The Redefinition Model

Responses at Annual Gathering

We want to know what you think

Printable PDF version of proposal

Redefinition of Ohio Conference

Since August 6, 2005 the Ohio Conference has engaged in a discernment process established by the Conference Board of Directors known as The Leaders’ Forum. Participants in on-going conversation have been officers of all five Associations as well as the Conference Board of Directors plus all Association Ministers, the Interim Conference Minister, and a representative of the United Church of Christ Collegium of Officers. In all, this group has met eight times for a total of sixty face-to-face hours plus sub-committees have spent at least another forty to fifty hours on the process.

From the beginning of The Leaders’ Forum process, we have focused on the question, “What is the mission of UCC people in Ohio, northern Kentucky and West Virginia?” Together we have sought God’s guidance and have listened carefully to one another. We have heard accounts of our unique history and affirmed the differing perspectives that came to each meeting. We find ourselves, in the words of former Conference Minister Thomas Dipko, who spoke to the Ohio Conference Board of Directors in September 2005 in the Amistad Chapel at our national headquarters of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, “standing between our history and our horizon.”

We are seeking to be faithful stewards of resources and of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We find ourselves in a “grand and awful time,” to quote one of our ancient hymns. Pressed by financial constraints and urged forward by recognizable needs to strengthen relationships, enhance ministry, and engage in mission, your leaders of the Ohio Conference, coming from all settings of this community of faith, identified a priority from among the many answers to our basic question. This priority is to support, resource, and relate to our local churches in such a way as to build up our community for the 21^st Century. 

We cannot accomplish this task without the cooperation and participation of all of our settings. We cannot accomplish this task without sacrificing some time-honored ways of functioning in our settings. As was the case throughout the last forty-four years, our future as a conference of the United Church of Christ will be sustained by a covenant between our settings which we believe will be made stronger by our efforts.

The Leaders’ Forum table has not been blind to the various histories, relationships, and politics that reside within the Ohio Conference at present. Indeed, these have all been present throughout our deliberations. Every setting of our conference has a history that we are seeking to honor as we dream of what can yet become of us.

We speak of a new understanding of conference that includes new role descriptions and certainly new patterns of service and accountability. We speak of a new definition of conference now that could not only be applied here but may be adapted by others across the United Church of Christ in the future. We speak of new life. We speak of how it is that an institution that is nearly fifty years old in a denomination that is fifty years old might adapt to changing circumstances and needs. In short, we would urge the truth in that ancient hymn, “new occasions teach new duties.”

The 21^st Century will be the time in which virtually every institution founded upon 19^th and 20^th century frameworks will either adapt or die. The technology that offers possibilities to us to rethink social configurations will continue to develop to that point where work configurations will be drastically altered. Offices that were once found in buildings of brick and stone will become virtual centers of activity and support to those who will seek to maintain and strengthen relationships with persons in various settings. Tables that once sat shiny and sturdy in executive meetings rooms will be residing in cyberspace as persons meet to discuss and decide.

We propose, for the consideration of all settings of the Ohio Conference, the following model for the redefinition of our life together. We hope you will seriously consider this model and let us know what you think of it. Please recognize that this model contains both an immediate and long-term picture for whom and what we may become. And, please join us in admitting that anything beyond the framework which we envision, anything that might suggest to anyone that what we are proposing is a long term structure for the Ohio Conference, is both intellectually inconsistent and theologically questionable. This is so because our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in what is admittedly an ever-changing historical and cultural context.

Professor Robert Paul, author of Freedom with Order (an historical perspective on the United Church of Christ from the view of a Presbyterian), writes, “Ecclesiology is part of practical Christianity: this community has to show itself as the living, working Body of Christ, not only in what it does vis-à-vis the world, but also in the way it organizes itself, in its shape, its lifestyle and worship.”  Professor Randi Walker, in her book The Evolution of UCC Style, states that “the UCC at its beginnings united on the basis of its understandings of the beloved community and living in covenant for the purpose of carrying out the mission of God.”

We believe that we have been faithful to our heritage and responsive to our horizon in the model for the Ohio Conference of the 21^st century that we propose for your consideration. We have been on a pilgrimage to this point with a God Who is still speaking. As we have listened to that voice, expressed through our brothers and sisters in Christ who have participated in The Leaders’ Forum, we believe our work to be guided by God’s Holy Spirit.

Professor Clyde Steckel, writing for the UCC Ecclesiology Subcommittee of the General Synod Committee on Structure wrote,

     Our polity is covenantal, where biblical and theological understandings of covenant express the mutual obligations of every part of the church to give and receive counsel, and to take seriously actions by other parts of the church. This polity is also covenantal in its understanding that the God known in Jesus Christ creates and sustains the covenant. 

God does not coerce. God invites. We believe God has invited us to reconsider our life together as the Ohio Conference. We now invite you to join us in this conversation.

Model for Redefinition of Ohio Conference

(Revised by Leaders' Forum, August 2006)

The Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ will be the local churches that have standing in one of our five Associations and the authorized ministers who have standing in the Associations.

The five Associations of the Ohio Conference will be supported in three geographic Areas of the Conference. Within the Areas, the Associations retain their autonomy and integrity. Within each Area, there will be a concerted effort to ensure that the staffing allows for the enhancing of relationships with churches and authorized ministers. As many functions as deemed desirable and cost efficient may be shared among Associations.

Proposed Areas

Northwest - serves Northwest Ohio Association located at the building they now own.

Northeast - serves Western Reserve Association and Eastern Ohio Association.

Southern - serves Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association and Central Southeast Ohio Association.

Some churches could be invited to realign. The southernmost churches in Eastern Ohio Association may be better served by staff of the Southern Area of Ohio Conference and the northernmost churches in Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association may be better served by staff of the Northwest Area of the Ohio Conference. Such realignment would be with full consultation and approval of the churches and Associations involved and may eventually lead to realignment of Associations.

Just as there may be sharing of functions within Areas, synergies across Associations will also be sought. For instance, one of the Areas may be staffed by someone with gifts in communication, who would have the responsibility of coordinating communication efforts that cross Area boundaries, involving the whole Conference. Another might provide coordination of Youth events. Also, the Area staff might provide administrative support to the Conference Minister.

Associations

The five Associations will subscribe to remitting OCWM: Basic Support and all nationally directed monetary gifts directly to the United Church of Christ. The only funds that will be sent to Ohio Conference by the Associations will be those directed to ministries of the Conference held in common by all (i.e. Theological Scholarship Gifts, Disaster Ministry Gifts, Outdoor Ministry Gifts, and SARA Gifts); and a covenanted dollar amount to underwrite the cost of our Common Mission Budget (e.g. a Conference Minister, an Administrative Secretary and the Outdoor Ministries program, ecumenical partnerships, etc.).

Accounting Functions

Accounting functions could take place in all three Areas; however, it would be considerably advantageous to move toward a common software (and possibly, common financial database) to allow ease of combining financial reports Conference-wide. Financial people from all three Areas should be involved in determining the appropriate software to purchase for this purpose. Alternatively, or perhaps in the future, the three Areas may prefer to share a central accounting service, should such a move prove to be a cost-effective and more efficient approach.

Conference Minister

Our Conference Minister will be called to serve the Conference, with a job description that includes relationship to and oversight of the Conference mission and All-Conference Staff; representation on the Council for Conference Ministers and other national UCC committees; and liaison with ecumenical bodies across Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

The Conference Minister shall serve as theologian and spiritual leader and possess those skills necessary for the position within Ohio Conference. There will be an Ohio Conference office that will function on behalf of our common mission.

Church Clusters

Within the Ohio Conference, appropriate clustering, consistent with the ethos of the churches, will be encouraged. Our staffing goal is one Professional Staff person per forty or fifty churches. As with all other elements of this Plan, the design and purpose is to bring the relationships and ministry closer to the churches, while effectively deploying staff for Ministry, Mission and Relationships.

Future Possibilities for Ohio Conference

There are additional phases of redefinition of Ohio Conference anticipated as we move into the future. Discussions of the redefinition of the Ohio Conference have taken place in virtually every setting of the Ohio Conference in the past year, and these will continue with face-to-face meetings in clusters of local churches over the next several months.

Our new Conference Minister will be expected to play a vital role in helping us move into our future with faithfulness and hope. We foresee a challenging, innovative, and faithful decade ahead that will transform the Ohio Conference.

Theological Implications

In recognition of the observation that the way in which the church organizes itself communicates what it believes theologically, we offer the following comments:

1.      The proposed model involves a shift in thinking hierarchically to collegially. One way of describing this shift is from thinking in terms of Jacob’s ladder to thinking in terms of Sarah’s circle. In a circle, relationships can be developed between all members of the circle, relationships are not restricted to those who are either above or below on the ladder. In addition, all members relate on an equal level, one member is not above another. Related to this, we recall Jesus’ instructions to his disciples which rejected hierarchical structures and supported an egalitarian community (see Matthew 23.8-11, Mark 10.42-44, and John 13.1-16). Indeed, Jesus is often described as exemplifying a servant leader style of leadership. In this model, one major role of the Conference Minister will be that of a servant leader, one who empowers others, and one who builds relationships and makes connections among and between others. The Conference Minster will be called upon to follow Jesus’ lead in the sense of being one who serves/empowers others and convenes and develops a circular community of equals. Finally, the image of a circle has historically been used to symbolize the Divine as it has no beginning, nor end, and is one.

2.      The proposed model makes manifest Ephesians 4.11-16.* It does so in several ways. First, it recognizes that each area, association, and cluster/deanery is distinct and has its own calling. Second, it understands that Christ is the head by which these various parts are joined together into one body. Third, it anticipates that each part as it develops and works properly promotes the whole body’s growth. Fourth, it understands that a primary goal of this new structure is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ.”

3.      As stewards of God’s resources, we are obliged to use the resources which have been entrusted to our care in ways which efficiently, not wastefully, further God’s mission in the world. The proposed structure will result in considerable cost savings over the existing structure by taking advantage of technology and efficiencies which can be achieved by eliminating duplications and pooling of resources. This will in turn result in freeing up funds which can be directed to accomplishing God’s mission, extending the gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ, and proclaiming the gospel which is Jesus Christ.

4.      God has entered into covenant with us and by so doing has brought us into relationship with one another. The proposed model openly bears witness to the covenantal relationship between the Conference and the five Associations and contributes to the deepening of this covenantal relationship. It also encourages a deepening of the covenantal relationship between the five Associations and between each Association and its local churches.

5.      Similar to #4, this model encourages us to live more deeply into Jesus’ prayer that we all may be one as he and God are one. However, this oneness is not understood in the sense of a goal to be achieved, but rather as an already existing reality as we are already one by virtue of our baptism and our common confession of Jesus as the Christ, Lord, and Savior.

6.      God is still speaking and inviting us to move along on our faith journey. We believe that the mission of UCC folk in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia includes proclaiming the Gospel in an ever-changing historical and cultural context. While this message does not change, the means by which it is communicated must change if it is to be communicated effectively and wisely. Therefore, we also believe that God has invited us to reconsider our life together as the Ohio Conference and to move along on our faith journey to a new point from which we will be better able to communicate the Living Gospel in a living community.

7.      Finally, this proposal reveals that we are a hopeful people. It reveals that we believe God can bring light out of darkness, return after exile, life out of death. It further reveals that we believe God will bring forth a new refined remnant and/or pruned vine which will bear much fruit. The God who has brought us this far is not finished with us yet and will not leave us now, but rather will continue to go with us into the future.

These are some of our theological comments. We acknowledge there are many, many more which could be made. But hopefully these are sufficient to stimulate further theological reflection and discussion.

* Ephesians 4.11-16:

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. ¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

We want to know what you think.