Mike Denton Speak to Us

The Conference staff was given great thanks for their good work by Mike has he addressed our gathering.

Thanks to:
Arlene Hobson, who runs the Conference office and is there for all of us
Michelle Johanson, our Church Accountant
Randy and Deeg our Camp Directors

University Congregational United Church of Christ our host for this event were thanked by Mike for all their good work. This is the first time in more than ten years that an Annual Meeting was held in a church. There were difficult moments and complications but with everyone's good work and spirit, it has been done and done well.

Mike is pleased that whether he is sick or not -- we have built momentum that the work of the Conference has been spread out and does not depend on just him. The Conference as a movement is growing. We are not structured like a business or even other denominations -- our institutions are meant to support the "movement" with the Spirit that makes us a Conference at its best.

The UCC Environmental Justice Center is an example of what we can do working with our National institutions to make a movement happen.

If we do it right....many things we do will move from being institutional driven to movement driven.

"Appropriate Resistance" is needed within the institutional life of our church. I want to hear more about this.

Most effective churches are no more than 1/3 institutional and no less than 2/3 a movement. This is beginning to happen in the Conference as well. This is a time for the rise of movements.

Effective leadership today entails knowing how to move between institutions and movements and use the technology tools to build relationships. Mike pointed to Youth Minister from this host church Margaret Irribarra as one who is showing new ways to do this.

Mike says, "Sisters and Brothers, I am excited about where some of these roads might take us."

Add your comments...what did I miss from Mike's talk.