Title: Hamm recommended for second term as Disciples GMP
Date: July 14, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99b-47
FORT WORTH (DNS) -- A unanimous vote July 11 by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Board endorsed the Rev. Richard L. Hamm for a second, six-year term as general minister and president.
Hamm received 100 "yes" votes, no opposing votes, and one abstention in a secret ballot during the July 10-12 meeting here. Final action on Hamm's reelection will be taken by the Disciples General Assembly, meeting Oct. 8-12 in Cincinnati.
Other highlights included the installation of Lois Artis Murray as associate general minister and Church Finance Council president and the International Christian Youth Fellowship assembly, meeting July 7-11 at Texas Christian University, here.
The past six years have been devoted to building trust and mission over survival, according to Hamm. With those efforts have come significant change for the Indianapolis-based denomination. Among the accomplishments Hamm cited was: * the church's move to leased downtown facilities; * revisions to the resolution process and development of the discernment process; * restructure of the General Board and expansion of the General Cabinet; *changes in the mission funding system; * implementation of biennial planning conferences; * a shift enabling the General Assembly to resource congregations for mission; and * identification of the Mission Imperatives.
"We have a long way to go, surely," Hamm said. "But I believe that through the Mission Imperatives, through the process of discernment, through the rebuilding of trust ... we now have enough clarity to move forward into God's new day for us."
That new day, said the Disciples leader, is represented by a church that "manifests deep Christian spirituality, true community and a passion for justice." It would look like the covenantal church described by The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
"No leader knows today exactly what the future holds or exactly how God will get us to it," said Hamm. "But, I believe we have enough clarity to understand that God as an important place for us in the new world, in the new millennium, and that we will get there if we move with faithfulness and commitment."
Nearly 1,100 young people from 28 disciples regions gathered for the third ICYF event, "Gifts of Hands and Heart." They spent six days in fellowship, worship, learning experiences and a variety of community service projects. The centerpiece project was the "blitz build" of a new home for a Fort Worth family.
Murray began her new ministry May 10 after serving as assistant secretary for administration with the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources in Raleigh. The certified public accountant also worked in higher education and in congregational ministry with her husband, the Rev. Samuel Murray. From 1996-1999 they were co-pastors of St. Andrews Christian Church, Dudley, N.C.
"Sense-of-the-assembly" resolutions In other action, the board backed "sense-of-the-assembly" resolutions calling for closure of the School of the Americas, canceling debts for impoverished nations and urging universal health care.
The School of the Americas, based in Fort Benning, Ga., allegedly has trained terrorists responsible for numerous incidents of violence and human rights abuse in Central and South America, according to supporters of the resolution. The military installation reportedly receives all of its funding from the United States government.
"Just knowing that the school exists . . . when we're to be defenders of freedom and democracy really angers me," said the Rev. Eric Brown, Dallas, Texas, in support of the measure.
The recommendation to close the school is consistent with the position taken by the Division of Overseas Ministries' Latin America and the Caribbean office, according to the Rev. Patricia Tucker Spier. "We have long advocated for this."
The Jubilee 2000 movement, started in Great Britain in 1996, draws on the Old Testament tradition of canceling all debt and returning all land to its original owners in Israel every 50 years.
Crushing debt obligations today rob developing nations' citizens of adequate social services, health care and education. Resolution 9914, if approved by the General Assembly, would add its voice to "those of other concerned persons and faith communities around the world through Jubilee 2000 in calling for the cancellation of the external debts of the most indebted countries of the world."
The resolution "On Health Care in the United States," asks Disciples to "work for the establishment of health care for all, regardless of the ability to pay," support related public policy, and advocate for public and private initiatives for treatment of long- and short-term illnesses and physical and mental disabilities. The resolution also seeks a balance between cost containment and equitable service.
The plenary body also recommended adoption of initiatives that support a land mine ban treaty, reaffirm the Disciples' commitment to religious freedom and voice concern for incidents of violence that involve and affect children. The Disciples General Assembly will take final action on all "sense-of-the-assembly" resolutions when it convenes in October.
Resolution 9916, submitted by Downey Avenue Christian Church, Indianapolis, calls for the General Assembly to call on President Clinton to sign the "Ottawa Treaty" and for Congress to ratify it. The treaty bans production, use or stockpiling of anti-personnel land mines. It also calls for the destruction of existing stockpiles in four years.
According to ABC News, all members of the NATO alliance now support the treaty, signed March 1, with the exception of Turkey and the United States.
While the recommendation to General Assembly had overwhelming General Board support, it was not unanimous. Vietnam war veteran Milton Summerall, Augusta, Ga., told board members that land mines saved his life at least three times in Vietnam. He said he could not support a total ban on the production and use of those tools of war.
"In Support of Religious Freedom" asks the assembly to reaffirm a previous pronouncement by the plenary body; and urges the whole church to educate and encourage Disciples members concerning religious liberty, and advocate justice in education for children by supporting public education.
"Promoting the Safety of Children," asks all expressions of the church to designate 2000 for addressing issues related to the impact of violence on children; requests that study and worship resources be developed for congregations; and that a task force be convened to develop a long-range strategy for the next year's emphasis.
-- end --