Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)
Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
96b-44
June 7, 1996
FORT WORTH, Texas (DNS) -- Mission funding, strategic planning and the streamlining of administrative bodies dominated the General Board agenda of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The group held its annual meeting here June 1-4 at Texas Christian University. The decision-making body adopted the framework of a new funding system, provisionally approved in 1995. Referred for further consideration, however, was a churchwide planning proposal. The group narrowly voted to initiate a process for reducing the General Board membership by two-thirds in the year 2000. An early version of the mission funding proposal called for congregations to help determine how Basic Mission Finance gifts will be divided among regional, general and higher education ministries. In the latest version, regional boards of directors will make that determination. Congregations, though, will continue to be able to direct their outreach giving. The plan does not affect a congregation's right to "designate" giving to particular ministries. A pilot project involving 350 congregations and 95 Christian Women's Fellowship groups revealed that most were interested in learning more about ministries supported by BMF. These groups were less concerned about determining allocations, according to the Rev. Robert K. Welsh, associate general minister and president of the Church Finance Council. Congregations are to be consulted about future mission priorities as a way of involving them in the funding process. The funding plan will focus on education and interpretation of denominational ministries for all congregations. Planning proposal referred: The planning strategy developed by General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm would have established a churchwide planning council. This group's work would bolster planning efforts now assigned to the General Board and Administrative Committee. Most concerns with the proposal centered on its size and its necessity in light of plans to reduce other administrative bodies. Hamm and the design team had envisioned a 90-member planning body. While the board agreed there should be a better way of coordinating the church's ministries, there was no consensus for how that should happen, said the Rev. Guy Waldrop. The Kentucky regional minister is a member of the planning design team. The design team will refine the proposal, which calls for the council to "provide a place' for common planning around the mission imperatives." Other goals include identifying "resources and ways to network between manifestations." The planning council will "speak with one voice" and give direction for implementing the church's mission imperatives, according to Waldrop. Administrative bodies streamlined: The "reformulation" plan calls for the General Board's present membership to shrink from 230 to 95. The same initiative would reduce the Administrative Committee from 57 to 23 members. Because implementation of the plan requires changes to The Design, it later must be approved by three-fourths of the 1997 General Assembly. Supporters of the concept, which passed by 11 votes, cited potential savings due to reduced meeting costs. But stewardship was not the only argument for smaller administrative bodies. Members of the Standing Committee on Renewal and Structural Reform believe that a smaller board "can operate fundamentally better," said Edgar Coble. The Fort Worth attorney and chair of the structure committee said a smaller governing board will foster more vigorous participation in discussions about critical church issues. Critics were concerned about its impact on the participation of racial/ethnic minorities and the reduced presence of ex officio members. Under the plan the 34 regional ministers will be represented by five of their colleagues. Likewise, the 11 general unit presidents would be represented by two of their number. This move also would allow these ex officio members to vote during board proceedings. Ecumenical representative, the Rev. John Thomas of Cleveland, Ohio, opposed this component of the proposal. The presence of all the denomination's leaders at General Board is a "gift to this church," he said. Justice policy approved: Another meeting highlight included approval of a policy for handling concerns over justice issues emerging after commitments have been made in General Assembly host cities. Concerned groups may now petition the Office of General Minister and President for a hearing with the Time and Place Committee. The hearing, if granted, would involve representatives of the city in question, area congregations and others wishing to address the issue. Afterward, the time committee would bring a recommendation to the General Board to relocate to another city, plan and carry out an act of public witness, or to take no action. Associate General Minister Donald Manworren called the policy statement a "preemptive strike" for handling situations like the one in Denver, Colo., site of the 1997 assembly. Some church members called for relocation of the event because of a state law discriminating against gay and lesbian persons. Others recommended staying put and planning a public witness activity. The U.S. Supreme Court pronounced the law unconstitutional in May, meaning the Disciples of Christ won't have to carry out the demonstration. The denomination, nevertheless, is obligated to respond to a situation in Cincinnati where officials removed a reference to sexual orientation from the city's human rights ordinance, said Manworren. The assembly convenes there in 1999. Children's rally supported: In other activities, board members backed a resolution supporting the June 1 "Stand for Children" rally in Washington, D.C. They also gave nearly $2,500 to a National Council of Churches fund for congregations whose buildings were destroyed in 50 arson incidents across the South. In a move to strengthen relations between U.S. and Canadian church member the Administrative Committee also okayed the establishment of a "Canada/United States Disciples Commission." The new structure provides an opportunity for Canada to offer a unique voice to concerns south of the border, said the Rev. Richard L. Hamm. The commission will report both to the General Board and the regional board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada.
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