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     Title: Reelection process recommended for general minister and president  
     Date: January 30, 1998
     Disciples News Service
     Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
     Contact: Clifford L. Willis
     Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
     on the web: http//www.disciples.org
     
     98b-5
     
          INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) decision-making
     body, meeting here Jan. 25-27, has recommended the start of a process likely to lead to a
     second, six-year term for General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm.
     
          The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) states that a general minister
     and president may be reelected. It does not, however, detail a particular reelection process,
     leaving that design up to the Administrative Committee of the General Board.
     
          The Administrative Committee was asked to determine whether the church should hold
     an election, which would require multiple GMP nominees, or design a reelection process with
     the aim of seating Hamm for a second and final six-year term. Elected to the position in 1993,
     Hamm's first term ends during the 1999 General Assembly in Cincinnati.
     
          The 44-member committee unanimously chose the reelection option and directed a
     small group to meet in April to direct the process, which would culminate with a reelection
     vote at the 1999 assembly. Hamm needed two-thirds of the 44-member committee's votes to
     begin the reelection process.  
     
          The committee's recommendation supports Hamm's efforts at helping the
     denomination fulfill his vision for a faithful church. That agenda involves encouraging deep
     spirituality, true community and a passion for justice in the nearly 1-million-member
     denomination.  
     
          The reelection steering committee, appointed by Moderator Michael W. Mooty,
     Lexington, Ky., will guide the process. The committee members are Emily L. Jackson,
     Memphis, Tenn.; Rev. David A. Shirey, Wilmington, N.C.;  Jim Stevens, Mountain Home,
     Ark.; and the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, Bartlesville, Okla. Mooty and Associate General
     Minister Robert Welsh also will serve with the committee.  
     
          The continuing churchwide debate over leadership opportunities for gay and lesbian
     persons took another step during the meeting. Committee members recommended that a 1997
     General Assembly business item on the matter be submitted to the discernment process.
     
          This means the church will engage in reflection, research and prayer over the matter.
     That process, however, does not ensure the denomination will vote on the issue in a future
     General Assembly, according to Hamm. 
                               - more - add 1-1-1/Reelection process
     Disciples News Service
     98b-5
     
          "We are not making a policy decision as a general church," Hamm said. A 1977
     General Assembly resolution left the issue of ordination and standing in the hands of
     congregations and regions. "We are offering a resource to the whole church as we struggle with
     this as congregations, general units and regions."
     
          Nevertheless, anything short of a churchwide decision will frustrate some church
     members on both sides of the issue, according to the Rev. William H. McDonald, Lexington,
     Ky. "If the church can get these parties talking, with the rest of us listening, we'd be better off
     than we are now," he said.
     
          The Rev. Paul A. Crow Jr., Indianapolis, cautioned the committee to include dissenting
     voices in the discussion on the "church-dividing issue. When you're looking for unity, we need
     to listen to those who disagree with us the most. There can be no communication unless there is
     honesty from everyone," said the president of the Disciples' Council on Christian Unity.
     
          One way to facilitate communication is by emphasizing process over an outcome,
     according to the Rev. Doug Skinner, Dallas, Texas. "We've got to stop viewing this as a
     problem that's got to be solved." The issue is "how do we behave knowing we disagree on this
     issue?"
     
          The entire question of the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons was challenged by Cindy
     Dougherty, St. Louis, president of the National Benevolent Association. "The question seems
     to lack integrity," she said, particularly since many gay and lesbian persons currently are in
     leadership positions throughout the church.
     
          Parliamentarian David R. Coatsworth, Chandler, Ariz., asked whether the
     denomination could handle yet another discernment process in addition to those on scriptural
     authority and racism. "Is there bandwith to handle these from a planning and management
     angle?"
     
          In other action the administrative body developed several recommendations for use by
     the Program and Arrangements Committee in preparation for the  99 assembly. The Cincinnati
     biennial event will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first convention of the church. 
     
          The committee also endorsed a proposal to unite the Utah and Central Rocky Mountain
     regions, and amended its own Standing Rules to add the national pastor for Hispanic Ministries
     and the executive pastor for North American Pacific Asian Ministries as non-voting members.  
     
          Committee members further received a report challenging the church to improve its
     hiring of women and racial ethnic minorities in executive positions, and urging churchwide
     reflection on a study document, "Re-Thinking the Foundations for Christian-Diversity-in-Community."
     
     
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