convening tables and intergenerational think tank orientation april – may 2014
TRANSCRIPT
National Council of Churches USA
Convening Tables and Intergenerational Think TankOrientation April – May 2014
Host: Keith SwartzendruberSenior Administrative Assistant to the Convening Tables
Presenters:Rev. Ann TiemeyerInterim Associate General SecretaryJoint Action and Advocacy for Justice and Peace
Dr. Tony KireopoulosAssociate General SecretaryTheological Dialogue and Matters of Faith and OrderInterreligious Relations
Rev. Dr. Joseph CrockettAssociate General SecretaryChristian Education, Ecumenical Faith Formation, and Leadership Development
Welcome!
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC)
is a community of communions called by Christ to visible unity
and sent forth in the Spirit to promote God’s justice, peace
and the fullness of human community
The Mission of the NCC
Governing Board Members - Leaders of Communions (LoCs)
Executive Committee◦ Chair, Rev. A Roy Medley – ABC-USA
◦ Vice Chair, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, DoC
◦ Secretary, Rev. Geoffrey Black, UCC
◦ Treasurer, Bishop W. Darrin Moore, AMEZ
◦ Past GB Chair, Kathryn Lohre, ELCA
◦ Development Chair, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, UMC
◦ At-Large Member, Rev. Grady Parsons, PC(USA)
◦ At-Large Member, Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles, COA
◦ At-Large-Member, Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, OCA
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Governing Board Chair Rev. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary/President Jim Winkler
Governing Board Committees◦ Nominating Committee◦ Bylaws Committee◦ Development Committee◦ Finance Committee◦ Audit Committee◦ Executive Committee
Committees of the Corporation◦ Membership and Ecclesial Relations Committee◦ Communications Committee◦ World Council of Churches Relations Committee (WCCR)◦ Local and Regional Ecumenism Committee (LRE)◦ Committee on the Uniform Series (CUS)◦ Bible Translation and Utilization Advisory Committee (BTU)
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Four (4) Convening Tables Theological Dialogue and Matters of Faith and Order
Interreligious Relations and Collaboration on Topics of Mutual Concern
Christian Education, Ecumenical Faith Formation and Leadership Development
Joint Action and Advocacy on Issues of Justice and Peace
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Intergenerational Think Tank
New to NCC Structure
∘ Advisory to Governing Board and General Secretary/President
Purpose
∘ monitor developments in the ecumenical movement and in the changing ecclesial and inter-religious landscape
∘ to recommend adaptive and transformative changes, new strategic partnerships, and priority areas for the Council’s work
Members∘ leaders of local and regional ecumenical initiatives and bodies, emerging
ecumenical church leaders, and leaders who are bearers of NCC institutional memory.
∘ Member Communions, LRE, WSCF and New Fire – all invited to name one younger and one older member to the ITT
Meeting∘ In-person at CUG and quarterly virtual
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Two (2) Priorities of NCC
Mass Incarceration
Interreligious Relations with a Focus on Peace
also . . .
Urgent and Emergent Issues
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Commitment to Five (5) Justice Lenses
All of the work of the Governing Board, Convening Tables, Committees, and staff of the NCC must take into consideration the particular concerns related to:
◦ Race
◦ Gender
◦ Class
◦ Abilities
◦ Age
New NCC Leadership, Structure, Priorities, and Commitments
Questions
Purpose
From the Bylaws: There shall be four (4) Convening Tables, the purpose of which shall be to facilitate collaboration among member communions and partners (including non-member communions) in four core areas of work
◦ Build and nurture relationships
◦ Frame ideas and articulate issues (theological, biblical, and ecumenical grounding) pertinent to area of each table
◦ Enhance and build denominational and partner capacity
◦ Witness for racial, gender, class, economic and disability justice in church and society
◦ Mobilize resources (spiritual, human, financial, etc.) and create outputs to achieve CT objectives and move toward fulfillment of the NCC mission and priorities
Convening Tables (CTs)
Members
◦ No limit to the number of people at a CT
◦ Participants are appointed by and are accountable to a Member Communion or sending body
◦ Each CT will have members with competency in racial, economic, and gender justice, as well as in disability and generational concerns
◦ Topic experts invited to participate as deemed necessary
Convening Tables
Benefits of Membership
Networking with ecumenical colleagues
Influence direction of NCC
Carrying out joint work with colleagues
Leadership Training
Ability to do more together than can be achieved separately
Convening Tables
Mobilize respective organizations’ assets (Human and financial) to resource the joint work of the CTs◦ Outreach◦ Group facilitation◦ Media engagement◦ Writing, editing, etc…◦ Research, curriculum development◦ Fundraising, meeting and event planning
Expectations of Membership Attend two meetings per year – one in person at CUG and one
virtual
Engage in email exchange and conference calls as needed
Participate actively in planning and implementation of joint work
Convening Tables
Meeting Frequency and Style
CT’s will meet once a year face-to-face at the Christian Unity Gathering (CUG) – May 18 to 20, 2014
Electronic – webinar, teleconference, etc… between CUG meetings
Meetings are not “governance” in nature but are as stated in purpose to “convene”, thus will not use “Roberts Rules” but rather a consensus and collaborative style of decision making
Consensus will be considered reached when no one opposes a proposed action on principle and is willing to stand aside, even if the decision may not be the preferred option
Convening Tables
Leadership of CTs
◦ Pro Tem co-conveners are being selected by the Executive Committee of Governing Board, serving through 2015 CUG
◦ At 2015 CUG, CTs will nominate co-conveners (from NCC Member Communions) for approval by Governing Board
◦ Co-Conveners role is to work with senior NCC staff to help move the work of CTs forward both in their particular area as well as across all of the CTs
Convening Tables
CT
CT
CT
CT
Questions
Convening Table Model
Shared online database of resources from Member Communions, NCC, partners, etc. relating to the two priorities – http://bit.ly/nccctresources
Send resources to Keith at [email protected] There will also be a resource table at the CUG where you
are invited to bring information
Building A Shared Resource
May 18 to 20, 2014Hilton Washington DullesHerndon, VA
Schedule◦ 2 public plenary sessions focusing on our priority of Mass
Incarceration. (The 2015 CUG will focus on our second priority, Interreligious Relations with a Focus on Peace)
◦ 3 CT sessions (2 with individual CTs, one combined)◦ Committee meetings◦ Celebration Service and Morning Prayers◦ Bible study◦ 2 films related to mass incarceration◦ Other opportunities to network
Christian Unity Gathering
Integrating the Justice Lenses at CUG Affinity Group Receptions
◦ Sunday – May 18th from 7 to 8 pm◦ Tuesday – May 20th from 4 to 5 pm
Observers◦ Goal is to create inclusive and safe environment for full participation◦ 2 observers for every plenary, CT, and GB session◦ Observers fill out forms to report whether the content of our work and
decisions as well a processes reflect our commitments to the five (5) justice lenses. Results will be reported back to group and CT co-conveners and GB Chair
◦ If you want to volunteer to serve as an observer, email Ann Tiemeyer at [email protected]
Christian Unity Gathering
Additional Logistical Information Register for CUG through May 14 at http://bit.ly/cug2014
After May 14, registration is in person only and fee goes up to $350
Thank you to American Baptist Churches-USA for providing registration service
Deadline for booking a hotel room at the NCC discount rate has past. Rooms may be booked based on availability, and at prevailing rates by calling 703-478-2900. Make sure you mention you are part of the NCC group
Christian Unity Gathering
FINAL QUESTIONS?
Conclusion: Ecumenical Assumptions Reflected in Our Work
We are a community mutually enriched in Christ, on a collective
journey towards a vision of the full realization of God’s reign
We are a transformed community because of our encounter
with the triune God
We are a welcoming table for communities of faith to gather in
the spirit of unity and engage in public witness for justice and
peace
We are a visible fellowship of unity, creating space for
belonging, listening, learning, and multi-dimensional
conversation
We are a network of networks, facilitating the sharing of gifts
and resources for mission engagements
We are an enabler of access points for mutuality in mission,
fostering connectivity and linkage in a fast-changing culture,
creating collaboration, cooperation, and partnership
We are an organization for collective witness, called to repent
and to work for accountability in power structures
Conclusion: Ecumenical Assumptions Guiding Our Work
We are a community of communions, one Body in Christ,
committed to live the way that God has intended for people
and all of creation to live and striving to be in visible unity
with one another as churches on the local, regional, and
national levels
Conclusion: Ecumenical Assumptions Guiding Our Work
Additional CT Orientation at CUGSunday Evening – May 18th from 6 to 7 pm ◦ Session will cover same material◦ If you have additional questions come to
Orientation or contact one of the staff
Thank You!
[email protected] – 917-287-1144
[email protected] – 212-870-1203
[email protected] telephone – 917-923-9520
[email protected] telephone – 202-481-6689
Staff Contact and Questions