Report to the church from the UCC Board: October 2024

Julia Gaughan, chair of the UCCB, is an authorized minister serving Peace United Church of Christ in Alma, Kansas, and a member-in-discernment with Plymouth Congregational UCC in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Greetings, siblings and friends in Christ,

The United Church of Christ Board of Directors (UCCB) gathered for its Fall meeting over October 18-19, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. On Thursday evening, the Cornerstone Fund Board of Directors invited the UCCB to a reception so that we might engage in relationship building and continue to break down the silos that exist between different ministries. We appreciate the hospitality and the opportunity to get to know one another more deeply. This set the stage for a great weekend of work, both business and generative. 

Our UCCB chaplain, the Rev. Shernell Edney Stilley opened up our devotions both Friday and Saturday with references to and honoring of the new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while also envisioning how we can go Into the Deep, in honor of our upcoming General Synod. 

The UCCB received reports in the normal course of business from our various committees and welcomed time to learn and engage in conversation with our General Minister & President/CEO, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson. Rev. Dr. Thompson shared with us the ways in which her work intersects across the life of the Church and the public sphere. The UCCB commends Rev. Dr. Thompson for her ability to balance the internal and external needs of our denomination, mission partners, and communities while also balancing the ways in which she is called to minister as our General Minister and the ways in which she is called to action as our President and CEO.

The UCCB appreciated hearing from both Acting Associate General Minister Shari Prestemon about the work occurring in Love of Neighbor and from Transitional Executive Rev. Dr. Bentley deBardelaben-Phillips about the work in Love of Church. There are so many ways in which the National Ministries of the UCC are making a difference with and for our local churches, conferences, and in the world. Truly, we are blessed by the work, creativity, and ministries that Rev. Prestemon and Rev. Dr. deBardelaben-Phillips oversee and facilitate. 

The UCCB received an update from the Ministry Committee about the current progress on the Manual on Local Church. This body of work arose out of a 2019 Synod Resolution, and is nearing completion. UCC folks can visit the Manual on Local Church website to view the current draft and review related resources and materials. 

During General Synod 34, amendments to the Bylaws passed that change the term of General Synod from every two years to every three years. In connection with the debate over these Bylaws amendments, the UCCB agreed to revisit the board member term. The UCCB began this conversation last March and tasked a group to review options and submit recommendations to the Governance Committee and UCCB about the length of term. At this meeting, the UCCB voted to approve and submit for consideration by the General Synod additional amendments to the Bylaws that will reduce the nine-year term for UCCB members (arising from the change in General Synod term) to six years. With these proposed changes, the UCCB also engaged in a generative conversation about what we might need to change in our Standing Rules to aid in leadership development, business cadence, and decision-making. Those conversations will continue into the Spring. 

The UCCB took up additional governance work around aligning our Bylaws and corporate documents with the needs identified by Church Building & Loan Fund and the Amistad Redevelopment Corporation. The UCCB undertook a review of the financials for the National Setting, received and accepted the audit for 2023, and approved a budget for the National Ministries for 2025 that includes cost of living and market study salary adjustments for staff. The UCCB welcomed presentations from CHHSM, UCF, the Pension Boards, and the Council of Conference Ministers.

The UCCB also received reports from the Search Committees that are in the midst of the Search Processes for the Associate General Minister of Love of Neighbor (Acting AGM Rev. Prestemon is eligible for nomination and election) and the Associate General Minister of Love of Church. Please be in prayer as potential nominees and the Search Committees continue to engage in discernment. The UCCB will next meet over zoom in December and will reconvene in March in Cleveland.

We humbly request your prayers and offer our service to the Divine through our beloved UCC with the fullness of our hearts. 

Grace & peace,
Julia Gaughan 
Chair, UCC Board

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