wfn.org | Dates set for Georgia board training

["Wilma Shuffitt" <WILMAS@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: April 9, 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-20

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The plan to move antiracism
training for board members of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Georgia up to July 16-18 is "an extremely positive step,"
for the region, says General Minister and President Richard L.
Hamm.

     That decision comes in the wake of a demand by the
denomination's Black Ministers Fellowship in March to suspend
the search for a regional executive until the training took place.
That call was issued in response to the Georgia board's November
1997 decision not to forward an African American candidate's
name to the regional assembly for vote.

     "The board will have had the antiracism training well
before a recommendation comes from the search committee,"
Hamm said. He envisioned that the search committee would likely
make a recommendation by September "at the earliest."  

     Shortly after the clergy group's action, Ray of Hope
Christian Church announced that it would redirect regional Basic
Mission Finance contributions to Reconciliation -- the church's
ministry to combat racism.

     Hamm met with executive board members from the
Georgia region and Ray of Hope to discuss the congregation's
response. "It was a frank and very helpful conversation," he said.
The congregation "has not changed its mind about reallocating
monies to Reconciliation," Hamm added. "But they will continue
to be part of the region."

     The training event, previously set for the fall, will be
patterned after the model recommended in the process of
discernment on racism, said Hamm. Regional ministers and general
unit presidents and other church leaders will receive the same
training in August, he added.

     Board members "approved a very ambitious plan that calls
for training folks from Georgia to do training in the congregations
in Georgia," he said. The design also calls for the hiring of a 
full-time person to serve as a "co-regional minister or staff-minister for
reconciliation."

     In addition, the group discussed setting minimum
percentages for representation by racial ethnic persons on regional
boards and committees.

     Hamm said "there's real redeeming activity beginning" as a
result of the controversy over the Rev. William Edwards'
candidacy. "The region is really taking this seriously and is trying
to step up to the plate on this. I think God is working in this 
thing."

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