VT Conference UCC Annual Meeting

At the end of this week, Michele Boomhower and I will be attending the Vermont Conference United Church of Christ Annual Meeting in Rutland. (It’s the 230th one!) This year, the topic is “Resurrection Hope: Rising Above Christian Nationalism,” and will include keynote addresses by Rev. Marvin Ellison.

There are also two pre-meeting Zoom workshops, open to anyone. The first (5/1 @ 5:00 pm) is on religious trauma and sexuality, led by Lou Rochford (they/them), a member of First Congregational in Burlington who is pursuing ordination in the Vermont Conference. The second workshop (5/1 @ 7:00 pm) is with Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward, who will lead a discussion of her book, The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism. Information and registration links to these workshops can be found on the VT Conference UCC Annual Meeting page.

Of course, Annual Meeting is also a time for worship, connection, remembrance of those who have died, welcome for new clergy, election of leaders, and other business. There will be workshops on several topics, and even a night of folk dancing at the library! Several of these events (though not the dancing) will be available virtually, should you want to tune in. Here are the agenda and Zoom link for virtual sessions. 

Whether or not you tune in, I that you keep the meeting (Friday-Saturday) in prayer. May it be a time where church leaders find the energy and courage to move forward in faith amidst troubling days.

I’ll see you on Sunday for our Annual Hands-to-Work, Hearts-to-God Sunday.

Pastor Jen