Convening Tables and Intergenerational Think Tank Orientation April – May 2014.

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)


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


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


Two (2) Priorities of NCC

Mass Incarceration

Interreligious Relations with a Focus on Peace

also . . .

Urgent and Emergent Issues


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


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

http://bit.ly/nccctresources

http://bit.ly/nccctresources

mailto:[email protected]

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]


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


http://bit.ly/cug2014

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





Convening Tables and Intergenerational Think Tank Orientation April – May 2014.

Documents

Transcript of Convening Tables and Intergenerational Think Tank Orientation April – May 2014.