Holding the General Synod in Hartford became a question because of a labor dispute at the city's convention center, the original venue for the meeting. The only other option capable of accommodating the meeting, the Hartford Civic Center, initially proved too expensive.

However, on June 2, the Connecticut Economic Development Authority (CEDA) announced the awarding of a grant to the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau to provide incentives for groups to hold conventions in the city. The Visitors Bureau offered to use this grant to offset the $100,000 fee charged by the Hartford Civic Center, thereby making it possible for General Synod to remain in Hartford, along with the estimated $5-to-$10 million in revenue that the event would bring to the city.

"This type of incentive program is a common occurrence, a way of doing business," said Edith A. Guffey, associate general minister of the UCC. "We appreciate the collaboration between the governor, CEDA, and the Hartford Visitors Bureau, and their efforts to keep the UCC meeting in Hartford."

"CEDA took action to assist the City of Hartford, not the UCC -- the UCC is not benefiting financially through this arrangement," said the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president. "In fact, if we had gone elsewhere, we might have done better financially. But we wanted to maintain our commitments to Hartford and the people of the (UCC's) Connecticut Conference."

"While we continue to hope that a 'labor peace' agreement can be reached between corporate and union officials regarding the convention center and hotel, we are glad to have the option of remaining in Hartford for our General Synod," Guffey said.

"As we have done in the past, the UCC continues to support the rights of labor to organize, especially its most economically-disadvantaged workers," said Thomas.

The 1.3-million-member United Church of Christ, with national offices in Cleveland, was formed by the 1957 union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Its main deliberative body, the General Synod, has supported the efforts of workers many times throughout its history. The General Synod speaks to, but not for, the almost 6,000 UCC local churches in the United States and Puerto Rico.