Northeast Conference

The Northeast Conference has maintained its schedule of monthly meetings through out the year.  It was agreed at the annual conference meeting in May 2005 that for the current season, 05-06, Conference meetings would be held at one site.  The conference chose Redeemer, Woodstock as the meeting place.  In keeping with this decision the Conference has met each month and attendance at these gatherings has been fair to good. 

In addition to the celebration of Word and Sacrament, attendees share a program offering and a time of mutual encouragement.  Professional leaders and guests are thus provided with a supportive community experience.  For 2005-06, a schedule of programs was drawn up and offered for edification and growth.  These programs included, in part, a study on how the movie Narnia might be used for teaching the faith.  We also had programs on disaster preparedness and a program on the resources available for pastors to use in working with needs of member families—or our own.  Our program Chairperson, Deaconess Cheryl Erdman, has done a very diligent job of providing material that is helpful to the professional leaders in our conference.  All of the program presentations for 05-06 were very much appreciated. 

A real sense of community continues to grow in the conference leadership. 

Since Assembly 2005 we have said goodbye to several colleagues in our conference.  We pray God’s blessing on their continued journey in the Spirit.

At our annual meeting in May, 2006 It decided that beginning in September we would alternate meetings between Salem, Sycamore and Redeemer, Woodstock so as to equalize the amount of travel done by members of the conference. May 2006 marked the last of our monthly gatherings until September of this year.

We are grateful to God for his presence and guidance during the past year.  May we continue, in the coming year, to be open to the Spirit’s leading as we partner with one another in Making Christ Known.  For me, it is a gift to serve with my sisters and brothers of the Northeast Conference.

Finally, I offer my heartfelt thanks to Pr. Rebecca Gordon for her careful and supportive ministry as Secretary/Treasurer of the conference and to Deaconess Cheryl Erdman for her ministry of providing helpful and informative programs for the conference.  We thank Redeemer and Pr. Thomas Rogers for so graciously hosting our meetings throughout this year.  Finally, let me note that we have been blessed by Pr. Jeff Clements’ support for our conference in all the ways he is ministering to, with and for us. 

Robert C. Kinnear
Dean, Northeast Conference