wfn.org | UCC Elects President, Approves Restructuring Plan

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

13-July-1999 
99228 
 
    UCC Elects President, Approves Restructuring Plan 
 
    Changes Designed to Move Away from Hierarchical Leadership Model 
 
    by Religion News Service 
 
PROVIDENCE, R.I.-The Rev. John H. Thomas has been elected president of the 
United 
Church of Christ, which has also approved a restructuring plan that had 
been in the works for a dozen years. 
 
    Thomas, 48, known for his efforts in ecumenical circles, was elected at 
the 1.4 million-member mainline Protestant denomination's General Synod 
meeting here.  The biennial business meeting concluded July 6. 
 
    Thomas succeeds the Rev. Paul Sherry, under whom he served since 1992 
as an assistant for ecumenical affairs. 
 
    On July 1, 2000, Thomas' title will become general manager and 
president, in accordance with the restructuring plan also adopted at the 
meeting.  The plan reduced the number of denomination officials from more 
than a dozen to just five with more or less equal authority and 
responsibilities. 
 
    The five will be known as the Collegium of Officers.  The intent is to 
move away entirely from a hierarchal leadership model, something the 
Cleveland-based church has gradually sought to eliminate over the years. 
 
    The other four officers - all elected with Thomas - were the Rev. Jose 
A. Malayang, executive minister of Local Church Ministries; Edith A. 
Guffey, associate general minister; Dale L. Bishop, executive minister of 
Wider Church Ministries; and Bernice Powell Jackson, executive minister of 
Justice and Witness Ministries. 
 
    Thomas and Malayang were elected for two years but are eligible to 
serve an additional two four-year terms.  Jackson was elected for six years 
and may serve an additional four years.  Guffey and Bishop were elected for 
four-year terms and are eligible to serve two additional four-year terms. 

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