Team Leadership Conference Reviews Proposed Funding Plan

(Indianapolis, Ind. - DNS - 5/12/06) - Church leaders from across the denomination met in Indianapolis this week to grapple with a new proposal for unified funding of church ministries that extend beyond the doors of Disciples congregations.

The meeting, which took place from May 9-10, was called by the Mission Funding Task Force, a group created in 2005 by the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The General Board asked that the task force examine the current funding system that was created in 2003 because the system is perceived as not working since a growing number of partners within the system are implementing or considering "alternative" funding systems. Consistent declines in Disciples Mission Fund giving also have put pressure on partners to adequately fund their ministries.

General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins described the meeting as "productive" and stated that she was encouraged by often-repeated comments to remember mission and ministry as critical elements of the plan.

"The funding system is not our biggest issue," said Watkins. "Much more important is the mission God sets before us and how we will configure ourselves to be faithful in fulfilling that mission. I am hopeful that the outcome of our funding consultations will be renewed energy for mission."

The meeting brought together leaders of regional, general, higher education ministries, racial ethnic ministries and other church leaders for what is called the Team Leadership Conference (TLC). The group spent time in Indianapolis looking at the details of the proposed plan and giving feedback.

"The present system has made us all competitors, one with another," noted Greg Alexander, transitional regional minister from Kentucky. "We can't win in that type of partnership. "Are we going to rise above it? I say yes."

Robert Welsh, President of the Council on Christian Unity and a member of the task force said the group had spent several months working to create a plan that would "attempt to keep us all together in one system, because we believe that is what congregations want, it reflects our covenantal relationship and we believe it is what God is calling us to do."

TLC members last took up the funding system issue in 2002 when the former Basic Mission Finance (BMF), became the Disciples Mission Fund. As part of that shift, the General Board agreed that starting in 2003, regions would receive 45 percent of regular BMF receipts; general ministries would receive 45 percent; and higher education institutions would receive 10 percent. After the first year of the allocation formula, the regions' share would increase one percent a year for five years to 50 percent. General Ministries share would gradually decline from 50 percent to 40 percent. Higher education would continue to receive 10 percent.

Some of the changes in allocation were to be offset by Special Offering appeals. The Easter offering was designated for general ministries, Pentecost for New Church ministry, Thanksgiving for higher education ministries and Christmas for regional ministries.

As Disciples Mission Fund receipts have continued to decline, the special offerings have had some impact, but not as much as expected.

TLC members at the meeting reached varying levels of agreement on several points, including:

  • The creation of one fund, that should continue to be called the Disciples Mission Fund.
  • Relating the income of regions to the giving of congregations in that regions
  • Funding the Office of General Minister and President as a percentage "off the top" for congregational giving, with some accountability. Some concerns were raised about the role of ethnic ministries and how they are supported generally within the church, although participants were reminded that the Mission Funding Task Force was not charged to look at issues of structure.
  • Interest in the creation of a new standing committee of the General Board, which would give attention to, and make suggestions regarding relationships among our church’s mission, structures and finances.
  • All participants taking responsibility for promoting the one fund.

Several other items were deemed as areas of the proposal needing additional work.

"Our goal as the Mission Funding Task Force has been to come up with a plan where we all work together, pray together and sacrifice together," said Bill Lee, Moderator of the Church, and chair of the task force. "If a number of regions say they are not going to be part of this plan, then we have to figure out what that means, but we hope everyone will choose to participate."

The proposal will now be presented to congregational leaders. The Mission Funding Task Force, comprised of about 20 general, regional, and congregational leaders, will incorporate input from both TLC representatives and congregations into a new mission funding proposal that will be presented to the General Board in July.

###