8/8/07
Thomas, Collegium Report to Synod:
Many at Synod unfamiliar with turf wars that have plagued the national UCC setting over the last two years, were startled to hear John Thomas and other members of the Collegium report that their administration is in crisis over unresolved internal restructuring conflicts. In April 2006, the Collegium presented a “bleak financial picture of the church’s financial setting,” projecting nearly a million dollar shortfall in OCWM funds in the wake of the controversial Synod of 2005. They proposed sweeping changes that would alter the governing style of the national church, freeze hiring and reduce funding for the ‘God is still speaking’ initiative.
In October 2006, the UCC Executive Council proposed, a “streamlined” restructuring that “would recast the national setting’s five existing autonomous boards into a single governing body.” This blueprint then went to the four covenanted ministries for approval, which would have then sent the plan on to Synod in Hartford and ratification by the Conferences.
Almost immediately, however, there was trouble. On October 21, Justice and Witness Ministries met and voted not to affirm a “streamlined” national structure. Rev. Yvette Flunder, chair of the JWM board said, “the present plan does not have a mechanism to ensure that its justice mandates and projects can be implemented. We cannot abdicate our responsibilities and funding.”
On October 27th, the rebellion continued when the board for Local Church Ministries (LCM) also defeated the proposal. Rev. Thomas Dipko commented, “This centralized, unicameral design is more ominously top-down and authoritarian than old but similar restructuring attempts (1965 – 1987) previously rejected prior to the more covenantal current plan (2000). In the liberating light of our UCC history and heritage, we can do better than making efficiency a value more to be cherished than democratized faithfulness.” LCM’s Executive Director Joseph Malayang stated, “I think that the members of the LCM Board acted with integrity and intentionality for the good of their beloved United Church of Christ.” Shortly thereafter Rev. Malayang announced his retirement as Executive Director.
In the weeks following, the board of the Wider Church Ministries approved the plan presented by the Collegium and the Executive Council, but the damage was done.
Later in November, black UCC leaders met in Orlando to create an action plan in reaction to the restructuring proposal. “In the previous restructuring Black staffing, presence, and power was seriously devastated in the church and we want to make sure that the past is not repeated in the present with a vengeance” said Rev. Graylan Hagler, National President of the Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice. Leaders of the UBC/MRSEJ rejected the Executive Council plan and called on the Conference Ministers, together with the national leadership, to hold a National summit.
John Thomas was clearly angered by these events. “I am profoundly disappointed that the LCM board has rejected the recommendations from the Collegium and has asked the Executive Council to discontinue any further work on them. Quite frankly I find it shocking that recommendations coming to the Executive Council and the board with the unified endorsement of all five officers of the church including their own Executive Minister would be dismissed by the LCM board without an expressed willingness to continue discussions with our Executive Council and the other Covenanted Ministry boards,” Thomas said.
At Synod, Thomas announced that the impasse precluded any action by Synod and that meetings to resolve the crisis would resume in the autumn of 2007.