Written by Clyde E. Hunt, Jr., Moderator
General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada
I am writing to convey several important leadership developments related to the governance of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). From 2019 to 2023, Rev. Bill Rose-Heim served as Chair of the Governance Committee with passion and vision. The moderator team celebrates and commends his service.
I am pleased to announce that I recently invited Rev. Bill Spangler Dunning to serve as Chair of the Governance Committee and he accepted the call to serve. He currently serves as Regional Minister of the Christian Church in Virginia, and previously served as Regional Minister and Associate Regional Minister for the Youth, Camp, and Conference Center ministry in the Upper Midwest.
The Standing Rules of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada require that the Governance Committee of the General Board “. . . shall review The Design and other governance documents for suggested changes and modifications.”
The Covenant Project began in 2019 as part of the work of the Governance Committee of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. During their fall retreat, they committed to the work of aligning The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with God’s design for the church and to claim the power and potential of covenant.
This led to a period of review and a series of rich consultations with church leaders and town hall meetings followed by drafts presented to the Administrative Committee and the General Board. Revisions were integrated and resolution GA-2343, titled “Amendments to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),” was presented and adopted at General Assembly 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.
In light of the adoption of GA-2343, Rev. Dr. Belva Brown Jordan, immediate past Moderator, was invited to serve as the Chair of the Implementation Team, and she has graciously accepted the invitation. Rev. Dr. Brown Jordan recently completed her tenure as Interim Executive Director of Disciples Seminary Foundation and her service as Moderator from 2019 to 2023. She has faithfully served the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with excellence throughout her career.
The Implementation Team will work to present a plan to the General Board and the General Assembly to actualize the changes proposed in resolution GA-2343, “Amendments to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).” In following the process outlined in Resolution GA-2343, an Implementation Team will be appointed by the duly elected Moderator of the General Assembly and affirmed by the Administrative Committee.
The implementation team will report its progress to the General Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. This implementation team , including Di Watkins, FCC Parsons, has been named and was unanimously approved by the Administrative Committee on Oct. 28, 2023.
As outlined in GA-2343, the two focus areas of responsibility will be the General Assembly and the General Board. In developing the plan, as part of their work, the Implementation Team will also enlist the help of individuals to serve on task groups.
The Covenant Project work began and was rooted in prayer. The process has also been undergirded by study of scripture as reflected in the Covenant Curriculum provided for congregations and regions to utilize to engage scripture in the process.
Please continue to pray for our whole church and the Implementation Team. As their work is authorized by the Governance Committee of the General Board, may it be guided and blessed by God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another.