wfn.org | ABCUSA: Structure and Process Study Group Presents Recommendations

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (11/15/02)--The Structure and Process Study
Group (SPSG), which has been charged with developing a proposal for
denominational structure, today presented a report and recommendations to
the American Baptist Churches USA General Board, meeting here in semiannual
sessions.

The General Board unanimously affirmed the SPSG's proposed action by the
board: "To affirm the direction of these recommendations as having
sufficient validity to proceed with denomination-wide discussions,
additional development and specific action proposals to be brought back to
the General Board for First and Second Readings at subsequent meetings."

The SPSG, in its introduction to the report, detailed the process leading up
to its report, and offered a proposal for next steps:
	
"The General Board formed the Structure and Process Study Group in November
2000 to 'further develop and recommend to the General Board next steps for
addressing the issues and direction proposed' by the Review Commission on
Denominational Structure and Process.  The Review Commission was originally
formed by the General Board in November 1997 to fulfill the ABC Standing
Rule 11.2.6 (d) requirement for 'regular General Board assessment of the
structure and process of the ABC/USA.'

"The SPSG submitted a progress report at the June 2002 General Board meeting
and was granted authority to hold one additional meeting to develop an
organizational design.	The goal of these recommendations is to fulfill the
General Board's assignment by addressing the issues raised by the original
Review Commission in a manner that receives widespread support across the
denomination and will serve the ABC well in the years to come.

"These recommended changes in board governance and staff responsibilities
are not copied from any other organization, but rather attempt to be
consistent with ABC identity and to be effective in bearing witness to Jesus
Christ in all the world.  The SPSG has attempted to incorporate the best
possible organizational structures and processes to achieve effective
collaboration, cooperation, and stewardship of resources.

"Rationale:  The rationale for change that guided the SPSG included:
* further the identity of the ABC and set the vision
* provide more coordination
* provide more effective and efficient means for allocating resources to
priorities
* provide for more accountability
* maintain a balance of power and authority.

"Consensus:  The SPSG operated on a consensus model to move recommendations
forward with the widest possible support.  The following 'levels of
consensus' indicators were used for monitoring the sense of the group at
decision points:
1. Absolute support for the decision
2. Strongly in support with some mild reservations/concerns
3. Moderate support with significant concerns
4. Serious concerns but will go with the wisdom of the group (non-blocking)
5. Serious concerns that require a veto/blocking of the decision
6. Not enough information to make a decision

"These recommendations reflect the consensus reached by the SPSG at its
meeting on November 1, 2002.

"Next Steps:  Some of these recommendations may be implemented immediately.
Some will require Standing Rules changes, and some will require amendments
to the Bylaws (at the 2005 Biennial convention).  At this time, the SPSG is
seeking the General Board's questions and affirmation of the direction of
these recommendations, recognizing that specific action proposals would be
brought back to the General Board by the SPSG Design Team for first and
second reading at subsequent meetings.

"Proposed Action:  To affirm the direction of these recommendations as
having sufficient validity to proceed with denomination-wide discussions,
additional development and specific action proposals to be brought back to
the General Board for First and Second Readings at subsequent meetings.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this task as we seek to enhance
the future effectiveness of our collective ministry and mission.

"Members of the SPSG:  Timothy Bonney, Samuel Chetti, Herschell Daney,
Harold Davis, Beverly Davison, Daris Dixon-Clark, Jean Doirin, Joan Firster,
James Foster, Gladys Gray-Board, Sumner Grant, David Hunt, Ron Johnson,
Trinette McCray, Roy Medley, Les Rempel, Daniel Rawleigh, Linda Spoolstra,
Dwight Stinnett, John Sundquist, Gene Ton, Cheryl Wade, and Aidsand
Wright-Riggins."

The text of the Study Group's report follows:

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STRUCTURE AND PROCESS STUDY GROUP

"The General Board is the governing body responsible for setting the ABC
mission, vision and policy at the denominational level. In addition, the
General Board approves all budgets, determines priorities, allocates
unrestricted funds, coordinates and assigns functions and evaluates how well
the mission, policies, and assignments are being achieved.

"When the General Board convenes, it would be convened concurrently as the
five historic corporations.  The General Board will divide its members into
four groups. The first group will have the primary function of developing
mission and vision and performing oversight and evaluation at the
denominational level. The other three groups will be the program units of
International Ministries, National Ministries, and Educational Ministries.
(The division of the General Board into these four groups may be done by
equally dividing the membership of the General Board into four groups, or
may be done according to need).

"The role of each of the program units is to carry out the mission and
vision established by the ABC General Board as one of its incorporated
program units. The program units accomplish the strategic planning and
implementation of the MACRO vision at the micro level. Each program unit
will retain its current incorporation along with charter goals, endowments,
and dollars allocated to it. In addition, the program unit will recommend
officers from among the members assigned to the unit and these officers will
be elected by the General Board. The chair of the program unit shall be a
vice president of ABCUSA (in addition to the current ABC officer positions).
The program units will propose, develop, and manage the budgetary resources
allocated to them (unrestricted funds and restricted donor funds) by the
General Board.	Donor intent will continue to be honored.  The program units
are the first level of accountability for program and staff.

"The General Secretary is the primary staff officer to the General Board.
The Executive Directors/National Secretaries are primary staff to the
program units.

"The Executive Directors/National Secretaries are directly accountable to
the General Secretary for carrying out the denominational mission vision and
implementation of policies, as established by the General Board.  It is
important to understand that the intent is to clarify lines of
accountability, not to diminish the role of the Executive Directors.

"The Executive Directors/National Secretaries are nominated by the General
Secretary in consultation with an advisory search committee from the program
unit and are called by the General Board (by a 2/3rds vote). Removal of an
Executive Director/National Secretary for cause can be initiated by a
request from the program entity through the General Secretary or directly by
the General Secretary. The call for removal must then be ratified by a
simple majority vote of the General Board.

"The Staff Leadership Council (SLC) supports the General Board. The SLC is
composed of the General Secretary, the Associate General
Secretary/Treasurer, the Executive Directors/National Secretaries, and four
Regional Executive Ministers (nominated by the General Secretary, confirmed
by the Regional Executive Ministers Council). The General Secretary convenes
the SLC.  The SLC supports the General Board in its policy/macro-planning
role. It also has primary responsibility for implementing the policies/plans
of the General Board.  The General Secretary may bring additional ad hoc
members to the SLC depending on need. All members of the SLC bring the
wisdom and information of their home organization, but do not act solely as
formal representatives of that group. Instead, they agree to also represent
the larger general needs of the denomination in their decision-making. There
will be a dotted-line relationship between the SLC and the Regional
Executive Ministers Council such that there will be closer meaningful
communication between the two organizations but no authority relationship
between the two.

"The General Executive Council will continue to exist, but its role will be
partially subsumed by the functions of the SLC. As a result, the General
Executive Council will be convened on an "as-needed" basis rather than at
regular intervals as is done currently.

"The Office of the General Secretary is staff to the General Secretary.

"An Administrative Services Unit shall be developed to cut costs, avoid
duplication, and enhance effectiveness. Further discussion by the current
National Executive Council is needed to determine
* the list of services included in the unit (e.g., legal services, human
resources, travel and conference planning, printing, video production and
editing, editing, graphic arts, mailing and sales order processing, and
computing services)
* whether the unit will be wholly incorporated or not
* the nature of the administration of the unit

"A Ministerial Care Unit will be developed to foster greater cohesiveness in
addressing the concerns and needs of ABC ministerial leaders. This unit
could encompass the Commission on Ministerial Leadership, Interim
Ministries, Women in Ministry, American Baptist Personnel Services,
Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Services, and the Ministers Council.
Further discussion is needed to determine
* where the Department of Ministerial Care should be housed (the suggestions
are within EM, NM or OGS)
* how the Department should be funded

"Each program unit will have its own treasurer and that treasurer will be an
associate treasurer of ABCUSA.	Together with the ABC Treasurer, they form
the Treasurers Council.

"There was not sufficient time to clarify the structural relationship of all
of the Administratively Related Organizations to the other structural
components presented here.

"The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board will retain the same corporate
and working relationship to the General Board as now."

02ABN164

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org