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Annual Meeting offers decisions on resolutions

The 2013 Pacific Northwest Conference UCC Annual Meeting on “Reflect: We are justice seekers called to embody our faith” will be held Friday through Sunday, April 26 to 28, at the Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Along with consideration of resolutions and the budget, and election of leaders during the business meeting, there will be workshops, worship, fellowship and keynote presentations by the Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister of the national UCC Justice and Witness Ministries.

Resolutions coming before the Annual Meeting include Support for Outdoor Ministries of the UCC submitted to General Synod 29, Urging Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies as submitted to GS 29, Support of American Roman Catholic Women Religious, Opposition to Construction of Coal Export Terminals and Transport of Coal via Trains, and a Change in the PNC Fiscal Year.

The support for outdoor ministries calls for recognition of long-term consequences to youth and future church leaders when considering closing a UCC camp or center.

The call for divestment from fossil fuel companies would stop new investment and end current investment in five years, informing companies and leaders of other religious traditions and organizations. The goal is to reduce use of fossil fuels in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The resolution of witness in support of American Roman Catholic Women Religious is rooted in the desire to support ARCWR in face of “unjust scrutiny by the Vatican.” It offers prayers of support and solidarity that their ministries may continue unimpeded, celebrates their fruitful works and honors their ministries “just as they are.”

The call to oppose coal export terminals and coal trains from Montana and Wyoming to the terminals puts the PNC on record with requesting a comprehensive environmental impact statement for all five proposed terminals. It calls congregations to work with elected officials, Earth Ministry, Sierra Club and others to pursue cleaner energy, and to help members examine their energy consumption and to join in education, advocacy and action.

One resolution calls for changing the PNC fiscal year from January to December, to June to May, beginning June 1, 2014, to align the budgetary cycle with Annual Meeting.

There will be workshops on environmental justice, funding ministry, small churches, civic responsibility and faith, music as a wake-up call, multiplying UCC faith communities, integrating art in worship, tools for youth and young adult ministries, wellness in ministry, coal exports, relationships in church, transitioning seminarians, global mission in four areas, UCC 101, embodying faith and young-adult justice interns.
The Affinity Group time is 7:45 to 10 p.m., Saturday, and may be arranged with Arlene Hobson.

For information, call 206-725-8383 or visit pncucc.org.

 

Copyright © April-May 2013 Pacific Northwest Conference United Church News

 

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