Two separate slide shows of photos of those honoured at the 2009 Retirees and Jubilarians Banquet are now available online.

One is designed specifically for those with dial-up Internet connections. It will download quickly to your computer.

The other is an enhanced version (with background music) and can be quickly and easily downloaded if you have high-speed Internet service. It may still take a minute or so to download, as it is approximately 7 MB in size. It is 2 minutes and 15 seconds from beginning to end. (If you are on dial-up Internet connection you can still see the enhanced version, but it will take a few minutes to download.)
NOTE: If you use the enhanced version, the SPACEBAR on your computer keyboard will act as a toggle to start/stop the slide show. Press ESCAPE (if necessary) to close the slide show.

At the 84th Annual Meeting, the Communications Task Group presented a skit The Bulletin Board Story.

Download The Bulletin Board Story as a story or as a skit.

The story was written by Mac Campbell and scripted by Karen Elliot.

The 84th Annual Meeting of the Maritime Conference took place May 28th to May 31st at the Sackville Civic Centre. Some 500 delegates gathered to worship, pray, carry out the business of the court, and ordain, commission, recognize and receive candidates for ministry.

The conference theme Gospel and Empire - what about us? was articulated in reflections from Rev. Russ Daye and by committee representatives giving brief reports throughout the sessions. Worship featured music from Linnea Good and the Youth Forum music team, The Message. Youth Forum and Intermediates at Conferences delegates inspired the conference with their enthusiasm and optimism.

During the business sessions there were many "proposals" on a variety of issues directed to the 40th General Council meeting to be held in British Columbia in August. A number of these had to do with the variety of categories of ministry personnel that now exists in the church, particularly those for lay ministers. There was much debate and at times confusion over proposed changes to these categories.

There were also proposals having to do with Canadian mining companies operating in the Philippines and Guatemala. Conference was presented with the classic dilemma of those who wish to invest their money in an ethical manner. Is it better to withdraw all church funds from stocks in the mining companies that are exploiting the native peoples in those countries or is it better to keep the stocks and try to influence the companies to change their ways?

In other business, David Hewitt (DM) was elected order of ministry member of the General Council Executive, Ruth Gamble was acclaimed president-designate, and delegates were named to the 40th General Council meeting.

On Pentecost Sunday May 31 the conference ordained four new ministers, commissioned one diaconal minister, admitted a minister from another denomination and recognized four designated lay ministers. Rev. Bob Johnson of St. Andrew's, NB was installed as president by the outgoing president Rev. Valerie Kingsbury.