Minutes - UCC Files



MINUTES

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRIES

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

March 13 - 15, 2012

Radisson Hotel at Gateway & UCC Church House, Cleveland, Ohio

The March 13 – 15, 2012 meeting of the Board of Directors of Local Church Ministries (a Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ) was held at the Radisson Hotel at Gateway and the United Church of Christ Church House in Cleveland, Ohio

Members Present

Sue Artt, Deana Barth, Lynda Bigler, Geoffrey Black, Geneva Butz, Robbie Carlson, Karen Curtis-Weakley, Susannah Davis, Mark Doty, Harold Drury, Jean Golden, Jeffrey Groene, Ben Guess, Jane Haubert, Alan Hilberg, William Imes, Meredith Jackson, Trinaka Jamison-Finger, Constance King, Douglas Lander, Nancy Lawrence, Janet Leung, Wilma Manchester, Timothy Marquez, Steven Mayers, Akendo Onamwar, Warren Orikasa, Herbert Perkins, Inez Reid, Sheila Rubdi, John Selders, Kent Siladi, Carol Stanley, Anthony Stoik, Tammy Toepke-Floyd, Elizabeth Walker, Susan Watterson, Nancy Wellman, Carol Williams-Swoope, Frederick Young

Members Absent

Robb Brown, Nancy Erickson, Rosa Frias, Renee Jackson, Adrian Maxey, Reiss Potterveld, Wade Schemmel, Lisa Strueh, George Weavill Jr.,

Local Church Ministries (LCM) Board Committee Meetings

Held Prior to the First Plenary Session

The Daniel Hand Fund Annual Review Committee met Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

The Development Committee met Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

The Executive Committee met Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012

Opening Worship

An opening worship service was coordinated by Susan Blain, Minister for Worship, Liturgy, and Spiritual Formation, and Chaplain for the meeting. J. Bennett Guess preached the sermon.

Bold Inspirational Goals (BIGs)

At the fall 2011 meeting of the Joint Boards of Directors of the UCC Covenanted Ministries, the UCC Collegium of Officers introduced board members to their process for developing a strategic vision plan for the national setting. Today UCC Collegium members J. Bennett Guess, Local Church Ministries Executive Minister; Geoffrey Black, UCC General Minister and President; W. Mark Clark, UCC Associate General Minister and Linda Jaramillo, Justice and Witness Ministries Executive Minister, provided a vision plan update. They reviewed the four Bold, Inspirational Goals (“BIGs”) -- the kind of landscape-altering goals that will take 10 to 30 years to achieve, but goals that are doable, measureable and will have many specific shorter-term strategies attached to them that will move us incrementally and methodically along a path toward realizing them. A testing process including input, thoughts and reactions of board members and others has resulted in a reduction of the original six goals, introduced last fall, to the current four goals. Ben, Geoffrey, Mark and Linda provided an overview of the United Church of Christ Core Purpose, Core Values and Bold, Inspirational Goals as outlined below.

Core Purpose

Drawn together by the Holy Spirit, we are a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church, joining faith and action. In covenant with the church in all of its settings, we serve God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world as made manifest in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Core Values

Continuing Testament

Extravagant Welcome

Changing Lives

Bold, Inspirational Goals (BIGs)

1. The UCC is a bold, widely-known and respected public voice of Christianity in service of God’s ever-unfolding mission.

2. There is a welcoming UCC community of faith that is accessible to all — no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.

3. Every UCC member is well-equipped to be growing in faith, be theologically conversant, and be active in the global mission of the church.

4. The UCC has a wealth of prepared, excellent leaders that reflect the diversity of God’s beloved community.

CONTEXT

As leaders, we strive to promote a common purpose, describe what success looks like, and spell out compelling goals and strategies for achieving that success. Thus, we propose these bold, inspirational goals, each with strategies supported by robust funding for viable ministry and mission.

Following the Collegium presentation, board members participated in twenty minute table conversations, naming BIGs that resonated with them or in their respective settings in ministry. After the table discussions, board members expressed their thoughts and reactions to what they had shared. Comments included the following:

➢ The BIGs do not represent a shift from UCC goals over the years.

➢ An expectation of thirty years to reach a goal does not imply urgency.

➢ The strategic vision plan is more “designed” than the “organic formation” of the UCC.

➢ The third goal should be the first goal if they are in an order of priority.

➢ Training, communication and opening of mediation centers are all tied to the leadership goal. What can we be to this world?

➢ How are the BIGs a movement?

➢ We need to impact a whole community that does not know the UCC.

➢ We all belong to multiple communities that intersect. We may belong to more than one church community. How do we adjust our ideas of community, gathering and service to meet the needs of the people we serve? Our minds do not yet meet that vision.

➢ How can we move the mindset of “snowbirds” to fully embrace church membership where they are present?

➢ A transformational shift is needed to understand the meaning of church membership. What does church membership mean? What does beloved community mean? We must embrace the many ways people encounter the faith community. Where do they feel led to connect? This may be in service in addition to in worship.

➢ We must move from a membership model to a discipleship model. What will you be as an individual follower of Jesus?

➢ There are two covenants of belonging – a covenant of community and a covenant of faith. The word membership may not be as fluid in terms of who we are trying to be.

➢ One board member’s church calls members ministry partners, participants, or partakers instead of members. Too much emphasis is placed on the terminology and definition of “members.” We need to view member counting in new and different ways.

➢ We need to change the Annual Report Forms to indicate the robust ministries of our churches, rather than to report membership numbers that imply that our churches are downsizing.

➢ Reporting of membership numbers, Sunday School numbers, etc. does not necessarily illustrate the vitality of a particular church. We are using an old model to indicate who we are.

➢ How do we combine evangelism with extravagant welcome? We must learn new ways to invite people in.

o Free monthly pancake breakfasts and community dinners advertised in Spanish and English bring in enough donations to cover costs at one board member’s church.

o Participants in a church community Christmas parade (with rainbow comma) hand out coupons for free community meals.

o One church reached out to families with young children, the LGBT community, young professionals, people disenchanted with church, etc. by displaying signs outside the church with the pictures and stories of various members. The number of participants, partakers and young people have increased. However the number in worship has not significantly risen.

➢ Online church begs the question, “Where does the church live?” What does that mean for the polity of the church?

➢ One board member’s church offers “Theology on Tap,” gathering people in a bar setting.

➢ The BIGs do not include an identification of those who are not present in our community of faith, why they are not present, and how we can make their presence a reality.

➢ Our mindset should be, “What can we do for you?” rather than “What can you do for the church?” Examples include a church that welcomes homeless, members of the LGBT community and prison inmates who attend worship services via prison passes.

➢ We must own, embrace and share evangelism.

➢ We must be mindful that the technology gap is tied to a socioeconomic gap. We do not want to be participants in creating a gap that leaves some people behind. Our churches can become technological access points for everyone as we find ways to put technology into the hands of all.

FIRST PLENARY SESSION

The First Plenary Session of the LCM Board of Directors Meeting was convened on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with Carol Williams-Swoope, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, presiding.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Carol Williams-Swoope.

Establishment of Quorum

Jan Gomoll, Secretary of the Corporation, reported that 35 of 40 registered LCM board members were in attendance for the First Plenary Session of the Board of Directors. A majority of the Board of Directors was present, establishing the existence of a quorum.

Approval of the Minutes

LCM-BOD-03/12-1

VOTED: To approve the Minutes of the November 13, 2011 meeting of the Board of Directors of Local Church Ministries.

MOVED: Steven Mayers

SECONDED: Carol Stanley

MOTION CARRIED

Granting of Voice Without Vote

LCM-BOD-03/12-2

VOTED: To grant voice without vote to Lee Foley, United Church of Christ Minister for Governing Body Relations.

MOVED: Jean Golden

SECONDED: Beth Walker

MOTION CARRIED

Executive Committee Assignment of Business to Committees of the Board

There were no Executive Committee assignments of business to committees of the Board.

Requests for New Business to Come Before the Board

There were no requests for new business to come before the Board at this time.

Review of Policies and Procedures

Carol Stanley, Chairperson of the Governance Committee, reviewed the LCM Board of Directors Covenant of Commitment, and the UCC Conflict of Interest and Safe Church Policies. She also asked that board members, who have not already done so, return their signed Safe Church Policy Volunteer Disclosure Forms and Conflict of Interest Forms to Jan Gomoll before the close of the meeting.

Adoption of Agenda, Appointment of the Parliamentarian, Adoption of Rules of Order

LCM-BOD-03/12-3

VOTED: To adopt the agenda, as distributed from the Executive Committee, as the Agenda for the March 13 – 15, 2012 Meeting of the Board of Directors of Local Church Ministries; to appoint Mark Thomas as parliamentarian for the meeting; and to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 10th Edition as the standing rules for the meeting.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Board Resignations, New Board Members, Assignments to Committees

LCM-BOD-03/12-4

VOTED: To accept with regret the resignations of Monica Newburg, representing the Penn Northeast Conference (class of 2017); Sheila Rubdi, representing the New Hampshire Conference (class of 2015); David Spollett, representing the Connecticut Conference (class of 2017); Jan Wargo, representing the Central Pacific Conference (class of 2013); and Jacquie Church Young, representing the Penn Central Conference (class of 2015).

To elect Douglas Lander, representing the Penn Northeast Conference (class of 2017); Sheila Rubdi, representative at-large (class of 2013) and Frederick Young, representing the Penn Central Conference (class of 2015) as members of the Local Church Ministries Board of Directors, pending election by the United Church of Christ Executive Council.

To elect Douglas Lander to the Congregational Vitality & Discipleship Ministry Team Committee and the Audit Standing Committee; and to elect both Sheila Rubdi and Frederick Young to the Publishing, Identity & Communication Ministry Team Committee and the Personnel Standing Committee of the LCM Board.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Welcoming and Pinning of New Board Members

New board members Douglas Lander and Frederick Young were welcomed and each was presented with a United Church of Christ pin. Pins were also presented to Kent Siladi and John Selders who were elected to the LCM Board at its November 2011 LCM Board Meeting but were not present at that meeting.

Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) Giving of Board Members’ Churches

Tracy Carnes, Minister for Our Church’s Wider Mission, distributed a printed report of the OCWM giving of the congregations of board members. She highlighted those churches that were exemplary in highest amounts given to both Basic Support and Special Mission Offerings.  Tracy also recognized those congregations that were most generous when giving was computed on a per capita basis with reference to the size of those churches. By using both metrics, giving is recognized from large and small churches alike. Tracy thanked the board members for their OCWM advocacy in their home churches.

Cornerstone Fund Gift

The LCM Board welcomed Gordon Gilles, President/CEO of the Cornerstone Fund. Gordon Gilles brought greetings and explained that the predecessor body of LCM formed the Cornerstone Fund with funds from the UCC Church Building and Loan Fund. Each church that applies for a Cornerstone Fund loan must sign a pledge stating that the church’s goal is to give ten percent to OCWM. Consequently, the Cornerstone Fund leads by example and celebrates this giving with its LCM family.

Jane Heckles announced that, pending the Cornerstone Fund Board of Directors approval, the Cornerstone Fund plans to make a very generous gift to OCWM. An additional gift will provide scholarships for 2012 National Youth Event attendees. The LCM Board expressed appreciation for the Cornerstone Fund leadership and support. LCM Board members who serve on the Cornerstone Fund Board include Ben Guess, Janet Leung, Riess Potterveld and Inez Reid. LCM Treasurer Chris Cheline also serves on the Cornerstone Fund Board.

Unified Governance Timeline Update & Protocol for Self-nomination - Sue Artt and Carol Williams-Swoope

Unified Governance (UGov) Implementation Task Force member Sue Artt presented background information and updates regarding the movement toward the creation of the proposed one unified United Church of Christ Board of Directors. Sue explained that the Executive Council Chairperson, Penny Lowes, has appointed a Governance Transition Task Force to advise and assist in the transition process. The task force is comprised of members of each of the Covenanted Ministry Boards, Executive Council, the Council of Conference Ministers, Council for Racial and Ethnic Ministries (COREM), national staff and members from the Unified Governance Working Group. These people will serve as communication liaisons between the various bodies. The following people are members of the Governance Transition Task Force:

➢ Sue Artt, Local Church Ministries Board

➢ Rich Pleva, Iowa Conference Minister, Executive Council

➢ Geoff Brace, Justice & Witness Ministries Board

➢ Jacquie McLemore, Consultant, UGov Task Force

➢ Barbara Kershner Daniel, Wider Church Ministries Board

➢ Bernard Wilson, Former Chair of Executive Council, Former UGov Taskforce Chair

➢ Marilyn Pagán-Banks, Chair of COREM, worked on UGov Proposal

➢ Pat Barnes-McConnell, Office of General Ministries Board

➢ Anita Bradshaw, Office of General Ministries Board, previous Governance Task Force member

➢ Mark Clark, Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries Board

➢ Kimberly Whitney, Staff

➢ Lee Foley , Staff

Sue reported that the ratification of the revised and amended UCC Constitution and Bylaws by the UCC Conferences is underway with six Conferences having ratified so far. Ratification of the required 2/3 of the UCC Conferences (26) is expected by early June.

The Boards of Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness Ministries, and Wider Church Ministries have already notified General Synod that they each intend to change the size of their respective Boards. A second notification will be required prior to the next General Synod. Office of General Ministries will need to take action to dissolve itself (due to the different incorporation requirements of OGM).

The Task Force has developed a work plan with a timeline to move various details of the transition along in order to affect a smooth transition to the proposed new governance structure after General Synod (assuming all is ratified and the Boards act). This work includes tasks such as the development of Standing Rules, committees, structure of the initial board meeting in the fall of 2013, new board member orientation, a transition process for the Nominating Committee, etc. The Task Force will also discuss form and frequency of General Synod.

Sue reported that an existing Nominating Committee will nominate members to the proposed United Church of Christ Board. After the Board is formed, a new Nominating Committee will be put into place.

The nominating process has started and the deadline for submitting names for consideration is October 15, 2012. All members of the Covenanted Ministries Boards of Directors have received information regarding the process for self-nomination to the proposed new United Church of Christ Board. Those currently-seated members of the Executive Council and four Covenanted Ministries Boards of Directors who represent the Conferences or other bodies, other than those representatives of the Council of Conference Ministers, who have not served more than four years of their term, are now eligible to self-nominate for consideration by the General Synod Nominating Committee for service on the proposed United Church of Christ Board. Those who are not eligible for self-nomination because they have served more than four years of their terms may be nominated by another group.

The Nominating Committee (chaired by J. Matthew Deal) has already, or will soon, solicit nominations from each Conference and constituency group, and will communicate the nomination process to each local church and all local church members. Specific details regarding the make up of the proposed United Church of Christ Board may be found in the Unified Governance Proposal which has been previously distributed to the LCM Board of Directors and is posted at lcm/board and .

Carol Williams-Swoope reminded members of the LCM Board who are interested in self-nominating to the proposed United Church of Christ Board to return their notice of intent for self-nomination forms to Hal Drury.

Ministry Team Committee Meetings

Meetings of the Congregational Vitality and Discipleship; Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization and Publishing, Identity, and Communication Ministry Team Committees took place from 3:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Standing Committee Meetings

Meetings of the Budget and Finance; Governance and Personnel Committees took place from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012

SECOND PLENARY SESSION

The Second Plenary Session of the Local Church Ministries Board of Directors Meeting was convened on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. with Inez Reid, Vice Chairperson, presiding.

Susan Blain offered the opening prayer.

Annual Appeal

Carol Williams-Swoope reminded the board members of the expectations of support for the Annual Appeal. Jane Heckles distributed Annual Appeal envelopes to each of the board members.

Report of the LCM Executive Minister

LCM Executive Minister J. Bennett Guess presented his report to the Board. This report is attached to these Minutes.

LCM Executive Minister Search Process Review

Carol Williams-Swoope explained that the current LCM Executive Minister, Ben Guess, is filling the unexpired term of Steve Sterner. That term will end in 2013. Consequently, the LCM Board must address the subject of Ben’s re-nomination/re-election by General Synod in 2013.

Carol reviewed the formal process for re-nomination and re-election of an executive minister, a process that the LCM Board had voted in October, 2006. Through an extensive information gathering procedure, the process provides “members of the LCM Board of Directors of the UCC with information from across the life of the church to help inform its decision regarding the re-nomination and re-election of an incumbent executive minister.” Per the process, in the spring of the year before the calendar year when the Executive Minister’s current term will expire, the Board Chairperson will appoint from among its board members an Ad Hoc Committee Regarding Re-Election. Carol reported that she has appointed Susannah Davis (chairperson), Herbert Perkins, Meredith Jackson, Steven Mayer and Robbie Carlson to serve on this Ad Hoc Committee. The UCC has arranged for a non-board member, Paul Osgood, to provide support to the committee.

Report of the LCM Treasurer (Controller)

Chris Cheline, LCM Treasurer (Controller) presented her report to the Board. She affirmed that the Revenue and Expenses Statement had been presented in detail to the LCM Board Budget and Finance Committee at its meeting the previous evening. The year ending surplus numbers had been reviewed in Ben Guess’ report to the Board.  Chris thanked Ben and the LCM Leadership Team for their conscientious efforts to save money and to carefully consider purchases before making them. Chris reported that since starting her employment almost three months ago, she has been working on familiarizing herself with LCM and Church Building and Loan Fund accounts and LCM endowments; closing the fiscal year end; preparing for the board meeting and getting ready for the audit which begins in two weeks. 

UCC OCWM and Development Updates

Jane Heckles, Minister for Congregational Mission Giving and Financial Development, reviewed the 2011 Our Church’s Wider Mission year-end report on giving.   Basic Support giving fell 1.1% short of the goal (-$85,000). Work with congregations and Conferences on Basic Support involves work on three issues: capacity, covenant and case. Capacity refers to our congregations’ ability to give, based on their own changes in size and income. Capacity continues to be a challenge. Membership in our churches has declined by 45% and the number of our congregations has declined 21% since 1970.   Covenant was formerly expressed through the General Synod-adopted “Pattern of Giving” that governed local church support for wider mission.  This document is very outdated regarding the ways in which giving is happening today in the UCC. Consequently a three year review process regarding mission giving in the UCC has been introduced. The “Case for Support” for Basic Support must be blended between Conference and national settings since more than 70% of Basic Support now remains in Conferences.  Staff members look forward to continued work with mission partners on this issue.

Reports and Business of the Executive and Other Committees

The chairperson or a representative of the Executive Committee and each of the Other Committees presented a brief report on the respective meeting of the committee. Information from the reports will also be reflected in the Minutes of each respective committee. Only actions, if any, of each committee are recorded below.

Executive Committee – Inez Reid

Inez Reid reported that there was no business from the Executive Committee to come before the Board.

Other Committees

Daniel Hand Fund Committee – Herb Perkins

LCM-BOD-03/12-5

VOTED: To continue to limit Daniel Hand Funds to the current recipients – Dillard University, Fisk University, Huston-Tillotson, LeMoyne-Owen College, Talladega College, Tougaloo College and the Amistad Research Center – for an additional three years.

In order to:

• Continue efforts to strengthen relationships with the current recipients (in particular the 6 AMA colleges);

• Finalize the application process for future recipients;

• Identify ways to increase the current distribution pool of D.H. Funds;

• Explore changes in the educational landscape and its implications for these funds.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Development Committee

No business was brought before the Board.

Reports and Business of the Ministry Team and Standing Committees

The chairperson or a representative of the Ministry Team and Standing Committees presented a brief report on the respective meeting of the committee. Information from the reports will also be reflected in the Minutes of each respective committee. Only actions, if any, of each committee are recorded below.

Ministry Team Committees

Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team Committee– Nancy Lawrence

Funding for New and Renewing Congregations

Spring 2012

From: Funding for New and Renewing Congregations LCM/CVD Budget - $ 190,000.00

LCM-BOD-03/12-6

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Indiana -Kentucky Conference to support the new Euro-American, Open and Affirming (ONA), Accessible to All (A2A) and Stillspeaking church, Bluegrass United Church of Christ, Lexington KY in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-7

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Southern Conference to support a Special Hispanic ministry that is ONA, A2A, and Stillspeaking ministry, Iglesia Unida of Chapel Hill United Church of Christ, Chapel Hill NC in the amount of $20,000 over18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-8

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the New York Conference to support the new Hispanic and ONA church, Iglesia Unida Nuevo Camino United Church of Christ, Buffalo NY in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months with a contingency that congregation has a pastor in place before the disbursing of funds. (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-9

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Central Atlantic Conference to support the new African-American, A2A and Stillspeaking church, New Covenant United Church of Christ, Owings MD in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-10

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Central Atlantic Conference to support the new African-American, A2A and Stillspeaking church, The Community Church United Church of Christ, Washington DC in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-11

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Southern Conference to support the renewing Euro-American, A2A and Stillspeaking church, Bethany United Church of Christ, Claremont NC in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-12

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Southwest Conference to support the renewing Multiracial Multicultural, ONA, A2A and Stillspeaking church, Desert View United Church of Christ, El Paso TX in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-13

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Ohio Conference to support the renewing Euro American, A2A and Stillspeaking church, Oak Creek United Church of Christ, Kettering OH in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-14

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Indiana-Kentucky Conference to support the renewing African-American, ONA, A2A and Stillspeaking church, St. Peter’s Evangelical United Church of Christ, Louisville KY in the amount of $10,000 over 12 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-15

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the Ohio Conference to support the renewing Euro-American, ONA, A2A and Stillspeaking church, Trinity United Church of Christ, Akron OH in the amount of $20,000 over 18 months (subject to the availability of funds).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

From: Funding for New and Renewing Congregations

Total Spring 2012

Recommending 10 applications for a total $ 190,000.00

Balance Available for Spring Cycle 2012 $ 477,625.00

Reserved for Surviving to Thriving Proposals $ 60,000.00

Subtotal $ 417,625.00

Less Spring 2012 Funding Allocation $ 190,000.00

Total funding Available for Fall 2012 $ 227,625.00

Funding for From Surviving to Thriving Congregations

Spring 2012

From: Funding for New and Renewing Congregations LCM/CVD Budget - $ 40,000.00

LCM-BOD-03/12-16

VOTED: To enter into covenant with the South Central Conference to support the From Surviving to Thriving congregations in New Orleans Association in the amount of $40,000 over 12 months (subject to the availability of funds.) Grants to be dispersed in these amounts: $10,000 to Central St. Matthews UCC, New Orleans LA; $10,000 to Little Farms UCC, River Ridge, LA; $10,000 to Saint Paul UCC, New Orleans, LA; and $10,000 Beecher Memorial Congregational UCC, New Orleans, LA (contingent upon Beecher presentation of growth strategy affirmed by From Surviving to Thriving Leadership Council).

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization – Hal Drury

No business was brought before the Board.

Publishing, Identity and Communication – Janet Leung

No business was brought before the Board.

Standing Committees

Governance Committee – Carol Stanley

Daniel Hand Fund Review Committee

LCM-BOD-03/12-17

VOTED: To elect Sheila Rubdi (class of 2013) to the Daniel Hand Fund Review Committee of the LCM Board of Directors. The term of Sheila Rubdi will commence on the date of election and end at the conclusion of General Synod of the class year.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Election of Personnel Committee Chairperson

LCM-BOD-03/12-18

VOTED: To elect Susannah Davis (class of 2013) as the chairperson of the Personnel Standing Committee of the LCM Board of Directors.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Election of Representative to UCC Executive Council

LCM-BOD-03/12-19

VOTED: To elect Sheila Rubdi (class of 2013) as an LCM Board of Directors representative to the UCC Executive Council. The term of Sheila Rubdi will commence on the date of election and end at the conclusion of General Synod of the class year.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Theological Students Scholarship Committee

LCM-BOD-03/12-20

VOTED: To elect Trinaka Jamison-Finger (class of 2013) to the Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Theological Students Scholarship Committee. The term of Trinaka Jamison-Finger will commence on the date of election and end at the conclusion of General Synod of the class year.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-21

VOTED: To elect Christina Villa, Editorial Director of Local Church Ministries, to the Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Theological Students Scholarship Committee.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Hotel Venture, LLC

LCM-BOD-03/12-22

VOTED: To elect Pamela Canzater Cheney as a member of the UCC Hotel Venture, Limited Liability Corporation Board of Directors (class of 2013), representing the Justice and Witness Ministries Board of Directors. The term of Pamela Canzater Cheney will commence on the date of election and end at the conclusion of the fall 2012 Hotel Venture, LLC Annual Board Meeting.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Church Building & Loan Fund Board of Directors

LCM-BOD-03/12-23

VOTED: To elect Edward Davis, Mike Denton and Michelle Griffith as members of the Church Building & Loan Fund Board of Directors (class of 2015). The terms of Edward Davis, Mike Denton and Michelle Griffith will commence on the date of election and end at the close of the spring 2015 Annual Meeting of the Church Building & Loan Fund.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-24

VOTED: To re-elect Moses J. Samuel as a member of the Church Building & Loan Fund Board of Directors (class of 2015). The term of Moses J. Samuel will commence on the date of election and end at the close of the spring 2015 Annual Meeting of the Church Building & Loan Fund.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee of the United Church Funds Board of Directors

LCM-BOD-03/12-25

VOTED: To nominate Hal Drury (class of 2013) for election to the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the United Church Funds Board of Directors, representing the Local Church Ministries Board of Directors. The term of Hal Drury would commence on the date of election by the United Church Funds Board of Directors and end at the conclusion of General Synod of the class year.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Investment Committee of the United Church Funds Board of Directors

LCM-BOD-03/12-26

VOTED: To nominate Dennis M. Bushe for election to the Investment Committee of the United Church Funds Board of Directors representing the Local Church Ministries Board of Directors. The term of Dennis M. Bushe would commence on the date of election by the United Church Funds Board of Directors and end at the conclusion of General Synod 2013.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

UCC Musicians National Network Board of Directors

LCM-BOD-03/12-27

VOTED: re-elect Countess Clarke Cooper as a member of the United Church of Christ Musicians National Network Board of Directors. The term of Countess Clarke Cooper will commence on the date of election and end on October 12, 2014.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Election of LCM Treasurer (Controller)

LCM-BOD-03/12-28

VOTED: To elect Chris Cheline as Treasurer (Controller) of Local Church Ministries, to serve in said capacity until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of this Board of Directors, or until a successor shall have been duly elected. The term of Chris Cheline will begin on the date of election.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Assistant Treasurer of Local Church Ministries

LCM-BOD-03/12-29

VOTED: To re-elect Renee Flowers to the Office of Assistant Treasurer of Local Church Ministries, to serve in said capacity until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of this Board of Directors, or until a successor shall have been duly elected. The term of Renee Flowers will begin on the date of election.

The Assistant Treasurer shall have such duties as may from time to time be delegated by the Treasurer or assigned by the Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries, and shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Treasurer during any period of absence or unavailability of the Treasurer.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Secretary of Local Church Ministries

LCM-BOD-03/12-30

VOTED: To re-elect Jan Gomoll to the Office of Secretary of Local Church Ministries, to serve in said capacity until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of this Board of Directors, or until a successor shall have been duly elected. The term of Jan Gomoll will begin on the date of election.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Assistant Secretary of Local Church Ministries

LCM-BOD-03/12-31

VOTED: To re-elect Pérsida Rivera-Méndez to the Office of Assistant Secretary of Local Church Ministries, to serve in said capacity until the conclusion of the next annual meeting of this Board of Directors, or until a successor shall have been duly elected. The term of Pérsida Rivera-Méndez will begin on the date of election.

The Assistant Secretary shall have such duties as may from time to time be delegated by the Secretary or assigned by the Executive Minister, and shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Secretary during any period of absence or unavailability of the Secretary.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Budget and Finance Committee – Constance King

LCM-BOD-03/12-32

VOTED: To authorize the Chief Financial Officer to charge operating expenses of the UCC Hotel Venture LLC to an LCM accounts receivable account, with an offsetting payable on the LLC’s general ledger in order to treat the payments as a loan to the LLC, said amount not to exceed $500,000.

Details related to the balance of the loan are to be reported through the Budget & Finance Committee of the LCM Board of Directors until such time as the loan is paid in full or alternative financing is negotiated with the first report due at the fall, 2012 meeting of the LCM Board of Directors at which time, the Budget & Finance Committee will determine whether to continue with the finance arrangement and whether to charge interest and if so, at what rate.

MOVED: Constance King, for the Budget and Finance Committee

SECONDED: None needed; motion was made by the Budget and Finance Committee

MOTION CARRIED

LCM-BOD-03/12-33

VOTED: To authorize the renaming of The LCM OCLL Unrestricted Operating Fund (Military Chaplains Annuitant Fund) to The Chaplain Education and Sustainment Fund. Beginning January 1, 2013 five percent will be withdrawn from the fund annually to be used for education, support, care and sustenance of United Church of Christ Chaplains who have recently served or are currently serving in the United States Military.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-34

SUGGESTED VOTE: To authorize $40,000 from the 2011 financial surplus to be paid to The Massachusetts Conference Pastoral Excellence Program to support the New Clergy Group Program which provides support and guidance to new pastors in their first three years of ministry.

MOVED: Constance King, for the Budget and Finance Committee

SECONDED: None needed; motion was made by the Budget and Finance Committee

LCM-BOD-03/12-34a

Amendment

VOTED: To amend the previous vote with the addition of the word “national” as indicated in bold italic type below.

To authorize $40,000 from the 2011 financial surplus to be paid to The Massachusetts Conference Pastoral Excellence Program to support the national New Clergy Group Program which provides support and guidance to new pastors in their first three years of ministry.

MOVED: Kent Siladi

SECONDED: Susan Watterson

MOTION CARRIED

LCM-BOD-03/12-34

VOTED: To authorize $40,000 from the 2011 financial surplus to be paid to The Massachusetts Conference Pastoral Excellence Program to support the national New Clergy Group Program which provides support and guidance to new pastors in their first three years of ministry.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Personnel – Carol Williams-Swoope

LCM-BOD-03/12-35

VOTED: To approve the addition of gender identity as a protected class category in the following sections of the Common Personnel Policies: 2.1 (EEO), 2.2 (Workplace Harassment), and 8.3 (Grievance).

the CMUCC affirms its moral and legal commitment to support and implement a program of equal employment opportunity which, in accordance with federal and state laws, does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or religion, except when religion is a bona fide occupational requirement.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-36

VOTED: To approve the addition to the Common Personnel Policies of section 3.5, Work From Home:

Working from home is a rare option that is reserved for purposes of serving the work and not for the convenience of the employee. For example, if you have a project or series of projects (sermon/presentation, big article, proposal, time-sensitive project, significant deadline) that needs your focused, uninterrupted attention and you can complete this work more excellently and efficiently away from the office than you can at the office, then you can request to do that work from home.

Employees wishing to work from home are expected to have discussion with their supervisor regarding the need to work from home before working from home and must receive advance approval from their supervisor. Calling your supervisor on the day you wish to work from home is not acceptable.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-37

VOTED: To approve the revision to the Common Personnel Policies section 5.3.5 d. Severance Package as follows:

d. Severance pay shall be an amount equal to one week of regular pay for each full year of continuous service with the National Setting of the United Church of Christ, up to a maximum of twenty (20) weeks and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local taxes. Severance allowances will be paid in installments on regular pay days.

d. Severance pay shall be an amount equal to a minimum of 12 weeks of regular salary. In addition, the employee will receive one week of regular pay for each year of service up to a maximum of ten (10) weeks. Thus an employee may not exceed the maximum of 22 weeks of severance benefits. Severance allowances will be paid in installments on regular pay days and is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-38

VOTED: To approve the removal of the Common Personnel Policies section 6.2.2 vacation bonus of 15 days for completion of 25 years of service, and replace it with Section 4.6, Longevity Bonus as follows:

At 25 years of employment, employees will be given a choice of a gift valued at $1,000 or a taxable lump sum payment of $1,000.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-39

VOTED: To approve the revision of the Common Personnel Policies section 6.4.1 Training and Development as follows:

All employees are encouraged, in conjunction with their supervisor, to develop and implement a plan for their professional growth. As a part of this, employees may be provided assistance with registration, tuition fees and the cost of required materials, (provision for time away and payment of costs for job-related growth experiences may be available, upon written application, to all regular employees who have completed one year their introductory period of employment, subject to the recommendation of the supervisor and the availability of funds). A cap of up to $600 per year for registration and reimbursement fees is recommended.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

LCM-BOD-03/12-40

VOTED: To approve the addition of the Common Personnel Policies section 11.11.1, Social Media as follows:

The use of social media (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, etc.) is becoming more prevalent in work and personal lives.  These guidelines are intended to assist in understanding the CMUCC’s expectations when engaging in both professional and personal social media use.

General Guidelines

All employees are expected to adhere to CMUCC’s Common Personnel Policies when using social media.  This policy applies to employees using social media while at work.  It also applies to the use of social media when away from work, when the employee’s affiliation with the CMUCC is identified, known, or presumed or when such use impacts the employee’s own job performance or the working conditions of other employees.  It does not apply to content that is unrelated to the CMUCC, its program of work or its interests.

Employees may not post any material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, libelous, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, or embarrassing to another person or entity affiliated with CMUCC.

UCC Social Media

There may be occasions in which participation in social media will further an employee’s work on behalf of the CMUCC.  In those circumstances, employees must receive approval for a work-related social media account from the appropriate ministry executive.  Please understand that any work-related social media accounts are the property of the CMUCC and there is no expectation of privacy in any postings or other activity on those accounts.  The CMUCC reserves the right to monitor such accounts.  Upon any employment separation from CMUCC, administrator rights must be relinquished, and all login and passwords on any work-related social media account must be provided to your immediate supervisor.

Personal Social Media

The CMUCC recognizes an employee’s right to engage in any social media activities away from work that the employee finds appropriate.  However, because activities on personal accounts may not represent the positions of the CMUCC, the CMUCC asks that employees do not indicate that their social media activities represent the views of the CMUCC. 

UCC and Personal Social Media

Do not announce or initiate comment on unannounced CMUCC news on your personal or work-related social media accounts.  When the CMUCC wishes to communicate publicly, it has well-established processes to do so, and only those officially designated by the CMUCC have the authorization to speak on behalf of the organization. Additionally, employees may not send e-mail blasts or create marketing material on behalf of CMUCC without prior approval.  Do not use CMUCC logos or marketing materials without prior approval.

MOTION CARRIED BY CONSENSUS

Closing Prayer

Susan Blain offered the closing prayer.

Adjournment and Closing Worship

The business portion of the meeting was adjourned at12:06 p.m. A closing worship service took place in the Amistad Chapel at 1:30 p.m.

Note: All reports, votes, statements (when provided) and resolutions to which these Minutes refer are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Corporation. These Minutes reflect only actions or brief discussion summaries. Verbatim discussions are not recorded.

Respectfully Submitted,

[pic]

Jan Gomoll

Executive for Administrative Planning and Coordination and

Secretary of the Corporation

REPORT OF THE LCM EXECUTIVE MINISTER

TO: Board of Directors, Local Church Ministries/United Church of Christ

FROM: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, Executive Minister

DATE: March 15, 2012

RE: Executive Minister’s Report

For any new executive who’s been on the job for only seven months, there had better be a strong reliance and appreciation for the staff. This could not be more true than in my case. I’d like to begin by underscoring my deep appreciation for the excellent, committed staff in LCM who love the United Church of Christ and are knowledgeable, experienced and passionate about the particular work they do.

I’d especially like to recognize and thank the members of our LCM Leadership Team and ask them to stand. These are the people who have brought me up to speed, prodded and nudged me in the right directions as a newcomer, counseled, advised and many times initiated, especially as we have tackled some pretty tough decisions and new directions over the past half-year, and they have graciously and warmly welcomed me into this work. I like them, and I admire them, and I rely on them, and I want you to know how grateful I am for the leadership they provide as the senior managers of our staff. I also want Jan Gomoll, Eleanor Ramos and Diane Dicken – in the office of the executive minister – to know how grateful I am for all they do so well. The planning and execution of this meeting is a prime example of the excellent work they do.

I would like to formally introduce you to four valuable new members of our staff. We are very lucky that each one of them said “yes” to coming to work with us.

In December, we welcomed Ann Poston as the new director of our Publishing, Identity and Communication Ministry Team (a joint ministry of LCM and OGM), a position that I happen to know quite well. Ann, who is a lifelong UCCer, comes to us with a strong background in administration, marketing, advertising, and project management, most recently working for the Cleveland Orchestra. Already, we are starting to benefit from her incredible creativity and leadership. (If you want to know who to thank for finding Ann, Carol graciously served on that search committee). Also, in December, we welcomed Chris Cheline as LCM Treasurer. Chris is a CPA who has a passion for both numbers and non-profits, a deep love for the church, and has the amazing ability to adapt her speech so she can be equally understood by anyone who’s asking a money question, be they an auditor or a fiscal novice. She has utterly and completely hit the ground running. In February, Sheila Kinzer – a 12-year employee of the national setting — stepped up to assume a critical role as acting director of the Church Building and Loan Fund. Sheila knows this work so well, and is providing steady and sure leadership, that has my confidence, as we seek a new settled director for this department. And, just a couple of weeks ago, we announced that the Rev. Elizabeth Clement would be joining our LCM Leadership Team as a major gifts officer for the UCC’s Financial Development Ministry. Elizabeth most recently worked for the Fund for Theological Education, and has served the national UCC faithfully in many capacities. Most of all, Elizabeth is a delightful, engaging, smart and charming person, which I know will serve us well when we go looking for money.

Thank you Ann, Chris, Sheila and Elizabeth for your service and gifts to LCM and the United Church of Christ.

Since our fall meeting in November, I continue to be engaged in significant speaking and travel across the church, in addition to administrative responsibilities and generative conversations among colleagues in Cleveland and among many of our local pastors, lay leaders, conference ministers and seminary presidents.

Most significantly in LCM, in January, Holly MillerShank and I announced a major new vision for the former Parish Life and Leadership Ministry Team, including a new name and an overhauled staffing plan. After broad consultation with stakeholders across the church as to how we could be more responsive to the needs of Conferences and their support of authorized ministers — be they ordained, commissioned, licensed; in discernment, preparation or in transition; in local churches, chaplaincies or other specialized ministries — the formation of the Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization Ministry Team, or MESA, represents the first substantial rethinking of our denomination’s ministerial authorization and support process in at least 13 years, if not many more. MESA is a cultural shift in how Local Church Ministries is positioning itself to serve the needs of authorized ministers in the United Church of Christ. For years now, there has been widespread sentiment that our existing search-and-call process was outdated and cumbersome, if not broken. “Search and call” had been dubbed by some as “search and stall,” and our one-size-fits-all process for pastoral transitions works in some, but certainly not all, local church settings. Preparation for ministry has been changing rapidly, but our ways of engaging and embracing this change have not. Therefore, it became apparent that nothing short of a wholesale redesign was in order. I encouraged Holly to be big and bold in her thinking, and she responded with refreshing clarity and creativity, offering a plan that has been both widely vetted and applauded by the collegium, conference ministers, ACMs, association ministers, seminary presidents, and Committee on Ministry chairs. I have received literally dozens of emails and phone calls expressing deep appreciation for the plan and especially Holly’s leadership.

In short, MESA is moving away from managing institution-focused relationships and other programmatic responsibilities to more fully embrace its primary mandate, which is serving, supporting and strengthening authorized ministers (starting with discernment and formation, through education and preparation; ordination, commissioning or licensure; placement and transitions; lifelong continuing education toward ministerial excellence; and, ultimately, transition into retirement.) MESA’s newly defined job descriptions speak specifically to serving these needs and functions along that continuum.

Unfortunately, in order to enact such sweeping changes, four program staff positions and one support staff position were eliminated on January 11, with new positions and job descriptions posted. Because each of the affected positions changed in either nature or scope by at least 50 percent or more, our legal counsel advised us that we must provide equity for those who would seek and fill these new positions moving forward. Therefore, affected staff members were provided generous severance packages (as our personnel policies provide), as well the opportunity to apply for the new positions. However, this certainly does not diminish the significant pain that these changes caused our dear colleagues and friends, and the sadness and anxiety felt by those who worked with them.

A search committee comprised of Holly, Geoffrey Black, Susan Henderson (a former Conference Minister now serving a local church in Virginia) and Rich Pleva (Iowa Conference Minister) is conducting preliminary screening of candidates now, with interviews likely to be conducted in May.

The formation of MESA also means that several other important aspects of PLL’s former work moved to other staff persons or ministry departments, and as I explain these you will also begin to see how we are actively living into a one-staff model here at the Church House by intentionally blurring lines across Covenanted Ministries while being more creative with both our use of staff and our dollars.

The work of grants and scholarships continues to be staffed within LCM by Veronica Jefferson, however her position is now being supervised by the Associate General Minister in OGM, in hopes of expanding the scope of that position to provide greater tracking and accounting of all grants administered by all the Covenanted Ministries of the church.

The work of institutional relationships with UCC-related colleges and seminaries is moving to a newly created leadership development position in the office of the General Minister and President, which is now being advertised and we hope to fill soon. Relationships with our college chaplains and campus ministries will continue to be supported in MESA but in the now-expanded full-time position in chaplaincies and specialized ministries held by Stephen Boyd.

Lay leadership issues and questions about effective local church governance are being moved to our Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, under Dave Schoen’s leadership, where we are actively thinking and planning new ways to talk about CVD’s unique role and mandates, in clearer focus and delineation from MESA and the Center for Progressive Renewal.

Likewise, the national setting’s liaison to UCC Disabilities Ministries is shifting to a new staff person, Barbara Baylor, who works in Justice and Witness Ministries, but will be doing so in a collaborative staff role with LCM, including our continued financial support. In tandem with this, CVD has been asked to bolster its support for congregational programs related to UCC Disabilities Ministries. Jeanne Tyler, co-chair of UCCDM, has already requested our assistance in facilitating a review of their curriculum “Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body” to see how usable and useful the curriculum is for congregations. CVD has asked our educational consultants for their assistance and we have identified two people who will be providing a thorough review of the curriculum, for which LCM will be providing the compensation.

And here, in my report, is a place where I have the need to interject a piece of deeper explanation and my own on-the-job learning: When the Collegium was discussing the formation of MESA and the impact these changes would have on various staff members and ministries, we recognized that MESA’s changed relationship to UCC Disabilities Ministries meant that we needed to think through and assign a staff person to assume this liaison role. Our fear was that by not thinking this through in advance we might give the false impression that there had been no thought given to UCCDM, or that DM was an afterthought. I also wanted to make sure that Disabilities Ministries heard the news from me personally, and quickly, after the announcement was made, which I did. But it soon became apparent that the decision – especially the process behind it – was hurtful to many in the Disabilities Ministries community. After many email exchanges, I invited co-chairs Jeanne Tyler and Peggy Dunn to come to Cleveland to meet with me and the full Collegium on January 31, which they graciously accepted, and we had a fruitful meeting that, I think, was helpful and instructive for all of us. I, myself, and the Collegium, as a whole, are personally committed to UCCDM and the Accessible to All movement, but we are also committed to ensuring that an institutional commitment is even more visible and apparent as we move forward.

Let me quickly name a few more important aspects of my work during the past five months:

• In December, we welcomed about 40 leaders from across the church for a UCC “Leaders in Koinonia” event focused on those engaged in excellent young adult ministry. Many of us felt it was one of the most engaging and exciting LinK events that LCM has sponsored. Coming up, on April 25-27, we will host our next LinK event, which will bring together pastors of one race or ethnicity that are serving congregations predominately of another racial or ethnic background. We believe there is much for us to learn and experience from this conversation. As always, Jan Gomoll gives everything she has to the excellent planning and execution of these LinK events, in addition to everything else she does so well.

• Also, on December 1, the UCC’s Radisson Hotel – yes, this one — changed management for the first time since it opened in 1997. Because of LCM’s majority stake in the hotel, I serve as presider of the hotel board, and that has meant considerable time and energy — and learning — on my part, but we are very happy with our selection of Marshall Hotels and Resorts and the good relationship we have already established. The transition was seamless (with much credit going to Steve Sterner’s advance work) and our property is already undergoing some upgrades in cleanliness and maintenance, with some other exciting improvements already in the works. Marshall is a highly respected hotel management company, known for helping turn-around lackluster properties, and they have outlined an aggressive marketing and sales strategy that, we think, will position us favorably for stability and growth. (Greet our new general manager, Leo Phillippi, who is doing an excellent job and is eager for your feedback.)

• I want to commend to you two valuable pieces of thorough research and evaluation that were conducted by Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, a member of our CVD staff. The first is a comprehensive review of Faith Practices, a whole-church faith formation resource that has been in development, in stages, by LCM for several years now. The PIC and CVD board committees reviewed that report yesterday afternoon and will be sharing with you their recommendation to management later today. Also, this spring, Kristina conducted an expansive review of Mission: 1, at the request of the Executive Council Development Committee, which will be reviewing that report at its meeting later this week. I have asked Jan to make sure that report is available to you as well. We are so grateful for the stellar work that Kristina has been doing for us, and it is indicative of the new emphasis on assessment and analytics that we are planning for CVD to begin offering more visibly and intentionally in the years ahead.

• A few updates on some important meetings and travels: In November, I preached at Kirkwood UCC in Atlanta and I, along with Tim Downs, had the great honor of formally welcoming that amazing congregation into full standing in the Southeast Conference. I also had the great honor of worshipping and bringing greetings at Victory UCC in Stone Mountain, Ga. LCM and the Southeast Conference also co-hosted a wonderful Saturday evening dinner that brought together leaders from many of our churches, and I had the great opportunity to both hear and share the excitement that’s so apparent across the Southeast Conference.

• In January, the entire Collegium met at Lancaster Seminary with the staff of our Mid-Atlantic Regional Conferences. I also preached at Naples UCC in Florida in January where I had the opportunity to thank the congregation for their incredible leadership in the Mission: 1 campaign.

• In February, LCM hosted the UCC Council for Theological Education, with all of our seminary presidents in attendance as well as conference ministers who serve on that council. Several commented afterward that it was one of the more substantive meetings that they’ve had in quite a long while, which is always good to hear. Thanks again to Holly for her leadership.

• On the Wednesday before the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, I made the stupid planning mistake of thinking that would be a good time to go visit my counterpart, Ron Degges, at the national offices of the Disciples of Christ. We had a very productive meeting, with lots of talk of collaboration that should pay off for both of our denominations in the years to come. Right now we are collaborating on the hiring of three regionally deployed children and family ministries positions, with the Disciples agreeing to fund the first two in 2012, and we agreeing to fund and hire the third in 2013. Each of the three will fully support UCC and Disciples congregations.

• Also, in February, the Collegium held its very first formal consultation with our counterparts in the Unitarian Universalist Association. We are already trying to squelch any rumors of merger, because that’s simply not true, but we do have much in common, particularly in the realm of justice advocacy. From that meeting, some good things are already happening. We learned a great deal from their approach to intercultural-multi-racial ministries, and we also learned that they are planning a Justice General Assembly in Phoenix this summer, and we’ve already made arrangements for our congregations in the Southwest Conference to join them in multiple public witnesses planned on immigration and economic justice.

• A couple of weeks ago in St. Louis, I spoke on the core values of the United Church of Christ — Continuing Testament, Extravagant Welcome and Changing Lives — at the annual meeting of the UCC’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries and the more than 350-related agencies that have such an important living connection to this church through the ministries and services that they provide.

• Coming up, on April 3-4, the Collegium will all be driving together (pray for us) to Toronto for partnership talks with the United Church of Canada, which, believe it or not, is also a first of its kind.

• Also in April, the UCC’s Annual Consultation will take place at Chicago Theological Seminary, a meeting that includes senior staff from the national setting, seminary presidents, conference ministers, board chairs and vice-chairs, some key local church pastors, and several young adult leaders. At that meeting, the Collegium will be formally rolling out a presentation of the major strategies that we are proposing to undergird our four Bold Inspirational Goals, or BIGs. The formulation of these strategies – and our presentation -- has consumed lots and lots of our Collegium time during the past five months.

• Following that meeting, the Collegium — with the exception of Mark Clark — will be heading to Puerto Rico for partnership talks with the former Puerto Rico Conference (the Evangelical Church of Puerto Rico). We are not looking at any prospect of reunification, but we are looking at a way forward that respects a formal partnership agreement between our two churches like we have with other church bodies globally. We do have some lingering financial issues that need to be resolved in order to move forward, in good faith, with such a partnership.

• Programmatically, Jane Heckles, our minister for congregational mission giving, continues to provide leadership to the development of a new Legacy Church Program that will serve churches in discernment about closing their congregations and how they might provide a lasting legacy, or capstone, for their ministries.

• Our changes in the MESA Ministry Team realized a little savings for us in staff costs and now make it possible for us to move forward with the development of a young adult ministries position in CVD, which I am hoping will be filled as a deployed position in collaboration with a local church. We are just at the beginning stages of that planning, but it is something that we hope will bring renewed and sustained energy to strengthening young adult ministry in the UCC.

• Finally, let me say a brief word about finances. They are always a challenge. And it is never fair — as we move toward a one-church mindset — to worry only our own ministry’s finances apart from the wellbeing of the whole national setting. Having said that, LCM had a relatively good year in 2011. While our budget had called for nearly $300,000 above the 5% draw on unrestricted reserves to balance our budget, not only was that money not needed but we realized a $151,000 surplus, or better yet, a $451,000 variance on what we had projected going into the year. This is very good news. It means we were actually under a 5% draw for the year. But it is also short-lived good news. With the recurring 5 percent drop in OCWM National Basic Support, we will once again be challenged to do more with less, unless of course new revenue streams are identified. On top of this, unified governance basically means that OGM will cease its existence in 2013 and their expenses, which far surpass their revenue, will be layered onto the whole as a common service. And that is enough to keep all of us up well into the night. But, I believe in relishing in good moments, so I’ll leave that conversation to a future report.

I know I have given you A LOT of information here but, surprisingly, it is only a fraction, a snapshot, of the work that we are about in LCM and the national setting.

I am mindful that I said nothing about the regional Midwest Seminarians Event that will bring 65 students from 22 different theological schools to Cleveland next weekend, nor did I dwell – as we all should be doing – on National Youth Event, where we are looking to gather 3,000+ UCC youth at Purdue University this summer, July 10-14. Accolades to Waltrina Middleton in CVD for staffing this massive all-church undertaking.

In closing, I want to thank you again for the opportunity to serve in this incredible position. It is both an honor and a privilege and, most of the time, it brings a significant lift to my spirit and a boost to my love and hope for the church. Ironically, as much as it feels like I’m just getting started as the LCM Executive Minister, I am only fulfilling a two-year unexpired term left by Steve Sterner. So already, the re-nomination clock is ticking, which means that I need to inform you officially that I do plan to seek my first four-year term as Executive Minister, if you and the General Synod should believe together that is God’s will that I do so.

My deepest appreciation is extended to each of you for your gifts and service to this ministry and the wider United Church of Christ. Thank you.

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