EVA 2011 Annual Meeting

Above Photo: "Keep your hands where I can see them and do not make any sudden moves."
-Drew Morris

An extravagant welcome -- extended by leaders and members of Laurel Hill United Church of Christ -- greeted delegates attending the 2011 42nd Annual Gathering of the Eastern Virginia Association Annual Meeting. “The facility changes, the Church remains,” stated Madeline Beard as part of her opening devotions. “Didn’t she play a mean saxophone,” asked John Myers, president of the Association, referring to the soulful music of Luefras Robinson, whose music filled the church halls for the entirety of the registration process. Host pastor Carl Sweat rolled out the red carpet, literally with a UCC logo at the sanctuary entrance, and figuratively with his attention to details (including celebration of the Eucharist, a personal greeting to a camp director visitor from afar, and willingness to go the second mile to enhance a power point presentation).

While the meeting’s theme evoked images of “We are The Church” from Romans 12:4-5, another phrase, attributed to Einstein, prodded and haunted listeners minds: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” Myers, in his report, asked the gathered to think outside the box, using technologies in new ways and adjusting to the times in which we live. He described the Eastern Virginia Association as proactive. Drawing on military imagery he knew many of his colleagues would understand, he suggested, “We’re [EVA] at the tip of the spear.” Specifically, Myers outlined three goals of the Association: 1) Keep the EVA office open. 2) Continue employing the excellent work of the Association secretary, Kay Simons. 3) Take on the functions of the ACM (Associate Conference Minister), namely, the tasks of “search and call” and business of “conflict resolution.

There was an energy about this day, but also a tension. Nine of the Association’s 44 congregations are presently in a search and call process, as noted in the Churcch and Ministry Report. A minister who had been subject of a fitness review stood visibly at the sanctuary entrance. Conference restructuring, forcing loss of ACM positions, was advanced to a new level when Drew Morris accepted a plaque saying “thank you.” But, in support of a future ministry, money from the Christian Missionary Association in the amount of $12,000 was granted to EVA for engagement of a transition ministry. Also, the designated status was removed from a “Lake Prince Retreat Fund” in the amount of approximately $13,000, with money to be transferred to the EVA General Fund in support of ongoing work of the Association.

The Reverend Drew Morris took to the pulpit for a special message in this waning phase of his ACM role. He referenced a favorite biblical hero -- Moses -- and reflected on the tension between Moses’ experience on the mountain and the the response of the people who were left behind. The people complained, says Morris: “It was so much better way back then.” Paraphrasing those people’s responses, he continues: ”We don’t need that God. We can make another God. We have autonomy.” Rev. Morris adds, to press the tension, “We are also in a covenantal relationship to do good things, but we allow ourselves to be distracted by the world.” Is the focus of the Church about “us” or “them?” Reflecting later on his message, Drew described it as “flat, but not angry,” as he grappled with an internal discernment process of determining and accepting an appropriate time of transition and retirement. [C.L.S.]

Minutes from 2010 Meeting

Treasurer's Report

Church & Ministry Report

Christian Missionary Association Report

EVA Proposed Mission Plan

Southern Conference Restructuring Documents

1) Creating Covenant Community (c)

2) Restructuring (Power point Presentation) (c)

For additional Eastern Virginia Association news: eva-soc-ucc.org

Photo Journal of Eastern Virginia Association 2011 Meeting

Photo Highlights... [photos by C. L. "Curly" Stumb]

1. Entrance of sanctuary at Laurel Hill UCC

2. EVA secretary Kay Simons processes nearly 100 registered guests who attended the meeting.

3. "Didn't she [Luefras Robinson] play a mean saxophone?" asked Rev. John Myers.

4. Rev. Drew Morris receives plaque honoring his service as ACM

5. Susie Keele steps to mike to address treasury issue of a retreat center fund, and later to highlight support for The Rev. Rita Cargil-Brown benefit

6. Extending the right hand of fellowship

7. Rev. John Myers leads discussion group on the "Restructuring Covenant Community" document

8. Rev. Lisa Gaul leads discussion group on the "Restructuring Covenant Community" document

9. Laurel Hill UCC Choir

10. Newly elected EVA leaders are installed