The East Coast Conference Annual Meetings were held in Cromwell, CT on May 1,2, and 3 at the Hilltop Covenant Church (Ministerial Association), Bethany Covenant Church and the Children’s Home of Cromwell. Meals for the Ministerial Association were provided by the food services of Covenant Village of Cromwell.

The theme for the Annual Meeting was “Together in One Accord: Captured by a 2020 Vision”. The meetings began on Friday afternoon with three well attended church leader workshops led by our three conference commissions – Church Growth, Church Missions, and Christian Formation.

A complimentary dinner buffet fed over 140 people prior to the opening Worship Celebration Service.

A Conference Worship Celebration Service was held at Bethany Covenant Church.  The service was led by a conference wide worship team gathered from seven churches. Superintendent Howard Burgoyne preached from Psalm 126 and Acts 4, emphasizing the power of prayer and unity among God’s people as we move forward together “in one accord.”

Associate Superintendent Rev. Peter Sung was installed with prayer and the laying on of hands.  As a first act of ministry Rev. Sung joined Rev. Burgoyne by reading the Scriptures and by officiating at the Lord’s Supper in the service.

A new conference logo, a sailboat moving under full sails, and slogan, “…on the move” was introduced.
It signifies the Conference’s identity as a movement of God – and the word “move” highlights four priorities:

M-multiplying congregations by planting new missional churches;
O-orchestrating ministries by connecting churches in shared mission;
V-vitalizing congregations by coaching leaders towards renewal;
E-empowering leaders by building a culture of trustworthy leadership;

101 Delegates from 51 of 68 Conference Churches participated in the Saturday business meeting at The Children’s Home of Cromwell, with total attendance of over 150 people.  Rev. Donn Engebretson, Executive Vice President of the ECC, brought greetings and a report on the mission and growth of the Covenant worldwide. A BBQ luncheon was served at the Children’s Home after the meeting.

A report was received from a Conference Board Revisioning Task Force, highlighting the great urgency of focusing on increased church planting and church revitalization. 70% of conference churches show a five plus year rate of numerical decline in attendance and membership from 2000-2005, with a loss of over 1,500 attenders. 20% of our churches show a numerical rise in attendance and membership for this period, with a gain of 1,100 attenders, for a net loss of 400 attenders. 10% of conference churches report no gain or loss. During these same years area population in the conference grew by 3% which represents almost 2,000,000 more people.

A set of strategic and prayerful Conference goals was adopted with a view towards 2020:

n     100 + vital congregations growing deeper in Christ and further in mission;

n     Dozens of new churches planted and growing in every state and the District of Columbia;

n     5,000 new followers of Jesus being discipled and serving Christ in our churches;

n     Our churches doubling the number of people they now serve outside their congregation;

n     A new generation of believers raised up who embody the love, grace and justice of Jesus;

n     Growing ethnic and cultural diversity and inclusion within and among our churches;

n     Churches and districts partnering in local ministries and global mission.

n     Regionally expanded Christian camping and spiritual retreat ministries.

A new congregation was adopted by the conference, the Paradise Holtszchwamm Covenant Church, of Thomasville, PA. This congregation has served since the 18^th century in the community just west of York, PA. The pastor is Rev. Thomas Bellis. They report 241 members and weekly attendance of 120.

Three new church planting missions are under way in, with more in development for later in 2008:

·    Harlem, NY (Metro Hope Covenant Church) being planted by Rev. Jose Humphreys.

·    Brookline, MA (Highrock Covenant Church-Brookline) being planted by Rev. Joshua Throneburg
    and Rev. Dan Lee (a daughter church of Highrock Covenant Church, Arlington, MA).

·    Sanford, ME (Evergreen Covenant Church) being planted by Rev. Frank Catalano.

Church revitalization strategies are underway across the conference with the hosting of church vitality workshops (VERITAS) from the ECC Department of Church Growth & Evangelism. Since May 2007, 5 workshops have been scheduled in the Conference, engaging 42 congregations and over 340 pastors and church leaders. A day of continuing education was held for pastors focused on congregational readiness for transformation and revitalization with Dr. George Bullard and Dr. John Wenrich on May 1. Churches now have opportunities to cluster together for revitalization efforts and to receive customized leadership coaching through Ministry Advantage (www.ministryadvantage.org).

 A 2009 Conference Mission Budget was adopted for $719,000 of which $377,000 is required from Conference Churches, a 15% increase from 2008. This budget will allow the Conference to significantly advance both church planting and church revitalization initiatives. Each church was asked to support the Conference mission with 5% investment of their local church income. The Conference Board is seeking to raise $75,000 in contributions directly from Conference church member households, seeking 100% participation in direct support. Covenant Church planting matching appropriations exceeds $100,000.

A Conference wide mission project was adopted to help the Koyuk, Alaska Covenant Church. The project will provide critical repairs and improvements to the parsonage. Each Covenant Conference has been asked to adopt a village. The Conference Commission on Church Life/Missions will take point on this mission project, and small work teams will be scheduled to go to Alaska in 2009 to work on the parsonage. Funds will also need to be raised to underwrite these repairs.

Powerful testimonies of God’s grace and care were heard on Friday and Saturday, along with stirring reports from a variety of conference and Covenant missions, agencies, and representatives.

A newly designed Conference website is up and being redeveloped – www.eastcoastconf.org.

Delegates brought forward hundreds of names representing prayers and personal witness to support the Bringing My World to Christ initiative. These names will be brought to the ECC Annual Meeting in June in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Two Bylaw changes to the Conference were approved, one eliminating mandated retirement age and term limits on the Conference Superintendency, and a second redefining the role of District Trustees.

An invitation for the 2009 Conference Annual Meeting was extended from the St. Paul’s Wolf’s Evangelical Covenant Church and the Paradise Holtzschwamm Covenant Churches in York, PA.