Unified Governance receives approval of UCC boards, Executive Council

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

Unified Governance receives approval of UCC boards, Executive Council

> Written by Gregg Brekke
> November 5, 2010

> Following a year of deliberation, including
> discernment and dialog from congregations,
> Conferences and interest groups, a
> "<http://www.ucc.org/governance/A-Proposal-for-Unified-Governance-of-the-Na
>  tional-Setting.pdf>Proposal
> for Unified Governance of the National Setting of
> the United Church of Christ" was delivered by the
> Unified Governance (UGov) Working Group and has
> received approval to proceed from the UCC's
> Executive Council and the boards of the four Covenanted Ministries.

The 2009 General Synod requested that the

proposal, and subsequent constitution and bylaw
changes, be presented to the 2011 Synod after a
preliminary "single governance" proposal failed
to gain unanimous board approval in early 2009.

A unified board size of 51 members, decreased
from the current total of 300 members serving on
four boards and the Executive Council, has been
suggested "based on competencies needed for good
governance while maintaining commitments to
diversity." The UGov Working group asserts the
smaller board will "support putting mission
forward, emphasize best practices of good
governance, and streamline informed and
integrated decision making and ministry actions" within the UCC.

Executive Council members approved an action
calling for two "minority reports" to be carried
forward with the proposal. A request to change
the proposal, altering the composition of the
unified board's nominating committee ? those
responsible for recommending new board members,
was rejected by Executive Council members.

The UGOV Working Group will consider comments
currently being received from the Executive
Council and members of the Covenanted Ministries
boards prior to working with their legal counsel
to formulate constitution and bylaw changes.

These constitution and bylaw changes will be
considered by the Organizational Life committee
of the Executive Council at its March 2011
meeting and, as instructed by the General Synod,
the proposal and proposed constitution and bylaws
changes will be forwarded to General Synod 28 in
Tampa. If the General Synod votes to adopt the
constitution and bylaw changes, further voting
will take place in Conferences, where two-thirds
? 26 of 38 ? must approve of the constitutional changes prior to 
adopti on.

An extensive

<http://www.ucc.org/governance/>online resource
page and
<http://www.ucc.org/news/pdf/UGovFAQ.pdf>Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) document regarding the
Unified Governance process are available online at UCC.org.