College of Regional Ministers

The Church expresses itself in geographic ministries known as regions. Within their established boundaries, the regions function in areas of mission and nurture and call regional ministers as their spiritual and administrative leaders. These ministers serve as chief executive officers of the region.

The College of Regional Ministers is a group composed of the senior regional ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for the purpose of meeting and working together along with the General Minister and President. Rev. LaTaunya Bynum of the Northern California/Nevada region is the current president of the College of Regional Ministers. The group typically meets three times a year.

The College coordinates and networks with the other expressions of the Church. The College also takes up personnel matters involving alleged misconduct by regional or congregational personnel. In addition, the College assists local pastors who are engaged in congregational transformation and clergy who have an urgent need for relocation or repair of their facilities.

Meetings of the College of Regional Ministers are replete with educational and training programs, including activities such as team building, legal issues, record keeping, and mission goals. Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism exercises are a regular feature at the meetings. The College of Regional Ministers has a president, first vice-president and second vice-president. Officers are elected for two-year terms.

Regional ministers serve as pastors to congregational pastors. The College of Regional Ministers is divided into five fellowship groups. Each fellowship group meets once a year and serves as a support mechanism among College members.

The regional ministers group also provides support for the church-wide stewardship initiative, conducts training that leads to peer review of regional ministries, and shares funds with smaller regions that are experiencing economic difficulty, as well as those that are adversely affected by changes in the funding allocation system.

Finally, the College of Regional Ministers, along with its General Ministry partners, explores ways that the College can be engaged in adaptive change, so that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) can more faithfully respond to the challenges of the 21st century mission field.