Directors, for all Executive Officers and staff other than himself, periodic reviews of job performance, job content, and professional support status. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for seeing that such periodic reviews are carried out for all Executive Officers and staff, that such reviews are based upon sufficient facts and consultations, and that the scope, findings and recommendations of such reviews are appropriate. Persons nominated or employed by the Board of Directors as Executive Officers and staff shall be informed of Con- ference practice with regard to review of job performance and content and pro- fessional support status.
6. Retirement Age. The mandatory retirement date for any Executive Officer, staff member or employee shall be the Annual Meeting following his attaining age
1977 Bylaws 33
65. However, the Board of Directors may temporarily employ, from time to time, any persons beyond age 65 when such temporary employment is deemed to be in the best interest of the Conference.
7. a. Retirement Annuities. The Conference expects every paid Officer, staff mem- ber, or other employee to be a member, as appropriate, of the Annuity Fund for Congregational Ministers or the Retirement Fund for Lay Workers and will pay the full normal annual premium to the Fund. It will not provide any other retirement annuity.
b. Employee Benefits. The Conference, as an employer, may provide such other employee benefits as the Board of Directors deems appropriate, and such programs, and the extent to which the Conference bears the expense, shall be reported by the Treasurer in his annual report.
ARTICLE VII
Board of Directors
1. Organization
a. There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of:
(1) One Director elected at the Conference Annual Meeting by ballot for every 8,000 members, or major fraction thereof, of the Churches in each of the Areas of the Conference determined by the number of mem- bers as of December 31 of the year immediately preceding, with no Area having less than one Director. One-third of these elected Directors shall be ministers, one-third laymen and one-third laywomen as nearly as may be.
(2) The President, the Moderator, and the Vice Moderator of the Confer- ence, ex officiis.
b. The term of an elected Director shall be four (4) years and no Director, having served a full four (4) year term, shall be eligible for re-election for one (1) year.
c. Nine members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
d. At its first meeting after each Annual Meeting of the Conference, the
Board of Directors shall choose one of its members to serve as Chairman and another member to serve as Vice Chairman for the ensuing year. It shall also choose a secretary to maintain a record of its proceedings.
2. General Powers. Subject to the provisions of Section 3 of this Article, the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all of the powers of, the Conference between meetings of the Conference and actions taken shall be reported to the next Annual Meeting of the Conference.
3. Except as otherwise provided in the charter of the Conference or in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall administer and dispose of the property of the Conference and shall manage all of its business and affairs, subject to the follow- ing limitations:
34 Bylaws 1977
a. Corporate assets other than real property or tangible personal property which
are not restricted as to use by the donor shall not be disbursed or granted between two consecutive Annual Meetings in an amount exceeding 20% of the value thereof at the previous year-end or $250,000, whichever is greater, except as authorized or directed by a vote of the Conference.
b. Title to real property with a market value of $250,000 or more shall not be
encumbered, or conveyed in whole or in part, except as authorized or di- rected by a meeting of the Conference.
4. The Board of Directors:
a. Shall have responsibility for -policy formulation, program development, bud-
get development, coordination between the functional Committees of the Conference, evaluation and planning;
b. Shall employ staff and other agents in support of Conference activities and
operations and define or approve the definition of their duties;
c. Shall cause the accounts of the Treasurer to be audited at least once a year by certified public accountants selected by the Board;
d. Shall provide direction for all Officers, Executive Officers, staff and agents of the Conference.
5. Without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall in particular have the following powers:
a. To appoint its own meetings and form its own rules of business, to appoint
Committees and delegate any of its powers to such Committees.
b. To remove at pleasure any member of the staff, any employee or any agent of the Conference.
c. To remove any Officer, Executive Officer, or Director of the Conference who
may be guilty of disregard of his duties or of such conduct as shall be seriously prejudicial to the interests of the Conference.
d. To fill any vacancy in any Office, Executive Office, Committee or Council
of the Conference including vacancies in the membership of the Board until the succeeding Annual Meeting of the Conference.
e. To direct efforts to promote missionary interest and giving among the
Churches of the Conference.
f. To direct efforts to promote ecumenical concerns, interests and relationships
of the Conference.
g. To direct efforts af evaluation and planning with respect to the program and activities of the Conference.
h. To appoint one or more Directors to the functional Conference Committees and Councils as liaison between the Committees or Councils and the Board of Directors.
1977 Bylaws 35
ARTICLE VIII
Committees and Councils
1. Immediately after the opening of the Conference Annual Meeting the Modera- tor shall appoint:
a. A Committee on Credentials, to which all credentials shall be referred.
b. A Business Committee, the duty of which shall be to prepare and present
at each session all matters of business not presented through the Board of Directors or some Committee or Council of the Conference.
2. There shall be a Program Committee to plan the program of each regular meeting and such other meetings of the Conference as the Board of Directors may request. The Committee shall consist of the Moderator, the Vice Moderator, the Secretary of the Conference, the pastor of any Church which is to entertain the next Annual Meeting, plus nine elected members. At each Annual Meeting three members, at least one of whom shall be a member of a Conference Committee or Council, shall be elected by voice vote for three-year terms.
3. The following Conference Committees and Councils shall be constituted each with twenty (20) members, four (4) from each of the five (5) Areas within the Conference, one (1) member from each Area to be elected each year by voice vote to serve a term of four (4) years, except that the Youth Council shall be consti- tuted with twenty (20) members, one adult from each of the five (5) Areas within the Council elected by voice vote to serve a term of four (4) years and three (3) Youth Members from each of the five (5) Areas to be elected each year by voice vote to serve a term of one (1) year. No member of a Conference Committee or Council, having served a full term of four (4) years, shall be eligible for re-election for one (1) year but Youth Members elected to the Youth Council for one (1) year may be re-elected for subsequent one (1) year terms to a maximum of four (4) con- secutive years. As nearly as possible, the membership of each Conference Committee and of the Council of the Laity shall be equally divided among ministers, laymen and laywomen :
a. A Church and Community Committee shall be concerned with the outreach
of the Churches and the Conference in the community, whether rural, sub- urban, or urban and for social action in developing programs and services, policies and procedures for confronting situations and conditions arising out of changing social and economic environment in the general community.
b. A Church and Education Committee shall be concerned with the educational thrust of the Churches and the Conference in all aspects and shall function to provide and develop and assist educational programs and services in the Churches and among other groupings.
c. A Church and Leadership Committee shall be concerned with leadership
discovery and manpower utilization through the various organizations of the Conference. This Committee shall make nominations for each Office, Committee, Board or Council to be elected at the Annual Meeting, when nominations are not otherwise provided for in these Bylaws. It shall also nominate delegates to the General Synod. It shall suggest at the request of the Board of Directors nominees to fill any vacancies occurring between Annual Meetings.
36 Bylaws 1977
d. A Church and Ministry Committee shall be concerned with the Churches
and their responsibilities to establish and maintain high standards in fel- lowship with other Churches. It shall be concerned also with the ministry, whose standing is held in the Associations, to establish and maintain high academic, professional, and moral standards of ordained and professional personnel. It shall be concerned further with the relationships between Churches and ordained and professional personnel, and the welfare of the Churches and Associations, in order that the whole Church may be strength- ened.
The Conference shall maintain a special roll of ministers to which names may have been transferred by the Associations. This special roll shall be in charge of the Church and Ministry Committee and the presence of a name there shall constitute evidence that the person has been duly ordained and has had standing in a member Association; but the Committee shall not issue credentials to a person whose name appears on this roll unless they find in concurrence with the Committee on the Ministry in this per- son's Association that this person's character and qualifications are satis- factory.
e. A Church and Mission Committee shall be concerned with the mission of
the Churches and the Conference. It shall encourage the understanding and support by the Churches of ecumenical mission. Our Christian World Mis- sion, Massachusetts Ministries, City Missionary Societies' Programs, special fund raising efforts and other mission endeavors. It shall invite and eval- uate financial requests for mission projects and recommend priorities of these requests to the Budget Committee of the Board of Directors.
f. The Conference recognizes a Council of the Laity as a movement of spirit-
ual renewal in the life of the Churches and the Conference. It shall be the responsibility of the Council of the Laity to increase, develop and coordi- nate the activities and participation of the Laity through a process of con- tinuing education and training; and to assist the Churches to develop pro- grams which will train and free the Laity to participate in the whole task of the Church.
g. The Conference recognizes a Youth Council as a continuation of the work of the Pilgrim Fellowship of Massachusetts. It shall be concerned with the youth ministry in the Churches and the Associations in fellowship with the Conference, and shall encourage youth participation in the Local Church, Association, Conference and General Synod.
4. All Committees and Councils are free to organize their work, to establish sub- committees for special assignments, and to co-opt other persons with special interest and skill as required.
5. A person who is a member of any Committee or Council ex-officio shall be entitled to vote.
6. The reports of all Committees and Councils that are to be presented to the Conference Annual Meeting shall be furnished to the Secretary on or before April first of each year, and shall be printed and distributed to the Churches not less than
1977 Bylaws 37
two weeks before the Annual Meeting. These reports need not be read to the Confer- ence Meeting but the Program Committee may arrange for the adequate discussion of any or all of the topics presented in the reports.
7. Such Committees, Councils, or other ad hoc groups as the Conference may vote to constitute or recognize shall be established by voice vote at each Annual Meeting for such terms as the Conference Meeting shall determine. The Board of Directors shall present at each Annual Meeting a list of Committees, Councils or other ad hoc groups, the appointment of which it recommends.
ARTICLE IX
Conditions of Office
1. Qualifications. Each Officer, Executive Officer, Director, Committee member or Council member can serve only while he is a member in a Church or Congrega- tion eligible to send delegates to the Conference Meeting.
2. Beginning of Term. The terms of Officers, Executive Officers, Directors or Members of a Committee or Council of the Conference shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they are elected; however, in the event a meeting is recessed for more than one month following election, the terms of those elected shall com- mence at the close of the session in which the recess was declared.
3. Unexpired Term. Any person elected at an Annual Meeting of the Conference to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of that vacancy,
4. Automatic Resignation. Any person elected to the Board of Directors or any Committee or Council of the Conference who shall fail to attend two consecutive regular meetings thereof without an explanation of absence, or fail to attend three consecutive meetings for any reason, shall be considered to have resigned. Whoever is nominated to the Board of Directors or any Committee or Council of the Confer- ence on the basis of his residency in one of the five Areas of the state shall be con- sidered to have resigned if during his term of office he moves to a different Area of the state or moves from the state. It will be the responsibility of the Board of Di- rectors, Committee, or Council involved to determine whether to accept a resignation.
ARTICLE X
Relationships
1. As a Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Massachusetts Confer- ence is a body of the United Church of Christ and is related to the General Synod as described in the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ. It dis- charges those duties and provides those services set forth in its own charter and By- laws and which are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ.
2. Delegates of the Conference to the General Synod, as provided for in the Con^ stitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ, shall be electea from the mem- bership of the Churches in the Massachusetts Conference which are affiliated with the United Church of Christ, and such delegates shall be elected by voice vote at a meeting of the Conference.
38 Bylaws 1977
ARTICLE XI
Board of Ministerial Aid
The Board of Ministerial Aid shall be the agent of the Conference in the work of aiding needy ministers and their families and shall make an annual report to the Conference. On notice of a vacancy in the membership of the Board of Ministerial Aid, the Conference shall nominate a person to fill the vacancy.
ARTICLE XII
Boston Seaman's Friend Society
The Boston Seaman's Friend Society shall be the agent of the Conference in the work of promoting the spiritual and temporal welfare of seamen and shall make an annual report to the Conference. The Conference Meeting shall annually elect by voice vote five members, for a term of three (3) years each, to the Board of the Society.
ARTICLE XIII
Board of Pastoral Supply
The Conference Meeting shall elect by voice vote seven members to represent it on the Congregational Board of Pastoral Supply, two members to be elected each year to serve for a period of three (3) years, and a third member to be elected in any year to serve for a period of three (3) years whenever necessary to satisfy the requirement of seven members. The Board shall through its Secretary, make an an- nual report to the Conference Meeting.
ARTICLE XIV
Corporate Seal
The seal of the Conference shall consist of two or more concentric circles, with the words, "Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ" around the circumference between these circles and the words "Inc., 1808" within the inner circle.
ARTICLE XV
Special Orders
1. All matters of business presented to the Conference Meeting, except those presented by the Board of Directors or through duly elected or appointed Commit- tees of the Conference, shall be referred to the Business Committee unless referred to some other Committee by special vote of the Conference.
2. All matters of business referred to the Business Committee shall be reported for action before the final adjournment of the meeting.
1977 Bylaws 39
3. There shall be a "Revolving Fund for Cash Flow" designated to the purpose of providing cash at times of low flow during a given year.
a. The limit of the Fund will be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
b. The sources of capital will be from unrestricted monies designated to the Fund by the Board of Directors or from special gifts restricted to the pur- pose of the Fund, with the distinction between the two preserved.
c. The cash of the Fund may be borrowed by action of the Conference execu-
tive officers for the specific purpose with the expectation that it can and will be returned to the Fund Avithin the calendar year of use. In the event that this is not possible due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be no borrowing from the Fund during the succeeding calendar year until out- standing borrowing has been repaid.
d. At no time will the Fund be used as collateral for other loans.
e. No interest will be paid to the Fund for the use of its cash.
f. Unrestricted monies placed in the Fund may be withdrawn only by vote of
the Conference Meeting.
g. The Fund shall be invested in a manner appropriate for its purposes, as determined by the Board of Directors. Income earned shall be administered as unrestricted receipts from invested income.
ARTICLE XVI
Rules of Order
All proceedings of the Conference Meeting shall be governed by the latest re- vised edition of Robert's Rules of Order, and, unless otherwise required thereby or by these Bylaws, action of the Conference shall be by the majority vote of voting members present.
ARTICLE XVII Amendments
1. These Bylaws except Articles II and III, may be amended at any Annual Meeting, or other meeting, of the Conference by a two-thirds vote, provided the amendment was proposed at a previous Conference Meeting or is recommended by the Board of Directors. The Board must notify the Churches and delegates of Bylaw amendments which it recommends at least 45 days prior to the Conference Meeting at which these will be considered.
2. Articles II and III may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any Annual Meet- ing, but only after the proposed amendment has been submitted to the Conference in writing at a previous Annual Conference Meeting and notice has been sent to each of the Churches entitled to send delegates at least three months prior to the Conference Meeting at which action is to be taken.
1977
Past Annual Meetings
40
|
1912 |
Holyoke |
|
1913 |
Fall River |
|
1914 |
Gardner |
|
1915 |
Pittsfield |
|
1916 |
Cambridge |
|
1917 |
Taunton |
|
191S |
Worcester |
|
1919 |
Northampton |
|
1920 |
Plymouth |
|
1921 |
Lawrence |
|
1922 |
ntchburg |
|
1923 |
Great Harrington |
|
1924 |
Brockton |
|
1925 |
Holyoke |
|
1926 |
Dorchester |
|
1927 |
Worcester |
|
1923 |
Greenfield |
|
1929 |
Framingham |
|
1930 |
Springfield |
|
1931 |
New Bedford |
|
1932 |
Ouincy |
|
1933 |
North Adams |
|
1934 |
Brookline |
|
1935 |
Newburyport |
|
1930 |
Gardner |
|
1937 |
Lowell |
|
193S |
Dedham |
|
1939 |
Northampton |
|
1940 |
Worcester |
|
1911 |
Attleboro |
1942 West Newton
|
1943 |
Worcester |
|
1944 |
Boston |
|
1945 |
Cambridge |
|
1946 |
Holyoke |
|
1947 |
Boston |
|
194S |
Springfield |
|
1949 |
Boston |
|
1950 |
Fall Biver |
|
1951 |
Framingham |
|
1952 |
Worcester |
|
1953 |
Springfield |
|
1054 |
Qulncy |
|
1955 |
FItchburg |
|
1950 |
Wllliamstown |
|
1957 |
Newton Centre |
|
1958 |
Plymouth |
|
1959 |
Beverly |
|
19C0 |
Andover |
|
1961 |
Northampton |
|
1962 |
Worcester |
|
1963 |
Wellesley |
|
1964 |
Pittsfield |
|
1965 |
Boston |
|
1966 |
Springfield |
|
1967 |
Worcester |
|
1968 |
Boston |
|
1969 |
W. Springfield |
|
1970 |
Amherst |
|
1971 |
FItchburg |
|
1972 |
Pittsfield |
|
1973 |
Springfield |
|
1974 |
Hyannis |
|
1975 |
Boston |
|
1976 |
Springfield |
|
1977 |
Chicopee |
Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Rev M(. Rev. Dr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr.
MODERATOR Victor J. Loring
Frank B. Shipman Kenyon L. Butterfield
Edward A. Reed Edwin O. Childs
George W. Andrews William B. Aspinwall
Frederick H. Page Henry K. Hyde
Thomas Weston
Shepherd Knapp Arthur H. Wellman
Edward P. Drew
Charles H. Williams Elbert A. Harvey
Samuel H. Woodrow Enos H. Bigelow
Ben]. A. Wlllmott Sheridan B. Gate
Clarence W. Dunham
Edwin B. Robinson John C. Hull
J. Harold Dale Frank L. Boyden
David N. Beach Wilbur E. Rowell
Clarence E. Hellens
Ethelbert V. Grabill
Lyndon S. Beardslee George F. Moulton
Rev. John Gratton
Dean Homer P. Little Rev. Carl F. Schultz Mr. Roy A. Hovey Rev. Baldwin W. Callahan Mr. Lucius E. Thayer Rev. John A. Hawley Mr. Clarence C. Beasley Rev, Horace G. Robson Mr. Sidney F. Law Rev. Roy L. Minich
Mr. Robert C. Shoemaker
Rev. Frederick M. Meek Mr. Julian D. Steele Rev. Victor E. Chicoine Mr. Lincoln S. Cain Rev. Joseph W. Beach Mrs. Axel H. Anderson Dr. John E. Leamon Mr. William E. Hays Rev. Clarence W. Fuller Mr. Loomis Patrick Rev. Kenneth B. Henley Mr. Albert O. Wilson, Jr. Rev. Paul D. Tiller Mr. Raymond H. Frost Mr. David W. Bartlett Mr. David W. Bartlett Rev. Harold B. Fray, Jr. Rev. Harold B. Fray, Jr. Mr. James Baleman Rev. D. Curtis Minter Mrs. Edwin D. Anthony Rev. Norman E. Farnum, Mr. Richard Harter Rev. Justin Hartman
Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev.
Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev. Rev.
PREACHER Edward P. Drew Raymond Calkins William C. Gordon Ambrose W. Vernon Newton M. Hall Benjamin A. Willmott William A. Knight Ernest G. Guthrie George A. Gordon Robert MacDonald Hugh Gordon Ross Robert R. Wicks Edward M. Noyes James Gordon Gilkey Allen E. Cross Arcturus Z. Conrad Howard J. Chidley Claude A. McKay Ashley D. Leavitt Garfield Morgan Vaughan Dabney J. Le& Mitchell Arthur P. Pratt Shepherd Knapp Russell H. Stafford Ralph Sockman George A. Buttrick Douglas Horton
Benjamin T. Marshall Raymond Calkins William Park Walter A. Morgan William A. Gilroy
Rev. Robert Wood Coe Rev. Carl Heath Kopf Rev. Charles C. Keith Rev. Edwin B. Robinson Rev. J. Harold Dale Rev. Kendig B. Cully Rev. William J. Rees Rev. Ashley Day Leavitt ( Rev. John Gratton t Rev. Alden S. Mossharamer Rev. Walter R. Greenwood Rev. Ray A. Eusden Rev. John R Chapman Rev. John H. Leamon Rev. Fred B. Spyker Rev. Dwight L. Cart Dr. Raymond Calkins Rev. Kenneth R. Henley Rev. Edith Wolfe Dr. Albert J. Penner Rev. Virgil V. Brallier Rev. Arthur Coulthard Rev. Kenneth D. Beckwlth Rev. John E. Morgan Dr. Albert J. Penner Dr. Albert J. Penner Rev. Robert V. Moss Dr. David M. Stowe Rev. Avery D. Post Rev. Jefferson P. Rogers Rev. Reuben Sheares Rev. James W. Crawford Rev. Phyllis K. Ingram Rev. Dr. Oliver Powell
MINUTES OF THE 178TH ANNUAL MEETING
of the
MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
April 29, 30, May 1, 1977, Springfield/ Chicopee, Mass.
The 178th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ was called to order by the Moderator, the Rev. Justin J. Hartman, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 1977, at the Treadway Inn in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The theme for the Meeting was "The Family of the Covenant" and was taken from two sources:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
" Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel, says the Lord. I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. "
Sklem Covenant
" We covenant with the Lord and one with another; and doe bynd ourselves in the presence of God, to walke together in all his waies, according as he is pleased to reveale himself unto us in his blessed word of truth, "
The Worship/Celebration services for the Meeting were prepared and conducted by members of the Worship Commission.
Following the opening Worship/Celebration, led by Mrs. Dinny Brownlee and the Rev. Philip H. Ward, Minister of the Chicopee Federated Church, greetings and welcome from the local committee were brought by the Rev. Nevin H. Kirk, Minister of the Spring- field Emmanuel Church.
Mr. William Cook and the Rev. Nancy F. Hildonen were appointed to the Credentials Committee, Mr. Cook, as chairperson, reported on advance registrations, which consisted of Lay Delegates, 457; Clergy, 211; Directors of Christian Education 10; Guests, 100; Ex- Officiis, 23; for a total of 801,
41
42 Minutes 1977
The Moderator declared that a quorum was present. He then called the attention of the Meeting to the Ground Rules as printed in the 1976 Conference Year Book and circu- lated prior to the Meeting. (The Ground Rules follow these minutes. ) The Moderator introduced the Parliamentarian, Mr. Richard B. Osterberg, attorney, from the firm of Weston, Patrick, Willard & Redding. The voting procedures were outlined. The following committees were appointed:
Ushers and Tellers: The Rev. Dr. Bruce O. Breuer and the Rev. Sanford Pasth, Co-Chairpersons; the Rev. Carlyle Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Miller, Mr. John Perman, Mr, and Mrs. Robert Trainor, the Rev. and Mrs. Robert Bruns, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Carpenter, Mrs. Florence McConnell, Mr, Kenneth E. Paine, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thomp- son, the Rev. William ToUey, the Rev. Neal Lund, Mrs. Ethel Evans, the Rev. Glen Schwarz, Mr. Richard Taylor, Mr. Edwin Lombard, Mr. Deane Clark, the Rev. Robert Kyte, Mr. Michael Getchell, Mrs. Janet Loveland, Mr. Raymond Loveland, Mr, John Delay, the Rev. Harry Studkenbrudc, Mr, Jeremy Kavka, Mrs. Charlotte Kavka, Mr. Ernest Tirrell, Mr, William Joy, Mr, William Joy, Jr, , Mr. William Ertel, Mr. Philip Ertel, Mr. Ralph Miller, Mr. Russell Callahan and four young people from the First Congregation- al Church in Ludlow, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Pauze,
Business Committee: Mrs, Faith Johnson, Chairperson; Mr. Howard L. Baker, Dr. Ema Ballantine Bryant, Mrs, Ruth Clark, Mr. William Cook, Mr. Richard M, Harter, the Rev. Nancy Hildonen, Mrs. Jean Knibbs, and Mr. Philip H, Smith.
Mrs. Faith Johnson, Chairperson of the Business Committee, presented the Order of Time and Events which the Committee recommended be adopted as the agenda, Mr. Floyd Folsom of Topsfield moved to postpone the vote on whether or not to hold a Fall Meeting until Saturday afternoon, April 30. Following discussion, the motion was lost. A delegate moved to change the time of the consideration of the Bylaws from 3:30 p.m. on Friday to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The motion was lost. It was moved and
VOTED: That the Order of Time and Events, as circulated, be adopted.
It was moved and
VOTED: That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting, April 30, May 1, 2, 1976, Spring- field, Massachusetts, be approved as printed.
The Rev. J. Everett Bodge, speaking for the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, presented the name of the Rev. Avery D. Post to be the Conference Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference for another year. (No action to be taken on this matter until Saturday. )
The Rev. Stanley G. Russell, Chairperson of the Church and Leadership Committee, presented an incomplete slate of Officers and Committee Members for the ensuing year. He pointed out that some positions as they now exist may be phased out. (This report, along with additions, will be acted upon on Saturday afternoon. )
The Report of the Associate Conference Minister and Secretary, the Rev. Emil C. Beck, was presented with comments. He called attention to the fact that 110 of the 488 churches in the Conference did not submit their annual reports and figures in time to be included in the Year Book report.
The Treasurer of the Conference, Mr. Carleton K. Finch, presented Ms report.* He called attention to the deficit indicated on line 28 of his report, and remarked that the Directors have a continuing concern to answer these three questions: "Why did this happen?" "What did we do about it?" "How can we prevent its happening again?" He pointed out that last September the deficit was projected to be in excess of $80,000; and that through care-
1 977 Minutes 43
ful management it was reduced to $28,000. After questions from the floor, it was moved and
VOTED: To accept the various reports as printed and circulated.
The Moderator next presented the Rev. Ptobert D. Witham, formerly a member of the Massachusetts Conference staff, and now the New England Regional Representative of the Office for Church Life and Leadership. He also presented to the Meeting Dr. Ema Ballantine Bryant, who is the Assistant Moderator of the United Church of Christ.
The Moderator welcomed guests to the Meeting. It was moved and
VOTED: That the following be elected Honorary Delegates for this Meeting, with voice, but no vote: The Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Evans, President of the United Church of Christ, and his wife, Mrs, Harriet Evans; the Rev. Dr. James A. Nash, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches; Dr. Rena Karefa-Smart, Research Associate at the Harvard Divinity School; the Rev. David Murray, Fraternal Delegate from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Sister Raphaelle Eahey from Merrimac College.
Then the Moderator introduced those members of the Massachusetts Conference Board of Directors who were present, the members of the Business Committee, and the staff members of the Massachusetts Conference.
Mrs. Helen R, Barnes, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, presented the Board's recommendation that there be no Pall Meeting of the Conference in 1977, It was moved and
VOTED: That the Annual Meeting adopt the recomm.endation of the Board of Directors not to hold a Eall Meeting of the Conference in 1977.
The proposed change in the Bylaws of the Massachusetts Conference which provides for the establishment of a Secretary was presented by the Rev. Donald E, Overlook. The present division of work was explained by the Rev. Emil C. Beck. Several persons spoke to the motion. Two amendments were lost and one, made by the Rev. George B. Higgins, was carried.
On recommendation of the Board of Directors, and with the amendment made by the Rev. George B. Higgins, it was moved and
VOTED: To amend the Inlaws, Article VI, paragraph 2, clause b, to provide for the election of a Secretary of the Conference who would not be full time, by striking paragraph 2, b.
"The Secretary shall keep the records of the Conference, except as heretofore described and provided for, and shall assist in the general work of the Con- ference under the direction of the President. He shall devote himself in co- operation with the Area Ministers, and under the direction of the President to counseling with and assisting the Churches, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the F>resident. He shall have the custody of the records and of all bonds given by the Treas- urer as hereinafter provided. He shall furnish copies of the record certified under the seal of the Conference (which shall be in his keeping) to such persons as may be entitled thereto.
The Secretary shall collect and publish in connection with the Annual Report of the Conference the statistics of ministers and Churches and make up the official roll of the ministers and Churches in accordance with the usages
44 Minutes 1977
of the denomination. He shall present to the Conference at its Annual Meeting a general statistical statement of the progress of religion in the Churches for the past calendar year. He shall give suitable notice to the Churches of the time and place of each Annual Meeting, notify Officers and Committees of their election or appointment and fulfill such other functions as the Conference or the Board of Directors from time to time directSo "
and substitute the following to read:
"The Secretary shall keep the records of the Conference, except as heretofore described and provided for. The Secretary shall perform the duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be assigned to the office by the Board of Directors or the President. The Secretary shall have the custody of the records; the seal of the Conference; and of all bonds given by the Treasurer as hereinafter provided; and shall furnish copies of the records certified under the seal of the Conference to such persons as may be entitled thereto. "
The Bev. Kenneth B. Anthony gave the first in a series of "spot presentations" on world hunger and what is being done to help to alleviate and solve the many problems associated with it.
A resolution on "Eeclaiming Christian Education as a Priority" was introduced by Mrs. Sylvia Ellis, who, with the Rev. Nancy Hildonen presented background information in support of the resolution. It was moved and
VOTED: BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Conference reclaim Christian Education as a priority by helping congregations to evaluate their whole church program, identify needs, and design their educational process to meet those needs.
After several announcements, the Business Session was adjourned until Saturday morning at 9K)0. The delegates recessed to The Springfield Room in an adjacent building to hear simultaneous presentations on The Covenant and Southern Africa, presented by the Conference Task Force on Southern Africa, and The Covenant and Concern for Health Care and the Youthful Offender, presented by the Conference Committee on Church and Community.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Evans, President of the United Church of Christ, addressed the delegates and guests at a Fellowship Dinner beginning at 6rf)0 p.m.
Saturday, April 30, 1977
The Moderator reconvened the Meeting at 9 :00 a. m. , followed by a Worship/ Cele- bration led by members of the United Church Youth Council. A skit, based on I Corinthians 12, was presented to depict the need for the members of a church to work together in the same way that the various parts of a human body function in harmony.
Mr. Hartman introduced the Rev. Avery D. Post, who gave his report as Minister and President of the Conference. It was followed by a standing ovation. (Mr. Post's address follows these minutes.) Mr. Post concluded by naming the new members of the Conference staff:
Mrs. Peg Jacobs, Resources Consultant/ Coordinator
The Rev. Dr. Walter A. Telfer, Staff Associate in Planning and Organizational Development
He also mentioned the work of several consultants assisting the Conference:
1977 Minutes 45
Mr, Edward Metcalf, Consultant in Communications
The Rev. Edmund W. Nutting, Director, Planned Giving Office
The Rev. Verne E. Henderson, 17/76 Achievement Fund
Mr. Post also presented the new Area Consultants in Christian Education:
The Rev. Charles Hambrick-Stowe, Central Area
Mrs, lUith Johnson, Northeast Area
Mrs. Anne Abeme'thy, Metropolitan Boston Area
Mrs. Virginia Alden, Western Area
Ms, Marjorie Williams, Southeast Area
It was moved and
VOTED: To accept the Report of the Minister and President,
Another "spot announcement on hunger" was made by the Rev, Kenneth Anthony: (1) the need to know; (2) the need to modify our life-style.
The Moderator introduced Mrs. Helen R, Barnes, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and thanked her for her competent and devoted service to the Conference, She, in turn, called upon the Rev, Richard A. Stoehr, Chairperson of the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, Mr, Stoehr reported on the financial condition of the Conference, basing his comments on a consideration of the four sheets which had been presented to the delegates :
(1) The Statement of financial Operations, dated December 31, 1976,
(2) Goals for 1978 and Budget Development Steps.
(3) Outline Budget for 1978,
(4) Votes taken by the Board of Directors on March 6, 1977.
The Rev, Stoehr presented next a suggestion of four options by which an increase in the budget might be made: (a) a major increase in OCWM giving, (b) a major increase in Fellowship Dues, (c) a major increase in the Retention Rate, (d) any combination of the foregoing,
Mrs, Helen R, Barnes introduced the Rev, Harris B. Hinchcliff, Chairperson of the Program Development and Coordinating Committee of the Board of Directors, Mr, Hinchcliff explained two documents which had been presented to the delegates:
(1) 1978 Goals and Budget Development Steps, and (2) Proposed Directions and Goals,
The Conference delegates then gathered in assigned clusters for small group dis- cussions on Goals Development,
The recess for luncheon followed.
The Moderator reconvened the Meeting at 2:00 p,m, and the session began with comments on Program Development by Mrs, Helen R, Barnes,
Mrs. Carol Wilson described the history and present status of United Ministries for Higher Education (UMHE), She read aloud the report of the Evaluation Committee to this Annual Meeting, as distributed, and stressed the need for long-range planning.
The report on Structure Design was presented by Mrs. Joan Arnold and the Rev, Saul E. Katz, Their presentation was based on two documents previously distributed to the
46 Minutes 1977
delegates. The proposed change involves a transition from the present Committee structure to two Councils: a Council on Local Church Life and Leadership, and a Council on Mission Outreach and Social Responsibility, In addition, Task Forces would be appointed by the Councils to perform specific tasks. It was proposed that the Committes and the Councils operate in a parallel manner until next year's Annual Meeting. Then, if the appropriate changes in the Bylaws are adopted, the newly-created Councils would be in full operation, and the present Conference Committees would be phased out.
This report was followed by prolonged discussion. It was then moved, and after several amendments failed to pass, it was
VOTED: That the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ test the Structure Design, as voted by the Board of Directors on July 28, 1976, for the period beginning May 1, 1977 to April 30, 1978 and that
(1) the Council of Local Church Life and Leadership and the Council on Mission Outreach and Social Responsibility each submit a report, with recommendations, to the Board by March 1, 1978.
(2) the Conference Evaluation Committee submit its evaluation of the development process by March 1, 1978.
(3) the Board make its recommendations, with Bylaw changes, if called for, to the Annual Meeting in May 1978.
Mrs. Phyllis Baldwin reported on the 1977 campaign for the retirement of the debt incurred by the move to Framingham and the development of the UCC Center. She urged participation in some way by all the churches in 1977 and invited everyone to come and see the new facilities at an Open House to be held on Sunday, June 5, 1977, from 2H)0 to 5*0 p.m.
Another "spot announcement" on hunger was given by the Rev. Richard L. Dodds.
Following a brief recess, the Rev. Richard A, Stoehr moved: That the adoption of the Outline Budget for 1978 as presented by the Board of Directors and as circulated, be adopted. The motion was seconded and discussion ensued. Many felt that an outline budget was not adequate, and that line item figures should have been presented throughout. Some persons felt it to be unwise to change so drastically the historic nature of the Conference budget and to entrust so many details entirely to the Board of Directors. An amendment was moved to request the Board of Directors to prepare a more detailed budget for presen- tation before the close of the meeting. The amendment was lost. The discussion reverted to the main motion. Mr. Robert Winterhalter moved and it was
VOTED: To table the motion to adopt the proposed 1978 Outline Budget.
It was moved and
VOTED: To reconsider the previous vote not to have a 1^11 Meeting of the Conference.
A second vote was taken on Mrs. Helen R, Barnes' earlier motion not to have a Fall Meet- ing. This time the motion was rescinded. It was moved and
VOTED: That the Conference meet in the Fall of 1977 in order to authorize the Bud- get for 1978.
Dr. Ema Ballantine Bryant asked for personal privilege as a member of the Business Committee. Dr. Bryant moved and it was
1 977 Minutes 47
VOTED: That the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ recognize and affirm the existing relationship between its Minister and President the Rev, Aveiy D, Post and a certain lady named and called Peg Post who has demonstrated by her quiet support, dignified mien, love and warmth that she has been the primary moving force be- hind the leadership we have long admired and respected.
FURTHER that this body meeting in plenary session convey its love and concern and that it be duly recorded in the minutes as well as in the hearts of Aveiy and Peg Post for as long as they both shall live.
The meeting recessed.
When the Moderator reconvened the Meeting, a Basic Support Goal for 1978 of $1,154,000 was presented by the Rev. Paul E. Barnes, as recommended by the Board of Directors on advice of the Church and Mission Committee. It was moved and
VOTED: That the goal for total OCWM Basic Support for 1978 be set at $1,154,000, and that the OCWM Basic Support Retention Rate for 1978 be set at 22%.
A lively debate followed concerning the rate for Fellowship Dues for 1978, The purpose and use of the dues were described. It was noted that in 1976 about 100 churches failed to remit any Fellowship Dues. A question as to how the Fellowship Dues relate to OCWM was not fully clarified. A motion to underwrite our commitment to UMHE by increasing the dues in 1978 from $2.15 to $3.20 was defeated.
A motion was made and seconded to increase the Fellowship Dues to $2.25, of which 15<;; is to be designated for debt reduction. Discussion followed, and an amendment was offered to instruct the Area Ministers to discuss with the affected churches the reasons for non payment of dues. The amendment was passed. There being no further debate, the main motion as amended was
VOTED: To recommend to the Annual Meeting that the Fellowship Dues for 1978 be set at $2.25 per church member as reported for January 1, 1978, of which 15'? is designated for debt reduction; and that each Area Minister discuss the reasons for non payment of Fellowship Dues during the last fiscal year with each affected church and report to the Directors prior to January 1, 1978. A synopsis shall be prepared for the next annual meeting.
Acting for the Board of Directors, Mr. Clement E. Sutton, Jr. , presented the Board's recommendation requiring early submission of resolutions to be brought before the Conference, It was moved and
VOTED: That any resolution to be acted upon at a stated meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ must be circulated among the Churches at least one month prior to said meeting. A resolution which is needed and could not be foreseen one month prior to the meeting must be submitted in writing to the Business Committee of the Conference, and, if it approves, may come to the floor upon a majority vote of the delegates.
The Rev, Stanley Russell, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, presented a list of nominees for Conference members of the Board of Directors, Committees and Councils, and General ^nod delegates for the coming year. He explained that, after care- ful consideration, the Directors felt that there was no conflict of interest that should prevent Mrs. Faith Johnson of Georgetown from being an Area Consultant in Christian Education and the Moderator of the Conference simultaneously, as long as she is willing to serve the Conference in both capacities. It was moved and
48 Minutes 1977
VOTED: That nominations for Officers of the Conference and for members of the various committees, councils, agencies and Board of Directors be closed.
It was moved and
VOTED: That the Secretary cast one ballot for the slate offered.
(A complete list of Officers, Executive Officers, Boards, Committees, Councils, representatives to agencies, and delegates to the General Synod is printed in another section of the Conference Year Book. )
The Rev. Donald E. Overlook presented for the Board of Directors the name of Mrs. Irene M. Anthony to fill the newly created office of Secretary of the Conference. It was moved and
VOTED: To instruct the Recording Secretary of the Conference to cast one ballot to elect Irene M. Anthony as Secretary of the Conference.
She was declared elected by the Moderator.
It was moved and
VOTED: That the Secretary cast one ballot for the election of:
The Rev. Avery D. Post, Minister and President
The Rev. Emil C. Beck, Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer
They were declared elected by the Moderator.
The Chairperson of the Ecumenical Commission of the Conference, the Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Dipko, presented and explained the Resolution on Conversation with the Disciples of Christ. It was moved and
VOTED: BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ welcomes and supports the recommendation of the Executive Council that conver- sations be pursued between the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) concerning their relationship and possible union, and that the Massachusetts Con- ference urge the Eleventh General Siynod of the United Church of Christ to adopt and imple- ment the Executive Council's recommendation.
The Resolution submitted by the Topsfield Church on declining membership was introduced by the Rev. Westy Egmont of Peabody: A Resolution on the Progress of Religion in the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.
It was moved and
VOTED: WHEREAS the total number of churches declined by seven last year and remained at 488 this year, and
WHEREAS total membership in all churches of the Conference fell by 3,645 members and
WHEREAS the removal of members continues to exceed the additions, and
WHEREAS the decline in UCC church membership has continued for at least 10 consecutive years, and
1977 Minutes 49
WHEREAS church school enrollment, a source for future members, continues to decline in equally alarming numbers and has done so since at least 1958:
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 178th Annual Meeting of the Massa- chusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ appoint an ad hoc committee to study the reasons for the declines in membership so as to recommend ways to better meet the spiritual needs of people and increase church membership and church school enrollment, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors work closely with, and offer guidance to, the ad hoc committee, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a conclusive recommendation be made at the next annual meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ for the benefit and guidance of all churches in the Conference to increase their membership,
Mr. William Cook introduced a Resolution on the Boston Seaman's Friend Society and it was moved and
VOTED: In the year of the 150th Anniversary of the Boston Seaman's Friend Society and about 50 years after the Massachusetts Conference made the Boston Seaman's Friend Society its agent in ministry to seamen from around the world
BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ reaffirm its historic relationship to this unique mission and
COMMEND this mission to the churches as worthy of their support.
The Meeting was recessed for dinner.
The Meeting was reconvened at 7 50 p.m. ty the Moderator.
Before continuing with business, the delegates enjoyed a concert by the Choir of St. John's Congregational Church of ^ringfield.
Another "One Minute Spot Report on Hunger" was given by the Rev. Kenneth B, Anthony.
Mrs. Phyllis Baldwin made another plea for delegate support of the Framingham debt reduction fund.
The Resolution on the Arts was offered by the Rev. Larry Hill of the Church of the Covenant in Boston. After discussion and comment, it was moved and
VOTED: That the Resolution on the Church and the Arts be adopted. (The Resolution is printed following these minutes. )
Mrs. Faith Johnson announced that the Board of Directors had voted to continue the debt reduction fund for one more calendar year to encourage participation by all churches. It was moved and
VOTED: That the U.C.C. Center Rind be extended through the calendar year, 1978.
50 Minutes 1911
A motion was made and seconded to reconsider the vote passed Saturday afternoon regarding Fellowship Dues and discussions between the Area Ministers and the churches. Since the motion under reconsideration had been amended, the amendment was before the Meeting first. Following discussion, it was moved and
VOTED: To change the amendment under reconsideration by striking the words "Area Ministers" and inserting in their place the words "Minister and President and Board of Directors. "
There being no further debate, the motion as amended was
VOTED: To recommend to the Annual Meeting that the Fellowship Dues for 1978 be set at $2.25 per church member as reported for January 1, 1978, of which 15<;i is designated for debt reduction; and that the Minister and President and the Board of Directors discuss the reasons for non payment of Fellowship Dues during the last fiscal year with each affected church and report this information to the Directors prior to January 1, 1978. A synopsis shall be prepared for the next Annual Meeting.
A motion to increase the Fellowship Dues for 1978 from $2.25 to $2.50 was defeated.
The Rev. Harris B. Hinchcliff reported on the results of the Setting of Goals and Priorities by the small groups on Friday. The tabulated results of the groups were dis- tributed and instructions given for "weighting" the suggestions made.
The Small Churches Resolution of the Western Area Task Force was presented by the Rev. Worth Noyes of Chesterfield and the Rev. Richard Taylor of Hinsdale. A lively, illustrated dialogue between Mr. Noyes and Mr. Taylor relating both the strengths and weaknesses of a small congregation stimulated interest and concern. It was moved and
VOTED: That the Resolution on the Small Church be adopted. (The Resolution follows these minutes. )
The Rev. Jeffrey Lewis presented the Resolution: Toward A New Urban Agenda. His remarks were amplified by the Rev, Clyde S, Miller, Jr. and the Rev. Paul C. Clayton. It was moved and
VOTED: That the Resolution: Toward A New Urban Agenda be adopted. (The Resolution follows these minutes. )
The Rev. Gilbert H, Harttree spoke in support of the Resolution On Support of Theological Seminaries. It was moved and
VOTED: That the Resolution on Support of Theological Seminaries be adopted, (The Resolution follows these minutes.)
The meeting was recessed until Sunday at 9K)0 a.m.
Sunday, May 1, 1977
The Moderator reconvened the Meeting at 9:00 a.m, and the Rev, Philip H, Ward led a brief devotional service.
A statement on Planned Giving was read by the Rev. Edmund W. Nutting, Director of the Massachusetts Conference Planned Giving Program.
1977 Minutes 51
The work of United Ministries in Higher Education was presented by Mrs. Carol Wilson, who introduced the Rev, Joseph C, Williamson and Mr. Dan King of the United Christian Foundation at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Selections from a play entitled "Inward Journey" were presented by a cast of four student actors. The Rev, Nancy Richardson, a minister in the Boston - Cambridge United Ministries in Higher Education, described the purposes and goals of contemporary campus ministry.
The Rev. Judith A. Hjorth introduced the work of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries and the Rev, J, York Peeler, Jr. , presented a slide-show depicting the work of the UCBHM in Massachusetts. Some thirty concerns were described.
The woik of and recent developments in the United Church Board for World Minis- tries were described vividly by the Rev. Telfer Mook, Regional Secretary for Southern Asia for the Board. He described most colorfully impressions gained from a recent trip to India. He was introduced by Mrs. Mary Ann Donaldson, a corporate member of the Board,
From time to time throughout the Conference business meetings, Mrs, Phyllis Baldwin issued a plea to the delegates to contribute towards the Framingham debt reduction fund.
The meeting recessed at 10:15 a.m. to permit delegates to attend committee meet- ings and to visit the maricetplace. At 10 50 a.m., the Meeting reconvened for a worship service. Mrs. Virginia Alden opened the service; the Scriptures were read by the Rev. David L. Murray, pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Worcester. The Rev. Dr. Oliver Powell, retiring Associate Conference Minister in the Metropolitan Boston Area, delivered the sermon. This service was televised for broadcast over Channel 22, ^ringfield; the interpreter of the service for the viewing public was the Rev. Philip H. Ward.
The Meeting recessed for dinner.
The Moderator reconvened the Meeting at 2K)0 p.m. for a final session.
The Rev, Allen HoUis announced the 50th Anniversary of the Adventures in Reading program, and presented a resolution. It was moved and
VOTED: WHEREAS 1977 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Adventures in Reading, and
WHEREAS this conference committee has produced book lists which have guided the members of our churches both here and all across the country to fine reading in all literary areas, and
WHEREAS the committee members annually read and review over one thousand books, thus committing themselves to hundreds of hours of service on behalf of the education and pleasure of our churches,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 178th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ acknowledge this fiftieth anniver- sary of Adventures in Reading, give thanks to the diligence of readers past and present, and offer those present members best wishes and full support in their future service.
The Rev. Harris B. Hinchcliff reported on the weighted "Proposed Directions and Goals" which had been considered by the small groups. It was moved and
VOTED: To accept the report on Directions and Goals in (1) Support of Church Life and Leadership; (2) Mission Qitreach and Social Responsibility. (The Goals are printed following these minutes. )
52 Minutes 1977
The Moderator announced that the Minister and President's Address would be printed in the Conference Minutes, and that the address of the Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Evans and the sermon of the Rev. Dr. Oliver Powell would be made available on cassette, and possibly printed if requested:
A final "Hunger Minute" was given by the Rev. Kenneth B. Anthony,
The Rev. Richard L. Dodds reported on the Hunger Action Fund. In an increasing- ly complex area, he spoke of a new mood of excitement replacing one of despair. He intro- duced first, the Rev. Neal Richards, National Hunger Coordinator, and Mr. Brennon Jones of "Bread of the World, Inc. " Mr. Jones described briefly the current food situation worldwide.
Adoption of the Resolution submitted by the Task Force on Hunger of the Massachu- setts Conference was moved and
VOTED: WHEREAS the Judeo-Christian faith calls for careful stewardship of our earth and its resources;
WHEREAS hunger remains a constant problem plaguing our world;
WHEREAS the President of our denomination and 34 other leaders have issued an appeal to Congress and the President on the enactment of a U. S. Food Reserve Program that can become a part of our internationally co-ordinated system of food reserves;
WE THEREFORE, the delegates of this 178th Annual Meeting of the Massa- chusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, support this appeal and commend it to the Congress and the President.
Ms. Chilla Merrill read aloud the Resolutions on Southern Africa. Each section was discussed separately and approved separately, with a number of speakers commenting on each part. Several amendments were proposed during the debate. All failed adoption, except the final one, which was an addition to Resolution #4. It was moved and
VOTED: To amend the Resolutions on Southern Africa, #4, by adding to line 40:
"...and we commend the Anglican Church of South Africa in their stated aim to desegregate their schools; and we urge other Christian brothers and sisters to speak out and act for similar changes. "
There being no further debate, it was moved and
VOTED: That the Resolutions on Southern Africa, as amended, be adopted. (The Resolutions follow these Minutes. )
It was moved and
VOTED: To inform the appended list of agencies of our action. (The list follows these Minutes. )
The Moderator, the Rev. Justin J. Hartman, introduced the new Moderator, Mrs. Faith Johnson, of Georgetown, and presented her with the gavel. A resolution was intro- duced from the floor to thank the Moderator for his service to the Conference. It was moved and
J 977 Minutes 53
VOTED: To express the thanks of the Conference to the retiring Moderator,
The new Moderator, Mrs. I^ith Johnson, then offered a resolution of appreciation for the ministries and service of the ReVo George Thomas and the Rev. Robert D. Witham, former members of the Massachusetts Conference staff who have assumed new positions since the last Annual Meeting. It was moved and
VOTED: To express to the Rev. George H. Thomas and the Rev, Robert D, Witham the appreciation and gratitude of the Massachusetts Conference.
The Rev. Nancy Hildonen gave a final report from the Credentials Committee on attendance at this meetings
lay Delegates 544
Clergy 265
Ex-Officiis 34
Directors of Christian Education 11
Voting Total 854
Guests 111
Grand Total 965
It was moved and
VOTED: That the report of the Credentials Committee be accepted.
Mr. Philip H. Smith presented a Resolution on Hospitality in the form of thanks to our hosts in the ^ringfield Area and the Staff of the Treadway Inn. It was moved and
VOTED: WHEREAS WE, the delegates of the 178th Annual Meeting of the Massachu- setts Conference of the United Church of Christ, meeting in Chicopee, April 29, 30 and May 1st, 1977, have received warm and gracious hospitality, and this has been made possi- ble through extensive preparations by many people:
BE IT RESOLVED that we express our deep and sincere thanks to the Rev. Emil C. Beck, Associate Conference Minister and Treasurer; the Rev. Justin J. Hartman, Moderator; Mrs. Jean Knibbs and the Program Committee; the Pastors and lay people of the many churches in Chicopee and Springfield; the Tellers/Ushers and Registration personnel organized by the Hampton Association under the leadership of the Rev, Nevin M. Kiife; and Mrs. Elizabeth Kirk for piano accompaniment for our singing. We also express our thanks to the Management of The Treadway Inn for their able cooperation in putting on this Confer- ence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the records of the Conference and a copy sent to all parties mentioned above.
The Rev. Dr. Oliver Powell gave a closing statement and summary of the Conference Meeting. He said, in part, "In true covenant style what we have done needs to be left ragged and rough-hewn because it is in this soil that growth can take place. For what we have witnessed here is the raw material for a New Covenant with the Lord of history and the Church, not a Covenant of fulfillment, but one of promise. " He closed with a quotation
54 Minutes 1977
from Henry Van Dyke's poem, "The Last Voyage of Henry Hudson":
", . „ and why not ours ?
and sail ahead,
and leave the rest to God, "
The Meeting adjourned at 4d5 p.m.
Theodore H. Gregg Recording Secretary
Irene M. Anthony Secretary
1977 Minutes 55
GROUND RULES for the
178TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
All proposed business not on the agenda shall be channeled through the Business Committee and shall be submitted to it in writing.
The privilege of speaking from the floor is limited to registered voting delegates, honorary members, or those persons who are invited to speak by the action of the meeting.
All persons wishing to address the meeting must speak from a microphone. This includes the making of motions, discussion of motions and making of statements. It does not include seconding of motions, raising a point of order or a point of information or challenging a decision of the chair. These may be done from your place. Each person shall identify himself by name and church when speaking.
Every motion must be submitted in writing to the moderator at the time it is made.
Each speaker shall be limited to 3 minutes in his initial dis- cussion of a subject, and to 3 minutes in subsequent discussion of the same subject.
No member of the Conference shall speak more than twice on any question without permission of the Conference; and no member shall speak a second time to a question as long as any member desires to speak who has not yet spoken to the question.
Speakers on any issue will be heard in rotation, i.e., one pro, one con , et c .
No one may speak to an issue and then move the question.
56 Minutes ^917
A RESOLUTION ON THE CHURCH AND THE ARTS
WHEREAS we are heirs of the biblical Inheritance of art, of the God who created form out of chaos and put life and breath into the dust of the earth, of David who danced before the ark and sang songs of the struggle and the soothing power of faith, of Jesus who drew pictures in parables and raised the common elements of our lives to a symbolic- and sacred use, and of John who revealed a new vision of heaven coming to earth;
WHEREAS the church through the ages has been patron and preserver of the arts and the artists;
WHEREAS the United Church of Christ firmly believes in the development of the whole person as a cultural, social, and political being;
WHEREAS the potential for magnificent creative activity exists within and among each of us;
WHEREAS we believe that the arts are a prophetic and effective channel for the mediation of God's judgment and grace for the redemption of the world. As we are drawn into a work of art, we experience its transforming power. As the arts open us to new ways of understanding both personal and public life, they give us insight and energy to act in love and justice for the sake of the Holy.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEB that the 1977 Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ affirm the contributions of arts and artists that enrich the quality and the vitality of life in our church and world, recognizing that the artists in our midst iUuminate the symbols by which our historic faith is made known and enable the people of God to experience and express the living and liberating power of God.
FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED that we affirm the arts both inside and outside the church, not to baptize them or to control the artists, but to renew, sustain, and transform people in a new sense of themselves as persons and in relation to each other in community.
BE IT RESOLVED that we urge the United Church of Christ, through its instru- mentalities, publications and church related institutions (educational, welfare, health, etc. ) to recognize and support the arts.
FURTHER, that we urge local churches to:
- encourage the expression of all forms of arts and crafts, including the indigenous art of ethnic minorities and women.
- examine their use of physical space in order to consider sharing space available with the community's artists.
- support and expand the number of artists in residence both in the church and in the com- munity, that they may contribute to the life of the church and its neighborhood.
- struggle for justice for the artists in our society.
- support state and local arts agencies and councils and state and local municipal govern- ments to the end that no one be denied opportunities to create and experience art because of barriers of circumstance, class, race, sex, income or remoteness.
1977 Minutes 57
BE IT RESOLVED that we encourage members of the church to risk opening themselves to the power and (fynamics of the contemporary arts.
We encourage seminaries and colleges related to the church to take seriously esthetic ways of knowing and communicating through art the judgement and grace of God in their curriculum and degree programs.
We encourage the judicatories of the church to recognize and support certain churches as having special ministries to and with artists.
We support and urge membership in the United Church of Christ Fellowship in the Arts.
58 Minutes 1977
A RESOLUTION ON THE SMALL CHURCH
WHEREAS, 205 of the Churches of the Conference have 199 members or less, in- cluding 101 Churches with 99 members or less;* and,
WHEREAS 189 of the Churches of the Conference are in towns of less than 10,000 people, including 124 Churches in towns of less than 5,000 people; * and,
WHEREAS in many small towns and villages our Churches are the only Churches or the only Protestant Churches serving the community; and,
WHEREAS many of our smaller churches have found it difficult to find trained United Church of Christ leadership; and,
WHEREAS many of our smaller Churches are feeing financial crisis; and,
WHEREAS 14 small Churches have withdrawn from the Conference just since 1970; and,
WHEREAS the number of small Churches in the Conference is on the increase;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ accept as a two-year priority the challenge to study the nature of the small Church, to seek out the needs of these Churches, and to implement measures by which these needs can be met; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this work include but not be limited to the following:
a) That the Conference communicate with the closely related and area Seminaries and Theological Schools in order to stimulate their interest in provid- ing exposure of their students to the opportunities and challenges of these smaller churches and to develop training programs in existing and new formats for the benefit of the students and these Churches.
b) That the Conference examine functional models of professional leadership for these Churches (such as yoked parishes, ecumenical federations, tent-making ministries, and part-time ministries) and incorporate these models in the placement policies and procedures of the Conference.
c) That the Conference reaffirm its historic commitment to local churches by providing a financial reserve within each budget for the purpose of readily accessible and adequate aid to Churches in crisis and/or in transition.
♦—Figures in this Resolution are from the 1976 Year Book and from the 1970 Federal Census.
1977 Minutes 59
A RESOLUTION ON AN OVERTURE TO GENERAL SYNOD XI OF THE UCC TOWARD A NEW URBAN AGENDA
"They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastation of many generations, " ISAIAH 61:4
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this overture is 1) to begin a process by which the United Church of Christ can reaffirm its historic ministry in, to, and for the city, 2) to consolidate the social policy of the church in such a way as to bring fresh focus on the current conditions of human living, and, 3) to develop a procedure whereby the diverse ministries of the church can be integrated to address the complex problems facing Urban America.
From Paul's journeys to the cities of the biblical world, through the Reformation in the cities of Europe, to the U. C. C. priorities on the cities of the last decade, this urban agenda continues a long term commitment of the faithful to urban people. Throughout this tradition, many theologians have held that the church is the soul of civilization, and that any civilization that does not love its cities cannot long survive.
In our age, we see ourselves as a people of God whose destiny is 20th Century urban America. The membership of our church represents a broad cross section of the American people. We are middle class, poor and affluent. We come from different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. We live in towns, cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Yet, what- ever the various settings and circumstances of our lives, we are a people bound together ty a culture, a political order, and an economy which are dominated by urban patterns of life. Our cities, on the one hand, continue to gather, store, exchange, and disseminate, as does no other place, the goods, the knowledge, the wealth, the memories and the hopes of humanity. On the other hand, precisely in these centers, we know that poverty persists, inequity is rampant, injustice continues, and a sense of powerlessness infects the soul of many who at one time felt hope.
M this situation, our commitment to work for social justice under God arises from the awareness that we ourselves are partners in suffering so long as we live in a society which oppresses any of our brothers and sisters. With the Prophet Isaiah, we believe that when we turn to one another rather than away from one another, "our healing shall spring up speedily. " We hear also the New Testament calling to repentence, to a turning around, in preparation for the anticipated New Jerusalem.
With this hope and under that vision we call for a renewal of the Church's urban mission.
PLAN OF ACTION
BE IT RESOLVED:
1. that the XI General Synod of the United Church of Christ calls for a renewal of urban mission for itself, its instrumentalities, agencies, conferences, and local churches;
2, that a two year process of development be organized by the Executive Council which shall:
60 Minutes 1977
a. review and evaluate all recent programs of the instrumentalities and agencies of the church which are pertinent to a renewal of urban mission and of the theological assumptions on which they rest;
b. analyze the prospects and strategies for the survival and vigor of the churches' presence and ministry in the cities;
c. review and consolidate all social policy positions now on record pertinent to these concerns as voted by the various branches of the church;
d. prepare a theologically grounded statement on the responsibilities of the church in and with the city for the 1980's and on that basis;
e. make recommendations concerning the integration of future programs and priorities to the XII General Synod.
3. That this process be funded with a team assigned which shall consist of
instrumentality, Conference, and local church leadership with special competence in various issues and disciplines related to the city.
1977 Minutes 61
A RESOLUTION ON SUPPORT OF THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES
WHEREAS our churches have depended for a continuing supply of learned ministers on the excellent theological seminaries related to us by ties of tradition and organic connec- tion, and
WHEREAS support of these schools from endowments and gifts of individuals and churches has become increasingly inadequate because of the relentless pressure of inflation, and
WHEREAS The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has not been able to continue the support it has given them in the past because of dwindling funds available, and has asked Conferences and local churches to try to fill this gap by making regular contri- butions, especially to those schools that by charter are formally related to the United Church of Christ,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Conference urges all its churches to make annual gifts of at least $300 to a theological seminary or seminaries based on the following considerations:
1. Since it costs a seminary about $12,000,00 to educate each minister and 40 years of service is above the average professional life of a minister, a church which intends to pay the replacement cost in terms of education of its pastor should contribute at least $300„00 per year to some theological seminary for each pastor who serves it. Others may choose the General Synod norm of 2% of the local expense budget.
2. Such gifts may be sent to seminaries directly or through the Conference Treasury; if gifts are sent directly the Conference should be informed so that it may be able to report how much support seminaries are receiving from the churches.
3. Criteria used by churches to determine which seminary to support should include the following:
a. Bangor Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Theological School are the two seminaries in New England related by charter to the United Church of Christ.
b. Bangor, which makes it possible for people with late vocations to enter the ministry even if they have not completed college, has operated at a deficit for many years,
c. Andover Newton, over its one hundred and seventy year history has been one of the chief sources of trained clergy for our Conference.
do Many other seminaries, both in New England and in other parts of our country, have provided churches in our Conference with excellent pastoral leadership.
62 Minutes 1977
DIRECTIONS AND GOALS IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHURCH LIFE AND LEADERSHIP
DIRECTION: MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT
To assist and develop with local churches, models and patterns for evangelizing the unchurched, recruiting new members, and nurturing inactive members.
GOALS:
2.96 1. Over the next year and a half to develop, test and publicize models of evan-
gelism with a number of churches of various size and character in each of the five Con- ference areas.
2.55 2. Each year, to share in Bay State Keeping You Posted the story of those
dynamic churches in the field of membership recruitment.
2.63 3. To regularly conduct a state-wide radio, television and newspaper media
campaign that tells the story of and associates the United Church of Christ name with its concerns for issues such as family, education, racism, etc.
3.4 4. To periodically provide Area workshops and materials for clergy and laity in
training for home visitations for the purpose of strengthening church relationships.
2.43 5. To distribute annually to every congregation, lists of resources which deal with inactive members.
2.91 6. To support churches in rapid growth areas in developing strategies for con-
tacting every new resident in their community with an invitation to worship.
2.36 7. To seek a commitment from each church of the Conference to try at least
one program of evangelism each year,
2.6 8. To challenge and assist our local churches in setting and meeting specific
goals for increasing mem.bership.
2.65 9. To discover and explore new opportunities for our older members to relate
to our churches in important and appropriate ways and that provide continuing growth and service.
2.20 10. To explore opportunities with churches and clusters of churches so desiring
it, better ways of reaching residents of apartment house complexes and condominiums.
2.44 11. To research and test over the next three years particular and/or inexpensive ways by which our smaller churches may be enabled to do evangelism.
2.06 12. To provide training for lay ministers of ethnic groups.
3.02 13. To encourage our churches to do a self-appraisal in order to assess the needs
of their members and to develop programs to meet these needs.
1977 Minutes 63
DIRECTION; CHRISTIAN NURTURE
To emphasize growth in continuing programs and let others know "This is the church", and to provide learning opportunities for development in the faith commitment for persons of all ages within the church community,
GOALS:
3.7 1. To regularly provide Area experiences for the local church for strengthening family ties, and for developing and proposing patterns and models of behavior within the family which reflect the Christian faith.
3.14 2. To annually provide workshops on "whole church education" which will enable
local church committees to develop and increase spiritual growth and leadership.
3.11 3. To continually provide resources for programs for small group experiences to
enable persons to know each other on a deeper level.
3.5 4. Over the next three years develop a strategy with and support our local
churches in an increased focus on ministry with young adults.
2.48 5. To develop within three years a variety of models for inter-generational and
family life (expand understanding of family) learning that are helpful to local churches.
2.28 6. To continue to introduce and help implement within our churches the new JED
curriculum,
2.13 7. To begin to research, and within three years to support specially trained
ministries to local churches.
3.08 8. Over the next four years to provide one workshop a year in each Area of the Conference for sharing and developing experiences of worship in our local churches.
64 Minutes ^911
DIRECTIONS AND GOALS IN SUPPORT OF MISSION OUTREACH AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
DIRECTION: MISSION MOBILIZATION
To design and implement coordinated plans that will enable local churches , Associations and Conference to develop, and/or relate in greater depth to, specific mission and social action tasks or projects,
GOALS:
2.58 1. To begin to research and develop with the churches of one Area of the Con-
ference a plan for designating a portion of the churches' mission monies for the support of Area and/or Conference mission projects which are in keeping with the purpose of the Massachusetts Conference and its churches.
2.75 2. Over the next two years to consult with and resource one Association in work- ing toward a goal of developing church clusters, each of which will become informed about and develop action in relationship to a particular social/economic justice issue, e.g., hunger, racism, penal reform, etc.
2.06 3. To evaluate over the next eighteen months the "Northeast Area Mission Pro-
ject" as a possible model for Conference-wide designated mission giving.
2.76 4. To immediately begin to develop strategies for creating and encouraging min- istry within the Hispanic communities of Massachusetts.
2.69 5. To continually encourage and enable strengthened ministries of local churches
to nearby educational institutions.
2.8 6. To provide mission visitors to every congregation.
2.20 7, Over the next several years to develop Area plans which identify unmet needs,
and which will deploy resources to meet them.
2.62 8. For the next five years, to provide training and support for 100 local churches
a year who desire to awaken in their members the concept of proportional giving of time, talent and treasure.
2.51 9. To regularly provide low-cost financial consultation to our local churches on
the use of money and investments.
2.86 10. To create, within the next two years, trained Association "Stewardship help"
teams to assist local churches in theologically-based, mission-oriented pledge programs.
1.99 11. To provide special Stewardship training to those local churches which volun-
tarily commit themselves to give 25% of their annual budgets, by 1980, for the work of the Gospel beyond their own boundaries.
1.73 12. Create a special task force in each of 5 areas to develop Stewardship and
Mission programming,
1.84 13. Enable local churches to involve the larger community in the local church's
special Mission project,
2.36 14, To encourage the continued development of and active participation in national,
conference, area and local Mission efforts.
1 977 Minutes 65
1.82 15, Develop interfaith dialogue theologizing as new aspects of the church's identity
in the world,
2.31 16. Establish a think tank for Mission ideas that have worked for other churches,
to be convened periodically.
DIRECTIONS: LIFE STYLE MODIFICATION
On the basis of Christian reverence for all creation we will increase aware- ness, understanding and commitment to life styles which will enhance the quality of life for all people in a world of scarce resources and to demon- strate by our actions a Christian way of life.
GOALS:
2.43 1. To challenge and resource clusters of churches to develop and offer their own
workshops which will explore and offer recommendations regarding life style modifications which also gathers feedback and through the resource center redistributes information to the local churches.
2.55 2. To immediately reduce by 10% the Conference's and local church's energy
consumption by challenging all to use it up, wear it out and by advocating car pooling, combined meeting times, and maximum building use. Research and publicize other more economical and energy responsible uses of local church properties.
2.4 3, Organize within the next year a group of Christian economists who will develop
and propose reasonably precise economic guidelines for individuals to apply to their life style with the encouragement of passing on their individual savings for the needs of others.
2.47 4o Provide resources for local churches and clusters of churches which assist
families in the modification of life style for increased quality of family time.
2.37 5. The Hunger Task Force will develop reasonably precise economic guidelines
for individuals to apply to their daily living. To develop these guidelines the Hunger Task Force will recruit the expertise necessary to gather in a manageable form the information for a wise and responsible modification of our lifestyles. The guidelines shall be distribu- ted to all local churches by January 1, 1978 by whatever means the Hunger Task Force shall deem best.
2.2 6. The UCBWM and the UCBHM will be asked to suggest, by means of a list
to accompany the guidelines, those persons and/or organizations to whom individuals are encouraged to offer the savings (from their life style modification) as sacrificial gifts.
2.23 7. To establish small groups throughout the Conference (such as house churches,
cluster churches) to explore the separateness of our lives, the meaning of loneliness and to discover new ways of dealing with such issues.
1.7 8. To create local self-assessment workshops for the purpose of values modifica-
tion/clarification.
1.7 9. To establish a task force to examine how we use our resources of family,
time and materials.
66 Minutes 1977
RESOLUTIONS ON SOUTHERN AFRICA
SUBMITTED BY THE TASK FORCE ON SOUTHERN AFRICA TO THE 178TH ANNUAL
MEETING - April 29-May 1, 1977
RESOLUTION #1- DEC LA RATION
We, the delegates to the 178th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, declare that:
Our commitment to Jesus Christ and the principles of equality and justice for all challenges and condemns the continuing practice of apartheid and emphasizes that equity and social justice are more important than raw materials and financial gains.
RESOLUTION #2-NAMIBIA
Since the United Nations has declared, after careful study, that the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) is the most authentic voice of the people of Namibia, WE URGE SUPPORT for this group in their struggle for independence AND ENCOURAGE OUR GOVERNMENT to negotiate, through diplomatic channels with South Africa, the inclusion in significant numbers of SWAPO representatives in the constitutional talks.
RESOLUTION #3- ZIMBABWE
Former Secretary of State Kissinger met with Prime Minister Vorster of South Africa and Prime Minister Ian Smith of Rhodesia and formulated a proposal for negotiated transfer of government into the hands of the majority. Since it now appears that the black Zimbabwean nationalists representing the majority were not consulted, and that Ian Smith's interpretation of "majority government" is not that of black rule in a nation 95% black, WE THEREFORE URGE that the black nationalists of Zimbabwe be supported in their insistence that the control of the police and the army be in the hands of the African majority during the transition period; that the body framing the new constitution reflect the racial make-up of the population; and that the transition to majority government be accomplished by March 1, 1978. WE URGE SUPPORT for all their efforts to secure majority government.
WE COMMEND the recent action of the President and Congress in the repeal of the Byrd amendment so that now Rhode sian chrome can no longer be imported into the United States.
RESOLUTION #4-SOUTH AFRICA
Since the African Reserves policy restricts African land ownership and occupation to 13% of the country's land area and since the area is too small and inadequate to provide for the needs of a rural population, there is ensured a flow of migratory African labor into a market controlled by whites. The contribution of foreign in- vestments strengthens the white economy and its military machine. That military machine in turn protects the interests of both the white minority and the United States investors.
1977 Minutes 67
As shareholders in these businesses and corporations - individuals, conferences, churches and instrumentalities - we are cooperating with the segregationist apart- heid policies that the white minority government continues to enact and enforce in the Republic of South Africa.
The apartheid policies of the white minority government of the Republic of South Africa are supported and in truth encouraged by the continual presence of United States businesses and corporations. Those corporations should cease operations and withdraw from the Republic of South Africa until the time when there is a majority government chosen by the people of South Africa in free elections,
WE THEREFORE URGE that individuals, churches, conferences and instrumentalities exert moral pressure on United States corporations and businesses to withdraw from the Republic of South Africa and to take all actions necessary to achieve this goaL In the event that withdrawal is not accomplished we as individuals and as a corpor- ate church shall continue to reap the financial and material benefits accruing from the physical and spiritual misery of the majorily of South Africans who are black and coloured,
WE URGE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR the residents of African townships who are protesting the evils of apartheid with their lives and WE DEPLORE the violence of the South African Government's reprisals with thousands imprisoned and hundreds killed, and CALL UPON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS to express their indignation to the Republic of South Africa,
WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT the position of the United Nations with its non-recog- nition of the Transkei,
WE COMMEND the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in South Africa who, in obedience to conscience, have challenged in word and in deed the apartheid laws of their government in so far as they affect their church, their schools, their hospitals and their orphanages and we commend the Anglican Church of South Africa in their stated aim to desegregate their schools; and we urge other Christian brothers and sisters to speak out and act for similar changes.
RESOLUTION #5-SOUTH AFRICA
We encourage the United Church of Christ at all levels in their efforts to keep high the United States and World consciousness of the facts and implications of injustice in Southern Africa.
We urge the United Church Board for World Ministries to continue and enlarge its programs for African leadership development.
We encourage the UCBWM to offer its resources to bring together people for mutual understanding, wherever possible, toward justice in Southern Africa.
We support the efforts of the UCBWM to bring African leaders into the life of the American church and Americans into the life of the African Church.
We urge the UCBWM to take more vigorous initiative in programs of relief, health, development, education and evangelism among displaced African peoples as well as supportive efforts among the oppressed who remain in their homes.
We empathize with the impulse among church people to struggle with the ethical implications of owning stock in companies operating in Southern Africa.
Minutes 1977
We urge the U. S„ delegates to the United Nations to bring to the floor of that bocfy proposals for social and economic sanctions against South Africa as an expression of world condemnation of their apartheid policies.
We call upon U. S„ financial interests to refrain from further investment in South Africa.
We request President Carter and the Congress to consider imposing tax disincentives on further investments in South Africa,
We urge the President and the Secretary of State to continue to develop innovative foreign policies in Southern Africa that will encourage whites to accept majority rule with all due haste.
We urge the President and Secretary of State to respond positively to requests for development aid by majority government in Southern Africa.
We applaud the President and the Secretary of State on their stands with regard to human right s and urge them to apply with vigor U. S. influence on all fronts for justice in Southern Africa,
VOTED:
THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE TO BE REFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING GROUPS FOR INFORMATION AND TO THE IITH GENERAL SYNOD AS AN OVERTURE
Massachusetts Congresspersons
Massachusetts Senators
Chairperson House Foreign Affairs Committee
Chairperson Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Ambassador to the United Nations
Secretary of State
Ptepresentatives of Zimbabwe black nationalists
SWAPO
African National Congress of South Africa
South African Council of Churches
Christian Council of Rhodesia
Roman Catholic Church of South Africa
World Council of Churches
All UCC Conferences
All UCC Churches in Massachusetts
Ihterfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility
The following UCC instrumentalities and units:
President
BWM
BHM
Executive Council
CRJ
Office for Church in Society President of the United States Anglican Church
1977 Minutes 69
ANNUAL MEETING ADDRESS
Chicopee - April 29, 50 and May 1
AVERY D. POST, Minister and President
Our primary responsibility at this meeting is to recognize and to celebrate the point of promise to which we have come in the life and mission of the Massachusetts Conference. Our primary task is to "hitch up", to "pull up our socks", to undertake the twentieth century equivalent of "girding up our loins."
Let me begin by tallying for you the points of promise:
The note of mission outreach in our statement of Conference purpose is being struck with more certainty and promise. The Conference's task is to preach and teach a theology of mission, to point the way and to take primary initiatives in ministries of reconciliation, peace, healing and justice. We are beginning to know this in our Conference bones - even more than in the past when the reflex of outreach was a bit more spon- taneous and more easily funded. I sense a healthy impatience to get our priorities straight - to lead in mission, to get specific in mission, to be a mission force in the Massachusetts world. And 1 sense among us too a battle for faithful proportions between time/money/ energy for outreach and time/money/energy for that which nourishes the institution, the house- hold of faith.
I am very encouraged that we are beginning to work farther ahead, that we have truly found and are implementing the priority of planning. As we work this morning on goals, we will be planning. Our Board and staff leaders have become more and more sophisticated about planning, and in fact the planning exercise in which we will participate has been built by a hard-working team using precision planning tools. Personally, I hope that we will become very bold in this work on planning, that we will not draw back from intellectual work and faith tests as we look to years ahead. Where do we want to be in ten years? How do we plan to get there - step by step by step?
I see us taking institutional leanness very seriously. That of course is what the new design work in Conference structure is all about - the pro- posal of which you have heard and will hear more at this Meeting about developing two coherent planning and program units in the Conference, one unit on local church life and leadership and the other on mission outreach and social responsibility. Led by the Board, the testing process for this new, lean, simplified structure is underway. Walter Telfer has been des- ignated by the Conference to guide the development process. And you, the delegates to this Meeting, will have the opportunity to query and to ratify this process. But what is especially promising, I feel, is the value that has been identified - structural integrity, leanness, the checks and bal- ances that keep us from an everlasting complexity and inefficiency in church bodies, whether local churches. Conferences or national structures.
We're beginning to understand the values of research and development. We're not far along, but we're far enough in Area Mission Strategy, to know the value of dependable data, the describing of trends, the essential steps of analysis and interpretation, and the hard work of shaping recommendations for next steps in church development, outreach, evangelism, training for leadership, etc. The two-year covenant that we have had with the Board For Homeland Ministries has made us serious about research and development. The first fruit of it is in the Boston 18, the covenant of 18 Boston Congrega- tions, located in transitional communities, determined to shape a new stretch of mission and ministry in their neighborhoods. As a style this is tremendously promising. I encourage you to give budget and staff support to Area Mission Strategy.
70 Minutes 1977
Communications -This is a mmber one development priority on almost any one's list. We should not be surprised. We are not a connectional church but a covenantal church. In the whole "shebang" we have hundreds of autonomous centers in Massachusetts and thousands in the nationwide family of the United Church of Christ. What we have to work with presents a complex com- munications challenge. What we want is a communications process that is simple, direct, clear, informative, trust-building, covenantal. We want to utilize all media in imaginative ways. We want, above all, to recognize that the heart of any communications system is full expression of talk and feelings between two persons, or a leader with a small conversational group, or persons holding different views or perspectives on a matter of conse- quence.
I simply want to record with you with enthusiasm a move that we have made this year that holds great promise and is already producing new communica- tions. 1 speak of our Communications Team - Karl Phillippi, Peg Jacobs, George Condon - with technical assistance that is beginning to implement with imagination the communications policy statements adopted by the Board two years ago. We are on a threshold here. We want to build communication networks. Many of you can help. 1 hope you will.
The prophetic and caring postures of this Conference are very solid on the critical issues in national and global society. This is not to say that we have not temporized and equivocated and that we have not been part of an anxious and inward- looking generation in the American Churches. We have. But our most recent decade of history has set the course of our commitment to peace and justice, to an out-front identification with suffering and oppressed people. We now expect of ourselves overtime commitment to racial justice and to the defeat of sexist patterns in church and society. We are now gearing-up to conduct a racial audit - the first of the judicatories in New England to do this as well as the first of the Conferences in the United Church of Christ. And as a matter of policy we are committed to Affirmative Action, not as a good-looking goal, but as an honestly demanding process with specific goals to increase the number of minority persons and women in the employed ranks of the Conference. Frankly, 1 find it promising that the prophetic history of this Conference has made us vulnerable to the God of Jesus Christ who comes to us most demandingly in the form of suffering humanity.
I find it hugely promising that we are such a diverse people theologically, and that congregations are hospitable to so many levels of maturity in the faith. You know the dangers in the open style. We can easily become a denomination so intent upon theological software that the core material of Biblical faith is literally surrendered and finally lost. That has happened in our congregations, and it is happening still. But in these later years a theological seriousness and intentionality have been prospering in our parishes. New generations of religious hungers are finding their way into churches not only through young people but middle-aged and older people too. Through it all the covenant is prospering. Persons journeying from the broad liberalism of other years, persons journeying out of the sixties into the mid-seventies, persons newborn through personal experiences of Jesus Christ, persons finding their way in and out of the wilderness of contempo- rary living, persons freed at last to walk with dignity, persons long bound in a religion of reason now freed for a religion of the heart, persons lib- erated from provincial loyalties and commitments to become global people, persons hurting from top to bottom with their needs - all these are in the marvelous ly diverse covenantal life of this people of God we call the United Church of Christ. I find that promising. Do you?
71
8. A clear, settled feeling of being at home in Framingham is promising. With the move of Conference headquarters we have not obliterated ancient states of mind that give us two states of Massachusetts - or is it four or six? But the move has been made successfully and even creatively. In some ways the issue of issues in the Conference at this moment is paying for the Center. I hope every church - every church! - will give something to the Center Fund. The matter awaits the leadership of pastors and people like you. It is still true that each dollar of debt repayment adds seven/ eight cents to our income. But the other major issue in Framingham is planning, planning that grows out of our theological assumptions. If our theological assumption about this Conference of churches is that we are given by God to be a particular missionary community, then the base from which this enterprise is launched becomes fraught with theological impor- tance and a main job is to develop criteria by which to test faithfulness. But let me say with verve that the beat to sound about the UCC Center is upbeat. Now, church by church, let's use this Center - church by church, let's pay for this Center.
9. Another promising thing has been happening quietly and persistently. It began to happen when we established the Resource Center in Framingham and asked Peg Jacobs to direct it. It happened when out of the Craigville Study Committee we determined that the new Director of Craigville then being sought should be gifted with imagination for new programs and uses. Bill Hobbs came to that position. It happened when the Warner Farm Study began to range into new uses for a new generation of ministry and mission. I refer of course to the combination of programs and resources that have been growing from these high potential bases. This program life, added to the activities of our committees, has slowly built a program productivity of the quality that we envisioned way back. In one sense, we have only started with this program style. But let's be aware that we have built prototypes and models that create a significant momentum for the future. My own vision, so helpfully resourced by George Thomas' sabbatical study, is that the time has come for the Conference to develop resources as well as funding for programs to be implemented in the Associations, and in clusters of congregations. In my view programs planned, envisioned and resourced at the Conference level should be implemented at the Centers, in the Associations, and by the churches.
10. It was a great day - in fact three days - in March of this year when the Inter-staff team, related to the Advisory Commission on Women of the UCC,
met with various constituency groups of women in the Massachusetts Conference. The groups met to plan the discipleship of women in church and society. Behind that event was the strong redevelopment of a Women's Fellowship in the Conference and a halting but nevertheless consequential development of a Task Force on Women in Church and Society. These are signal and promising devel- opments. They betoken the assertiveness of lay ministries in the Conference. Out of the lay movements of our time will come our most imaginative forms for witness and action in church and society. Even as it is true that no local church can find new life and destiny without locating, aiding, and abetting new lay leadership, so it is true that much that the Conference is called to do and be awaits lay leadership development. There are promising turns here. I celebrate them.
11. When you look at financial reports for the year, you may agonize a bit and
I would suggest that that is an entirely appropriate reaction. You may spot a deficit figure, slide into a depression, and then leap to the most dire conclusions. But actually, we have a long list of matters to feel encouraged about in the financial area:
72 Minutes 1977
OCWM Basic Support has held and improved. Fellowship Dues have held and improved.
- A restricted cash flow account has been developed to receive repayments of our in-house loan for the development of the UCC Center.
- The 17/76 Achievement Fund has received pledges of $871,000 and cash to date of $544,000.
- More than $25,000 in debt was repaid in 1976.
- The Conference managed a program of receipts and disbursements within a carefully developed payment schedule.
- We have developed a modern accounting system with computer-capacity machines.
- Creative consultation between our Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Congregational Fund resulted in investment moves that will yield greater cash this year.
- George Condon's excellent ministry in Financial Development and Stewardship has begun with careful monitoring of our receipts, stewardship workshops, emphasis upon a theology of stewardship, and long-range planning to increase inwardly OCWM Basic Support.
All of this, so solidly led and supported by Carlton Finch and Emil Beck as well as members of the Finance Committee, gives me great heart for the future. We have great distances to go to outpace inflation, but the systems are beginning to be "go" and I find that promising.
Now, all of the areas 1 have mentioned are very solid fronts where we have had solid achievements. Our task will be to sustain momentum. There are other fronts, just as important, that are demanding our attention. Let us mention a few of them.
1. Ecumenism. Perhaps our Conference has been as strong a participant as any in the ecumenical forms that we do have in the Commonwealth, and certainly our Ecumenical Commission has been a center of vitality in our Conference and in fact in the entire United Church of Christ. The United Church has been "there" in cooperative endeavors; we have taken our piece of ecumenical activity; I have sought to be visible and audible in ecumenical leadership. But much of our activity is at the level of ecumenical dutifulness. We are far short of a style of ecu- menical covenants and commitments. The problems are obvious: ecumenism has not been affirmed as a premier value in our judicatory; we have not decided to give the development of new, imaginative, relevant ecumenical forms priority time, energy and support. The defense we could make would be convincing: staff time and resources are short; schedules are already crowded; the differences in denominational styles would require long negotiations before new formats of ecumenical mission could become visible. But my suspicion is that mission effectiveness on the scale we all want will languish until we find our way through to new ecumenical formats. I would commend to you most earnestly the fruit of this year's labor in the Massachusetts Council of Churches on "The Purpose and Goals of Ecumenism." My hope for the United Church in Massachusetts is that we will not tarry in becoming the catalysts for new definitions of ecu- menical life in Massachusetts, asking through our representatives that the sisters and brothers in the Church of Jesus Christ in Massachusetts - including members of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions - gather to look with determination at the way to be one people in mission, one people in celebration.
Minutes 73
Ministries To The Young. I approach this without intending to be nos- talgic about the Pilgrim Fellowship of old. And, as I venture into the subject, I have great admiration - even awe - for our own United Church Youth Council with its leaders and advisers. The UCYC has persevered and has been a quiet seedbed for the development of new leadership in the churches and in society.
Travel the length and b"eadth of the State and here and there you find some mighty impressive programs in youth ministry. There are hot lines, group counselling programs, imaginative retreats, activities shaped for the children of single-parent families, service activities funded by car washes, baby sitting, food sales, you name it!
But essentially the church at all levels has backed off from hard thinking and planning about youtl^ ministries. The leaders of many local churches at one and the same time call for vital youth programs and then put psycho- logical and financial squeezes on them that make it impossible for these ministries to have the range, flexibility and boldness required for a local church to address a local youth culture.
If youth ministries keep aborting, if even our most gifted leaders are dismayed about next steps, then we have all the basis we need for the Conference to take initiatives to see this whole ministry in a new and deeper way - through rearticulating theological assumptions, through careful listening, through exposure to studies and consultations, through sensitivity to changes in family styles, leisure styles, values, media im- pacts, through rigorous appraisal of what the life styles of congregations do to children and youth.
Personally I am delighted that we have begun evaluating the quality of our covenant with other denominations in the Massachusetts Commission of United Ministries in Higher Education. This is all in line with basic and wide- ranging work to be done on youth ministries and in ministries to new gener- ations. I cannot resist saying that I have real trepidation at this Meeting about the way we handle the issue of our participation in UMHE. I fear that that discussion will be so dominated by emotions of blame and defensiveness that the real issue of ministries to the young (as well as ministries to the earlier higher education community) will not be touched or heard at this Meeting. That would be a shame.
OCWM Basic Support. We talk about this at each Annual Meeting and should. We have been working on this and making some gains. Notice, of course, that small gains in our giving are easily wiped out in an inflationary economy. In fact 1976 was a serious loss year - as 1977 will be unless we have close to a 10% income growth in OCWM Basic Support.
Some increases will come through training programs, excellent resources, excellent patterns of reporting on missions and ministries supported by our constituencies. But basically increases will come in three ways:
Ca) the quality of life in our churches through which God in His grace is able to introduce people to new life, new gratitude, new compassion and concern. It is the new people in Christ who find life through giving.
(b) the strong, out-front leadership of pastors who are practicing members of the covenants that constitute the United Church of Christ. A pastor passes signals - perhaps the signal of in- difference or silence and so a local church, now without leader- ship, begins to lose access to mission participation as a funda- mental factor in local church vitality and in fact in local church budgets. I say a pastor passes signals - often just a word, just a clear gesture of pointing toward a priority, and so a local church, now with leadership, is able to move into the fundamental driving gear of its mission purpose.
74 Minutes 1977
(c) the effectiveness of the dollars we do have can be increased by using them more carefully, by planning more intelligently, by cutting waste with imagination, by eliminating line items when evaluation tells us that a goal has been met or that we are funding nostalgia, an expensive routine, or an idolatrous value.
4. Life Style Modification - Stewardship of Energy - Food S Poverty - Hunger - Values - Discipleship. This is the pivotal, omnibus arena of Christian obedience in our time. This is where many of the justice issues will cluster. This is where some of the new shapes of theological language will develop. In and around this cluster this Conference will have to make the hardest kind of institutional decisions. And you and I, if we are seriously under the leadership of Jesus Christ, will have to decide
to change - not just yield to change - but decide to change - to change, that is, from a kind of working pragmatic nihilism to values that bite at our resistant patterns of self-serving and self- justification.
My guess is that we will think that we do not have institutional room for this cluster of priorities, that the tasks that push at us from present personal and institutional life styles will be so demanding that we will not be able to handle such massive and daring and even sacrificial change. And it will be right there where we will not be leaders, but part of the band of reluctant followers - perhaps amnesiac conservatives - betting on the wisdom of wait and see and moderation.
You and 1 will have to work on the charts on this - at once! For some it will be hard-going, that is, for those who have sought spirituality through a kind of virtuous oneupsmanship over materialism. Here the Gospel will come to us harshly yet savingly to demand of us a spirituality that can only come to us from struggling with our material environments, within the ambiguities of human history, within a wide world of many neighbors and strangers, within the urgent contexts of oppression, injustice, starvation where the God of Jesus Christ meets us as holy demand and dependable hope.
5. Global Consciousness. No one can live actively and with response-ability
in the great breadth, detail and demandingness of contemporary society with- out getting very weary. The media inputs alone are glutting. Almost as a reflex of self-protection we become scanners of newspapers and of daily history. And again and again as we "watch" television, we find ourselves not hearing, not absorbing, not even looking. We are somewhere else.
So it may be hoping for a bit much to suggest that the persons who are self-consciously or nominally Christian should live globally - trying to relate to the whole world that is in God's hands, trying to get the whole human story straight, trying to follow in detail or even with accurate impression what some allege to be a critical story of injustice or a break- through in science, trying to stay with the President of the United States as he describes to Congress and to us his comprehensive energy plan, trying to get the modern map of Africa or Latin America into our heads, trying to remember where the amnesty issue is now, the abortion issue, or what we familiarly called the Southeast Asia issue just a couple of years ago.
There does seem to be a great divide in the church between those who are living globally and those who are not. Some people seem to be so inclined and some do not. Some people for some reasons seem to be able to handle the great sweeping changes - in Southern Africa - and some cannot even handle the complexity going on in their own families, their work worlds, a small neighborhood in transition, the economics of their private living. Some people are global in their concerns and actions and if there are specific religious motivations for what they are doing - they are not apparent. They are secular and beautifully compassionate and effective. On the other hand.
Minutes 75
some people are clearly not global, even provincial, but there is a real piety behind their personal acts of kindness and thoughtfulness.
What are we saying? No more than that we are different kinds of people out of different histories, living in this generation of human history with partial self-knowledge, sometimes able to come up to it, sometimes downed by it, with admitted levels of comfortableness and discomfort. And so 1 suppose I am saying in the first place that being global is living with each other - different "cats" that we are! - with grace and openness - living, if you will, as a family of the Covenant.
But 1 am also saying to myself and to you that life in Jesus Christ is being part of a global family - even though that is tough for us - even though it runs against our temperaments and dispositions. Life in Jesus Christ is living with the walls down, "the middle walls of partition." There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Jesus Christ. Living globally is feeling responsible for every- thing and everyone, responding to suffering and injustice not because "we are all built that way" or we have some native altruism generated by a favorable childhood, but because of what we know by faith - that the God of Jesus Christ calls to us from the center of suffering and oppression (and from the center of joy and beauty) to ask of us a response of ourselves in self-offering and commitment.
What in the world are we doing at a little church meeting in Massachusetts talking about, trying to make some response to complicated developments in Southern Africa (what is it now? - Namibia? Zimbabwe?) - or with people in jail in North Carolina, or food production in Central India? "Why." some- one might ask, "have we gone into all these contortions over peace in Vietnam, death penalty legislation, eco-systems in Massachusetts .plutonium?"
The very fervor and agony behind such questions - asked by us all - is a testimony to God's everlasting struggle with us to be global persons, to be whole people for the whole earth.
6. Theological Creativity. I was going to say spirituality, but as far as a key frontline responsibility for the Conference is concerned, I think 1 really do mean theological creativity.
Our forefathers and foremothers, in the great traditions represented in the United Church of Christ, were creative people theologically. Their tracts and diaries and tomes and hymns bear witness to that. The language they developed was a particular gift to their times and is now a legacy that nourishes us in this later generation.
This is the form of theological work that belongs to the whole church and is not the private domain of academics and scholars. It is the work that we do when we sit down with scripture at the beginning of a meeting of the Board of Trustees and savor for a bit one of the great metaphors of the Biblical revelation -- Exodus, Leaven, the Empty Tomb, A New Heaven and the New Earth. It is the work that we do when, at the close of a meeting, we ask someone to reflect theologically on what has occurred in the illumina- tions, confusions, or breakthroughs that have occurred in the household of faith as sisters and brothers have struggled through to decisions.
It is the kind of work a Pastor does when he or she sits down with a pen to write a pastoral letter to the church in the month of May. It is the daring, holy talk that goes on in a teacher's meeting for the Junior High Department as people face head-on the viability of the Father image for God.
76 Minutes
1977
One of the key endowments on which we are building in any generation of the Church is spiritual testimony and theological legacy. The fantasy that we should be able to clear the decks to do that central theological work never comes off - primarily because it is the cluttered deck of human history that alone is congenial to theological creativity. What is necessary is the spiritual freedom and courage to stop in the busy life of the Family of the Covenant to hold under God what we are and what we have been saying and doing, to be with each other simply and to look at each other deeply, and to say to each other what we hear the Spirit saying in all that is happening in the world and in the Church.
I pray every day to let the cup of the busy and responsible life pass from me, but I have tried to yield to God's will and not mine and - no surprise! - 1 get busier and responsibilities become heavier. Prayer and reflection have helped me see that not as fate, but as grace. It is that amazing grace that gets the sweet sounds out of me - the lyricism of Christian confession in the joy and toil and trouble of living in the world. And, like you perhaps, 1 wonder sometimes if it is mere idle contemplation - this story that the grace that works to shape Christ in us also shapes the deeds of Christ through us. I know it is not idle contemplation - this wonder of wonders - this story into which we are immersed through baptism - the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, full of grace and truth!
1 9761 Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports 77
Alexander Grant
8 COM PAN Y CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Board of Directors Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
We have examined the balance sheet of Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (a not for profit organization) as of December 31, 1976 and 1975, and the related statements of General Fund support, revenue, and expenses and changes in fund balances for the years then ended. Our exam- inations were made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly the financial position of Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ at December 31, 1976 and 1975, and the results of its operations and changes in fund balances for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
^^^i£t.<tiZ.-^T^^:/c^!_ y^l'T^O'-rTXr ^'f— (i^^r^^^i^-'-T-^
Boston, Massachusetts April 5, 1977
99 HIGH STREET BOSTON. MA 021 10 (617)357-5787
78
Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports
[1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 1976 and 1975
ASSETS
Cash
Accrued investment income
Accounts receivable Investments - at cost
Pooled investments (notes B and F)
Notes and mortgages
Officers and employees
Total investments
Deposits
Prepaid items
Beneficial interests (note E)
Cash
Investments - at cost' Savings deposits Notes receivable Securities (note B)
Buildings (note F) Furniture and equipment
Less accumulated depreciation
Land (note F) Construction in progress
Net fixed assets Interfund advance (note G)
Pooled investments (notes B and F) Building
Less accumulated depreciation
Land
1976
1975
CURRENT FUNDS Unrestricted
$ 242,803 41,898 44,094
100,649 28,479
129,128
8,050 625
1
$ 466,599
$ 308,808
39,815
16,769
468,046
47,517
515,563
8,050 4,240
1
$ 893,246
Restricted
? 25,909
10,073 4,333
872
S 41,187
$ 25,174
9,597 3,133
872
$ 38.776
LAND, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT FUND - UNRESTRICTED
$ 511,006 170,828
|
681 188 |
834 007 |
|
493 29 |
827 298 |
|
523 |
125 |
|
523 |
125 |
$ 379,064 110,374 489,438 161,788 327,650 30,298 39,800 397,748 225,000
$ 622.748
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
$2,567,750 6,800 2,660 4,140 2,000
$2,538,659 6,800 2,500 4 , 300' 2,000
$2.573.890 $2,544,959 The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
1 976] Financial Statements and A iiditor's Reports 79
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES 1976 1975
Accounts payable $ 37,491 $ 90,030
O.C.W.M. and directed gifts payable 288,093 311,041
Accrued liabilities - 11,150
Interfund advance (note G) - 225,000
Commitments (note C) 3_ ::_
Total liabilities 325,584 637,221 Equity in undistributed gains on
pool transactions 833 ^^_
Fund balances
Designated by Board of Directors (note H) 110,070 479,251
Conference meeting designated Cnote I) 42,291 10,206
Undesignated available for general
operations (deficit) (12,179) (233,432)
Total fund balance 140,182 256.025
S 466.599 $ 893.246
Special purpose fund balances
Mortgage payable (note F)
|
$ |
41,187 |
$ |
38, |
,776 |
|
$= |
41.187 |
$= |
38 |
,776 |
|
$ |
$ |
225; |
,000 |
Fund balance 523,125 397,748
$ 523,125 $ 622,748
Equity in undistributed gains on
pool transactions $ 19,258 $
Fund balance 2,554,632 2,544,959
$2.573.890 $2.544.959
80 Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports [1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
STATEMENT OF GENERAL FUND SUPPORT, REVENUE AND EXPENSES
Year ended December 31, 1976 (with comparative totals for 1975)
Craigville Framingham General Conference Conference Operations Center Center
REVENUE
O.C.W.M. basic support $1,604,039
Forwarded to United Church of Christ - National Office (1,403,219)
Basic supDort retention 200,820
Fellowship dues 285,533
Investment income 142,920
Room and function receipts $273,806 $32,919
Camp fees
Gain on return of borrowed securities (note G)
Income from board and con- ference meeting designated funds (note J) 26,716
Proceeds from sale of fixed
assets 40,193
Other 44,841 9,219 2,186
Total revenue 741,023 283,025 35,105
EXPENSES
General services
Salaries - executive staff 202,830
- general 141,327 51,765 28,961
Employee benefits 58,391 6,722 2,022
General operating expenses
(note C) 134,514 219,891 52,365
Travel 22,940
Interest expense 13,375
Depreciation 6,802 1,185 13,236
General synod Pilgrim State News and
publicity 9,026 5,854
Deferred development
costs (note D)
Committees, resources and consultants
Conference committee
expenses and programs 11,537
Resources 2,389
Consultant services 2 , 588
16,514
589,205 285,417 96,584
Financial Statements and A iiditor's Reports
Retreats and Summer Total
Camps Eliminations 1976 1975
$1,604,039 $1,109,528
(1,403,219) (887,622)
200,820 221,906
285,533 276,270
142,920 168,496
$(13,063) 293,662 206,321
$40,856 108,911 104,919
38,809
40,856
38,533 762
39,295
|
26 |
716 |
16,640 |
|
|
40 |
193 |
||
|
56 1,155 |
246 001 |
36,506 |
|
|
(13,063) |
1,069,867 |
||
|
202 |
830 |
206,050 |
|
|
263 |
290 |
255,376 |
|
|
69 |
782 |
67,272 |
|
|
(6,695) |
467 |
975 |
325,133 |
|
22 |
940 |
19,586 |
|
|
13 |
375 |
17,003 |
|
|
26 |
219 |
15,539 8,044 |
|
|
(73) |
14 |
807 |
10,635 77,600 |
|
(6,768) |
1,081 |
218 |
1,002,238 |
|
(4,865) |
6 |
672 |
9,664 |
|
(776) |
1 |
613 |
3,519 |
|
2 |
588 |
3,765 |
|
|
(5,641) |
10 |
873 |
16,948 |
82
Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports
I 1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
STATEMENT OF GENERAL FUND SUPPORT, REVENUE AND EXPENSES - CONTINUED
Year ended December 31, 1976 (with comparative totals for 1975)
EXPENSES - CONTINUED
Support of local churches and ministers
Board of Pastoral Supply Support of institutional chaplains Salary support and program aid Building Fund grants (note H) Counseling services
Craigville General Conference Operations Center
$ 7,780 4,100
11,880
Ecumenical missions
Massachusetts Council of Churches Massachusetts Commission on United
Ministries in Higher Education Black Ecumenical Commission Massachusetts Commission on Christian
Unity Other grants
Mission development - net
Total expenses
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
20,000
|
5,375 |
|
|
1,125 |
|
|
500 |
|
|
500 |
|
|
27,500 |
|
|
2,656 |
|
|
647,755 |
$285,417 |
|
$ 93,268 |
$ (2,392) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this sxateraent,
1 976 J Financial Stalements and A uditor's Reports 83
lingham Retreats
'erence Pilgrim and Summer Total
inter Day Camp Camps Eliminations 1976 1975
|
$ |
7,780 4,100 |
$ |
20,040 11,072 6,742 3,000 3,000 |
|||
|
11,880 |
43,854 |
|||||
|
20,000 |
19,992 |
|||||
|
5,375 1,125 |
10,996 |
|||||
|
$ (654) |
500 500 27,500 2,002 |
300 |
||||
|
31,288 |
||||||
|
800 |
||||||
|
577,485 |
$39,295 |
(13,063) |
1^ |
,133,473 |
1_ |
,095,128 |
|
;r9.430^ |
$ 1.561 |
S |
$_ |
21,528 |
$_ |
(25.261) |
84
Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports
[1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES
Year ended December 31, 1976
CURRENT FUNDS Unrestricted
Board designated Building Fund General Investment Fund Dorchester Church Fund Warner Farm Renovation Fund Edwards Renovation Fund Hunger Funds Retained Staff Training Fund
Conference meeting designated 17/76 Achievement Fund Revolving Cash Fund
General - Undesignated
Restricted
Support of professional leadership
(Mission: Advancel) Zion Loan Fund Russell Tape Recorder Fund Hattie Clapp Fund Christian Higher Education Fund Scholarship Fund for Black
Students Cummington Fund Ministers' Wives Fund Religious Communities, the Arts
and the American Revolution Laity Scholarship Fund Youth Campership Fund Adventures In Reading Chicopee Warner Farm Fund Income from Stebbins Fund Overseas Leadership Seminar Self-study Program
LAND, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT FUND
ENDOWMENT FLT\"DS
Income unrestricted Income restricted
Balance
January 1,
1976
66,414
393,293
19,544
|
479 |
251 |
|
10 |
206 |
|
10 |
206 |
|
(233 |
432) |
|
) 256 |
025 |
14,324 6,893 5,057 4,349 3,226
2,034
1,144
583
498 490 289 (91)
S 38,776 $ 397.748
$2,527,477 17,482
Excess
of Revenue
Over
Expenses
$21,528 $21.528
$2.544.959 The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports 85
Grants Balance and Investment Transfers December 31, Contributions Income (note J) 1976
|
$ 1,200 |
$ |
(11) (11) |
$ 3,589 (393,282) 15,052 2,413 508 1,350 (370,370) |
$ |
71,203 19,544 15,052 2,413 508 1,350 |
|
|
1,200 |
110,070 |
|||||
|
> 3,350 |
11,757 23,678 35,435 199,725 |
18,613 23,678 |
||||
|
3,350 |
42,291 (12,179) |
|||||
|
, 3.350 |
$ 1.200 |
$= |
(11) |
Sa35.210) |
$= |
140.182 |
|
; 4,936 3,226 |
$ 694 |
$ |
187 250 836 |
$ |
10,082 7,080 5,307 5,185 |
|
|
4,350 |
3,070 |
38 179 |
754 1,182 742 |
|||
|
20 1,646 288 24 |
922 10,000 24 50 $14,760 |
25 15 611 |
$= |
478 515 304 (815) 10,000 323 50 |
||
|
B14.490 |
$1, |
,141 |
41.187 |
|||
|
$125,377 |
?= |
523.125 |
||||
|
f 160 |
$ 9,789 44 |
$2 |
,537,266 17,366 |
|||
|
B 160 |
$ 9,833 |
$2, |
554.632 |
86
Financial Statements and A iiditor's Reports
[1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES
Year ended December 31, 1975
Deficiency Balance of Revenue January 1, Over 1975 Expenses
Expenditure;
Under Terms
of Fund
CURRENT FUNDS Unrestricted
Board designated Building Fund General Investment Fund Dorchester Church Fund
Conference Meeting designated 17/76 Achievement Fund
General - undesignated
$ 66,414
342,533
18,449
427,396
427
(45,878) $(25,261)
$ 381.945 $(25,261)
Restricted
Support of professional leadership
(Mission: Advance!) $
Zion Loan Fund Russell Tape Recorder Fund Hattie Clapp Fund Christian Higher Education Fund Scholarship Fund for Black
Students Cummington Fund Ministers' Wives Fund Religious Communities, the Arts and
the American Revolution Laity Scholarship Fund Youth Campership Fund Peace Action Teams Boston School Crisis Stanley Cummings Memorial Fund Adventures in Reading
23,298
LAND, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT FUND
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
Income unrestricted Income restricted
609 061 527 226
328 108 526
465 272 808 650 258 26
$ 51,162 $ 297,089
$2,527,477 17,682
$2.545.159
$11,278
1,400
276
4,959
1,046
602
1,808
1,200
258
1,516
$24,343
$ 1,082 $ 1.082
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
1976] Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports 87
Grants Balance
and Investment Transfers December 31, tributions Income (note J) 1975
$ 66,414
$ 50,760 393,293
1,095 19,544
51,855 479,251
9,779 10,206
(162,293) (233,432)
$(100,659) $ 256.025
2,304 $ 14,324
435 $249 6,893
272 5,057
822 4,349
3,226
2,034
1,144
563
498 490 289
(91)
$ 100.659
|
3,665 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
1,083 |
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
550 |
|
|
1,399 |
|
|
11,358 |
$599 |
$882 $882
|
$ |
38 |
776 |
|
$ |
397 |
748 |
|
$2 |
527 17 |
477 482 |
|
$2_ |
544 |
,959 |
Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports [ 1 976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1976 and 1975
NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Revenue
Fellowship dues are recorded when received by Association treasurers and O.C.W.M. revenue is recorded when received by the Conference.
Pooled Investments
To obtain investment flexibility, various funds have com- mingled certain of their investments. Investment income and capital gains and losses are distributed to participating funds based upon number of pool units.
Fixed Assets
The Conference follows the practice of capitalizing all ex- penditures for land, buildings and equipment in excess of $100. Fixed assets purchased with unrestricted funds are transferred to the Land, Building and Equipment Fund (note J) ,
Depreciation
Depreciation of buildings and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (note J) .
Pension Plans
The Conference participates in two pension plans covering sub- stantially all of its employees. Professional staff are covered by the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ. The Conference contributes an amount equal to 11% of each participant's salary. Lay employees participate in the Re- tirement Fund for Lay Workers, also managed by the United Church of Christ. Employees may elect to contribute 3% of their gross annual salary during their first two years of employment. The Conference contributes 8% of the gross pay during that period. After two years of participation, the Conference contributes the entire 11%. Pension expense aggregated $34,423 and $33,198 in 1976 and 1975, respectively.
19761
Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports 89
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1976 and 1975
NOTE B - SECURITIES AND POOLED INVESTMENTS
The composition and approximate market values of securities and commingled investments at December 31, are as follows:
1976 1975
Market Market
Cost Value Cost Value
Securities
Current restricted
fund $ 872 $ 952 $ 872 $ 750
Pooled Investments
Uninvested (over- invested) cash (2,017) (2,017) 6,537 6,537 Note receivable 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 Mortgages 97,712 97,712 105,800 105,800 Securities 2,542,704 2,467,935 2,864,368 2,583,100
2,668,399 2,593,630 3,006,705 2,725,437
$2.669.271 $2.594,582 S3. 007. 577 $2.726.187
Distribution of Pool
Current unrestricted
fund $ 100,649 $ 97,829 $ 468,046 $ 433,834
Endowment funds 2,567,750 2,495,801 2,538,659 2,291,603
$2.668.399 $2.593.630 $3.006.705 $2,725.437
NOTE C - COMMITMENTS
The Conference conducts part of its operations, Craigville Con- ference Center, in facilities owned by the Christian Camp Meeting Association (CCMA) . Annual rentals for these leases paid by the Conference aggregated $29,282 in 1976 and 1975 which, for certain leases equaled the principal plus interest payments of CCMA on its mortgages which are held by the Conference. The leases expire at various times through November 1, 1980. Renewal options are available.
90 Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports [1976
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1976 and 1975
NOTE D - PROPOSED CONFERENCE FACILITY COST
Pursuant to the Conference Meeting decision not to proceed with proposed expansion plans of the Framingham Conference Center, certain architectural, engineering and consulting fees previously deferred were charged against 1975 operations. $10,000 of the previously deferred costs were estimated to be useful in current renovations and were transferred to construction in progress (note J) .
NOTE E - BENEFICIAL INTERESTS
The Conference is beneficiary under the terras of numerous trust agreements, wills and other contracts. The exact value of such interests and the time at which the rights to these interests become vested in the Conference is dependent upon circumstances over which the Conference exercises no control.
NOTE F - MORTGAGE PAYABLE
During 1976, the Board of Directors authorized the redemption of pooled securities held by the General Investment Fund. The proceeds of such redemption were transferred to the General- Undesignated Fund and applied to the payment of the mortgage of $225,000 and the balance was used to fund renovation costs of the Framingham Conference Center.
NOTE G - INTERFUND SECURITY LOAN
During 1975, securities were loaned by the Endowment Funds to the Current Unrestricted Fund to provide financing for expansion of the Framingham Conference Center. The gain on sale of these securities was deferred until such time as like securities could be purchased and returned to the Endowment Funds. During 1975, such securities were purchased and returned for $38,809 less than they originally cost.
NOTE H - BOARD DESIGNATED FUNDS
The Building Fund has been designated by the Board of Directors for providing assistance to local church building projects.
The Dorchester Church Fund has been designated for special projects in the Dorchester community.
1976] Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports 91
Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1976 and 1975
NOTE H - BOARD DESIGNATED FUNDS - CONTINUED
The Warner Farm Renovation Fund has been designated to use the net proceeds of the sale of Warner Farm land to fund a renova- tion program of Warner Farm facilities.
The Edwards Renovation Fund has been designated to use the net proceeds of the sale of Edwards furniture to fund a renovation program of Edwards facilities.
The Hunger Funds Retained Fund has been designated as a retainage of ten percent of conference contributions to the United Church of Christ's Hunger Fund.
The Staff Training Fund has been designated for the unexpended portion of the staff training program.
NOTE I - CONFERENCE MEETING DESIGNATED FUNDS
The 17/76 Achievement Fund has been designated by the Conference Meeting for providing scholarships to minorities.
The Revolving Cash Fund has been designated for all contributions to the debt reduction program.
NOTE J - FUND TRANSFERS
The cost of fi.xed assets purchased with unrestricted funds, net of current year depreciation, is transferred to the Land, Build- ing and Equipment Fund.
1976 1975
Fi.xed assets purchased $ 152,596 $106,198
Fixed assets sold (1,000)
Development costs transferred
(note D) 10,000
Depreciation charged (26.219) (15,539)
125,377 100,659 Gain on sale of pooled securities
transferred to Endowment Funds 9,833
Additional transfers from (to) the
Current Undesignated Fund were made
to reclassify amounts designated for
special projects to the appropriate
funds as follows :
Board Designated Funds (notes F and H) (370,370) 51,855 Conference Meeting Designated Funds
(note I) 35,435 9,779
$(199.725) $162.293
92 Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports [1976
Alexander Grant;
INTERNATIONALFIRM
ALEXANDER GRANT TANSLEY WITT
Members of the Corporation
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
We have examined the statements of net assets of the First, Second and Third Trusts of The Massachusetts Congregational Fund (a Massachusetts non-profit corporation) as of March 31, 1977, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets for the year then ended. Our examination was made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.
In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets and statements of operations and changes in net assets present fairly the financial position of the First, Second and Third Trusts of The Massachusetts Congregational Fund at March 31, 1977, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and in conform.ity v/ith the Declaration of First Trust dated June 13, 1956 and the Declaration of Second and Third Trusts dated February 5, 1969, on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year.
(yCt'..^Ca-^>^p'<C6yz. y'Q-z.<Z'^t^t~C<y'^-y''^-'''-^^
Boston, Massachusetts April 13, 1977
99 HIGH STREET BOSTON, MA 021 10 (617)357-5787
1976]
Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports
93
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
FIRST TRUST
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
March 31, 1977
ASSETS
Marketable securities (note B)
Bonds and variable interest notes Common stock Preferred stock Mortgage notes
Cash
Accounts receivable from other trusts
Dividends and interest receivable
Total assets
Cost basis Market value (note A)
$3,000,675
3,938,894
411,437
221,988
7,572,994
26,317
4,443
67,088
$2,974,726
3,064,513
388,625
198,596
6,626^460
26,317
4,443
67,088
$7. 670.842 S6. 724. 308
LIABILITIES Accounts payable Dividends payable May 1, 1977
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS Shares issued and outstanding NET ASSET value per share at market
$ 12,162 $ 12,162 84,760 84,760
96,922
96,922
$7.573.920 $6.627,386
304,125
$21.7917
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement
94
Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports
[1976
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
FIRST TRUST
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Investment income Income
Dividends Interest
Total income
Expenses
Investment m^anagement fee
Mutual Fund fee
Bookkeeping fee
Audit
Office
Annual report
Miscellaneous
Total expenses
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income per share
(Based on quarterly average number of shares outstanding)
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (note B)
Realized gains (losses) from security transactions (excluding short- term securities)
Proceeds from sales Cost of securities sold
Net realized loss
$ 159,523 213,277
|
$ 372,800 |
|
|
19,414 |
|
|
2,789 |
|
|
1,620 |
|
|
2,150 |
|
|
498 |
|
|
851 |
|
|
122 |
$3,359,954 3,628,332
27,444 $ 345,356
$1.1247
$(268,378)
Unrealized depreciation of investments Beginning of year End of year
Decrease in unrealized depreciation
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
956,429 946,534
9,895
$(258.483)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement,
1 976 1 Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports 95
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
FIRST TRUST
STATEIENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Cost basis Market value (note A) Net assets - March 31, 1976 (including
$13 undistributed income) $8, 022,951 S7,066 ,522
Investment income
Net investment income for the year 345,356 345,356
Less dividends paid or payable
Pavment date Rate Shares
August 1, 1976 $.2482 311,919 77,418 77,418
November 1, 1976 .2889 305,677 88,310 88,310
February 1, 1977 .3095 306,544 94,875 94,875
May 1, 1977 .2787 304,125 84,760 84,760
345, 363 345,363
(Decrease) in undistributed investment
income (7) (7)
Principal
Net realized loss on securities sold (268,378) (268,378) Proceeds from shares issued (net of
shares repurchased) (180,646) (180,646)
Unrealized appreciation of investments ^_ 9 , 895
(449,024) (439,129)
Net assets - March 31, 1977 (including
$6 undistributed income) $7,573.920 S6.627 .386
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
96 Financial Slalcments and Auditor's Reports [1976
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
SECOND TRUST
STATEME-XT OF NET ASSETS
March 31, 1977
ASSETS Cost basis Market value
(note A) Marketable securities (note B)
Bonds and variable interest notes 52,954,167 83,058,832
Common stock 49,737 51,693
Preferred stock 28,383 32,625
3,032,287 3,143,150
Cash 3,167 3,167
Dividends and interest receivable 61 , 102 61 , 102
Total assets $3.096,556 33.207.419
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable
(to the First Trust) $ 3,117 S 3,117
Dividends payable May 1, 1976 60, 187 60,187
Total liabilities 63, 304
NET ASSETS 83.033.252
Shares issued and outstanding
NET ASSET value per share at market
|
63 |
304 |
|
|
S3 |
1 AA |
115 |
|
320 |
659 |
|
|
S9. 8052 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
1976]
Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports
97
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
SECOND TRUST
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Investment income Income
Dividends Interest
Total income
Expenses
Investment management fee
Bookkeeping fee
Audit
Annual report
Office
Mutual fund fee
Miscellaneous
Total expenses
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income per share
(based on quarterly average number of shares outstanding)
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (note B)
Realized gains (losses) from security transactions (excluding short-term securities)
Proceeds from sales Cost of securities sold
Net realized gain
Unrealized depreciation (appreciation) of investments
Beginning of year End of year
|
> 4,919 |
|
|
248,170 |
|
|
$253,089 |
|
|
8,724 |
|
|
930 |
|
|
1,450 |
|
|
383 |
|
|
288 |
|
|
365 |
|
|
69 |
|
|
12,209 |
|
|
$240,880 |
$1,686,055 1,668,048
(43,296) (110,863)
$.7419
$ 18,007
Increase in unrealized appreciation
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
67,567 $ 85,574
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement
Financial Statements and A uditofs Reports [1976
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
SECOND TRUST
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Cost basis Market value (note A) Net assets - March 31, 1976 (including $9 undistributed income) $3,164,807 $3,208,103
Investment income
Net investment income for the year 240,880 240,880
Less dividends paid or payable
Pa^mient date
August 1, 1976
November 1, 1976
February 1, 1977
May 1, 1977
|
Rate |
Shares |
|||||
|
.1591 |
343 |
914 |
54 |
717 |
54 |
717 |
|
.2084 |
315 |
528 |
65 |
819 |
65 |
819 |
|
.1888 |
318 |
608 |
60 |
163 |
60 |
153 |
|
.1877 |
320 |
659 |
60 |
188 |
60 |
188 |
240,877 240,877
(Increase) in undistributed
investment income 3 3
Principal
Net realized gain on securities sold 18,007 18,007 Proceeds from shares issued (net of
shares repurchased) (149,565) (149,565) Increase in unrealized appreciation
of investments ^_ 67 , 567
(131,558) (63,991)
Net assets - March 31, 1977
(including $12 undistributed income) $3,033,252 $3,144,115
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement
1 976 1 Financial Statements and A uditor's Reports 99
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
THIRD TRUST
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
March 31, 1977
ASSETS Cost basis Market value
(note A) Marketable securities (note B)
Variable interest notes S 365,000 $ 365,000
Common stock 886,985 741,135
1,251,985 1,106,135
Cash 6,409 6,409
Dividend and interest receivable 3, 184 3 , 184
Total assets 1,261,578 1,115,728
LIABILITIES
Accounts paj-able
(to the First Trust) Dividends payable May 1, 1977
Total liabilities
NET ASSETS Shares issued and outstanding NET ASSET value per share at market
|
1, |
326 |
1,326 |
|
7, |
,583 |
7,583 |
|
8, |
909 |
8,909 |
|
$1,252, |
669 |
51,106,819 148,106 S 7.4732 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
100 Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports [1976
|
; 30, |
,115 |
||
|
2, |
,629 |
||
|
$ |
32,744 |
||
|
3 |
,302 690 |
||
|
1 |
,000 215 144 91 53 |
5,495 |
|
|
5= |
27, 249 |
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
THIRD TRUST
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Investment income Income
Dividends Interest
Total income
Expenses
Investment management fee
Bookkeeping fee
Audit
Office
Annual report
Mutual fund fee
Miscellaneous
Total expenses
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
Investment income per share
(based on quarterly average number of
shares outstanding) $^1J44
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (note B)
Realized gains (losses) from security transactions (excluding short-term securities)
Proceeds from sales 603,187
Cost of securities sold 652, 136
Net realized loss $ (48,949)
Unrealized depreciation of investments
Beginning of year 86,853
End of year 1^5,850
Increase in unrealized depreciation - (58, 997)
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments SC 107 , 946)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement,
1 976] Financial Statements and A iiditor's Reports 101
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
THIRD TRUST
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year ended March 31, 1977
Cost basis Market value (note A) Net assets - March 31, 1976
(including $1 over distributed income) $1 , 294,893 SI .208,040
Investment income
Net investment income for the year 27,249 27,249
Less dividends paid or payable
Payment date
August 1, 1976
November 1, 1976
February 1, 1977
May 1, 1977
(Increase) in undistributed income
Principal
Net realized loss on securities sold Proceeds from shares issued (net of
shares repurchased) Unrealized appreciation of investments
|
Rate |
Shares |
|
.0405 |
147,503 |
|
. 0442 |
147,503 |
|
.0484 |
148,106 |
|
.0512 |
148,106 |
Net assets - March 31, 1977
(including $4 undistributed income)
|
5,973 |
5,973 |
|
6,520 |
6,520 |
|
7,168 |
7,168 |
|
7,583 |
7,583 |
|
27,244 |
27,244 |
|
5 |
5 |
|
(48,949) |
(48,949) |
|
6,720 |
6,720 |
|
- |
(58,997) |
|
(42,229) |
(101,226) |
|
$1,252,669 |
31,106,819 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement,
102 Financial Statements and Auditor's Reports [1976
The Massachusetts Congregational Fund
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 1977
NOTE A - BASIS OF REPORTING
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the basis of market values. The cost basis is presented for infor- mational purposes.
NOTE B - SECURITY VALUATION
Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the fiscal year; securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are valued at the last reported bid price, or the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices where these amounts have a wide disparity.
MASSACHUSETTS CONGREGATIONAL FUND P. 0. Box 2246, Salem End & Badger Roads, Framingham 01701
President, George H. Ellis, President, Home Savings Bank, 69 Tremont St., Boston
02108 Vice President, T. Michael Middleton, White Weld & Co., 100 Federal Street,
Boston 02110 Treasurer, Mr. Ralph F. Tuller, Pheasant Lane, Lincoln 01773 Clerk and Assistant Treasurer, Rev. Emil C. Beck, P. 0. Box 2246, Salem End &
Badger Roads, Framingham 01701
1976]
Other Reports of the Treasurer
103
The following financial pages have been prepared by the office of the Massachusetts Conference and have not been subject to audit.
ACCOUNTS HELD IN TRUST FOR CHURCHES
December 31, 1976
Managed by the Conference
Name of Account
Principal of Account
Henry Bingham Fund $ 3,092.41
Boston-Roxbury-Eliot-Shepard Fund 88,334.00
Brimfield - Charles Fund 6,726.84
Hattie F. Clapp Fund 15,869.02
Columbus Avenue Fund 158,853.39
Enos Goss Fund 1,464.37
Joseph A. Grannis Fund 5,277.72
Cotuit - Federated 9,679.88
- LyOweU Fund 21,296.84
Deerfield - Mills Fund 77,695.20
Granville, East - Stevenson 11,247.63
Lowell - Pawtucket - Cobum Fund 2, 005^86
New Ashford - Endowment Fund 1,945.03
New Marlboro - New Marlboro Fund 3,333,87
Newton - First Church of Newton Legacy Fund 65,921.71
North Andover - Stone Fund 24,818.46
James Nye Fund 659.51
Edith B. Sanders Fund 469,19
Peabody, South- Moore Fund 1,000,20
Salisbury Beach, Hope Chapel - Christmas Fund (Pratt) 506.11
- General 3,452,79
Sandisfield - First Congregational Society 728.18
Shirley - Worcester Fund 4,318.27
Springfield - Cong. Union of Spfld. - General 11,131,25
- Richards 499,55 Springfield - First and Westboro - Evangelical -
- Evans Fund 5,430.23
Westfield - First - Gillett Fund 2,687.87
TOTAL
$528,445,38
104
Other Reports of the Treasurer
[1976
ACCOUNTS HELD IN TRUST FOR CHURCHES December 31, 1976 Managed by the Conference through The First National Bank of Boston
Name of Account
Becket - George Ko Baird, Sr.
Lucinda Chaffee Baird
Lizzie M. & Belle Jones
Mary Perkins Beechwood - Anonymous Boston, J. P., Boylston-EUis Mendell
Eleanor Henrietta Nitz
Anna M. Sutherland
William H. Whitten Byfield, Emily S. & John L. Ewell
Stickney Charlestown - First- Harriet M. Hamnett
Hunnewell
Ministry, etc. Charlton - Spencer Chelsea - Central - Miller Chester - United Memorial Cotuit - Federated - Sewing Circle Deerfield - Emerson, Frances H. Douglas, First - Hill, Aaron Dover - Chickering
Draper (Caroline)
Draper (Maria)
Mann Foxboro - Barton, Rev, & Mrs« Wm. E, Groton - Greene, Samuel Abbott
Robbins Organ Rind Hanson - House
Thomas Hawley - Endowment Holden - First - Warren, Henry W. Holland - Abel Allen Huntington - First - Clark, Jessie BuUard
Talcott Interlaken - Claike Kingston - Adams Benevolent
Adams Pulpil Supply Lawrence, South - G. W. & S.A. Dinsmoor Lowell - Pawtucket - Chase
Medford, Union - Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Foulkes Middlefield - Smith New Boston - Henry J. Veits
Henry Edwin Warren New Braintree - Carrie F. Bush
Frances Tufts Hoar
M. & H. B. Thompson
Hannah M. Tufts Mem'l
Principal of Account
$ 519o68 1,113.82 6,027o49 1,021„23
406,, OS
10,250.23
50.24
106.38 3,682.16 1,036.86 1,100.36 8,013.83 5,981.71 9,126.44 2,086.25 61,614.45 2,009.50 6,305.45 1,048.29
958,78
411.65
749.40 2,886.47
609.06 1,012.29 5,460.78 3,155.42 2,500.00 1,000.00 1,633.24 1,383.28
202.46 2,500,00
300.00 1,124,08
502,47
15,405.83
4,992.55
1,533.46
5,097,49
54,656.94
546.14
2,033.82
1,156,38
10,541,72
517.78
534.47
1976] Other Reports of the Treasurer 105
Managed by the Conference through The First National Bank of Boston Continued
Name of Account Principal
of Account
North Attleboro Palls - A. R, Mackreth $ 5,742.20
North Becket - Mary A, Church l,001o56
Northbridge Center - Rawson, Adeline C. 2,016.23
North Rochester - various 10,782,03
Paxton, First - A. J. Howe 940,57
George S, Lakin 1,440.32
Peabody, South - Susanne Mills 360,58
Peabody Charity 6,961.11
Poor 200.00
Proctor 704.20
S. A. Stimpson Organ Fund 1,001.57
Upton 400.00