Ohio Conference Annual Gatherings

2009 Ohio Conference
Annual Gathering

Connecting Vital Ministry Networks

Friday & Saturday, July 24-25

Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio

• It's a new kind of Annual Gathering . . . . . . . • With a new way to register
• Agenda			• Leadership Training for Youth
• Network Meetings and Events	• Church Professional Event
• Gathering for Authorized Ministers & Seminarians New to the Conference
• Annual Gathering 101	• Exhibits
• Wellness Screenings	• Sponsored Meals
• Residence Halls	• Hotels
• Special Needs Information		• Annual Gathering Sponsors
• Other Things You Need to Know About the Annual Gathering
• Ohio Wesleyan University			• Campus Map
• Driving Directions
• Registration Form (PDF) (includes network event registration) To print, complete and mail with your check.
• Registration Packet (PDF) (Complete Annual Gathering information)
• Online Registration with Credit Card Payment Online registration closes at midnight, Tuesday, July 21. If you wish to register on Wednesday, please print a form (PDF above), fax it to us (614-885-8824) and bring your check to the Annual Gathering. All registration closes at 4 pm on Wednesday. After that time, only on-site registration at Ohio Wesleyan will be possible. We cannot guarantee that meals and lodging will be available for walk-in registrations. NOTE: PLEASE REGISTER ONLY 1 PERSON AT A TIME ON EACH ONLINE TRANSACTION. The system will allow you to purchase 2 or more registrations of the same amount, but you will not be able to make individual choices (meals, dorm, network events, delegate status, etc.) or record address, church, phone, etc. for more than 1 registrant. We apologize for the inconvenience.

2009 Annual Gathering Agenda

Friday, July 24
10:00 am	Registration desk opens
10:30 am	Gathering for authorized ministers & seminarians new to the Ohio Conference
Noon	Lunch
1:00 - 5:00	Church Professional Event Leader: Richard Hamm How to Lead Adaptive Change without Losing Your Job or Your Religion Technical changes are relatively easy, but how does one actually lead adaptive change? There are certain elements to adaptive leadership that are predictable and for which you can plan concretely. This seminar will identify these elements and provide step by step guidance in realizing them. More The Church Professional Event is supported by a Richard and Helen Brown Endowment Fund Grant, provided by UCC Local Church Ministries and the United Church Foundation.
5:30	Cookout
6:00 pm	Annual Gathering 101 - If this is your first or second Annual Gathering, this orientation session is for you!
7 - 9 pm	Network Meetings and Events Descriptions Surviving the Conversation, speaker/panel discussion sponsored by the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, Ohio Chapter Urban Churches in Mission - Worship and Sharing Our Churches’ Response to War Interest Group Event Mission Program – sponsored by Global Ministries Ministry in Uncertain Times Conversation with Our Conference Minister and Our Keynote Speaker Leadership Training for Youth
9 – 11 p.m.	Concert Comedy by Rev. Dwight McCormick Music by Mescalito, led by Theo Jackson from David's UCC, Canal Winchester Check out Mescalito's music video and playlist
Saturday, July 25
7:00 – 8:30 am	Breakfast
7:00 - 9:00 am	Wellness screenings (sponsored by UCC Pension Boards, myhealthIQ program)
8:30 am	Announcements
9:00 am	Conference Business — Election, Treasurer’s report, 2010 budget, Paton Awards Keynote Speaker - Rev. Richard Hamm Spiders, Starfishes, and the Church The world has changed remarkably since 1968. Craig’s list has brought newspapers to their knees. Wikipedia has rendered the printed encyclopedia obsolete. Southwest has been eating all the other airlines’ lunch. What do congregations and conferences need to learn from this? Plenary session sponsor: UCC Insurance Board and local agents, Ben Rupp and John Bouhall more
11:45 am	Break/Visit Exhibits
12:00	Worship
1:00	Box lunches
1:30 - 5:00	Network Meetings and Events Descriptions Mini Mission Festival - sponsored by Global Ministries Benevolent Institutions Meeting Disaster Response Team Meeting Urban Churches in Mission Workshop Rural Churches Faith and Money Affinity Group Workshop Our Churches' Response to War Interest Group Event Leadership Training for Youth

Annual Gathering Home

A new kind of Annual Gathering

This summer’s Annual Gathering promises to be a new experience for the Ohio Conference. Not just a gathering of the Conference, the 2009 Gathering will be a collection of gatherings, a meeting of networks.

Groups in the Conference are gathering their own constituencies and holding their own meetings and events. Some of the networks are the LGBT Coalition, the benevolent institutions, urban churches, and folks interested in mission or the ways in which our churches respond to war. There will be financial ministries events and an Outdoor Ministries rally.

There will be two network meeting time blocks, on Friday evening (7 - 9 p.m.) and on Saturday afternoon (1:00 - 5:00 p.m.) Networks can use all or part of the available times.

Each group is arranging their meeting to meet their own needs. The agenda could include learning, connecting, discussion, outreach, or whatever the group wishes. Connecting Vital Ministry Networks, the Annual Gathering theme, describes the intention to provide a time and place for networks of folks passionate about a variety of ministries to come together and invite others to join them. Check out the offerings and plan to join people who share your interests at this year's Annual Gathering.

Network meeting and event details

Annual Gathering Home

A new way to register

Look for a bright yellow & red postcard in the mail.
Pay online with a credit card.

Postcards were mailed in May announcing that Annual Gathering registration will be opening soon. This announcement replaces the packet of information you received in the past. Help us conserve resources and keep your cost low with "paperless" registration. All Annual Gathering information is available here.

Registration Options

Register online and pay with your credit card. Now open. Register now.
Print a registration form and mail it with your check.
Contact the Conference office (800-282-0740, X 1-200 or joyced@ocucc.org) to request mailed materials.

Everyone who attends the Annual Gathering needs to register. Fees depend on the options you choose.

Registration deadline: July 10 • Discount deadline: June 26

Save money – register early! Discounts apply to the registration fee, dorm lodging and meals. Registrations postmarked after June 26 must include the full fee. If we receive your check for a discounted registration fee postmarked after June 26, the balance will be payable when you check in.

Annual Gathering Home

Our Church Professional Event leader and keynote speaker . . .

Dr. Richard L. "Dick" Hamm is Executive Administrator for Christian Churches Together (CCT), a new and very broad ecumenical organization that includes communions from five “families:” Mainline Protestants, Historic Black Churches, Evangelicals/Pentecostals, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox as well as several Christian organizations, including Sojourners, Bread for the World and Habitat for Humanity.

Before assuming this post he was for ten years the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada.

He is a graduate of Butler University and Christian Theological Seminary and served congregations for 23 years in three states and in rural, exurban, urban and suburban settings. He has been an associate minister, founding pastor of a new church, and senior minister of multiple staffs.

In 1990 he received the “Model Minister” Award from the Indiana Region, and in 1993 he was honored as “Tennessee Ecumenist of the Year.” He is a former member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and a former Vice President of the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A.

Dick holds seven honorary degrees and is the author of three books: 2020 Vision for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), From Mainline to Front Line, and Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age.

Annual Gathering Home

Other Things You Need to Know About the Annual Gathering

When You Arrive on Campus When you arrive at Ohio Wesleyan University, please go to the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center lobby to check in and receive your registration packet, dorm assignment and key card. Registration desk hours: Friday, July 24: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parking Parking permits are not required on campus during the Annual Gathering. All parking lots are marked on the campus map. The closest parking lots are located behind the Campus Center and behind Chappelear Theatre and the R.W. Corns Building. On-street parking is also available.

Meals Lunch and dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday will be served in — or in the courtyard outside of — the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. Saturday breakfast will be served in the cafeteria in Smith Residence Hall. Please indicate on your registration form if you would like vegetarian meals or if you have other dietary needs. Sponsored Meals

Residence Halls We will be using Smith Residence Hall East and West on the Ohio Wesleyan campus. Smith Hall is air conditioned. This is basic dormitory housing with two single beds per bedroom. Almost all rooms are part of 2-room suites; suitemates share a bathroom. Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis. See the registration form for rates and other information. Note that early registration discounts apply to dorm lodging costs as well as the basic registration fee. LINENS: Sheets, pillow, pillowcase, one blanket, two towels and a washcloth are provided. You may want to consider bringing another blanket and towel. Photos and descriptions of residence halls Residence hall floor plans

Handicap Accessibility The buildings we will use for the 2009 Annual Gathering are handicap accessible and are located close to each other. Because Smith Residence Hall, where most people will stay, is located down a fairly steep hill from the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, golf cart transportation will be available for anyone who would like to use it. You can also drive to Smith Residence Hall and park behind it. Wheelchair accessible dorm rooms are available on request. Annual Gathering Home

OC Home		Top
Ohio Conference UCC, 6161 Busch Blvd., Suite 95, Columbus OH 43229 • 800-282-0740 • 614-885-0722 • ohioucc@ocucc.org