Paul Allen is currently the pastor of First Christian Church, Huntsville, Alabama, having previously served congregations in North Carolina and Manhattan, Kansas

Paul is a graduate of Barton College and Lexington Theological Seminary and has regional ministry in his genes.  Both Paul’s parents served in Disciples congregations and regional ministry. He is married to Patti who is a Registered Nurse. Their daughter Abby is a junior at Auburn University and their son Joe is a junior in high school.

As the newest region in the church, the Northern Lights Region is excited to welcome Paul to leadership as we continue to live into who God is calling us to become, supporting pastors and congregations as we strive to faithfully answer God’s call to ministry as we do together that which we cannot do apart.

The post Northern Lights Region Calls Paul Allen as its New Regional Minister – President appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Angelique previously served as the Regional Director of the Communications Ministry in The Christian Church (DOC) in Illinois and Wisconsin (and Michigan). She is a Disciple from Illinois. She authored the book, “The Phygital Church: Using Social Ministry to Make Disciples,” to assist congregations with being intentional about ministry in the digital space.

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There’s only so much we can do in terms of our intellect, but when the Spirit of God moves, and when we can recognize that, and we walk in that path of righteousness, and when that decision was made peace, peace was given. Yeah, you know we moved forward. There were financial concerns and all of that. At some point, as in all of our lives, we have to release and allow God to be God, and that’s what we did. – Moderator Elect Clyde Hunt speaking of the work of the moderator team and administrative committee

Rev. Terri Hord Owens has a conversation with Clyde Hunt, moderator elect of the General Assembly, about the work of the moderator team and administrative committee as it stewards the work of the church.

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The post Covenant Journal 2021 appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Dear Church:

We write to you in unprecedented times to share some unprecedented news: In a special called meeting of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) via Zoom on Sunday, July 19, 2020, the board voted to cancel the 2021 General Assembly originally scheduled for July 31-Aug. 4, 2021, in Louisville, KY.

This was not a decision that was made lightly. After many weeks of prayer, investigation and long discussion, it became obvious to us that we needed to act in the best interests of the Church going forward. The COVID-19 pandemic has made travel and large gatherings ill-advised until the situation becomes more stable.

We have worked closely with staff to explore all our options. Regional ministers and presidents of the general ministries were consulted as well. All of us were united in our desire to keep our members safe. When we took the situation to the Administrative Committee, they, too, were in agreement it would be best to not gather in person next summer. The health and safety of our church family is far too important to risk meeting in an environment when we can’t be sure that everyone will be safe.

Deciding now to cancel the event, even as we don’t know yet know what next summer will bring, is also an act of stewardship for the Church. There will be financial implications to cancelling, but had we proceeded in planning an event which needed to be cancelled at a later date, or one which was only sparsely attended, we might have incurred even greater expense.

We join you in grieving the loss of this beloved event. While w have some mourning to do before we can begin to find a way forward, we also see this as an opportunity: an opportunity to take a collective deep breath, an opportunity to listen courageously to the Holy Spirit, an opportunity to imagine new ways of gathering and doing business together as a church.

We know you may have many questions and thoughts about this situation, and so we invite you to register for a live conversation Wednesday evening, Aug. 19, via Zoom and also streamed to Facebook and YouTube. In that conversation, we will share more about the process by which we arrived at this decision and reflect on the opportunities this change offers us. If you aren’t able to join us, the recording of the session will be available on the General Assembly website. You are also welcome to send your questions to news@disciples.org. We’ll be gathering up the most common questions and sharing responses later this week on the General Assembly website.

Even in these difficult days, and maybe more so in these difficult days, we are united in our conviction that God is with us. Over these past several months, we have often prayed together using the words of Romans 8:38-39, which would have been our theme scripture at the General Assembly: There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

We know this to be true.

With gratitude,

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In a virtual business session on Aug. 15, 2020, the 26^th Biennial Session of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) presented the Rev. Yvonne Gilmore as the interim administrative secretary. Gilmore follows the 17-year tenure of Rev. Dr. Timothy James who is retiring in December.

Gilmore is currently the associate dean of the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago Divinity School and a co-teacher at the school. She is also a core trainer for Reconciliation Ministry and project director for the Constructive Theologies project, a group of young adult theological thought leaders within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Gilmore has also been a church planter, staff chaplain, and interim pastor. She holds a BA in International Relations from The American University, and an MDiv from the University of Chicago Divinity School. She was ordained at Michigan Park Christian Church in Washington, DC.

The process leading to Gilmore’s nomination included an extensive search by an advisory committee using the executive search model and her unanimous election by the administrative committee of the general board. Her work with the convocation will begin in December.

President of the National Convocation and head of the advisory committee tasked with the search, Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II, said, “She is deeply invested in building on the strategic momentum of the National Convocation and the National Christian Missionary Convention to further the exceptional work of the Black Church, and earnestly excited about the unique opportunities afforded by this interim period to assess future possibilities for ministry and to advance operational resources for engagement in the wider ecology of ministry, vision, and service in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) across the United States and Canada.

“The advisory committee is excited to bring forth Rev. Yvonne Gilmore who is a magnetic personality, connecting with people in ways that enables the Church to grow and transform into the truest reflection of God.  It was evidenced that she possesses the wit, pragmatic skills and visionary skills needed to enable the National Convocation to become stronger and more relevant in our present church culture.”

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The Governance Committee has organized into five working groups, one of which studied the history of our current organization under The Design, our guiding document for the denomination. Other groups will be exploring other facets such as our theological and spiritual foundations, cultural context, best practices, and organizational culture.

The Mission Finance Committee is a standing committee of the General Board, and as such, is charged to ensure adequate resources for the work of the Church. The Committee is evaluating the effectiveness of communication and education across the Church about Disciples Mission Fund, and exploring how to increase participation in Disciples Mission Fund from congregations and individuals.

Since the Administrative Committee also acts as a board for the Office of General Minister and President, the body took time to review the 2019 budgets for the General Minister and President’s office which includes communications and promotions, Treasury Services, Center for Faith and Giving, Week of Compassion and Reconciliation Ministry.

In addition, those working on the 2019 General Assembly were able to share progress with the committee and excitement over the work of the Local Arrangements Committee and the Upper Midwest’s abundant hospitality to be experienced in Des Moines in July.

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Beginning with an idea in 2014 and extending through the 2017 General Assembly, the Mission First! pilot project was a broad experiment. One portion was a different way of doing business for the General Board. Another facet included a grass roots listening component known as Mission Gatherings. During the pilot period the Administrative Committee served as a governing board and a Mission Council was called together to hear the data from more than 80 Mission Gatherings that involved more than 2,600 Disciples from across the United States and Canada.

The 2018 meeting of the General Board in Newton, IA, devoted a large amount of time to the evaluation of the pilot project and what can be learned from the effort.

“I think the discussion provided us with a clear way forward for the next biennium,” said Moderator Elect Belva Brown Jordan, also chair of the Mission First! executive team. “Mission First! led us back to the existing structures to empower them to do the work they were designed to do.”

The Standing Rules of the General Board provide for several committees, three of which will be key in moving forward now that the pilot is concluded. First, the Governance Committee will be taking the recommendations of the General Board and what was learned during the pilot to consider whether adjustments to the rules and/or The Design are needed. Second, the Mission Finance Committee will be meeting regularly to examine how we fund our shared mission across the life of the Church in regions and general ministries. And third, the data from the Mission Gatherings will be shared with the General Minister and President’s Vision Advisory Committee for further analysis.

There was general agreement that the Mission Gatherings across the life of the Church were a point of joy in celebrating the mission that is occurring throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The connection among those who were able to spend several hours together in person was extremely valuable according to many on the General Board. Several suggested that gatherings be scheduled every several years to continue that sense of connection. The work was also inspiration for a planned Mission Fest at the 2019 General Assembly in Des Moines.

The General Board voted to conclude the Mission First! pilot project and in its business item specifically tasked the Governance Committee to submit recommendations useful for the development of the life, mission, work and organization of the Church and tasked the Mission Finance Committee of the General Board to live into its work to ensure adequate resources for all the work of the of the Church. Both groups are due to have a report for the Administrative Committee in late October.

[faicon icon=”file-pdf-o”] Download entire 2018 Covenant Journal

Committee membership

Governance Committee: Ben Bohren, N-CAL/NEV, Higher Education & Leadership Ministry; Nadine Burton*, GRR, Regional Minister; Jeffrey Champeau, OK, OK; Pat Donahoo, IN, Disciples Women; Teresa Dulyea-Parker*, IL/WI, Regional Minister; Shannon Dycus, IN, National Convocation; Jennifer Garbin, Canada, Regional Minister; Charisse Gillett, KY, Higher Education; Cheryl Jackson, IL/WI, General Nominating Committee; Archie Jenkins, GA, Disciples of Christ Historical Society; Chung Seong Kim*, IN, Racial and Ethnic Ministry Executive; William Lee, VA, Pension Fund; Rogelio Martinez, PSW, Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries; Thomas Mason, NE, Nebraska; Rick Reisinger, IN, General Ministry President; Alison Ruari*, OH, General Nominating Committee; Lori Tapia, IN, Racial and Ethnic Ministry Executive; Newell Williams, SW, General Commission on Ministry and Belva Brown Jordan*, moderator elect of the General Assembly

From the Standing Rules of the General Board, Paragraph 6.2: Governance Committee –  Submit recommendations useful for the development of the life, mission, work, and organization of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Mission Finance Committee: Greg Alexander*, KY, Regional Minister; Tim Butler, UMW, General Nominating Committee; Gilberto Collazo*, IN, General Ministry President; Norma Ellington-Twitty, MID-AM, MID-AM; Justin Floyd, GA, GA; Katie Hays, SW, General Nominating Committee; William Jennison, NW, National Benevolent Association; Gary Kidwell, IN, General Ministry President; Eula Nicola Pagdilao, PSW, General Nominating Committee; Jana Quisenberry, PA, PA; Bernice Rivera-Martinez*, OR, General Nominating Committee; Tom Stephenson, OH, OH; Kaeli Sweigard, CAN, General Nominating Committee; Christal Williams, TN, Regional Minister and Sue Morris*, moderator of the General Assembly.

From the Standing Rules of the General Board, Paragraph 6.3: Mission Finance Committee – The Mission Finance Committee’s primary purpose is to ensure adequate resources for organizations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

GMP’s Vision Advisory Committee: Shanell Bowden*, IL/WI, General Nominating Committee; Darla Goodrich, IN, Council on Christian Unity; Michael Hamm, N-CAL/NV, N-CAL/NV; Clyde Hunt, TN, TN; Julia Brown Karimu*, IN, General Ministry President; Andy Mangum, SW, Regional Minister; Sandy Messick, NW, Regional Minister; Kathleen Kline Moore, CAP AREA, CAP AREA; Paul Tche*, IN, General Ministry President; Karen Georgia Thompson, OH, Ecumenical Representative; Christopher (Chris) Wilson, SW, Christian Board of Publication.

From the Standing Rules of the General Board, Paragraph 6.8; General Minister and President’s Vision Advisory Committee – The General Minister and President’s Vision Advisory Committee’s primary purpose is to advise the General Minister and President on matters related to the mission, vision, and identity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

* indicates involvement in some phase of the Mission First! pilot

The post 2018 Covenant Journal: General Board celebrates successes of pilot project appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

It started with an acquaintance and some literature shoved under the door.

“Most of us in the apartment building were only there for a year or two,” said Rev. John Mobley, regional minister for Alabama/Northwest Florida. “But Alma Davis was there on the first floor and seemed like she’d been there forever.”

Mobley was living in Louisville at the time. He had been raised Southern Baptist and even attended seminary.

“During that time (the Southern Baptists) were heading a little more to the right, but I thought that since they were congregationally governed I could find a church where I would fit,” he said.

He wasn’t having much luck and Davis knew of his plight. She invited him to explore her denomination. While she had been disabled and working at home, Davis was a faithful member of a local congregation. She slipped a copy of a Saturday Evening Post article about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) under Mobley’s door – and he was hooked.

Mobley said that the local Edenside Christian Church pastor, Bob Kirkman, heard about him and invited him to read more, like the classic book Journey of Faith. Kirkman also made sure Mobley was introduced to the regional staff when they were in town.

Fast forward to the early 2000s: Mobley was a member of the Mission Funding Council that provided seed money grants for new projects. One of those projects was to build a program at Brite Divinity School in support of Korean pastors. That’s the first time he heard of Rev. Dr. Timothy Lee, who was called upon to organize the program.

Lee himself had come to the Disciples from another conservative Protestant tradition.

“After I finished my first year of graduate work at the University of Chicago Divinity School, I was thrown into a spiritual turmoil because of the conflict between what I learned at the Div School and my conservative upbringing.”

That was when he was embraced by a local pastor who sympathized with him. He was the late Rev. Soongook Choi, a figure revered by many in the North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) community and beyond. Soon Lee and his wife became active members of Chicago Christian Church, and Choi introduced Lee to the Disciples community, including the Disciples Divinity House on the university campus.

When Lee finished his PhD work at the Divinity School in 1996 he was ordained at Choi’s church. Afterward, Lee taught at various colleges for a while. Then in 2002 he was tapped for a new program developed at Brite, aimed at nurturing leaders for NAPAD, with the majority of initial funding provided by the Mission Council. Eventually the program was adopted by Brite, and Lee went on to earn tenure. Lee is now the moderator for NAPAD and has also served on a number of general church task forces and boards.

Mobley and Lee touched base again over dinner at the Administrative Committee of the General Board in Newton, IA in April. Lee is second vice moderator of the General Assembly for the 2017-19 biennium.  Mobley represents the College of Regional Ministers on the committee and lends his wisdom to inter-regional projects. Both have influenced and shaped many, many Disciples through their work.

Mobley says, “I see my ministry as a legacy of Edenside even though it has since closed.”

How those seeds that Davis and Soongook planted have grown and multiplied connections and ministry!

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