Search PNC News for stories of people and churches in our UCC Conference:

 

PNC plans to put parts of Annual meeting online

By Wendy Blight and Hillary Coleman

We bring greetings to you on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Conference.  You are in our daily thoughts and we pray for your ministry in these difficult and uncertain times.  At the same time, we celebrate the amazing ways you are responding to the current challenges with online worship, meetings and social gatherings.

On Monday, March 16, the Board of Directors affirmed a recommendation brought forward by the Annual Meeting Planning Committee to not hold an in-person Annual Meeting in April 2020. This decision was difficult but given the state mandate and the likelihood that COVID-19 will still be with us in April, the Board felt this was the best decision. 

We are working on how to replace parts of the meeting virtually and will communicate with the Conference about this as plans unfold.  Our Annual Meeting Planning Committee was doing a great job planning a rich weekend together and we are grateful for their work.  We realize that there are some parts of the weekend that we will be able to offer online. We are still working out the details but here is part of the plan:

We will offer an online connection, probably worship, during the weekend of April 24-26 in coordination with Conference staff, Conference leadership, the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and others. We have been inspired by the many ways people are finding to connect virtually and will build upon this for a conference-wide connection. Please watch for details!

The main business items that we planned to vote on at the 2020 Annual Meeting were the slate of new Conference leaders, the 2020/2021 Budget, and four sets of bylaw changes. Our current bylaws give the Board of Directors the authority to act between Annual Meetings of the Conference and so the Board will act as necessary to keep the Conference functioning.  We will also do our best to keep you involved and informed about the actions of the Board. 

Here is our current thinking:

The Slate of new Conference Leaders – the Board will vote on the full slate at their upcoming meeting.

For looking at the 2020/2021 Budget, the Board will offer some online opportunities for people to hear about the budget and provide input before the Board votes on the budgets for Conference operations and the two camps.  We’ll provide more information about these online meetings in the coming weeks. 

The Bylaw changes require an affirmation by 2/3 majority at a meeting of the Conference.  So we will push any voting to the future.  However, the Board share information about the suggested changes in the months to come.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate leadership of the Conference in unusual times.  We are grateful for the Rev. Andy CastroLang and Westminster UCC for their willingness to host the Annual Meeting, and to the AM Planning Committee for their great work.   

We know you are ministering to people in compassionate, thoughtful and creative ways in the face of great uncertainty.   Thank you.

 

Copyright March 2020 © Pacific NW United Church News

 

 

 

Share this article on your favorite social media