wfn.org | Planning, downsizing, funding anchor board agenda

[CURT_MILLER.parti@ecunet.org]

June 7, 1996
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Cliff_Willis.parti@ecunet.org

96b-44

   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 three of their number. This move
also would allow these ex officio members o 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.

                            - end -

                            
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