Central Atlantic Conference
United Church of Christ
Friends of the Conference Appeal – 2007
November 2007
Dear Friend of the Central Atlantic Conference,
“I love my church because it’s sort of like The Wizard of Oz—it’s about having a heart and a brain. And courage!”
That’s the theme on the cover of this year’s UCC Desk Calendar and it captures, for many of us, what we love about the United Church of Christ. And because we love this church, we want to support it.
That’s why we’re writing: to ask you to close out this, the 50th anniversary year of the United Church of Christ, by contributing again to the annual “Friends of the Central Atlantic Conference” appeal.
The bulk of support for the Central Atlantic Conference comes through congregations’ gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission, or OCWM. Sixty-five percent of those contributions are used by the conference, and 35 percent are forwarded to the national church to support its programs. We are gratified that overall, OCWM gifts to the Central Atlantic Conference grew last year, enabling us to continue to play a leadership role in the national church.
But budgets remain tight, which is why the Friends of the Conference appeal was launched in 2004 to provide a special opportunity for individuals, churches and others to support our ministries. Since then, we’ve been gratified by the response. In 2005, we raised $27,633 and last year gifts grew to $43,162. How do these dollars help? They enable the conference and its staff to:
- Support churches during their search for a new pastor and other times of congregational transitions;
- Provide resources to local churches—through annual meetings, workshops and staff support—for stewardship, Christian Education, and other important ministries;
- Serve as a prophetic voice for churches in our region—before state and local governments and in the media on the most critical issues of our day;
- Minister to our sisters and brothers in the Gulf Coast, Colombia, South Africa and other parts of the world;
- Respond on our behalf at times of crisis, such the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech University last spring;
- Build relationships with other denominations and religious organizations in our region to foster understanding and pursue common goals.
Many of you previously responded to the United Church of Christ’s special appeal for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Our work in the Gulf Coast continues to this day. This year, 10 percent of gifts to the Friends of the Conference appeal will be designated to support the Conference budget for missions, including our work in the Gulf Coast and our international partnerships in Colombia, South Africa and Germany. In the coming year, we will also be expanding our ministries to and with young people, thanks in part to a new endowment fund created for that purpose.
This year, there is a special reason to contribute: Homewood Retirement Centers has offered to match all new and increased gifts, up to a total of $5,000. We appreciate this generous offer as Homewood continues to celebrate its own 75th anniversary. We hope you will take this opportunity to double the value of your new gift.
When the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow joined Dorothy on her trip to Oz, they all discovered what could be accomplished when they brought their unique gifts together. Please join us on this journey by sending in your contribution in the enclosed envelope. Help the Central Atlantic Conference continue to grow its ministries in the UCC’s next 50 years!
Sincerely,
Sara Fitzgerald Bob Ziegler
President, Board of Directors Chair, Stewardship Task Force
Central Atlantic Conference Central Atlantic Conference
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