Title: United Church of Christ elects new leadership
Date: July 22, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99b-50
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (DNS) -- A former ecumenical representative to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Board has been elected as the leader of the United Church of Christ.
The Rev. John H. Thomas received an overwhelming endorsement by the General Synod, July 5, to become general minister and president of the Cleveland-based denomination. He succeeds retiring UCC President Paul H. Sherry. Thomas has served for the last seven years as ecumenical officer for the United Church of Christ.
In the new post, Thomas and four colleagues will form a Collegium of Officers that will guide the United Church of Christ through a complete restructure of its national setting. This setting, which calls for the officers to work as peers, is designed to provide an opportunity for mutual responsibility and reporting, as well as ongoing assessment of UCC programs.
Also elected were: Edith A. Guffey, currently secretary of the UCC, who will be associate general minister; the Rev. Jos‚ A. "Joe" Malayang, presently a United Church Board for Homeland Ministries executive, named executive minister of Local Church Ministries; Dale L. Bishop, acting executive vice president of the United Church Board for World Ministries, appointed executive minister of Wider Church Ministries; and Bernice Powell Jackson, head of the UCC's Commission for Racial Justice, designated executive minister of Justice and Witness Ministries.
Thomas and Malayang both were elected for two years and will be eligible to serve two additional four-year terms if renominated and elected by General Synod. Jackson was elected for six years and may be elected to another term of four years. Guffey and Bishop were elected for four-year terms and will be eligible to serve two more four-year terms.
Following the election, Thomas said, "I look forward to joining my colleagues in a new style of leadership in the UCC as we seek to carry forward the historic commitments of our church into the 21st century."
Those commitments include the UCC's ecumenical partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Thomas, Bishop, Guffey and Powell, in particular, bring rich experiences of past work with Disciples leaders to the partner relationship. Those experiences include very warm personal friendships, "that will be important as we move ahead," said Thomas.
Newcomer Joe Malayang, named to the local church ministries post, said the new leadership arrangement calls for even more ecumenical partnerships. "The UCC is still very serious with its very ecumenical enterprise," he said.
The new officers were installed during closing worship July 6. A highlight of the service was a "ritual of giveaway" adapted from a Native American custom. Representatives from existing instrumentalities (church agencies) gave symbolic gifts to the officers-elect of the new covenanted ministries. Quilts, sculptures and historic carvings, communion plates, an original poster and even estate bequest records were handed over, each with good wishes and an explanation of the symbolism of the gift.
The ceremony symbolized both the rich heritage of existing UCC mission agencies some with a history dating to the 18th century and the continuity of the UCC's traditions of prophecy, witness and ministry as the new ministries begin their work in the year 2000.
"Isn't this a good time to be the church?" asked the Rev. Michael Kinnamon in a closing message before General Synod 22. He is professor of theology and ecumenical studies at Disciples-related Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary.
For nearly two centuries, the church generally defined mission as "that which we pay someone to do for us among 'those people over there,'" he observed. But in the waning days of the 20th century the church is learning "again that all congregations are missionary communities," said Kinnamon.
"There is, in my experience, a new resolve to teach the biblical story to ourselves and our children," said Kinnamon. The church is learning to be inclusive. It's beginning to repent of racism, sexism and homophobia. It is discovering a prophetic voice. For all those reasons "isn't this a great time to be the church?" Kinnamon asked repeatedly as delegates shouted "yes!" and "Amen!"
The Disciples ecumenist preached on the themes of freedom and unity, suggesting that they are, at times, pitted against one another. But they, too, are inseparable gifts of grace. "If we would be an ecumenical people, then we will work for freedom. If we would be a freedom-oriented people, then we will live in unity. Freedom will lead to fragmentation and chaos unless it is coupled with a recognition of our given unity," said Kinnamon.
In a world filled with oppression, the church must be passionate about the gift of freedom. In a physically and spiritually fragmented world, the church must be passionate about the gift of unity, Kinnamon said. "When I think of the United Church of Christ, a theme from a past World Council of Churches assembly comes immediately to mind: 'Jesus Christ frees and unites.' This must be our passionate witness for such a time as this," he concluded.
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