Meeting in Cleveland Nov. 5-7, the Wider Church Ministries (WCM) board voted to approve the single board recommendations from the Governance Formation Team II (GFT-II).

The Rev. Deborah Blood and Curtis Rueter, represented WCM during the GFT-II discussions and presented the proposal to their board.

Discussion points around the proposal reflected concerns raised by other covenanted ministry boards, namely, the quantitative representation of HUGS members and the presence of activist voices on the combined United Church Board (UCB).

Following discussion and what Blood called "a pause for a few minutes of discerning silence," comments were heard and the vote taken.

Thirty-four members approved the proposal, six were against it and one abstained from the vote. The board then unanimously approved WCM's involvement in reconciling other boards' recommended changes.

Blood noted that several members expressed thankfulness for the GFT-II process and commented that the UCC is one of very few organizations, religious or other, willing to require its national board be composed of 50 percent persons of color and 50 percent women.

WCM is the final board to approve the GFT-II proposal during the fall 2008 board meeting cycle.

The chairs and vice-chairs of each board, and the Executive Council, will meet with their counterparts in January 2009 to reconcile, if possible, any differences in their actions. The results of these discussions will be the basis for preparation of proposed constitution and bylaw amendments for consideration at the 2009 spring board meetings.