Present: Patricia Lawrence (Chair), Jean Golden, John Larberg, David Seiple, Joe Sprague, John Miller, Clare Price, Bert Davis, David Felton (Interim Conference Minister)

Rev David Felton opened with a prayer

Members of the group introduced themselves and brought to the Committee’s attention various matters relating to happenings within their respective Associations.

The following is a summary of the discussion regarding our new partnership with the EKHN.

Clarification.

The national church of Germany was known formerly as the EKU; recently other churches have joined in an expanded body, now known as the EUK. Our local German partner church (the EKHN) was one of these recent additions.

Background

From the EKHN side

1. The relation between church and state is quite different in Germany from what it is in the US. German churches have assigned neighborhoods, and receive tax support from moneys collected by the government, and much of this funding is devoted to providing social services. This governmental support however is being significantly decreased, leaving the local church with no experience at raising funds.
2. In June 2006 a delegation from two deaneries of the EKHN, plus one delegate from the EUK, were hosted by the Metro Association. They proposed an ecumenical partnership, and this received elaboration in a subsequent meeting at that month’s NY Conference at Silver Lake, which both the Germans and many from our Commission attended. They have since moved ahead with a covenant statement presented to their own governing board.
3. In August, Peter Denenbaum arrived in New York from the EKHN, to serve as pastoral intern. He is now serving as Interim Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Rockaway Beach. His salary is paid by the EKHN, housing provided by our side. Michael Caine has, in effect, taken on the task of mentoring him.

From the UCC side.

After receiving the Affirmation of Kirchengemeinschaft passed by the 24th Synod, and reviewing key passages from ch 7 of Gunnemann’s United and Uniting,” the Committee expressed itself strongly in discussion on two related issues.

1. If we are to move ahead with this covenant arrangement (and no one suggested we not do so), it is important that we really be accountable for our end of the arrangement. Lamentably, this has not always been a strong point for us. John Miller was particularly animated in recounting how promises sometimes get made and then forgotten in our denomination. And it would be embarrassing if that were repeated in this case.
2. If our partnership involves theological dialogue with the Germans, this could help us address a weakness that many in the Committee see in our own church life. Some on the Committee feel especially strongly that liberals have not been persuasive in carrying our message to the society at large, because we have so concerned with tolerating diversity that we have lost the clear voice of defined mission. For that same reason perhaps we have not refined our theological ideas well enough to sustain debate with the other side, and we have let conservative evangelicals steal our own tradition, by default. Dialogue with our German partners might help bring us up to speed on this.

The interest of the EKHN

Specific proposals for the partnership arrangement were advanced by the EKHN delegation, including exchanges of pastors, youth group, and congregational delegations. David Felton reported that the larger collaborative goals of the EKHN are directed at (i) mission towards a population of the poor, which are much less prevalent in Germany than in New York, and (ii) stewardship at the local congregational level, which has been made recently necessary by cuts in tax subsidy.

One additional interest raised by the EKHN was the possibility of theological dialogue.

The interest of the UCC/NY

Among the Committee, there was a consensus around four areas for which we think the EKHN could be a valuable resource for us. (i) The EKHN has taken progressive stands on social issues, which outpace some of the attitudes of some of our own local churches, whose conservative voices often reflect a distant motherland church of yesteryear. (ii) The EKHN have developed ways of delivering social services which we very much lack. (iii) The EKHN appear to have a well-developed youth outreach program. (iv) The EKHN comes from a deeply thoughtful theological tradition which the UCC might benefit from addressing.

1. A combined UCC / EKHN youth work camp to assist those in need in Africa, S. Albany, Broome County, or New Orleans
2. A men’s group….

1. A Steering Committee is needed to facilitate the details of continued contact with the EKHN. It was suggested that the word should go out via email and other contact media, throughout the Conference, to see who might be interested in serving on this.
2. A Covenant Committee will produce a covenant document to serve as a basis for a finalized covenant with the EKHN. David Seiple has agreed to serve, and will contact Wes Bourdette to enlist additional input. Rick Cowles was also put forward as a possible member, pending conferral with Geoffrey Black. (Clare Price commented that the most effective covenant would be one written in plain, non-theological language, accessible to everyone.)
3. David Seiple will contact Michael Caine to see if Peter Denenbaum might be able to get to the Clergy workshop led by Jim Forbes, at Stony Point Nov 6-8.

Comments on the World Council of Churches meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Spring 2006

1. Its venue indicates an appropriate shift from the days when Latin America was excluded from a prime role in the Council
2. Much discussion is needed to address the lack of youth involvement.
3. There was remarkably little coverage of this event in the American media. It was suggested that this might reflect “our” side’s lack of media sophistication: the media have to be treated as a market. (The “God is Still Speaking” Campaign may indicate that we’re finally catching on….)

Next Meeting: January 11, 2007, 12pm – 3pm.