The Regional Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has voted to extend the call of The Rev. Dani Loving Cartwright as Regional Minister & President for a period of three years.
Earlier this year the Council designated November for a month-long sabbatical leave for Rev. Cartwright, giving her time to pray and prepare for the final six months of her six-year term as Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church in the Southwest. In a November 30 conference call, Dani reported to the Council that her sabbatical time led to a surprising conclusion. Dani shared that she discerned God calling her to offer to extend her time with CCSW. Following a very positive and productive discussion, the Council agreed to spend two weeks themselves in prayer, discernment and conversation on the matter. Today, they voted unanimously to extend Rev.Cartwright’s term for a period of three years.
"We’re in the midst of an important conversation as Region," Dani said, "with God leading us to work together in a whole new way that emphasizes collaboration and allows us to share our strengths across geographic boundaries. God seems to be urging me to stay a few more years as we continue the conversation and begin to implement our Ministry Plan that has been an important collaborative work created over these past few years." It was the sense of Cartwright and the Regional Council that three years, as opposed to the normal six-year term, will keep the sense of urgency to implement some critical pieces of transformation across the Region. In addition, there is crucial work to stabilize the Region’s finances and facilitate leadership conversations in which Rev. Cartwright will play an important role.
Significant transition is underway across the CCSW Region now with four Areas in (or entering) the Search and Call process for a new Area minister. By extending Dani’s term for an additional three years (ending in May 2014), area search committees will have continuing regional support as well as the ongoing development of the Regional Leadership Team that is at the heart of the collaborative work happening across the Region.
Rev. Cartwright began her ministry in the Christian Church in the Southwest in May, 2005, after serving for eight years on the staff of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest. Prior to her work in Regional ministry, Dani served as a congregational pastor at First Christian Church, Gladewater, TX; Front Street Christian Church, Burlington, NC; and, First Christian Church, Crowley, LA.
Dani is a member of Community Christian Church in Richardson, Texas, where her husband, David Cartwright is the pastor. They are the parents of Douglass Anne Cartwright, a first-year student at Brite Divinity School and the youth minister at Irving North Christian Church.
