wfn.org | UCC celebrates past, welcomes new in weekend event

[powellb@ucc.org]

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June 19, 2000
Office of Communication
United Church of Christ
For more information, contact:
Ron Buford, 216-736-2222
<bufordr@ucc.org>
Barb Powell, 216-736-2217
<powellb@ucc.org>
On the Web: <http://www.ucc.org>

EDITORS: See end of release for complete agenda, including
photo and video opportunities.

UCC celebrates past, welcomes new in weekend event

     CLEVELAND -- The United Church of Christ has
reason to celebrate: this weekend marks the 43rd anniversary
of the founding of the church, the 10th anniversary of the
denomination's move to Cleveland, and the beginning of a
new way of doing the business of the church.  To honor all of
these events, and more, the UCC is holding "Celebration
2000," June 22-25 in Cleveland.
     Some 2,000 people from the United States, Puerto
Rico and the Philippines will join the celebration, culminating
a five-year restructure process, to honor and bid farewell to
current and past structures and staff, and to welcome new
boards of directors.
     Celebration 2000 will include such special events as:
  * A keynote address by the Rev. Andrew Young,
former U.N. ambassador and Mayor of Atlanta; Saturday,
June 24, 2000, 6:30- 9 p.m., Cleveland Convention Center,
Lakeside Avenue at West Sixth.  The banquet also will
honor past leaders who have guided the church during its first
43 years.

  * Installation of the new Collegium of Officers,
Sunday, June 25, 2:30 p.m., Music Hall at the Convention
Center. The installation will take place during the closing
worship service of Celebration 2000, on the 43rd anniversary
of the church and at the site of its "Uniting General Synod."
On June 25, 1957, leaders of the UCC's predecessor bodies --
the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical
and Reformed Church -- came together at Music Hall to form
the church.

  * A free concert by University of the Philippines
Concert Chorus, Saturday, June 24, 1-3 p.m., the UCC's
Amistad Chapel, 700 Prospect Ave.

  "Celebration 2000 is something for all of us to
experience," says Edith A. Guffey, the UCC's Associate
General Minister-Elect. "We hope many UCC members will
join us as we celebrate, in the words of our theme, 'Faithful
Legacy, Fervent Hope.'"
  Indicative of the denomination's new structure is its
Collegium of Officers. While most churches have a
hierarchical, "top-down" structure, the new officers will share
leadership and have equal voice. The new officers embody the
UCC's goal of a multiracial, multicultural church that is
increasingly typical within many levels of the UCC.
  In addition to Guffey, those being installed include the
Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President-Elect;
Bernice Powell Jackson, Executive Minister-Elect of Justice
and Witness Ministries; the Rev. Jos
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=E9 "Joe" Malayang,
Executive Minister-Elect of Local Church Ministries; and
Dale L. Bishop, Executive Minister-Elect of Wider Church
Ministries.
  The 1.4-million-member United Church of Christ has
some 6,000 churches in the United States and Puerto Rico.
                #   #   #
[EDITORS AND PRODUCERS: To follow on the next page is an
agenda of some of the key events during Celebration 2000.
Possible photo and video opportunities are in boldface type.
The public is invited to all events; those requiring tickets
for admission are noted. For additional information and
times, contact one of the two people listed at the beginning of
this release. ]

Schedule of Events, June 22-25

Thursday, June 22

* Worship -- 7-9 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational UCC, 2592 W. 14
Street, Cleveland
  Preacher:  The Rev. Diane Darling

Friday, June 23

* Tours of UCC office building, Church House, Amistad Chapel   9 a.m.-
12 noon; 1-4 p.m.

* Meetings -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  Current boards, directorates, councils and corporations hold final
meetings

Saturday, June 24

* Coffee with officers and executives -- 9-10 a.m.
  Informal time to talk with former and outgoing executives

* New Covenants: Orientation for Supporters and Friends -- 10 a.m.- 12
noon
  Get to know the new Covenanted Ministries and what they do.

* Meetings of Covenanted Ministries -- 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Members of Covenanted Ministry boards and the new Executive
Council meet.

* Three events at Amistad Chapel -- 9 a.m.-12 noon; 1-5 p.m.
     * Missionary speaker: Helen Grant, Global Mission intern -- 9-10
a.m.
     *Hymn Sing -- 10:30-11:30 a.m.
     * University of Philippines Concert Chorus -- 1-3 p.m.

* Video Showings -- 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
  Videos produced by current church agencies will be
available for viewing.

* Faithful Legacy, Fervent Hope Banquet -- 6:30-9 p.m.
  Festive banquet remembering the UCC's first 43 years and
celebrating the transition into the new structure.  Keynote
address:  The Rev. Andrew Young
  (Some tickets are still available. Contact Diane Schurr, 216-736-
3872; e-mail schurrd@ucc.org)

Sunday, June 25

* Meetings of Covenanted Ministries continue -- 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

* Faithful Legacy, Fervent Hope Closing Worship and
installation of officers -- 2:30-4:30 p.m.
  Preacher:  The Rev. Robin Meyers

* Informal reception follows from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

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