In its first meeting since the board elections of General Synod 27, Wider Church Ministries, introduced and provided orientation for approximately 15 new board members at their Nov. 3-6 session.

In addition to the inclusion of new members, the regularly scheduled board meeting conducted financial responsibilities and diversity training for all participants. Both sessions were aimed at helping Board members gain an understanding of the new realities for global mission work.

Richard (Dick) Osterberg was recognized by the Board for his 40 years of service as legal counsel. "Before I arrived in Cleveland I talked with one of my predecessors who told me that 'Dick is a jewel!' and I have discovered that to be an understatement," said the Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, executive minister for Wider Church Ministries. "Dick is first and foremost a 'church man' in the very best sense of that age-old phrase and is a great help as the executive and board seek to understand its options at times of important decision-making."

Steve Guy, outgoing chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, was also recognized for his years of service.

As with other covenanted ministries' board sessions and the Executive Council, Wider Church Ministries received an update on the unified governance process. A presentation on "Good Governance" was followed by a discussion of the Board's role in the formation of a unified board structure.

A budget discussion resulted in actions being taken to curb spending while making only a modest increase to the draw from the ministry's endowment. A quarter percent increase was approved in anticipation of an $800,000 projected shortfall in OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) giving.

Citing the economic crisis of 2008-2009, a collapse of the investment market and increases in costs, the Board felt the additional investment draw was necessary. Cost-cutting measures included reducing the number of board meetings, all-staff meetings with the Disciples of Christ and missionary conferences from two to one annually. Domestic program budgets and staff travel were also trimmed to offset the deficit.

One Wider Church Ministries program staff position, Executive for Refugee and Immigration Ministries, was also eliminated effective March 31, 2010. During this time of transition, Mary Kuenning Gross, the program's current executive, will help WCM find new ways to support refugees and local churches that want to sponsor refugees. Additional budget cuts affected the Global Ministries' combined budget for missionaries and Disciples' staff.

Rogers-Witte thanked Gross for her years of service in an email to UCC staff saying, "Mary has served long and faithfully in this ministry and has participated in beautiful ways in the lives of refugees and in the transformation of local churches through refugee sponsorship."

The latter part of the meeting was dedicated to the Common Global Ministry Board (CGMB) of the UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) Twenty Wider Church Ministries Board members also serve on the Common Global Ministry Board with 20 counterparts from the Disciples' Division of Overseas Ministries and six international Board members.

CGMB approved the appointment of three missionaries: John Campbell Nelson was reappointed to continue work with the Protestant Church in Timor, Indonesia, and Biblical scholars Mary and Dale Patrick were appointed as long-term volunteer missionaries to teach at the theological school in Harare, Zimbabwe.