General Synod recognizes honored guests, Mission Co-Workers

The 35th General Synod welcomed some familiar faces Friday evening as honored guests.

Several former General Synod moderators returned to the stage: Robert Sandman (34th), Norman Williams (32nd), Marvin Morgan (27th), Merlyn Lawrence (26th) and John Krueger (15th).

Some former UCC executive staff leaders were also recognized: Arthur Cribbs, former Executive of the Office of Communications, Michael Downs, former president and CEO of The Pension Boards, and Donald Hart, former President and CEO of United Church Funds. In addition, four former elected officers of the denomination were recognized: James Moos, Linda Jaramillo, Edith Guffey and John Dorhauer, the immediate former General Minister and President. Yvonne Delk, in recovery from surgery, was recognized in absentia.

Several ecumenical guests were recognized, and a short video celebrated the 10th anniversary of the UCC and the United Church of Canada entering into full communion in 2015.

In addition to United Church of Canada, other ecumenical guests represented The Reformed Church of America, Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico, the Presbyterian Church USA, Christian Churches Together, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
The following international guests were recognized:
• Rev. Kudzani SBM Ndebele – General Secretary, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), South Africa
• Rev. George Lungay – Executive Secretary for Administration, United Church of Christ in the Philippines
• Rev. Ute Hedrich – Head of the Middle and Far East, Australia and Pacific Desk, Protestant Church in Germany (EKD)
• Rev. Pablo Moreno – National Coordinator, Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia, Colombia
• Mayadah Tarazi – Operations, Human Resources and International Relations Manager, YWCA of Palestine, Palestine
• Rev. A. S. Thevagunananthan – Chairperson, Church of the American Ceylon Mission (CACM), Sri Lanka
• Rev. Jacklevyn Fritz Manuputty – Chairperson, Communion of Churches in Indonesia.

Finally, two mission co-workers attending Synod were recognized: Fiona Kendall, with Mediterranean Hope in Italy, and Elena Huegel, Intercultural Research and Studies Institute (INESIN), Mexico.

You can watch a recap of the recognition below:

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