Over the past several years the Northern California Nevada Conference has gone through many processes in order to determine the core ministries and programmatic directions for the Conference. Prompted by shifts in economics and social patterns, the Conference has sought ways to minister and administer faithfully as we enter the 21st Century.

Basic conclusions emerged from questionnaires and discussions, scenario-writing and budget-scrutinizing. The Conference must care for and support ordained ministers in their preparation for ministry and in their ongoing work. The Conference must provide assistance to congregations seeking ministerial leadership through the placement process and in maintaining standards of competence and integrity for pastoral leaders. Camping emerged as one program that the Conference must support, 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.

As a means of addressing the above priorities in ministry, new staffing patterns have come into being. The part-time Association-based Associate Conference Ministers have brought a new level of accessibility to Conference pastoral presence for ministers and congregations. The instituting of a half-time Associate Conference Minister position for Camping and Retreats signifies understanding of and commitment to the camping program. But steps beyond staffing have not been taken.

The following is a plan for reconceptualizing our ministries as a Conference. Initiated through the Board of Directors in March of 1998, "Reconceptualizing" has been discussed by Associations and in ministers' groups since then. It is a designed to allow us, as a Conference, to remain faithful to our responsibilities while regrouping for action, refocusing our energies, and re-developing our sense of vocation creatively and reliably, making good use of the gifts of all the members of the Conference for the good of all.

Please bring this document with you to the Annual Meeting where there will be opportunity to further discuss, develop, and envision the plan before acting to initiate the transition toward it.

These four assumptions undergird our efforts to develop a framework for ministry that will be fluid and responsive as well as responsible and accountable:

1. The Northern California Nevada Conference is a Christian community, implying a peculiar set of values and beliefs and a particular relationship to one another and to the world around us.
2. The Conference is not so much a free-standing administrative and programmatic entity as it is the union of all local UCC churches within our geographic boundaries.
3. All settings of the United Church of Christ are interconnected and interdependent.
4. We are a diverse body with a variety of gifts, each and all to be cherished, honored, and evoked.

Consider the construction before you composed of:

1. One large purple disk;

2. A smaller gray disk, centered on the black one;

3. A smaller purple disk, segmented into "pie pieces" and centered on the gray disk;

5. A brass dowel running through the center;

6. Multiple strands of string, attached to the dowel.

The six components of "the model" represent the following:

1. Black Disk-Christian foundation, God's mission

2. Gray Disk-Embodied UCC commitment to inclusivity:

3. Purple Disk-Sustaining Ministries of the Conference

4. Red Disks-Developing Ministries

5. Brass Dowel-The Coordination & Community piece

6. Strings-Ministry Networks

These are the ongoing ministries which require continuity and regular attention. They would include:

Committee on the Ministry-made up of four sections rather than two:

C. Preparation & Entry of Congregations-Interviews newly started churches who wish to become part of the United Church of Christ as well as established non-UCC congregations seeking to affiliate with the Northern California Nevada Conference. After pastoral consultation with the church, and mutual exploration of the responsibilities, benefits, and integrity of such action, Section C may recommend that the church be taken in care of an Association. Section C will contact the appropriate Association to initiate that Association's activity in mentoring the congregation and eventually receiving the congregation into full standing.

D. Congregations in Covenant-Is responsible for regular contact with congregations, support in times of crisis, maintenance of good standing, and encouragement in congregations' ongoing ministries.

Communications-would include The Pacific, but would not be limited to "internal" communications, i.e., a media strategy, NCNC radio station, etc. might emerge.

New Church Starts-would be responsible for

1. Planning and coordinating new church initiatives in consultation with Associations.

2. Recommending and seeking appropriate funding through the Financial & Property Management Advisory Council, Board for Homeland Ministries, etc.

3. Coordinating the work of Associations with new churches

There would be three major areas for Developing Ministries:

Ministries of Leadership Development-to support and cultivate the gifts for participation in the life of the United Church of Christ [and the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ] in any of its settings, among all members of the Conference [and Region], 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.

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.

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.]

B. Each area would have an Overview Board which would

1. chart general directions for that area;
2. generate program and project ideas in response to the needs of individuals, local churches, wider community, etc.;
3. receive proposals for specific projects and programs;
4. facilitate the matching of resources with undertakings
5. keep the Conference [and Region] informed regarding programs and projects and the availability of assistance for programs and projects within each thematic area.

C. Reality checks to be invoked along the way to program design:

3. Are we responding to a deep spiritual hunger with our most creative gifts?

D. There would be multiple points of generation for new programs:

1. Annual Meeting

2. Local Congregation

3. Ministry Network

3. Association
4. NCNC Board of Ministries
5. Overview Board
6. Christian Church/Disciples of Christ counterpart bodies

E. Ways and Means

F. Review and Accountability through

These networks of individuals in the Conference [and Region] might configure around any number of ministries or identified group of ministers [ordained or lay] such as [but definitely not limited to]:

Prison Ministries

Youth Ministries

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Coalition

Women's Network

Taiwan Partnership

Open and Affirming

Evangelische Kirche der Union 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 [or Region], or to arrange fellowship or educational events. From time to time they may wish to undertake a specific ministry program, going through one of the Developing Ministries.

CONFERENCE BOARD OF MINISTRIES (Dowel) would maintain the smooth running of the Conference, keep the content of the red and gray disks seeping through all the ministries, coordinate ongoing ministries, provide for periodic visioning of future ministry directions, and continue the responsibilities currently assigned to the Conference Board of Directors.

A. The Board of Ministries would be comprised of two parts:

1. Coordination of Ministries Directorate

How is this a Christian ministry?

Is this ministry inclusive of the diversity of the NCNC?

Does this ministry connect the Conference to other settings of the UCC?

Could it/should it be a UCC/DOC partnership or ecumenical effort?

1. To make contact as needed with the Ministry Networks.

1. Managerial Directorate

2. Members of the Board of Ministries would serve on the following committees of the Board:

1. Administrative Committee

1. to function as the current Executive Committee in setting agenda for meetings of the Board of Ministries,
2. acting as Board of Ministries between meetings,
3. to appoint the Board of Ministries nominating team as necessary.

1. Personnel Committee
2. Budget Planning Committee-to develop the proposed annual plan for financial support of Conference Ministries in consultation with the Overview Boards and the Financial & Property Management Council.

2. `Advisory Councils [made up of persons who are not members of the Board of Ministries]-would advise the NCNC Board of Ministries in specific areas:

1. Financial and Property Management-to function much as does the current Administration and Finance Committee, specifically to:

1. Make recommendations on proposed actions and undertakings from the perspective of Conference finances and property resources.
2. Engage in long range financial planning to fulfill ministry directions of the Conference
3. Carry out Conference policy regarding the granting of loans of Conference funds to staff or congregations.
4. Serve as liaison with the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries' Division of Evangelism and Local Church Development in matters pertaining to leadership subsidies for new church starts and for building loans.
5. Serve as liaison with the Conference Insurance Board.
6. Develop, manage, and maintain various Funds as mandated by the Board of Ministries and/or the Annual Meeting, such as, Fund for New Church Development, Emergency Fund for Ministers, Emergency Fund for Congregations, etc.

1. Ecumenical Concerns
2. NCNC History
1. Visioning Team-a diverse body to meet as called upon, and no less frequently than once every two years, to generate ideas for new ministries in the Conference [and Region].

C. Board of Ministries Working Groups-appointed by the NCNC Board of Ministries to carry out specific tasks, such as:

1. Annual Meeting Planning
2. Fall Celebration Planning
3. Conference Resource Center

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this page last updated on November 17, 2000