Single Governance Committee Work

I am a proud member of committee 6. And we have been charged with the work of looking at the 9 resolutions on governance and determining what is to go to the floor of synod to be voted upon by the larger body.

There has been a 3 and half year process that resulted in a proposal for changing our national governing structure from having 5 boards to one. This would have come to synod in the from of constitutional and bylaw amendments except Justice and Witness Ministries voted against it (many other boards had unanimous or near unanimous votes in support of it).

There are many advocates on behalf of moving forward with the single governance model because it will be more efficient and cost effective and it makes more sense for effectively governing our national church.

However there are also voices that feel that they have not been heard in the process in determining this new structure and that the representation in the model is not sufficient. These voices have been raised from some of the COREM and HUG (Historically Underrepresented Groups) groups.

When we recessed for the evening it the straw pull indicated that the committee was overwhelmingly in favor of sending a resolution to the synod floor which would ask for a single governance to be brought to GS28 for approval by the synod and then sent out to conferences for 2/3 approval.

I anticipate that we will incorporate language that asks to continue the dialogue for the next two years before synod with an intentional pursuit of opinions and perspectives that may have not been thoroughly incorporated previously. Because we are the United Church of Christ I don't think anyone wants to see voices left out of the conversation or groups of people to feel disenfranchised by any process we have. However it seems to be a consensus that we need to move forward with single governance because it is a more responsible and effective way to carry out business.

I pray, and I hope that you will join me, that the work of this committee and all others working at synod this week can faithfully and prayerfully engage the issues and carry out the work of the church that is pleasing in God's sight.