wfn.org | Disciples leaders develop proposal for new common

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

mission fund
Date: April 17, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
E-mail: news@cm.disciples.org
Web: http://www.disciples.org

02a-32

INDIANAPOLIS -- Drawing upon information gathered from
congregational focus groups, Disciples regional ministers,
representatives of related institutions of higher
education, and general ministries executives met April
10-12 in Indianapolis to develop a proposal for a new
common mission fund. These leaders believe this proposal
will further the church's mission imperative "to strengthen
congregations for the mission."

 	If approved, the proposal would result in several changes
to the current mission funding system, including a
significant shift of Basic Mission Finance dollars from
general ministries to regional ministries. Currently, about
40 percent of BMF funds go to support regional ministries,
50 percent to general ministries, and 10 percent to higher
education institutions. The proposal calls for an immediate
shift to 45 percent to regional ministries, 45 percent to
general ministries and 10 percent to institutions of higher
education, with another 1 percent shifting from general to
regional in each of the next five years.

In response to the goals of 2020 Vision (1,000 new
congregations, 1,000 revitalized congregations, the
leadership development needed to enable these, and becoming
an anti-racist/pro-reconciliation church), the proposal
designates the four Special Day offerings for particular
ministries: Easter - congregational vitality through
general ministries, Pentecost - new congregation
establishment, Thanksgiving - leadership development, and
Christmas - congregational vitality through regional
ministries. The anti-racism/pro-reconciling initiative is
funded by the Reconciliation offering.

The common mission fund, currently known as Basic Mission
Finance, is presently allocated through the Commission on
Mission Funding with final approval given by the General
Board. The proposal calls for regions, general units and
institutions of higher education to develop allocation
recommendations for each of these three groups in
consultation with congregational representatives. Framers
believe this will create a greater degree of accountability
of each ministry to one another as well as to the whole
church. Proposed procedures also would simplify
interpretation and bookkeeping.

General Minister and President Richard Hamm is very
optimistic about the proposal. Following the meeting, he
said, "We have been seeking consensus on funding system
changes for the 12 years I have been in regional and
general ministry. Consensus is not easy to achieve in a
church body like ours. This proposal represents much more
than simple agreement on percentage allocations. It
represents a commitment to working together for the sake of
the mission and the vision for 2020 that is before us. We
are determined to be a church together that shares the good
news of Jesus Christ - witnessing, loving, and serving from
our doorsteps to the ends of the earth. We are determined
to be one church, serving a common mission, lived out
through a common vision. I am very proud of my colleagues!"

Meeting consultant George Bullard reminded the leaders that
their consensus building effort was extremely important
because it helped them be mission-driven rather than
survival driven. However, Bullard also said this measure
was an interim strategy. During the next several decades,
regions, general units, institutions of higher education,
and congregations will need to continue to develop
"multiple funding streams" to resource the church's
ministries. These streams will include endowments, grants,
gifts for specific ministries, fees for certain services,
and other sources of funding for mission.

The proposal was developed by a task force representing BMF
recipient organizations. Chris Hobgood served as chair and
Earl Gibbs served on behalf of the current Commission on
Mission Funding, which he chairs. Hobgood said, "We have a
compelling mission and now, if this proposal is accepted,
it will be possible for people to give to the whole mission
while also giving to particular ministries of their choice
without fracturing the church. We can be united, just as
our founders called us to be."

 	After review by a cross section of selected
congregations, the General Board of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) will consider the proposal during its
July 20-23 meeting in Indianapolis. If approved, during the
following six months, the proposal will go before the
boards of each region, general ministry and institution of
higher education. Two-thirds of each group of boards is
required to approve the proposal for implementation. 

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