2008 Annual Gathering

2008 Ohio Conference Annual Gathering

Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio
June 8 - 10, 2008  •  Sunday thru Tuesday

Proposed Revision of Ohio Conference
Bylaws and Constitution

Summary of Changes: Constitution and Bylaws

The Ohio Conference Board of Directors has approved and recommends to the 2008 Annual Gathering the adoption of the revised Constitution and Bylaws of the Ohio Conference United Church of Christ.

This brief overview was prepared to assist members of the Conference as they review the proposal. This summary is not intended to identify every change but to lift up some of the more significant changes.  Throughout the document there are minor changes and updates in language, most of which do not change the previous intent. The entire document is available here in PDF format or by request from the Conference office (800-282-0740, Ext. 200; joyced@ocucc.org).

This revision begins by changing the Constitution and Bylaws into one unified document. As it is now, there are two documents:  a Constitution and a separate piece called the Bylaws. This has been confusing at times as some articles were addressed in both documents and not always consistently. By unifying the document, we have corrected many of those inconsistencies.

Articles I through IV have no significant changes.

Article V, Sec. 18: As you review the proposal you will notice a decrease in the size of the Board of Directors from 32 to 27 members. The ten Association representatives will be nominated by the Conference and shall include a member of each Association’s Council or official board. The five (5) at-large positions have been eliminated.

Article V, Sec. 25: A quorum for the Board is established at nine (9).

Article VI, Sec. 28: A quorum for the Annual Gathering has been changed. The current Constitution calls for at least 200 delegates to be in attendance. The new quorum would be at least one delegate from ten (10) percent of the local churches including at least one (1) from each Association. It was noted that this may be a closer reflection of our attendance in recent years.

Article VII, Sec. 32: The Benevolent Institutions committee will be called the Benevolent Institutions/ Agencies committee. This better reflects the make-up of the group.

Most standing committees show a decrease in size.

The Coordinating committees have been done away with. These committees have not been active for many years. If it is later determined that such committees are needed, the Board can act to re-establish them at any time.

Articles VIII through Article XI, and Article XIII, XVI and XVII have no substantial changes.

Article XII, Sec. 43 and 44: As a reflection of the Redefinition taking place in the Conference, the way the Conference is funded has changed. Rather than receiving a percentage of Our Church’s Wider Mission dollars from the Associations, the Conference will now receive an agreed-upon dollar amount from the Associations. Each Association will remit directly to the UCC’s national setting as well.

Article XIV: Both the Moderator AND the Vice Moderator of the Conference will be elected delegates to the General Synod, with the remaining Ohio Conference delegates being divided by the current formula.

If you have further questions, please contact a member of the Board of Directors.

Summary of Changes: Constitution and Bylaws in PDF format

Click here to read the existing Constitution and Bylaws

  2008 Annual Gathering