Simon’s Says
Last week I joined a group of about seventy clergy and laity across the historic Connecticut Conference to register our concern about the Southern New England Conference’s plan to sell Silver Lake Conference Center and dissolve its parent entity, the Missionary Society of Connecticut. A vote to effect both plans was scheduled for September’s Annual Meeting of the SNEUCC, and we felt that Connecticut’s voice was neither heard nor honored in the process. (When the SNEUCC was formed in 2020, the merger among the CT, RI and MA Conferences included the stipulation that the former, or historic, Connecticut Conference would retain agency for both Silver Lake and the MSC.)
Following a meeting of the MSC Board and Conference leadership Wednesday night, September’s vote, which is actually a ratification of the merger, will still take place, but a provision will be carved out to retain Connecticut’s agency vis-à-vis Silver Lake and the MSC. At a later date, Connecticut will determine the course of action for the two entities. The United Church of Chester has multiple family connections with Silver Lake, my own included. While it is still unlikely that the SLCC can afford to operate as it has in the past, at least those of us in Connecticut will have a much greater voice in the center’s future. It is my understanding that The Rev Darrell Goodwin, SNEUCC’s Executive Director, will be writing a letter to our churches to this effect in the next few days. I’m grateful that our voices have been heard and acknowledged.
Sunday will be a special day for us at the United Church, as we honor and celebrate our choir and our retiring Music Director Karli Gilbertson. A special Coffee Hour will be held in Karli’s honor after worship this week, one of two celebrations of her ministry among us – the second will take place Sunday July 19.
Links to this week’s bulletin and service are here: