Elon Meeting Juggles Ministry and Money - June 11-12, 2010

Persons representing the far reaches of Southern Conference crossed either the Roanoke or the Yadkin Rivers to converge under the oaks, amidst the spirit of James O’kelly, on the campus of Elon University. In lieu of a June SOC Annual Gathering, four boards (representing the three associations and the conference) found themselves together in a comfortable campus meeting room with facilitator guidance from Riess Potterveld, to see a way forward for Conference Ministry. SOC President Dale Kennedy called forth the assembled to walk together toward a vision for empowering, educating, ministering. Riess Potterveld, Lancaster Seminary President, orbited around a newsprint filled easel etched with feedback from small groups, and periodically added coded markings indicating emphasis or indicators of possible consensus.

Potterveld -- at a mid-point in the gathering -- offered translation for some of his added markings dotting the newsprint margins, highlighting trends and emphases he was hearing articulated, including 1) a sense that the heart of the church is at the local level, 2) that there remains strong sentiment for maintaining ACM’s, who are viewed as providing more direct services to local congregations, 3) a need for communication and transparency as core values for going forward, and 4) a growing initiative (though with some dissent around short term strategy) that the Conference live within its means and resources.

“Strong issues of contention remain evident,” noted Potterveld after associations met and put forth models for future ministry from a variety of perspectives. How money flows through the system and gets deployed became the issue of seminal disagreement. Recognizing this ongoing conflictive situation, Riess asked whether persons were at least “hearing the various viewpoints as we move forward.” Two associations put forth proposals that would sustain current money flow through the Conference first, and then to the Associations. ENCA suggested an option with a reverse direction of cash flow . On the issue of maintaining a strong Conference Minister position, the representatives also could not find agreement, aware of the budget reality which seemingly was forcing an either/ or choice around professional staff. (Would the Conference Minister or the ACM’s [Associate Conference Ministers / or Association Ministers] become the primary staffing option for a future scenario?)

Talk of “covenant” countered initiatives around “control” as the Board continued to process feedback in what may become viewed as a non-interim interim. Proponents for change were often asked whether plans being advocated were temporary or permanent. In a like manner the question of hiring an interim minister or employing a “consultant” hovered as a process question toward preparing for the 2011 Annual Gathering, which began to surface as a realistic target date for implementing change. Future conversations around structure, funding, and hiring promise to expose new revelations around the question of what it means to be the United Church of Christ in a Conference where congregations often continue to understand their identity in the context of predecessor denominational labels and polity (i.e. O’Kelly Christian, Congregational, or Reformed). [CLS]