Title: Downsizing proposal forwarded to General Assembly
Date: May 2, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
97b-28
OAK BROOK, Ill. (DNS) -- The 1997 General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has forwarded a proposal to the General Assembly that alters a previous plan aimed at reducing its main planning bodies.
The initiative endorsed by the '97 General Board, meeting here April 26-29, reduces board voting membership to 121. This action overrides the group's 1996 recommendation of just 91 voting members.
The expanded figure is the direct result of an increase in the number of voters chosen to represent regions. Regions with large memberships would be allowed one extra representative for each 10,000 members.
If approved by three-fourths of the assembly, the proposal to Areformulate@ the General Board and Administrative Committee will amend portions of The Design and the Standing Rules for both decision-making bodies.
The reformulation plan grants voice and vote to five regional ministers, three general unit presidents, and one theological education representative, none of whom previously had voting privileges. Currently, all 35 regional ministers and 11 general unit presidents are ex officio members without votes. The change to a representative system for these persons will result in reductions of 38-40 members on the board.
Other ex officio members of the downsized planning body would include the four former general ministers and presidents and the parliamentarian. None of these individuals will have voting rights.
Administrative Committee membership would drop from 45 to 24 persons, 16 of whom would be elected members. The remainder includes the general minister and president, one general unit president, the three moderators and two regional ministers. Again, the parliamentarian would be an ex officio member without a vote.
Despite the proposed changes, current rules regarding lay and clergy representation will continue, as will guidelines setting ethnic minority representation at a minimum of 20 percent. The same term limits also will apply.
General Board reductions are to be implemented over four years with current members serving out their terms. Seventeen persons were nominated to serve on the General Board during the meeting. This reduces the board by 16 persons, helping it conform to the new plan. Further reductions will come through succeeding General Board classes elected by the regions in 1998 and the General Assembly in 1999.
The smaller Administrative Committee is to be elected by the General Board in 1998.
Two central reasons sparked the downsizing measure: significant cost savings for maintaining the smaller structures; and a desire to help both decision-making bodies more effectively carry out their planning roles. Annual cost savings from a reduced General Board, alone, are estimated at more than $65,000.
One way the proposal will save money is because it will not require the attendance of all 46 regional and general unit executives. For some board members, the presence of all the church leaders was more important than saving money.
Not having the executives present can limit the board's ability to make sound decisions, according to the Rev. William T. Nowlan, Lansing, Kan. AIt is mandatory for this board to have the information that the regional ministers have.
Board members, however, voted down an amendment to restore the fully funded participation of all regional ministers.
The real issue is what best serves the church, said General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm. The real problem with the amendment, according to Hamm, was that the board would be overloaded with white male clergy.
If the church is going to downsize the whole board, general and regional representation should be downsized as well, said Tennessee Regional Minister Glen J. Stewart.
It is important that regional ministers be here every year, according to the Rev. Doug Harvey, Panhandle, Texas. The regional ministers serve as a "go-between to interpret the general church for congregations," he said. To remove these "front line interpreters" will "damage us more in the long run."
In other action, the board discussed a proposal reaffirming its role as the chief planning body for the denomination. Planning is to happen at a churchwide planning meeting during off-assembly years. The first one is scheduled for 1998.
General Board also forwarded several sense-of-assembly resolutions recommending increased accountability to stem cases of police abuse; calling the church to monitor welfare reform; opposing "English only" initiatives; ending the U.S. embargo of Cuba; and asking congregations to help address urban employment.
The board also recommended to the General Assembly that it commit to begin a process of research and reflection concerning the participation of gay and lesbian persons in the full life and ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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