Disabilities Ministries Team
Connecticut Conference
2008 Activity

The team met in New Haven on April 25, 2008.

In attendance were Jacky Schofield, Ann Marino and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. Preparations for an information table to be set up at the upcoming Annual Conference Spring Meeting.

• To have an A2A poster made
• To obtain a tri-fold stand for the poster
• To make copies of several documents for the table (A2A Guide for Ushers, A2A Worship Guidelines, a sign-up sheet for people interested in working on the team, “Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body” – A2A brochure, several flyers from the UCC Mental Illness Network).

2. The need to grow our team and ways in which it may be accomplished.

3. Goal of applying for official status as a Ministry Team within the Connecticut Conference in September.

4. Most efficient way to communicate with and visit churches within the Connecticut Conference that have worked to achieve accessibility and to disseminate information abut A2A.

May

1. An information table on Disability Ministry and A2A was set up at the Conference Annual Spring Meeting on May 10, 2008.

The table was staffed alternately by team members and a good number of people stopped for information and pamphlets, but only two people expressed interest in working on our team. We followed up with both people and Their contact information has been retained for future reference.

2. Two articles on the team and A2A were published by the Conference. One in the “Conference Call” newsletter and One on the Conference website “ConnnTact.” Visit at http://www.ctucc.org. Go to NEWS, ConnTact, Archives,

June
The team met in New Haven on June 5, 2008.

In attendance were Jacky Schofield and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. The response to the sign-up sheet at the Spring Meeting.
• Both interested parties had been contacted and their numbers kept for future reference.

2. How best to locate and contact potential new team members from around the Conference.
• We discussed the possibility of sending out a letter to all pastors and/or Regional Ministers asking for names of people who may be interested in joining the team.
3. What would be the most efficient way to locate and visit churches that have already done the most towards full accessibility?
• The possibility of directly contacting and visiting local churches, or
• Asking Regional Ministers to assist in targeting specific churches.

Meeting held in New Haven on June 18, 2008.

In attendance were Ann Marino and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. Using their knowledge of local churches and their members, they finalized plans to contact Regional Ministers to recruit a diverse core team.

2. The plan also included a way to elicit information about churches that have already taken steps to welcome and embrace members with disabilities. These churches would be recognized at the Fall conference Meeting.
• Ann Marino will compose a letter to all Regional Ministers asking for their help in locating potential team members as well as identifying local churches that have taken steps toward accessibility.

July
July 31 Meeting

In attendance: Ann Marino, Jacky Schofield, Karen Jodice

Issues Discussed:
1. Letter sent to Regional Ministers

a. Plan to follow up by phone approximately the third week in August.

2. Next step (back-up plan) will be to send email through
FIDO to all local churches/pastors.

a. What accommodations have the churches made for
people with disabilities.
b. Asking for help in finding people interested in
working on the committee.

3. Discussed plans for upcoming Annual Fall
Conference Meeting.

a. We would confirm that we could speak at the meeting
b. How to execute our plan to “hold-up” churches
that had already made accommodations for people
with disabilities (from answers to our emails).

i. Post names of churches at our display table
ii. Verbally acknowledge during our time to speak

August

No meeting held. Our letter to the Regional Ministers had little success. We decided to go ahead with our back-up plan to send a letter to all local churches in the Conference.

September
September 18 Meeting

In Attendance: Ann Marino, Karen Jodice, Jacky Schofield

Items Discussed:

1. Responses from applicants for the team

2. Discussed plan for the Annual Fall Conference Meeting

3. Discussed application for Conference standing as a ministry team.

a. Reviewed draft of Mission Statement
b. Jacky Schofield will be voting delegate

October

Connecticut Conference Annual Fall Meeting, October 18

1. Two minute “speak-out”

a. Invite churches to consider becoming A2A
b. “Hold-up” some of the churches that responded to our email (regarding accommodations they had already made) so that we could all celebrate together the work done so far toward accessibility
c. Set up a display table with A2A brochures and a flyer with our contact information.
d. Placed a tri-fold screen on the display table with our A2A poster and the names of all the churches that responded to our emails.

November

No meeting

Received official recognition from the Connecticut Conference Board of Directors as The Disabilities Ministries Team of the Connecticut Conference.

December
No meeting

Began contacting new volunteers for the team and scheduling a January meeting.