The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ met on August 3, 2013 at Parkview UCC in White Bear Lake.  The Reverend Deborah Hasdorff greeted the Board members and led them in opening prayer.  She then shared the success of the congregation's just

The Board accepted the resignation of Rev. Jeff Sartain from the Board of Directors and the Rev. Mark Pettis from the Pilgrim Point Camp Committee.  It then approved recommendations from the Nominating Work Group to appoint Rev. Obadiah (Oby) Ballinger, Community United Church of Christ, St. Paul Park to serve on the Board of Directors for the remainder of Rev. Sartain's term and Nancy Johnson, Mizpah United Church of Christ, Hopkins, MN to fill the vacancy on the Pilgrim Point Camp Committee. 

Nancy Maloney Johnson, First United Church of Christ, Norhtfield, provided an update on Pilgrim Point Camp. She shared metrics from the 2012 - 2013 camping year which reported an increase in camper nights while noting early spring events had to be cancelled due to weather. On July 25th, the Pilgrim Point Camp Committee (PPCC) met with consultants from Kaleidoscope to hear preliminary results of their visit to the camp.  Kaleidoscope reported they were pleased with what they had observed thus far citing significant progress from their review of the camp in 2010. They noted a new atmosphere of welcome and hospitality, increasing numbers of campers, and the participation of new congregations. The Board will review their final report at the Board meeting on November 2. The Board then worked to finalize objectives for a joint meeting with PPCC in early September, which has an overall goal to improve clarity and transparency with regard to communication and decision-making following the receipt of the report from Kaleidoscope. 

Three taskforces were appointed to assist with transition activities for our new conference Minister:

Extravagant Welcome - Rev. Jeff Palmer, Bethlehem UCC, Maple Lake; Conee Biggs, Falcon Heights UCC, Falcon Heights; Rev. Tara Bauer, Plymouth Congregational, Minneapolis; Cecelia Baxter, Falcon Heights UCC, Falcon Heights; Chelle Lyon Hanson, First Congregational UCC, Moorhead; Rev. Alan McNamara, Chapel Hills UCC, Edina; Sham Moteelall, St. John's UCC, Norwood Young America;  Rev. John Ross, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata; and Bob Ramsey, Union Congregational UCC, St. Louis Park.

Communication - Rev. Clyde Steckel, First Congregational Church of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Rev. Mark Kuether, Congregational UCC, Detroit Lakes;  Maureen Engelhart, Mayflower UCC, Minneapolis; Rev. Frank Bennett, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata; Rev. Howard Bell, Acting Conference Minister, UCC in New Brighton, New Brighton;  and Rev. Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister-Elect; upon her arrival in October.

Conference Minister Support - Lisa Lindesmith, Robbinsdale UCC, Robbinsdale; Rev. Clyde Steckel, First Congregational of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Rev. John Ross, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata; Chelle Lyons Hanson, First Congregational UCC, Moorhead;  Spencer Kvam, Granite Falls UCC, Granite Falls; and Dawn Schilling, UCC in New Brighton, New Brighton.

Barbara Peterson, UCC in New Brighton, New Brighton; provided a report of giving from Friends of the Conference. As of June 2013, the Annual Fund has received nearly $66,000 toward the $80,000 goal from 237 donors; the Friends of Pilgrim Point Camp Fund has received nearly $25,000 from individuals and churches; and the New Initiative Fund has received nearly $21,000 from individuals and churches. The Board approved a new Gift Acceptance Policy as submitted by the Development Committee and was asked to review a draft of the Endowment Policy.

Other activities of the Board included: received and discussed reports from the Conference staff noting that Wade Zick has been appointed to the Board of United Church Funds; named a group to identify potential search committee members for the settled Associate Conference Minister position; discussed the results of exit interviews held with Rev. Dr. Karen Smith Sellers and Rev. Elena Larssen; received the third quarter financial report and was informed that the Finance Committee has begun its review of implications of the vote at both the Conference Annual Meeting and General Synod to divest from fossil fuel. 

Board members will participate in the Fall Leadership Retreat at Pilgrim Point Camp on September 6 and 7 and will hold its next Board meeting on September 7, 2013.  

Submitted by Janet Bartz, Congregational UCC, Rochester