Toward Unified Governance

Synod Approves Unified Governance

Delegates to the Twenty-eight General Synod considered the constitutional changes required to implement the proposal, and approved the Unified Governance revisions to the constitution and bylaws in July, 2011. The amendments combine the five existing governance boards into a unified governing structure, the 52 member United Church of Christ Board, diverse and skilled in varied ways, called to serve the life of the entire church with principles of good governance.

Two-thirds of the Conferences must ratify.  The two year ratification period begins in the fall of 2011 as Conferences present Constitutional changes to the next Annual Meeting or body so empowered to act.  The full Implementation Timeline (through 2013), including next actions of the Covenanted Ministry Boards, will be developed under the direction of the Executive Council serving as General Synod ad interim, beginning with its Fall, 2011 meeting.

The Unified Governance Working Group met to fulfill its charge from the Twenty-Seventh General Synod over the past biennium. It continually invited and reflected upon feedback from the various settings of the Church under the direction of its chair, The Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson, senior pastor at Norfield Congregational UCC in Weston, Conn.   Updates include UC news updates and Frequently Asked Questions.  A summary of UCC Polity and History Consultations on Unified Governance is also available.  Additional Study Materials and working documents of the group are found below:

Proposal
A Proposal for Unified Governance of the National Setting of the United Church of Christ was presented to the UCC’s Executive Council on October 15, 2010 and then to the Covenanted Ministry Boards and finalized for the Constitution and Bylaw work ahead.

Proposal Overview
http://www.ucc.org/governance/video.html
Powerpoint of the Unified Governance Report in final form Pertaining to Constitution and Bylaw Changes (119mb ppt)

Thirty Conference Ministers Affirm Proposal

Minority Reports
Juanita J. Helphrey
Received Sept 5, 2010
Julia K. Matsui-Estrella
Received Sept 11, 2010

Additional Information
RE: PAAM Unified Governance 2010
NCNC PAAM Governance Resolution
Hawaii PAAM Governance Resolution  

Documents of the Unified Governance Working Group

1.  Plan of Action with Milestones
2.  Membership Roster
3.  Introduction Letter to the Working Group from the Chair, Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson
4.  Synod Unified Governance Resolution
5.  Agenda for Dec 2009 UGov Working Group Meeting
6.  Fall 2008 Governance Proposal (GFT II) 
7.  Formal Presentation of Status of Activity, Executive Council Spring, 2010

Additional Study Materials
UCC Constitution and Bylaws 
September 2008 Proposal
Brief History and Frequently Asked Questions
Powerpoint Presentation on the Previous proposal

Dialogue and Discernment Responses

United Church of Christ Council of Conference Ministers
February 23, 2010 – Received Electronically March 8, 2010

United Church of Christ History and Polity Teachers
March 5, 2010 – Received Electronically March 17, 2010

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
March 18, 2010 – Received Electronically March 18, 2010

Massachusetts Conference Board of Directors
March 20, 2010  – Received Electronically May 28, 2010

Wider Church Ministries Board
April 14, 2010 – Received Electronically June 30, 2010

Justice and Witness Ministries Board
April 15, 2010 – Received Electronically May 20, 2010

Local Church Ministries Board
April 15, 2010 – Received Electronically April 21, 2010

Office of General Ministries Board                                 
April 15, 2010 – Received Electronically June 21, 2010

Pacific Northwest Conference
April 17, 2010 – Received Electronically May 3, 2010

Executive Council of the United Church of Christ
Spring Board Meeting at the Joint Boards – Sunday April 18, 2010
April 18, 2010 – Received Electronically May 3, 2010

Potomac Association Session
(Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia)
May 1, 2010  – Received Electronically May 13, 2010

Central Atlantic Conference Board of Directors
May 7, 2010  – Received Electronically May 13, 2010

All Nations Church
May 7, 2010  – Received Electronically June 17, 2010

Dakota Association of the United Church of Christ
April 18, 2010 – Received Electronically June 17, 2010

Northern California Nevada Conference Annual Gathering – Workshop
June 2010  – Received Electronically June 6, 2010

Northern Plains Conference Annual Gathering – Workshop
June 11-13, 2010  – Received Electronically June 17, 2010

Montana Northern Wyoming Conference Board
June 2010  – Received Electronically June 16, 2010

Bethany UCC Church in Seattle, Washington 
June, 2010  – Received Electronically June 18, 2010

United Church of Christ Insurance Board/United Church Insurance Company
(UCCIB/UCIC) April 14, 2010 – Received Electronically June 30, 2010

Maine Conference
March 19-June 11 2010 – Received June/July 2010

Eppie Encabo, Notetaker
July 2010 – Received July 16, 2010

Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries (PAAM)
August 14, 2010 – Received August 31, 2010

Other Communications

Julia K. Matsui-Estrella
December 5, 2009 – Received Electronically February 23, 2010

William L. Land
Dec 5, 2009 – Received Electronically March 2, 2010

David Hirano “Restructure”
Received Electronically June 8, 2010

Theodore Erickson, “Polity and Power”
Received Electronically June 14, 2010

Dorrie Alderman Blakney Poem Submission
Received Electronically June 29, 2010

Notes of the Working Group Meetings
December 3-5, 2009
March 30, 2010 – Amended
April 29, 2010
May 25, 2010
June 22, 2010