Fort Worth, Texas (Feb. 2, 2009) - The Mission Alignment Coordinating Council (MACC) appointed by the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 21 - 23. In this, its fourth meeting, the council worked toward finalizing recommendations to be presented to the General Board in April. The council is now in the process of refining the report which will be sent to the General Board for consideration.

Since its first meeting in June, the MACC has been in a process of listening to the church's response to draft models it made available as a church-wide conversation-starter. The goal of these conversations was, and is, to help the church organize its common life around our mission "to be and share the Good News of Jesus Christ from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

What the Council has heard through its listening process:

• Support for the guiding principles of Mission Alignment (mission-driven and priority-focused, Design-guided and whole-church oriented, future leaning, modeling unity and celebrating diversity, practicing good stewardship, empowering and enhancing networks, encouraging partnerships);
• Desire for a more effective General Board;
• Support for the concept of a General Minister and President's Pastoral Table and principles of equity alignment among racial/ethnic ministries;
• Counsel that the historic 1960 and 1969 Merger Agreement between the National Christian Missionary Convention and the United Christian Missionary Society is complex, and deep conversations and thought are necessary to preserve its integrity;
• Support to move North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) into a more direct line of accountability with the General Board;
• Affirmation from the Hispanic Caucus that the MACC models are a positive step toward embracing, empowering and affirming diversity in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ);
• A call for a higher profile emphasis on domestic justice in the U.S. and Canada (while acknowledging the justice and advocacy work already undertaken by the Division of Overseas Ministries, Week of Compassion, certain Disciples Home Missions (DHM) offices and volunteer Disciples organizations);
• Desire for a focused dialogue with International Disciples Women's Ministries (IDWM) regarding the placement of IDWM in the church's structure and the appropriate relationship of IDWM to the General Board;
• Renewed commitment on the part of Division of Homeland Ministries, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, and Church Extension to work collaboratively to address areas of related ministry;
• Expressions of caution about moving too swiftly for a whole-church conversation and in particular for conversation with the boards of ministries that may be affected by proposed changes;
• A call to be more bold;
• A call for Regions to be part of the conversation related to equipping congregations for mission.

The Mission Alignment process continues to focus work toward three specific outcomes:

• Defining the appropriate role of the General Board in relation to other ministry boards in identifying and implementing the common mission of the church and in articulating and funding that mission.
• Helping the church to live with integrity in a context of growing racial/ethnic diversity by exploring enhanced partnerships, funding and mutuality in all areas of church life.
• Identifying ways to streamline general ministry infrastructure and increase partnerships, collaboration and networking within and among general ministries in order to focus resources on equipping congregations for mission.

The General Board's action on the MACC report will determine the next steps which could include action in areas of consensus, extending the listening and planning process for matters still under consideration, as well as General Assembly focus groups and further church-wide dialogue.

The MACC Report to the General Board will be forwarded to the General Assembly. The Standing Committee on Renewal and Structural Reform will review the report for any Operation, Policy or Procedure items that would require a separate vote by the General Assembly.

For more information on the background of Mission Alignment or on the process that the Mission Alignment Coordinating Council has followed, please go to www.disciples.org/MACC.