Goal 2) MODELED ONENESS

Challenge ourselves and the larger church to model the oneness expressed in the Gospel

1. Propose a joint meeting with our American Asian and Hispanic brothers and sisters by the end of 1998 in order to foster unity and mutual support.  The NCCC Board of Trustees propose in writing a meeting of the key leadership of the Pastoral Commission for Hispanic Ministries, the North American Pacific/Asian Disciples and the Board of Trustees of the National Convocation in conjunction with the National Benevolent Association's Affirmative Action Task Force meeting to explore models of identifying common issues and devising means of addressing those issues. The Board should make a written request for a meeting by the end of 1998 with a target for having the meeting by the 1st quarter of 1999 (January - March '99). Should the results of such a meeting prove hopeful, negotiate future opportunities for partnership. The Program Audit Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees of the National Convocation will monitor this process.

2.  Engage at least 200 members of the Nattional Convocation from at least 50 congregations and orient them as needed to participate in the Process of Discernment in regard to "Racism in North A merica " ensurtlig that we have participants in all dialogical events. That the National Convocation Board of Trustees should identify fifty African American congregations of diverse ethos in key geographical area of the country from which advocates for the Process of Discernment on Racism can be recruited October 1998. Request a description of the process of discernment from the Office of General Minister and President and prepare a statement of need for members of African American Disciple congregations to be involved. Encourage the pastors of the identified fifty congregations and/or recognized leaders within those congregations to recruit members for participation in the dialogues, secure and receive information on the time, place and date of the dialogues; and arrange transportation for the recruited members to the meetings. Publish evaluative reports and/or observations of the participation of African American congregation members in the dialogues through articles in Selah, announcements at the Black Ministers Retreat and the General Assembly. Encourage participants in the dialogues to prepare a congregational report of their experience to be reported to the National Convocation Board of Trustees. The congregational report may include individual reports within it but the reporting should basically contain the following: Congregations, names of pastors, participants, dialogue date location, comments, etc. The Program Audit Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees of the National Convocation will monitor this process.

3. Assist the Affirmative Action officer in the development and publishing of statis ical reports in regard to African American employment within the church. That members of the Board of Trustees as coordinated by the Program Audit Standing Committee assist the Affirmative Action officer in securing and publishing reports of General Units, Regions and Institutions of Higher Education's progress on having 20% racial ethnic persons in every level of their employment and membership on their Boards. The Program Audit Standing Committee will monitor this progress.

4. Enable the National Convocation's president or designated representative as directed by the Board of Trustees to meet with the boards of those general units and regions (which have African American congregations) that are below 20% African American employment in their stqffs to develop strategies for greater racial diversity in employment. The President of the National Convocation will receive the Affirmative Action report soon after the Administrative Committee meeting in which it is presented for review and the report including the Administrative Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to members of the Program Audit Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees. Members of that standing committee will assist the Affirmative Action officer in contacting Executives of General Units, Regions and Institutions of Higher Education from whom reports have not been received. Members of the Board of Trustees will also assist the Affirmative Action Officer in assisting program units of the church that have not developed Affirmative Action policies or programs to implement those policies to do so. The Program Audit committee will report to the Board regarding their progress and recommend actions to the Board as necessary.

5. Enable the National Convocation's president or designated representative as directed by the Board of Trustees to meet with the boards of those general units and regions (which have Black church structures) to encourage 20% African American board membership or a proportion of board members proportionately equivalent to the Aftican American membership in the region) to develop strategies for greater racial diversity in board membership. Actions brought to the Board of Trustees as a result of the process described in the "intervention with General Units, Regions or Institutions of Higher Education" objective will be implemented by the NCCC President or designated trustee.

6.  Provide an NCCC/Black church informational packet that will be used in the orientation of General Board members, General Cabinet members, Regional ministers, candidates for ordination, Boards of General units, General Assemblies and Regional Assemblies. Determine what information needs to be disseminated and the effective means of distribution, ie. video, pamphlet, web site, reports in the Year Book, Biennial Session program books and General Assembly dockets. Once the more effective means of dissemination have been identified, explore means of financing the development of these resources. Explore the possibility of employing a Christian Theological Seminary intern to facilitate this activity.