Dear Friends, 

Avery Post, former President of the United Church of Christ, once described the UCC as a "heady exasperating mix...."   Every two years this "mix" gathers to do business, worship, offer a witness to the world, and have a family reunion.  Our reunion took place in Tampa, Florida at the beginning of July, with seven delegates from the Southeast Conference and over 50 visitors.

In the bigger picture of the United Church of Christ, we bid thanks and farewell to three members of the Collegium of the denomination:  Edith Guffey, who has served as the Associate General Minister; Steve Sterner, Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries; and Callie Rogers-Witte, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries. They will be succeeded respectively by Mark Clark, a lay leader from Southwest Conference, Ben Guess, who had led the publishing  and communication ministry of the UCC, and James Moos, a local church pastor from North Dakota with a long interest in global ministry. The Synod also approved the proposal for a unified governance model described as a "missional model for us to do ministry in a post-modern world." The proposal will now be submitted to the 38 conferences for their approval.  The highlight of the worship services for us from the Southeast Conference was the closing service at which our own Elizabeth Clement preached,  filling the room with the power of her singing voice and the eloquence of her vision.

As noted, we gathered for witness as well.  Associate Conference Minister, Kathy Clark, our former Associate Conference Minister, Joyce Hollyday, Tom Warren, the pastor of Pleasant Hill Community UCC, were a part of a witness For peace, "Fallen is Babylon" exploring the theme of the United States as empire.  The gathering met for reflection and prayer at the beginning of Synod, and then at the end, met for a service of "sack cloth and ashes"  at the gates of MacDill military base, from which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been conducted.

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Peace,