General Board meets by conference call, votes on 2 items

Item 1 – Mission Council for Mission First! pilot named

General Board                                           Business Item # GB-16-0937

Title:               Nominees to the Mission Council

Origin:       General Nominating Committee Background

At the 2015 General Board Meeting, GB-15-0934 Report of the Mission Council Task Force was approved. This approval included receipt of the actual task force report, approval of the Mission First! concept and authorization of the pilot of the Mission First! process in 2016.

In the Mission Council Task Force Report, Appendix 2, the membership of the Mission Council for the pilot is defined as follows:

The Mission Council will be composed of forty-six (46) members:

• Four (4) General Assembly Moderator Team;
• Eighteen (18) congregational representatives nominated by the General Nominating Committee and elected by the General Assembly including two from the Governance Board, one approved by each of the Racial/Ethnic ministries, and two under the age of 25;
• Ten (10) regional representatives, representing regions of varied size and location

appointed by the College of Regional Ministers;

• Two (2) representatives from Higher Education (one appointed by the Council of Theological Education and one appointed by the Council of Colleges and Universities);
• Eight (8) General Ministry representatives, chosen by the General Ministry Cabinet;
  • A majority to be selected from ministries whose mission can be characterized as “programmatic,” which includes the Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries (DOM), Division of Homeland Ministries (DHM), Council on Christian Unity (CCU), Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM), National Benevolent Association (NBA), and HOPE Partnership for Missional Transformation, but also including those ministries characterized as “financial,” which includes the Pension Fund, the Disciples Church Extension Fund and the Christian Church Foundation;
  • One representative will be named by Disciples Women (DW) and one from Disciples Men (DM).
• Three (3) representatives from the racial/ethnic ministries: one each from National Convocation (NC), North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD), and the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (CPOHM), chosen by their respective bodies;
• The General Minister and

The General Nominating Committee (GNC) submits the following 18 congregational representatives for election to the Mission Council by the General Board, acting on behalf of the General Assembly:

• Jonathan (Jon) Blackwood  •  50-59, Caucasian, Male, Layperson, GA
• Shanell Bowden  •   23-29, African American, Female, Layperson, IL/WI
• Delores Carpenter  •   60+, African American, Female, Clergy, CCCA
• Hope Casey-Allen  •  18-22, Multi-racial, Female, Layperson, IN
• Peggy Chandler  •    60+, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, GKC
• Jeremy DeWitt  •   30-39, African American, Male, Layperson, TN
• Aura Yolanda Estrada  •   40-49, Hispanic/Latino, Female, Layperson, SW
• Nestor Gomez Morales  •   40-49, Hispanic/Latino, Male, Clergy, CRM
• Steven Gower   •  30-39, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, OH
• Arnold Hayes   •  60+, African American, Male, Layperson, TN
• Jennie S. Huang  •   40-49, Asian, Female, Clergy, SW
• Matthew Hudman  •   30-39, Caucasian, Male, Layperson, SW
• Delesslyn Kennebrew  •  30-39, African American, Female, Clergy, GA
• Mayon Marcelino  •   30-39, Filipino, Male, Layperson, CAN
• Carolyn McLemore  •   60+, American Indian/First Nations, Female, Layperson, OK
• Jaclyn Oden-Peace  •  18-22, Mixed, Female, Layperson, SW
• Sarah Page Jones  •  18-22, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, VA
• Dawn Robinette  •   50-59, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, FL

The composition of the GNC nominees is: 7 are males; 11 are females; 3 are 18-22; 1 is 23-29, 5 are 30-39; 3 are 40-49, 2 are 50-59; 4 are 60+; 5 are African American; 1 is American Indian; 2 are Asian; 6 are Caucasian; 2 are Hispanic/Latino; 2 are Multi-racial; 13 are Lay; 5 are Clergy.

Recommended Action

The General Board, acting on behalf of the General Assembly, elects the slate of nominees submitted by the General Nominating Committee to serve on the Mission Council.

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For Information Purposes

Full Mission Council

Four Moderators

1. Tony Rodriguez   •  50-59, Hispanic/Latino, Male, Layperson, FL
2. Tom Perring  •  50-59, Caucasian, Male, Layperson, PSW
3. Mary Lou Kegler  •  60-69, African American, Clergy, GKC
4. Sue Morris  •  50-59, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, NE

Eighteen Congregational Members

1. Jonathan (Jon) Blackwood   •   50-59, Caucasian, Male, Layperson, GA
2. Shanell Bowden  •  23-29, African American, Female, Layperson, IL/WI
3. Delores Carpenter  •  60+, African American, Female, Clergy, CCCA
4. Hope Casey-Allen  •  18-22, Multi-racial, Female, Layperson, IN
5. Peggy Chandler  •  60+, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, GKC
6. Jeremy DeWitt   •  30-39, African American, Male, Layperson, TN
7. Aura Yolanda Estrada  •  40-49, Hispanic/Latino, Female, Layperson, SW
8. Nestor Gomez Morales  •  40-49, Hispanic/Latino, Male, Clergy, CRM
9. Steven Gower  •  30-39, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, OH
10. Arnold Hayes  •  60+, African American, Male, Layperson, TN
11. Jennie S. Huang  •  40-49, Asian, Female, Clergy, SW
12. Matthew Hudman  •  30-39, Caucasian, Male, Layperson, SW
13. Delesslyn Kennebrew   •  30-39, African American, Female, Clergy, GA
14. Mayon Marcelino   •  30-39, Filipino, Male, Layperson, CAN
15. Carolyn McLemore   •   60+, American Indian/First Nations, Female, Layperson, OK
16. Jaclyn Oden-Peace  •  18-22, Mixed, Female, Layperson, SW
17. Sarah Page Jones  •  18-22, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, VA
18. Dawn Robinette   •   50-59, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, FL

Ten Regional Representatives

1. Greg Alexander   •  60+, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, KY
2. Thad Allen  •  40-49, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, WV/PA
3. Denise Bell   •  50-59, African American, Female, Clergy, GA
4. Nadine Burton  •  50-59, African American, Female, Clergy, GRR
5. LaTaunya Bynum   •  60+, African American, Female, Clergy, NCA/NV
6. Teresa Dulyea-Parker   •  50-59, Caucasian, Female, Clergy, IL/WI
7. Allen Harris  •  50-59, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, CCCA
8. Sotello Long   •  50-59, African American, Male, Clergy, SC
9. Bill Spangler-Dunning  •  40-49, Caucasian, Male, Clergy UMW
10. Cathy Myers Wirt  •   50-59, Caucasian, Female, Clergy, OR/SID

Two Representatives from Higher Education

1. Jon Berquist   •   50-59, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, PSW
2. Kelly Thompson  •  50-59, Caucasian, Female, Layperson, MidAm

Eight General Ministry Representatives, including Disciples Women and Disciples Men

1. Gilberto Collazo  • 50-59, Hispanic/Latino, Male, Clergy, IN
2. Ron Degges • 60+, Caucasian, Male, Clergy, IN
3. Chris Dorsey • 40-49, African American, Male, Clergy, MI
4. Rebecca Hale • 50-59, Caucasian, Female, Clergy, TN
5. Julia Brown Karimu • 60+, African American, Female, Clergy, IN
6. Seung Un (Paul) Tche • 40-49, Asian, Male, Clergy, IN
7. Denise Turner • 40-49, Caucasian, Female, Clergy, NCA/NV
8. Brian Burton • 30-39, African American, Male, Layperson, OH

Three Representatives from the Racial/Ethnic Ministries

1. Hector Velazquez    •    60+, Hispanic/Latino, Male, Clergy, SW
2. Geunhee Yu    •    60+, Asian, Male, Clergy, NCA/NV
3. Timothy James    •    60+, African American, Male, Clergy, IN

General Minister and President

1. Sharon Watkins    •    60+, Caucasian, Female, Clergy, IN

The composition of the full Mission Council is: 22 Males; 24 Females; 3 are 18-22; 1 is 23-29; 6 are 30-39; 8 are 40-49; 16 are 50-59; 12 are 60+; 14 are African American; 1 is American Indian/First Nations; 4 are Asian; 20 are Caucasian; 5 are Hispanic/Latino; 2 are Multi-racial; 18 Lay; 28 Clergy.

Regional Composition

Item 2: Appreciation for Rev. Dr. Todd Adams

GB-16-0941

IN CELEBRATION OF REV. DR. TODD A. ADAMS

WHEREAS, the Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams began his ministry as Associate General Minister and Vice President with the Office of General Minister and President (OGMP) on June 11, 2007; and

WHEREAS, with distinction, Todd has faithfully served the church in this capacity as advisor to and project manager for the General Minister and President (GMP); GMP representative on many boards and committees of the church; theological interpreter of the Disciples Mission, Vision and Identity Statements to countless congregations on Sunday mornings over the years; as chair of the General Assembly Team; as chief financial officer, as human resources executive and as chief of staff for the past 8 ½ years; and

WHEREAS, Todd partnered with the late Dr. Harold (Hal) Watkins to shepherd the church through the closing of Church Finance Council and the reassignment of those responsibilities to Treasury Services within OGMP; and

WHEREAS, Todd has been the primary voice for Disciples Mission Fund, promoting the work and mission of the church to local congregations throughout both Canada and the United States; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Todd coordinated the move of the entire Disciples Center staff to a functional temporary location and then back to our original location (after four months and one General Assembly) due to a fire in our building; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, Todd, as Executive Director of Christian Church Services, coordinated the permanent buildout at a new location and the move of the entire Disciples Center staff to our new home at 1099 N. Meridian Street; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, Todd was appointed Interim President of Disciples of Christ Historical Society, a position he has fulfilled with distinction in addition to his other responsibilities as Associate General Minister and Vice President and Executive Director of Christian Church Services; and

WHEREAS, Todd has accomplished all of this with the love of and the love for his wife Kimberly and two wonderfully talented children, Claire and Jackson;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that on the 23rd day of February in the year 2016, the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada celebrates the Rev. Dr. Todd

1. Adams as he closes out his ministry in the Office of General Minister and President on February 29, 2016, thanking him for his service to this church we all love so much; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Board wishes him a faithful and effective ministry as President of the Pension Fund on September 1, 2016; and

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that the General Board prays for God to bless the Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams with vision and wisdom and keep him and his family growing in the knowledge and grace of God’s love. AMEN.