Attendees: Bonnie Bates, Convenor; David Southard, Recorder; Clarence Price, Lawrence Gilley, Nathan Wright, Ginger Comstock, Deanne Bellinger, Gordon Comstock, Bob Welcher, Marjorie Price, Cindy Watrobski, Anthony Green, Kay Woike, and Rick Cowles, Upstate Regional Conference Minister.

Bonnie opened our Meeting at 11:15 AM. Bonnie welcomed all and asked Anthony Green to provide us with an opening prayer. Tony read from a selection of author, Sue Bender, “For the Love of God” and provided us with music, a selection from his collection, “Oh God, Guide me”. Bonnie provided copies of today’s meeting agenda and David circulated a sign-in sheet and asked attendees to add their e-mail addresses. Bonnie thanked the Commission for providing funds for her (April 24) Mission trip to Germany.

Minutes from the January meeting were reviewed. (Bonnie-for David-had made an e-mail transmission to most of the attendees.). The minutes were accepted, by consensus, with the following change. On page 3, 2nd para., remove everything after “Clare said we should hear Barack Obama’s speech to UCC Synod”, in this paragraph, and correct O’bama to read Obama and Senate to read UCC Synod.

This Commission expressed sincere “thanks” to the Clinton Heights Church, UCC, for their donation of funds to aid in support of our covenant with “Mision Cristiana”.

Web Site was next discussed. Lawrence reported that, since all of our Commission members are now on the Yahoo group, we’re welcome to invite others to join the website. Clare stated that our “Disaster Response Plan” is not on the website. Lawrence will investigate and work with Clare to get it there.

Clare spoke of the Wider Church Award and recommended we nominate someone (other than our Commission members) to receive the award at the June UCC NY Conf. Annual Meeting. This award was last given in 2004, to Dr. Gordon Comstock for his work with NYHELP. Bonnie appointed a Nominating Committee, comprised of Clare Price and David Southard to receive nominations and select three (3) finalists for consideration for this award. She asked Clare and David to, also, narrow that down to a single nominee for our Commission to present to the Conference. Please send nominations to Clare or David.

Nathan Wright spoke of the preparations for the impending trip to Nicaragua for (5) of our Commission members to attend the annual Mision Cristiana Conference. The group will leave on Wednesday (3/26/08) after Easter and will confer following our meeting and by teleconference with Melva and Marcie. Bonnie asked whether we should provide a gift from NYConf. and Clare suggested a UCC flag.

Conversation continued about the Nicaragua trip. Melva has some small gifts and Nathan offered to donate a stole for this purpose. Rick will donate his MMI stole. Nathan has offered the use of his cell phone, if needed, to the travelers. Nathan will contact Bonnie when they arrive safely. Tony said he’s waiting to hear some Nicaragua info. Bob Welcher has studied some books about Nicaragua. Nathan mentioned that there are many differences between Central and South America.

Bonnie reported on Melva’s progress to prepare for our Commission’s presence at the NYConference annual meeting at Silver Bay, June 6-8, 2008. Melva needs our help to staff our Commission table(s) at the Annual Conference.

Bonnie distributed our annual Commission report. Corrections were made.

Bob Welcher reported that Phyllis Byrd is in Kenya and will itinerate in June of 2009. He stated that the Hansens will end their sabbatical and return to Honduras in 2010. We will connect with them as a part of our missionary support partnership at that time. Until then Jon and Dan Barnes and Phyllis Byrd will be our missionary partners.

Rick spoke of Global Mission Conference guidelines. Meetings will be held in Cleveland and Bob Welcher has volunteered to attend with Rick David and Bonnie both volunteered as “backup” attendees. Much discussion ensued and our Commission approved Bob’s attendance, by consensus. Bonnie suggested we use the discernment process to determine whether our Conference should be (or be considered as) a Global Commission Conference.

For our lunch break, Melva had provided a responsive (educational) prayer in both Spanish & English, for our grace.

Next on our agenda was The Disaster Response Team (DiRT) discussion. Clare reported that the next meeting will be held on April 1st and he passed out the list of team members who he’ll call, including Regional Coordinators. On April 5th, a training meeting will be held, in Albany, on Disaster Response. Nathan will send two (2) from his church. David will be out of town and unable to attend both meetings. Clare promised to brief him, however. Florence Coppolla has told Clare to be prepared to do Disaster Response mission work following a meeting in New Orleans. Wayne Wilson has offered to coordinate New York disaster relief mission trips. Church World Service (CWS) has a Bucket kit preparation project for Disaster Relief , the contents of which cost about $50. Much discussion ensued about getting our churches involved in this project. Bonnie suggested that we ask churches to bring the buckets to the Annual NY Conf. meeting, in June. Kay Woike suggested we ship the buckets using a CWS truck and Lawrence suggested that Clare check with UPS for a price to ship these buckets, following an annual meeting ceremony to “Bless the Buckets”. Clare is waiting to hear from one additional coordinator from the Southeast Region. He has contacted Eileen Dearborn to serve as a resource for Disaster Response, but has not heard from her. There was a discussion about establishing a network of volunteers throughout NY. Clare seemed to sense that here is more interest in providing dollar donations than bodies, for New Orleans relief. Disaster Relief Coordinators will meet in Gulfport, Mississippi, on May 18-22, 2008. Bonnie will invite Joyce Miller from Black River-St. Lawrence Assoc. to attend Clare’s April 1 meeting.

Bonnie questioned whether there are Global Mission Committees active in each Assoc. of the NY Conf. Oneida Assoc. is re-charging, Susquehanna will nominate members, Metro Assoc. is active---no word from the others as to status. Clare said that we should lay out a list of items to be considered by Assoc. Global Mission Committees.

Kay suggested we hold a NYConf. MMI Training, maybe at Mission Possible III..

Gordon Comstock showed us a slideshow from NYHELP. He said that ½ dozen schools were started in 2007. Many residents of Nicaragua have found employment at the Manguila Dora Clothing Factory in Managua. NYHELP pays the salary for a nurse in La Laguna. From Sustainable Harvest, agronomists from Nicaragua and Honduras gather supplies before our visitors get to La Laguna. Grant writers are being solicited to write grants for education, etc. Gordon spoke of possible “scholarships” for being included on trips to Honduras and Nicaragua.

Bonnie stated that we need to affirm our acknowledgement to become a Global Mission Conference. If this takes a resolution, then the April meeting of the Executive Council would be a good place to discuss, acc. to Clare. Motion made by Kay, 2nded by Nathan, “The NYConf. Commission on the Global Church requests the Executive Council to affirm the process of becoming a Global Mission Conference”. Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion was held concerning the expansion of travel guidelines. “Our mandate is to learn about other cultures and to have partnerships with other (third world) countries”. We might consider fund raising to fund our mission trips. Bonnie suggested we consider partnership with another Commission and with other countries for Mission work. We discussed the importance of paying attention to diversity mix (age, race, sex) of our visiting groups. Clare has been working with Senator Schumer, to allow passports and visas to be approved for trips from Mision Cristiana.

David and Wayne Fuhrman developed a printout of local mission work by churches in the NY Conference. Bonnie will check her files, since she believes that former Convener Brockway sent her these files. David will also research.

Bonnie expressed joy at being our Convenor.

David suggested we consider a “takeaway” (keepsake) from Mission Possible III (such as Jan Aerie provided for Mission Possible I).

Rick asked for comments on what we see as our needs for our Commission.

Request “stories” from our travelers.

Ginger Comstock recommended we read a book entitled, “Three Cups of Tea”.

An Elder in a Baghdad Christian Church wrote a prayer which Kay shared with us, in closing. We adjourned at 2:50 PM.

Our next meeting is Saturday, June 21, 11 AM, at the NY Conference Office.

Respectfully submitted by Recording Secretary David G. Southard.