wfn.org | UCC General Ministries Board Endorses Unified Governance Proposal

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Office of General Ministries board endorses unified governance proposal

> Written by Gregg Brekke
> November 3, 2008

Meeting Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Cleveland, the UCC's Office of General Ministries (OGM) board voted overwhelmingly in support of the single governance model recommended by the Governance Formation Team II (GFT-II).

Discussion of the proposal was the key agenda item in Friday's all-group sessions. Unease expressed by the Historically Underrepresented Groups (HUGS) was highlighted and addressed by OGM board members who were representatives to the GFT-II.

Of primary concern was fair representation for HUGS members at General Synod and on the Unified Church Board (UCB) proposed by GFT-II.

"We (GFT-II) saw a sorting out of the HUGS members and came to recognize that we can't forget their journey," said OGM board member and GFT-II representative, the Rev. Jonathan Page.

GFT-II delegates presented benefits of the UCB as embodying best practices in non-profit governance, allowing for better decision making and more attention to governance, rather than management of programs.

Board leadership, the Rev. Phyllis Baum and Pierson Kemp, called for a secret ballot on the GFT-II vote based on a motion from the floor.  The secret ballot was challenged by the Rev. Kaji Spellman as a "divisive" measure that would "jeopardize the trust and unity the board had established at previous meetings."

Spellman's challenge to secret ballot did not pass by the required two-thirds majority. The secret ballot followed with an affirmative vote for the GFT-II proposal: 30 for, three opposed, with no abstentions.

A recommended amendment ? asking that the wording for continuation of youth delegates be changed from "reappoint" to "reelect" ? was unanimously approved. The Local Church Ministries board passed an identical amendment, which has also been addressed by the Executive Council and Justice and Witness Ministries.

Edith Guffey, the UCC's associate general minister, said the OGM board has been supportive of the single governance model from its inception.  She said the latest round of changes
"returns the size of the board to one that they consider manageable and more consistent with the original proposal."

Guffey opened the meeting with an update on OGM activities, budget planning and 2011 General Synod location selection.

She noted that six conferences have expressed interest in holding the 2011 General Synod following the de-selection of Honolulu earlier this year. These six options will be vetted and two locations will be presented to the spring board meeting for discussion and vote.

The Office of General Ministries works through five teams: Office of the General Ministers; Common Services Ministry; Covenantal Relations Ministry; Proclamation, Identity and Communication Ministry; and Financial Development Ministry.

These teams provide common services for the national setting of the church; care for relations with Conferences, other faith traditions and racial/ethnic constituencies in the church; provide platforms for communication within the church and the church's relations with the media; and assist the national setting in its financial development.