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| MORE ABOUT RECONCEPTUALIZING SUSTAINING MINISTRIES, DEVELOPING MINISTRIES, AND MINISTRY NETWORKS SUSTAINING MINISTRIES These are the ongoing ministries which require continuity and regular attention. Most are specific to UCC programs or polity; possibilities for living out our UCC partnership with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are noted. Camping and Retreats The camping program has been identified on every survey taken as one of the two items which must be part of the agenda and commitment for the Northern California Nevada Conference, not only for the benefits reaped by individual participants, but also for its long-term effect in shaping the future of the church, and because it is a ministry most effectively undertaken by the Conference as a whole. In our current bylaws, the Camping Committee is a standing committee of the Youth and Young Adult Commission. In reality, the work of the Camping Committee has been the consistent and focused manifestation of the Commission. Because outdoor ministries programming is offered to everyone [not just to youth and young adults] and requires regularly scheduled events, as well as connection to and maintenance of facilities, it seems advantageous to establish Camping and Retreats as a Sustaining Ministry of the Conference. Ministerial Search & Call In addition to camping, this is the ministry of the Conference most often noted as absolutely necessary for our continued life in community Because the United Church of Christ congregationally-based, each congregation is free to call its own pastor, according to the congregation's bylaws. However, UCC congregations rely on the national system of placement and call in order to find qualified candidates whose gifts and style of ministry match the needs of the searching congregation. Conference staff time devoted to ministerial search and call has increased over the past several years, with dedication to assisting the congregation in securing interim pastoral leadership, discerning the future directions for ministry for the congregation, and building up the efficacy of the administration of search and call. Committee on the Ministry Northern California Nevada Conference is unique among the 39 Conferences of the United Church of Christ in having a Conference-wide Committee on the Ministry AND Associations which act to ordain and install ministers, and to grant standing to churches. Sections A & B care for and support ordained ministers in their preparation for ministry and in their ongoing work, assuring standards of background and competence. Over the past two years the Committee on the Ministry has been expanded by action of the Board of Directors, with affirmation by the Annual Meeting, to include a Section C and a Section D. Section C is currently in operation; Section D will begin its work in the fall of 2000. Each section's responsibilities are described on pages 2-3 of the "Reconceptualizing" document. Partnership: OMPS committee needs a direct connection to COM-A. Committee on Church Development In an effort to be more attentive to churches in care, Associations have taken on responsibilities for nurture and connection with new church starts and with churches exploring affiliation with NCNC. Section C of the Committee on Ministry has assumed responsibility for the certification of churches new to NCNC. Formerly the New Church Development Committee of the Conference was assigned those matters along with others pertaining to the development of new churches. This proved to be too wide a scope of responsibility for one Conference committee to manage. As a Sustaining Ministry, the Committee on Church Development will:
Disaster Preparedness & Response The United Church of Christ is encouraging each Conference to establish a system of disaster preparedness for churches, a volunteer bank for services in times of disaster, a process of prioritizing relief dollars and goods during disaster recovery. These efforts would not supplant or duplicate those of the Red Cross or Church World Service, but would work in conjunction with them. NCNC has received a small grant to begin assembling such a system. Partnership: This can be a partnership venture from the onset. Communications This Sustaining Ministry does not yet exist, nor do we have the financial resources to seek staff to put Communications into place as a Sustaining Ministry. But we can dream-of communication including The Pacific, expanded WEB services, a media strategy that would make the United Church of Christ visible and heard throughout Northern California Nevada. Partnership actions include linked UCC/DOC websites and a linked Partnership Page. DEVELOPING MINISTRIES The programs and projects of Developing Ministries would be, for the most part, short-term and specific to the needs of congregations and ministers as they arise. Membership on the Overview Boards and in the planning of programs and projects would be open to our denominational partners. An Overview Board would chart directions for each cluster of ministries, sometimes generating program and project ideas, oftentimes responding to proposals for specific projects and programs made by congregations or ministers. The Overview Boards will be small in number, perhaps 3-4 members for each of the three thematic areas, with the 9-12 total members frequently meeting as one Overview Board. The three thematic areas for Developing Ministries would be: Ministries of Leadership Development-to support and cultivate the gifts for participation in the life of the church, among all members of the Conference: lay or ordained, Pastors, Christian Educators, chaplains, camp counselors, of all ages, all racial, ethnic, and cultural identities, with a persevering emphasis on youth and young adults. EXAMPLE: The Overview Board believes it is important to hold an annual church leaders' workshop, such as the current Parish Life & Work Commission has recently reinstated. The Overview Board would call together a planning team to carry out that project, and would, with the planning team, assess the past year's event and plan for the next. EXAMPLE: A number of young people have expressed a desire to attend the next UCC General Synod and participate in the many youth activities there. They consult with the Overview Board which offers guidance on fund raising, recruiting participants from the whole Conference, publicizing the project, and setting up a planning team. Ministries of Faith Enhancement-to aid in the deepening of the personal faith of individuals and the enhancing of the spiritual, educational, and worship life of local churches. EXAMPLE: An Association wants to host a ministers' retreat on spiritual formation for the clergy of the Conference. The Overview Board provides information on funding sources and contact with retreat leaders, if needed; assists in setting a workable date, and in publicizing the event. EXAMPLE: A group of congregations in small towns wants to hold a consultation on fresh ideas in worship life. The Overview Board provides information on funding sources and contact with possible retreat leaders, if needed, and assists in publicizing the event. Ministries of Outreach-to express the Word of God beyond the membership of the Conference [and Region], through action and proclamation, telling the stories of the Gospel and acting upon the mandates of the Gospel [community development, working for justice, etc.] EXAMPLE: The Oversight Board may wish to continue Church & Mission's ongoing support of church-based community organizing. The Oversight Board could oversee, administer, and publicize that project, making grants from funds that have been available for that purpose from special offerings. EXAMPLE: A church in the Conference wants to connect with other UCC churches in a project of refugee resettlement. The Oversight Board assists in networking.
MINISTRY NETWORKS Ministry Networks already exist, even though they are not yet called by that name. Any Ministry Network could be a Partnership endeavor with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). More Ministry Networks may come into being. Some of the current Ministry Networks and future possibilities include [but are in no way limited to]: Christian Educators Prison Ministries Youth Group Leaders Coalition for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Transsexual Concerns Women's Network Tainan Global Partnership Ministries in the Arts Campus Ministries Pacific Islander Asian American Ministries Interim Guild Marriage Encounter/UCC Expression Hispanic Ministries Samoan Pastors The ministry networks may choose simply to network, to make contact with one another throughout the Conference [and Region], or to arrange fellowship or educational events. To set up a Ministry Network a group would contact the Coordination of Ministries Directorate of the Conference Board of Ministries. EXAMPLE: The Interim Guild has existed for many years, providing mutual support and in-service training for its members. Identifying the Interim Guild as a Ministry Network would change nothing for the Interim Guild in this regard. [Guild members would, of course, continue to serve the churches of the Conference as Interim Ministers in conjunction with Ministerial Search & Call]. From time to time a Ministry Network may wish to undertake a specific ministry program, going through one of the Developing Ministries. EXAMPLE: Leaders of church youth groups might want to form a Ministry Network. They could consult with the Coordination of Ministries Directorate of the Conference Board of Ministries in order establish this Ministry Network. Later the Youth Group Leaders Ministry Network might want to have a training event that would benefit from assistance or coordination by the Ministries of Leadership Development. Back to Reconceptualizing main page Reconceptualization: Background, etc. First Steps in Reconceptualizing: The Commissions |
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