HARTFORD -- The Connecticut Conference published "2018 Ministries of the Connecticut Conference UCC" today, a two-page document designed to be inserted into local church annual reports. The report features easy-to-read statistics and colorful photos. Click here or on the image to download, or scroll down for the text of the report to copy and paste into other formats.


 Download the 2-Page Document (PDF)
 

2018 Ministries of the Connecticut Conference UCC

In 2018, the Connecticut Conference moved closer to uniting with the Massachusetts and Rhode Island conferences. In an historic vote at the second joint meeting of the three Conferences in June, delegates voted in favor of joining together to form a new conference, a transition scheduled to take place Jan. 1, 2020. Following the vote, 7 representatives from CTUCC joined 14 from MACUCC and RICUCC in forming the new Together, As One, Board of Directors. Members of the three staffs also began meeting together.

Silver Lake Conference Center

938 people campers participated in Silver Lake’s summer ministry, including 11 Clergy Campers and 94 Family Campers.

• 75 deans, 154 counselors, 15 counselors-in-training, 7 chaplains, 3 artists-in-residence, 1 staff chaplain, and 1 camp grandma volunteered to lead, nurture, and inspire.
• 50 dedicated summer staff sang, cleaned, ran, protected, and mentored the conferees.
• More than 3000 youth and adults enjoyed weekend retreats at Silver Lake during the spring and fall .
• $66,000 in sponsorships were provided to 227 campers by individuals, churches, and associations.
• $28,700 in Silver Lake Scholarships were awarded to 95 individuals; $4,500 was provided to 11 campers through the Batchelder Scholarship.
• The Golf Tournament and Garden Party raised nearly $20,000 to support the ministry of Silver Lake.
• 8 multiracial youth welcomed to 4th Annual Environmental Justice For All! Retreat.

Youth and Young Adult Ministries

• Youth from eight congregations met for an Interfaith Exploration at Hartford Seminary in April.
• Rev. Edwin Pérez, Jr. preached to an audience of 139 at the 8th Annual Youth Revival on April 22.  Gifts of $525 were offered to support the work of Knox  Park Foundation.  
• 6 Thinking About Working for God (TAWFG) Apprentices explored their potential call through this signature CTUCC job-shadow program, and 18 youth participated in the TAWFG SHINE retreat. 
• CTUCC partnered with First Church Simsbury to support the Young Adult Service Community program.
• 40 participants attended the Eastern Regional Youth Event as part of the tri-conference trip to Pennsylvania in July. 

Inspiring & Supporting Vital Ministry

• 42 pastors connected with the Conference Minister in one-on-one conversations.
• 19 churches hosted the Conference Minister as their guest preacher.
• 14 churches hosted the Conference Minister and Executive Associate Conference Minister in OCWM conversations.
• 239 people attended 2 Super Saturday training events.
• 100 people took part in one of five stewardship workshops.
• 100 clergy gathered at General Association to learn more about innovation.
• 100 clergy attended the Authorized Ministers’ Luncheon for networking and inspiration.
• 70 clergy took part in 13 Clergy Excellence Groups and 1 Clergy Affinity Group.
• 85 youth and 35 adults from 15 congregations attended 4 Confirmation Retreats.
• 30 CT Leaders attended the New England Association for United Church Educators Gathering.
• 18 congregations were served by 14 Safe Conduct workshops and consultations.
• 19 clergy began new settled pastorates; 23 began transitional, interim, bridge, or designated term pastorates.
• 10 new clergy were ordained; 10 people became Members in Discernment.
• 20 people took part in InnoJazz or Zip Equip online conversations around innovation; most more than once.

Justice Ministries

In 2018, a brand new Reviving Justice event helped 95 people inspire, connect, and act around justice issues.  In addition:

• 8 congregations voted to become Open and Affirming, bringing the CTUCC tally to 104.
• $2975 was given to the ONA 100 x 100 campaign for youth scholarships, education, and advocacy.
• The Conference Minister joined (8) delegates in a trip to visit with our Partners from Gyonggi Presbytery in South Korea.

Racial Justice:

• 20 churches completed either a Racial Justice Training or a Sacred Conversation on Race.
• 25 middle school youth engaged in the “Did You Know?” youth racial justice curriculum .
• ALL Silver Lake summer staff went through 6 hours of racial justice training.

Environmental Justice:

• Environmental justice workshops took place within 3 confirmation retreats, a NH UCC youth retreat, the Eastern Regional youth event and at 3 local churches.
• Staff supported and participated in the 8th Annual Water is Life Walk on the Howsatunnuck (Housatonic) River.
• Staff coordinated the CTUCC witness at the New Haven Rise for Climate rally.

Economic Justice:

• 50 CTUCC members joined the CTUCC Advocate Corps to speak out on legislative issues.
• More than 200 CTUCC clergy signed on to a letter which helped persuade CT lawmakers to restore funding for the HUSKY A Medicaid program.
• 30 Coalition Against Casino Expansion members submitted testimony to CT’s General Assembly.

Conference Staffing

Tom Clough retired as Eastern Regional Minister; Chuck Ericson began as Interim Eastern Regional Minister.  Rhonda Myers covered for Northwest Regional Minister Tamara Moreland during her sabbatical.