As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) prepares for the 2025 meeting of the General Assembly next summer, the Office of General Minister and President is now receiving submissions for business resolutions. 

The procedure for General Assembly business is outlined in the Special Rules of Procedures for the General Assembly and in the Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Business items may be filed by any congregation, region, organization with a recognized relationship, institution or general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or by the governing structure of any such body (GA Special Rules 1.2). No more than one Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution may be presented by any one group (GA Special Rules 2.5.2).

The deadline for submission of resolutions to the Office of General Minister and President is January 13, 2025. Upon recommendation of the General Minister and President, the Administrative Committee shall determine whether each item qualifies for consideration by the General Board.

Resolutions will be reviewed by the General Board during its meeting April 4-8, 2025. The General Board will decide on a recommendation regarding each resolution and will refer them to the General Assembly for consideration. 

The Office of General Minister and President will circulate all resolutions for consideration (except emergency resolutions) to congregations, regions and general ministries no later than May 13, 2025. 

Submitters should review the types of resolutions outlined in the Special Rules of the General Assembly (section 2).

Resolutions/business items contain two sections:

• Whereas – this section delineates the facts of the issue. Each fact receives its own “whereas” statement. Cites and statistical references should be footnoted.
• Therefore, be it resolved – this section names the action(s) to be considered by the local congregations/regional ministries/general ministries in answer to the issue described in the” Whereas” section. If an action requires funding, the source of the funding needs to be named. If an action requires an individual or group to act on behalf of the voting delegates of the Assembly, that person or group should be named.

A third section – Background Information – may be included at the end of the resolution to provide additional information and history.

Resolutions may not impose judgment on others, nor are they to bring into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree with the position of the submitters.

When submitting a resolution to the Office of General Minister and President, please email your submission to submissions@disciples.org. A complete submission must include:

• the name, email address and cell phone number of the person who will act as the point of contact for the submitters throughout the process
• the ministry(ies) putting forth the resolution
• the resolution as a Microsoft Word document

The post 2025 General Assembly Submissions Open appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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.

The post OGMP announces Director of Communications appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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Louisville, KY – The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convened in Louisville, Kentucky, from July 29 to August 1, 2023, and proudly announces the re-election of Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens to a second term as General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. She is the first African American and second woman to lead the denomination – and the first African American woman to lead a mainline Christian denomination.  

The Administrative Committee of the General Board, following the procedures and requirements outlined in The Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Standing Rules of the General Board, officially nominated Rev. Teresa Hord Owens for re-election. Subsequently, the General Board voted to forward her name for consideration.

On Tuesday, August 1, Owens was installed and charged with continuing her ministry of visionary love, spiritual leadership, prophetic imagination, and ecumenical service. In her sermon during closing worship, she invited the General Assembly to “imagine new ways of being church and to stay at the table no matter what we face. Our commitment to staying at the table is grounded in our covenant relationship with God and with one another.”

Rev. Owens is regarded in the ecumenical world as “head of communion” and as the chief representative of the church in national and world ecumenical councils. In keeping with the Disciples’ historic commitment to Christian unity, she serves in leadership at the National Council of Churches as the Treasurer of the Governing Board and as a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee. Her ecumenical and interfaith collaborations also include the Faith Table, an interfaith social justice coalition. 

Prior to being elected to serve as General Minister and President in 2017 she served as the dean of students for 12 years at the University of Chicago Divinity School, pastor of First Christian Church of Downers Grove in Illinois, and more than 20 years in corporate America leading diverse teams in data management. 

Rev. Teresa Hord Owens’ re-election to the esteemed position of General Minister and President is a testament to her unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership in serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) community. Throughout her initial term, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the denomination’s values, biblical literacy and spiritual formation, building an infrastructure for ministry and congregational data, and fostering engagement and inclusion within the Church. Her visionary approach to ministry has inspired many, and she continues to be a beacon of hope for those seeking a more just and inclusive Church community.

Her exhortation to the church is “Let’s be the church we say we are. It is in being who we say we are that we actively bear witness to God’s limitless love for all.”  In addition to collaborative service with the ministries that comprise Disciples Justice Ministries, she has been active in leadership in the Poor People’s Campaign.  

We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of her continued leadership and the transformative work she will spearhead during her second term in office.

The post The General Assembly Re-Elects Rev. Teresa ‘Terri’ Hord Owens to General Minister and President appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

When the General Assembly meets in Louisville, Kentucky July 29-August 1, 2023, it will be the first time in four years the church as a whole has gathered in person. The theme for the 2023 General Assembly is “Kindom of God Within Us, Among Us.” The General Assembly is the whole church. It’s not just a gathering. 

The whole church is invited to pray the preamble on Kindom Sunday, June 18, as an act of worship and unity in celebration of the way that God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to each part of the larger kindom of God.

Regional clusters will also share in a month of spiritual preparation and intercessory prayer during the month leading up to our worshipful work in Louisville. Please join us on Thursdays at 7 to 715pm eastern beginning June 22 streaming live on Facebook and YouTube. 

For this occasion download the printable, commemorative preamble to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

Schedule 

For the month leading to General Assembly there will be opportunities to participate digitally in the spiritual preparation for the General Assembly gathering through intercessory prayer during the month leading up to our worshipful work in Louisville. Please join us on Thursdays at 7 to 715pm eastern beginning June 22 streaming live on Facebook and YouTube. 

June 22
Western Regions in Ministry (WRIM) – Northern Lights, Oregon/SW Idaho, Northern California/Nevada, Pacific Southwest, Arizona and Central Rocky Mountain regions

June 29
Regions of the Sun Equipping and Serving (ROSES) – Southwest, Great River and Oklahoma regions

July 6
Southeast Regional Fellowship (SERF) – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama/NW Florida, Tennessee and Virginia regions

July 13
Heartland – Illinois/Wisconsin, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, Mid-America, Greater Kansas City and Upper Midwest regions

July 20
Northeast Inter-Regional Fellowship (NIRF) – Ohio, Pennsylvania, Northeast, West Virginia, Michigan, Canada and the Capital Area regions

The post Kindom Sunday an invitation to pray for General Assembly appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Please note several important changes regarding availability:

• Chalices and patens are available by preorder only. You will not be able to purchase a chalice at General Assembly.
• Orders must be picked up at the Chalice display at General Assembly.
• If your plans change and you are unable to attend in person, arrangements will be made to ship your order following General Assembly, but shipping and handling will be an additional cost.
• Preorders close at noon Eastern time Tuesday, May 30. Sorry, but there will be no exceptions.
• Production will fulfill preorder demand only. Extra chalices and patens will not be produced.
• Orders will not be shipped prior to General Assembly.

General Assembly chalices and patens have been available for years, but we have a new provider that knows chalices well. Yellow Door Ceramics Studio in Indianapolis, Indiana, is co-owned by Felissa King, a member of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Watch the accompanying video to learn more about Felissa and the process that will produce your chalice and paten. Who knows — you may see your chalice in its early stages!

This year’s chalice has a cream-colored cup with a dark black base. The black and red General Assembly logo, in English, Spanish, and Korean, features prominently on the cup. Patens will be half-black, half-white, with a gray stripe between the two. Both the chalice and patens are approximately the same size as previous General Assembly commemoratives.

Here’s how to order your chalice and paten:

• Both Chalice and Paten ($95)
• Chalice only ($50)
• Paten only ($50)

Place your order now so you can add to your collection or start a new one!

The post 2023 General Assembly Commemorative Chalice Available for Pre-Order appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

On this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens speak with Rev. Sarah Nave Fisher about the programing planned for children and youth at General Assembly and about the overall vision of creating an event where families can engage their faith together.

The post Imagine with Me: Children & Youth at General Assembly appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

In this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with Rev. Tyler Heston, Minister of Spiritual Formation at Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, about the Arts Engagement initiative at General Assembly and how art will be integrated into the whole experience through out the Assembly.

“That’s exactly what I hoped for out of these immersive art exhibits that each of these five different access points. Provide tangible ways for people to access the deeper story about this idea of God’s kingdom in which they envision, they can imagine what can be different and that both in terms of our internal world and how we connect with God as individuals and like the depths of who we are. But also different ways of being in community relationships with the people.” -Rev. Tyler Heston

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On this episode of Imagine with Me, General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens is joined by Chaplain (MAJ) Owen Chandler, 1st Infantry Division as the Brigade Chaplain for the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team. Chaplain Chandler will be preaching at the 2023 General Assembly in Louisville, KY, and shares a bit about his work as a military chaplain.

“Like these are stories where Jesus along the way he encounters situations of hopelessness and helps transform those moments through the very real presence of God. And so like military chaplaincy is a lot like that.” -Chaplain (MAJ) Owen Chandler

The post Imagine with Me: Chaplain (MAJ) Owen Chandler appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The theme for the 2023 General Assembly, Kindom of God, Within Us, Among Us, was develop out of three scriptures: Genesis 11:1-9, Luke 17:20-21 and 2 Peter 1:3. The theme aims to explore the way that the church gathers in many manifestations of God’s limitless love in communities across the United States and Canada and how we come together at this event.

If you are an artist interested in immersive and interactive encounters, work with stories and themes woven around things like the sacred, mystery, justice, and wholeness, we encourage you to consider applying for this opportunity. Find out more information about applying to be a Resident Artist at the 2023 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

The post 2023 General Assembly Call for Artists appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The procedure for General Assembly business is outlined in the Special Rules of Procedures for the General Assembly and in the Design for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Business items may be filed by any congregation, region, organization with a recognized relationship, institution or general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or by the governing structure of any such body (GA Special Rules 1.2). No more than one Sense-of-the-Assembly Resolution may be presented by any one group (GA Special Rules 2.5.2).

The deadline for submission of resolutions to the Office of General Minister and President is January 30, 2023. Upon recommendation of the General Minister and President, the Administrative Committee shall determine whether each item qualifies for consideration by the General Board.

Resolutions will be reviewed by the General Board during its meeting April 15-18, 2023. The General Board will decide on a recommendation regarding each resolution and will refer them to the General Assembly for consideration. 

The Office of General Minister and President will circulate all resolutions for consideration (except emergency resolutions) to congregations, regions and general ministries no later than May 30, 2023. 

Submitters should review the types of resolutions outlined in the Special Rules of the General Assembly (section 2).

Resolutions/business items contain two sections:

• Whereas – this section delineates the facts of the issue. Each fact receives its own “whereas” statement. Cites and statistical references should be footnoted.
• Therefore, be it resolved – this section names the action(s) to be considered by the local congregations/regional ministries/general ministries in answer to the issue described in the” Whereas” section. If an action requires funding, the source of the funding needs to be named. If an action requires an individual or group to act on behalf of the voting delegates of the Assembly, that person or group should benamed.

A third section – Background Information – may be included at the end of the resolution to provide additional information and history.

Resolutions may not impose judgment on others, nor are they to bring into question the Christian commitment of those who do not agree with the position of the submitters.

When submitting a resolution to the Office of General Minister and President, please email your submission to submissions@disciples.org. A complete submission must include:

• the name, email address and cell phone number of the person who will act as the point of contact for the submitters throughout the process
• the ministry(ies) putting forth the resolution
• the resolution as a Microsoft Word document

The post 2023 General Assembly Submissions Open appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

In today’s message General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens shares about the Covenant Project, a project of the Governance Committee and the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that re-images the processes and structures in a way that utilizes technology and values relationship. She talks about what it might look like to imagine a church that is more connected to one another, so that we might live into the covenant God desires.

The post Dear Disciples: Covenant Project appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The planning committee described the theme, “There are multiple words, scriptures, languages, and ways to share and shape our common life. The church has more than one story to tell, and more than one tool for innovation and distinctive witness in the future. God is with us. What is life before God like? Salt, an open table, zoom, and treasure in clay jars. What have Disciples learned about life before God in the midst of the uncertainty the church and its members faced over the last three years?”

The theme “Kindom of God Within Us, Among Us” is a call for Disciples to strengthen their relationship to God both individually and communally through an expansive in-person and digital gathering of the church in Louisville. The past two years, local congregations and the wider church have needed to be separated but have also innovated new ways for God’s limitless love to be revealed in our church, our communities and around the world. God’s limitless imagination holds so many possibilities for the church. 

This four-day event will encourage Disciples to gather online and in-person to celebrate the way that God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to part of the larger kindom of God. Save the date and join the church July 29-August 1, 2023 for worship, workshops, Bible study, opportunities to explore Louisville, mission, and the sacred work of the church.

The post 2023 General Assembly Save the Date appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Dear Disciples,

Today’s US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling granting women reproductive freedom has been met with lament and anger by many, and with celebration by others.  For decades, the issue of women’s reproductive rights has been a divisive one in the US, even as Roe v Wade was considered settled law and an established precedent.  Hostile debates and even violence have accompanied this debate in recent years, the impacts of which have been felt in our churches as well.  

The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has wrestled with the issue of abortion on the floor on many occasions, consistently affirming support for reproductive freedom for women.  In these proceedings, the church has consistently affirmed the sanctity of human life.  The General Assembly has also wrestled with the fact that there is not agreement within the broader Christian community as to when life begins, and has accordingly raised concerns about legislating a specific religious belief upon all Americans.  The General Assembly has also affirmed education for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and has raised concern about the lack of access to quality  healthcare for poor women, including reproductive care, and the inequity that results when that care is not available to all.  We have consistently issued a call to action to address these inequities.  The General Assembly has also called on congregations to provide spiritual and emotional support for women and families faced with the difficult decisions that unwanted pregnancy can present.  The historical record is clear that we have sought to engage the issue of reproductive freedom in all of its complexity, resulting in consistent affirmation of a commitment to reproductive rights for women.

 In our commitment to be a reflection of the reconciling love of Christ, we have always valued the importance of respecting our differing theological perspectives, calling ourselves to continue to reflect and educate ourselves on these issues, reminding ourselves that Scripture teaches that God has “reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2 Corinthians 5:18, NRSVue).  And so as this Supreme Court decision throws into stark relief strong divisions within our society and our church, I am reminded that the aspiration of our movement for wholeness has been to somehow bear witness to God’s love in ways that model the difficult work of sharing in this common cause of Christ.  As individual citizens, there are means by which we can participate to make our voices heard, change policies, impact legislation.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to do that work in ways that yet affirm God’s love for all, even when we disagree.  

I pray that we as Disciples will find ways to hold our hearts and be mindful of the great pain that this decision has caused for many, even as we recognize that there are also those who have welcomed this decision.  As a woman, I have grown up with the understood right to make my own choices regarding reproduction, and I must honestly confess my lament that today’s decision removes that freedom in many states for my daughter-in-law and my nieces. Our ability to navigate the tension of disagreement can be a powerful witness to the Christ we follow. I hope that you will familiarize yourself with the history of the church’s strong support for reproductive freedom for women, and that our continued wrestling might yet bear witness to the power of God’s limitless love for all.  

In Christ,

Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens 

GA 8954 WEBSTER VS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES

GA 0725 PROACTIVE PREVENTION SEEKING COMMON GROUND ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION

GA 0730 CONCERNING THE ETHICAL PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE IN A RELIGIOUSLY PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

The post Statement on the Supreme Court Dobbs Decision appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“We have the money. That’s not the issue. We have the ideas. That’s not the issue. What we have not had is the moral commitment. And that’s why we have to have a movement to make that come into existence. … The fact is a nation’s budget tells where her heart is. ” – Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, senior pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsboro, NC

Rev. Terri Hord Owens talks with Disciple pastor, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, III, MacArthur Genius Award recipient, about his work for justice in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.

Find out more:

• Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsboro, NC
• Poor People’s Campaign | Facebook | Twitter: @unitethepoor
• Repairers of the Breach
• The Souls of Poor Folk audit
• The Third Reconstruction: Ending poverty from the bottom up
• The Moral Budget
• The Economic Policy Institute
• The Institute for Policy Studies
• 2017 General Assembly resolution: GA-1740 – Concerning support for “The New Poor People’s Campaign: A national call for moral revival”

The post Imagine With Me: Poor People’s Campaign appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“Why is it important to be together? Well, in Hebrews 10:24 and 25, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that we need to encourage one another, not just to love but to action, to do, to not only imagine together but to help actually bring to fruition God’s reign and fulfillment on the earth.” – Rev. Terri Hord Owens

General Minister and President Rev. Terri Hord Owens shares her excitement for the August 7 virtual gathering, where Disciples from across the U.S. and Canada will be able to learn, pray, and worship together.

Register for the virtual gathering

Hebrews 10: 24-25 MSG

The post Dear Disciples July 30, 2021 appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will lead the way with a series of Moral Mondays, but also invites others to join.

At the 2017 General Assembly meeting in Indianapolis, the assembly adopted a resolution to support the efforts of the Poor People’s Campaign.

The Moral Monday schedule is: 

• July 12, a massive national call-in to every senator, to shut down the switchboards if necessary. 
• July 19, the anniversary of the Women’s Convention at Seneca Falls, nonviolent moral direct action in DC led by women from all over the country. 
• July 26, in all Senate offices, regardless of party, people in at least 45 states, will engage in nonviolent moral direct action. 
• August 2, nonviolent moral direct action focused on the US Senate and led by a mass number of clergy and religious leaders with poor and low-wage workers.

Find out more on the Poor People’s Campaign website or follow them on Facebook.

The post Poor People’s Campaign announces Moral Monday schedule appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“We’re bringing lots of people together,  lots of different creative spaces, lots of  different voices, all coming together to worship God and really remind each other that nothing can  separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” – Rev. Stephanie Kendell, first vice moderator and executive pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church, NYC

Rev. Terri Hord Owens speaks with First Vice Moderator Rev. Stephanie Kendell about the exciting new Virtual Gathering event on August 7. Find out more

View Rev. Hord Owens’ New Year message

The post Imagine With Me: Virtual Gathering appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“God’s limitless love is where it all begins, so we must start there. We’re going to be a movement for wholeness a church that acts to dismantle systems of injustice and oppression, not because it’s a political endeavor, but because it’s a moral endeavor.  

“And God calls us to that work as part of bearing witness of God’s limitless love. We’re going to be bolder, not afraid of change.” – Rev. Terri Hord Owens

The post 2021 State of the Church appeared first on Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).