wfn.org | Anti-racism initiative receives emergency grant, temporarily delays

["Office of Communications"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

possible cuts
Date: May 25, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
E-mail: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

00b-22

	INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The anti-racism/pro-reconciliation initiative 
within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) received a $23,700 
emergency grant, May 20, temporarily staving off possible cuts in the 
church-wide program. 

	Without the cash infusion approved by the General Reconciliation 
Committee, available funds to continue the program would be exhausted by 
May 31, according to Lois Artis Murray, president, Church Finance Council. 

	The $23,700 will help enable several staff teams to participate in an 
advanced anti-racism training event already scheduled for June 8-12. In 
addition, it will support a special two-and-a-half day introductory 
session for Administrative Committee members in July, immediately before 
the General Board convenes. The emergency funds, however, are far short of 
a $90,000 request to facilitate work on the project through Dec. 31. 
Murray, who also serves as associate general minister, heads the 
anti-racism/pro-reconciliation staff team. She made the petition on behalf 
of the Office of General Minister and President. 

	"This was a tough decision," said Steven Allison, Memphis, Tenn., 
chairperson of the General Reconciliation Committee. Committee members 
received the $90,000 figure as a 2000 request. The deadline for submitting 
proposals for 2000 was June 1, 1999.

	 "We certainly support the anti-racism efforts in the church," said 
Allison. He said the challenge was determining what were the most pressing 
needs. 

	The committee's decision essentially helps fulfill commitments made 
toward the June and July training events and continue staff support. The 
committee also hoped to provide a 60-day window allowing project leaders 
time to seek funding from other sources to complete the year.

	The General Reconciliation Committee, which approved two previous grants 
and a gift of more than $100,000, meets again in September, according to 
the chairperson. At that time the group will consider funding for this and 
other proposals for 2001 from the $750,000 Reconciliation fund.

	At present, no other sources have been identified to provide the 
additional funding, according to the Rev. Lori Adams, minister of 
transformation. 

	The OGMP, however, may request assistance from the Adjustment Fund, 
administered by the Commission on Mission Funding. The Adjustment Fund 
comprises one percent of Basic Mission Finance receipts and is used to 
address financial emergencies and address inequities. 

	Should the appeal to the COMF fail, the church-wide project could come to 
a halt this summer, according to Murray. The lack of funding, she said, 
will "stall the programs of the whole initiative."

	In short that means "we will have to cancel the balance of the training 
events scheduled for this year," Murray said. Those sessions would likely 
be postponed until 2001 or "until such time as funding becomes available." 
These include orientation meetings with regional groups, introductory 
training events, and advanced sessions within Disciples regions.

	In other action, the committee listened to a proposal that would 
establish a commission to permanently continue the 
anti-racism/pro-reconciliation effort. As a commission of the General 
Board, which still must approve the proposal, the new structure would 
unite project work now done by Reconciliation mission, the process of 
discernment on racism steering committee and the Disciples general 
anti-racism team. Tentative plans call for the commission's work, slated 
to begin Jan. 1, 2001, to be carried out by two professional staff and a 
support staff person.

	Under the plan, the discernment steering committee and the general 
anti-racism team would be dissolved. The proposal also calls for the 
Reconciliation mission to revert to its original purpose as a fund 
supporting projects aimed at eradicating racism. In addition, the director 
of Reconciliation's tasks of interpreting and promoting the fund would be 
handled by the Church Finance Council.

	The General Reconciliation Committee, which currently reviews and decides 
funding for grant applications, also would be disbanded. In its place, 
either a subcommittee of the Administrative Committee or a committee 
convened by the Church Finance Council president would process future 
grant applications for anti-racism projects.

	Exactly how the new anti-racism/pro-reconciliation commission will be 
financed is unclear at this point, according to Murray. Primary support 
may come from Reconciliation, as either a percentage of its receipts or 
resulting from a grant proposal submitted to the Reconciliation grant 
award committee. Grants from private foundations may be another source of 
funding the initiative. In addition, other support will likely continue 
from the Office of General Minister and President. In-kind donations, as 
well, may be sought from local churches, according to the plan. 

                  	 -- end --

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