wfn.org | Correction: Common personnel policy proposed to help dismantle

["Office of Communications"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

racism
Date: February 2, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

Note to Editors:  Please replace release 00b-2 "Common personnel policy 
proposed to help dismantle racism" with the following text. The ninth 
paragraph has been changed.

00b-2

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A step toward transforming the Christian Church 
(Disciples of Christ) into an "anti-racist, pro-reconciling" institution 
gained momentum with a proposal aimed at facilitating the hiring of racial 
ethnic minorities in churchwide "policy making" positions.

	The Administrative Committee, meeting here Jan. 28-Feb. 1, returned the 
proposal to the Standing Committee on Renewal and Structural Reform for 
further work. The General Board, meeting here July 22-25, will vote 
whether to recommend it to regions, general units and other institutions 
of the Disciples of Christ.  

	At issue is a need to open top positions in the church to all persons 
within the denomination, said Ted Waggoner, Rochester, Ind., in a 
presentation to the committee. He is a member of the Standing Committee on 
Renewal and Structural Reform. 

	The proposal essentially lays the groundwork for a common executive 
search policy that Disciples general units and regional bodies are asked 
to "incorporate into their policies and practices."  At present, there is 
no uniform procedure. 

	Some major provisions include ensuring that racial ethnic persons 
comprise half of all search committees; requiring open searches for vacant 
posts; and utilizing an independent application screening process.  

	Among the concerns cited by Administrative Committee members is the need 
for similar guidelines in congregations; insufficient numbers of 
minorities to round out search teams; and means of holding entities 
accountable.   

	This is not a call to a quota system, but a call to reflection, Waggoner 
said. He called the proposal an invitation to help move the denomination 
past symbolic change and an attempt to hold each other to some 
accountability. 

	The administrative body also endorsed a request to expand the OGMP 
executive staff and  heard a presentation from General Minister and 
President Richard L. Hamm calling the church to prepare today for life 20 
years ahead.

	Hamm proposed calling an additional associate general minister and vice 
president sometime this spring.  His or her duties will include 
representing the GMP in various congregational, regional and general 
settings, serving as chief of the OGMP staff, and staffing committees and 
commissions related to the office.  

	By 2020 the U.S. population will become larger and more ethnically 
diverse and more than half of United States residents will be 45 and 
older. Age distribution within the Disciples of Christ will mirror the 
rest of the country, according to demographer Dale Pellman of 
Indianapolis.

	The general minister and president suggested the notion of 2020 Vision as 
"an invitation to each manifestation of the church to think about the 
future as it will unfold in the next 20 years . . .  and (to think about) 
what God is calling us to be and do in response."

	Hamm specifically called for the Disciples to look at the U.S. as its 
primary mission field, step up efforts in new congregation establishment; 
and for existing churches to "understand themselves as mission stations."  

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