wfn.org | New UCC leadership team has warm ties to Disciples partnership

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

United Church of Christ
Office of Communication
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
contact: Barbara Powell
phone: 216-736-2222
email: powellb@ucc.org
http://www.ucc.org

PROVIDENCE, RI - July 6 1999 - 
New leadership team has warm ties to Disciples partnership
by Clifford L. Willis
        Four leaders elected to new offices in the United Church of Christ
bring
rich experiences to a unique ecumenical partnership with the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ).
        The leadership team brings to the churchtochurch relationship very warm
personal friendships “that will be important as we move ahead,” said General
Minister and Presidentelect John H. Thomas.  He most recently served as
ecumenical officer for the UCC, bringing him into constant dialogue with
Disciples leaders.
        The world ministries of both bodies formed a common global ministries
board four years ago that has remained intact with the UCC’s restructure. The
UCC recognized that process and the ecumenical witness it signaled, said Dale
Bishop. Likewise, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has honored the
UCC’s restructuring. The new executive secretary for wider church ministries
previously served as area secretary for the Middle East on behalf of both
communions.
        Bernice Powell Jackson helped plan the first “common gathering” of the
Disciples General Assembly and UCC General Synod in 1993 while part of
President Paul Sherry’s staff. She is the new executive minister of justice and
witness ministries. She comes to this post from a stint as executive director
of the Commission for Racial Justice.
        As associate general minister, Edith Guffey, has already assumed
the new
responsibilities for helping to plan the second common gathering of the UCC’s
Synod and the Disciples’ General Assembly in July 2001. 
        The Rev. Jose (Joe) Malayang, named to the local church ministries
post,
said the new leadership arrangement calls for even ecumenical partnerships.
“The UCC is still very serious with its very ecumenical enterprise,” he said.