90th Maritime Conference Annual Meeting – May 28-31, 2015 Digest of Actions
President Gloria Churchill presided over the 90th meeting of Maritime Conference. Moderator Gary Paterson offered leadership in the theme, “Live the Promise, That All May Be.” John Joe Sark, Lennox Island First Nation, offered a smudging ceremony and presented an eagle feather to Gary Paterson, Moderator, and Gloria Churchill, President. John Joe addressed the court.
Conference welcomed ecumenical guests, Rev. Juanita Barteaux, Diocese of Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island, Rev. Cathy Laskey, Diocese of Fredericton; Rev. Charles Broderick, Moncton Archdiocese, and Rev. John MacDonald, Atlantic Ecumenical Council.
Bronwyn Corlett, Program Coordinator, Ministry Recruitment, Ministry and Employment Unit, represented the General Council Office, while Kenji Marui, member of the Comprehensive Review Task Group, was present as resource to that work.
Laurence DeWolfe, represented Atlantic School of Theology. Michelle Ferris represented Tatamagouche Centre.
Worship throughout the meeting was led by Shawn Redden, Robyn Brown-Hewitt, Dan Edmonds, Michael Mugford and Thomas Burton. The music team was Thomas Burton, Paige Morrissey, Thea Burton and Dan Edmonds.
The opening worship included an act of remembrance in honour of Ms. Isabel Archibald, Rev. Ranald Cameron, Mr. Eldon Rogerson Critchley, Rev. Robert “Bob” Crooks, Ms. Pauline Ervin, Rev. Murray Favier, Mr. Alan Fleming, Ms. Mary Tait Fraser, Rev. Eric G. Fullerton, Rev. Allan Griffin, Rev. Ross Hamilton, Ms. Jean Eleanor Hannan, Rev. Richard Humby, Rev. Dr. Leonard “Avery” Kempton, Ms. Vivien Kierstead, Mr. Dean Lawrence, Rev. James Allistar MacDonald, Rev. John “Fraser” MacDonald, Rev. Norman MacDougall, Ms. Johanna MacKenzie, Ms. Dorothy MacNeill, Rev. Boyce Martin, Rev. Ewen Moase, Rev. John Patterson, Rev. Linda Reid, Rev. Samuel Shields, Mr. Myles Silliker, Rev. John Stewart, Rev. Kimly “Ruth” Stuart, Ms. Norma Williston, and Ms. Ruby Willis.
Maritime Conference has agreed to become an Affirming Ministry within The United Church of Canada. After a variety of amendments were offered, the statements “Envisioning Affirming Ministry” and “Enacting Affirming Ministry” were approved. Affirm United will be consulted on the final wording, which will be posted on the Conference website as soon as it is available. The Affirming Task Group team consists of April Hart, Meggin King, Jane Johnson, and Bob Johnson, staffed by David Hewitt.
General Council Youth Forum participant and “pilgrim,” Max Martin, shared his experiences of being part of Youth Forum.
Reports from all of the Committees of Conference were received, and most were approved in written form. Conference heard reports from Archives, Church in Action, Nominations, Ministry Personnel and Education, Settlement, and Stewardship.
Ross Bartlett, Staff Committee, thanked and introduced the Maritime Conference staff. Rev. Janice MacLean, was celebrated for her years of service at Maritime Conference Office.
General Council Executive representatives Ivan Gregan and Pauline Walker reported on the work of the General Council Executive.
Finance and Property offered the budget for 2016, including a Narrative Budget. Conference approved the 2016 budget: o expenditures of $1,233,663.64 o revenues other than Allocations of $298,972.00 o allocations to synod/presbyteries totaling $934,365.99 o a cash reserve of $20,000
The remaining Commissioners to General Council were elected. Krista Tabour and Ross Bartlett were elected as Commissioner nominees to the General Council Sessional Committee on the Comprehensive Review.
Catherine Stuart, Bedeque, PEI, was elected as President-Designate, to take office in 2016.
Sean Handcock, Rothesay, NB, was elected as the Ministry Personnel representative to the General Council Executive.
24 different Proposals were addressed by Conference dealing with a variety of issues including the Comprehensive Review. When the final text of these Proposals is available, they will be posted on the Conference website. To see the original Proposals, please visit the Conference Annual Meeting page at: http://marconf.ca/45397-proposals/
Conference celebrated the ministries of Retirees, Anne Dalziel Singer, Ron Frampton, John W. Fraser, Gayle MacDonald, Brenda McKay, Pamela S. Reidpath, Jeanne M. Manning Stright, Gordon S. Murray, Joy Noble, and Keith Selwyn-Smith.
Conference also recognized Jubilarians:
o 50 Years – Garth Caseley, Nancy K. Fraser, A. Ross MacDonald, Hugh C. MacLean, J. Allan McIntosh, Thomas G. Whent
o 55 Years – Morley P. Bentley, Heber G. Colbourne, J. Raymond H. Corbett, Ray A. Francis, Ian K. MacDonald, Donald S. MacDougall, Eric W. Pace
o 60 Years – Robert A. Wallace
o 65 Years – H. Gilmour MacKenzie, Herbert W. Reid
Saturday evening worship was led, enthusiastically and energetically, by Youth Forum and Intermediates at Conference, through music, skits and stories.
The 91 st Annual Meeting of the Maritime Conference will be held in Sackville, New Brunswick May 26-29, 2016. Proposed dates for future conference annual meetings are May 25-28, 2017 and May 24-27, 2018.
The 90th Maritime Conference Annual Meeting concluded in worship during which Barbara Cairns, Bethe Anne Benjamin Cameron, Rachel Anne Campbell, Susan Sandford Gamblin, Anne Hoganson, and Yvette V.A. Swan were ordained.
Matthew Fillier, President-Elect, was installed as President of the 91 st Maritime Conference and presented with the symbols of that office, including the Conference Bible, the President’s stole, cane and gavel.
