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New CFC board approves BMF name change INDIANAPOLIS, IN, July 15, 2002 -- Disciples newly seated finance board amended and restated by-laws, elected officers and approved a name change for the denomination's common mission fund. The newly constituted 14-director Church Finance Council Board elected Illinois pastor Ruben Cruz and Missouri pastor Maureen Dickmann as chair and vice- chair during a July 9-10 meeting here. Cruz, pastor of Spanish Christian Church in Chicago, also brings experience to the board as a Chicago TV news magazine host and columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Dickmann, pastor of Rock Bridge Christian Church in Columbia, also an attorney, is active in Habitat for Humanity. Disciples Administrative Committee approved in January a separate board for CFC ending three years of direct oversight by the Administrative Committee as CFC's board of directors. Richard L. Hamm, Disciples general minister and president, chaired the first few minutes of the newly formed board's meeting before directors elected officers. In his remarks, Hamm said the church's attempt to streamline oversight of CFC by using the 45-member Administrative Committee as its governing board, did not work well. Lois Artis, CFC president, said the new board is small enough to make a significant contribution to the council and the church. She said she sees the new board as a working board that will do more than just set policy. Artis said Basic Mission Finance giving has been flat at around $20 million dollars a year for several years. She challenged the directors to work with the CFC staff in new ways to build BMF receipts to more than $30 million a year. She said this amount would financially enable the church to meet its 2020 Vision goal of establishing 1,000 new congregations, revitalizing 1,000 existing congregations and increasing ordinations from 90 to 225 per year. As one of its first actions, CFC directors, approved a new name for the Disciples common mission fund now known as Basic Mission Finance, a name it has had since 1975, when Unified Promotion became the Church Finance Council. Directors approved the name Disciples Mission Fund. The proposed name came after two years of research by Shank Public Relations Counselors to determine whether or not CFC needed to request a name change. David Shank of Indianapolis, president of the PR firm and a member of Speedway Christian, informed the board that research indicated that more than two-thirds of Disciples surveyed invited a new name. He reported there was no one name suggested, but that those surveyed would like to see the words "Disciples" and "Mission" as part of the new name. After lengthy discussion over a new logo for the common mission fund, the board decided to use only the Disciples familiar chalice-and-cross logo with the words "Disciples Mission Fund." Directors also approved the tag line "Giving changes lives." The new name and tag line will be reviewed by the General Board later this month for their approval. In other highlighted business, CFC directors: * Accepted an audit of 2001 CFC receipts and disbursements of $31, 833,634 a decrease of $59,216 or .2 percent decrease from 2000 funds of $31,892,850. Outreach giving dipped from $20.67 million in 2000 to $19.74 million in 2001. * Heard a report on the proposed reallocation of BMF funds to be considered by General Board. * Discussed problems of implementing a new allocation system. * Approved a policy to accept no investments in foreign currency. * Reviewed proposed Week of Compassion standing-rules changes to rename the position of Administrative Director to Minister for Week of Compassion and shift administrative responsibilities from the Church Finance Council to the Office of General Minister and President. CFC will continue to maintain fiduciary and promotional responsibilities. These changes need General Board approval. * Approved a new human resources policy manual. -- end -- Church Finance Council
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