Search Committee for Conference Minister

At the May 17, 2008 meeting of the Conference Council the following were elected to serve on the conference minister search committee

Rev Sharon Ellis Davis, Committee Chair, CMA
Howard Nelson, CMA
Rev Charlene Wordlaw Porter, CMA
Sandy Fuller, Western
Nancy Wheeler, Eastern
Brett Johnson, Fox
Dave Marquardt, Outdoor Ministry
Belinda Gross, Prairie
Dalila Lopez-Gonzalez, CMA
Rev Matt Emery, Prairie
Rev Luther Holland, CMA
Keith Scott, CMA
Rev Kim Wood, Fox
Rev Ed Sinclair, Eastern
Phoebe Amago, CMA


Our thanks to each who have agreed to serve the conference minister search process. Please hold these people in your prayers.

Peace,


Harold Harmison
Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ

Interim Conference Minister Called

The Conference Council of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ met on May 17, 2008. At that meeting we received a recommendation from the Conference Personnel Committee to call Reverend Phil Hart as the interim conference minister of the Illinois Conference.

That recommendation was accepted, unanimously, by conference council, and Reverend Hart has been called to serve as our interim.

Reverend Phil Hart has standing in the Central Southeast Ohio Association. He has served most recently as the interim conference minister of the Ohio Conference. His education and his professional training include a Masters of Theology, a Masters of Divinity, and training as an intentional interim.

After reviewing a dozen profiles and interviewing 3 candidates for interim conference minister, the interim search committee unanimously recommended Reverend Phil Hart to the conference personnel committee. Pastor’s professional references were able to assure us of his abilities as an administrator, leader, and team member.

We have experienced Reverend Hart as a non-anxious person whose faith is apparent in the words he writes and the words he speaks. His presence reflects a mature self-confidence that is not invasive or overwhelming. Pastor speaks well, writes well, and listens well.

Special thanks to Reverend Judy Harris (Prairie Association), Reverend Wanda Seydel (Western Association and conference 1st vice president), Carol Holden (Fox Valley Association), and Sammie Dortch (Chicago Metropolitan Association, chair of the conference personnel committee) for their willingness to invest their time in the interim conference minister search process.

Pastor Hart does plan to be with us during the Illinois Conference Annual Meeting in Bloomington in June. Please – If you attend the annual meeting, take time to meet Reverend Phil Hart and welcome him to the Illinois Conference.


Conference Council, Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ
Harold Harmison, president

A Letter to our Family of Faith

To the Illinois Conference, our family of faith,

For the last several weeks, the media and certain political forces have been rolling and rumbling around us, the United Church of Christ. Much of this turmoil has focused on Trinity United Church of Christ and certain statements made by the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. These comments, taken out of context, have been repeated endlessly and, at least as viewed by some, with malice and for political gain.

We are witnessing is an unacceptable attack on the United Church of Christ. For all our diversity and all our autonomy, we are one. We are united as the body of Christ, and it is simply wrong for us to watch this media-fed frenzy without responding. As disciples of our crucified and risen Savior, we are called to speak out against injustice. We must Speak our Faith!

The Council of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ met on Saturday, March 29, 2008, and discussed this issue at length. The Conference Council recommends that UCC members and congregations prayerfully consider the following recommendations:

· Pray. Prayer is a constant in our lives. It lifts up those who need to feel they have family who care and it helps each of us focus on what we can do to touch the lives of those who feel alone. Hold Trinity United Church of Christ, its pastors and its members in your personal and congregational prayers.
· Join in Worship. As you are able, plan to worship at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago between now and Pentecost (Sunday, May 11). Yes, for many of us who live outside the Chicago metropolitan area, getting to Trinity United Church of Christ may be a challenge. But, these are people of faith who would do the same for us, any time and any day.
· Fund. Help the United Church of Christ fund a one-page advertisement in the New York Times regarding the United Church of Christ and Trinity United Church of Christ. A copy of this advertisement is attached and appeared April 2, 2008. The Council decided the Illinois Conference would donate a minimum of $7,000 to help underwrite the cost of this advertisement.
· Evangelize. Assist the Illinois Conference in funding a minimum of another $7,000, to be used within the Illinois Conference to proclaim who we are and whose we are as the United Church of Christ, as well as showing support for Trinity United Church of Christ. Creative suggestions are welcome!
· Become Informed. Visit the blog spot “truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com.” This blog spot will do much to educate each of us more about Trinity United Church of Christ.
· Express your support. When you visit the “truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com,” express prayers and concerns for our faith family at Trinity United Church of Christ.



Finally, you and your church CAN assist the Illinois Conference in this effort. Yours and your church’s financial contribution will help meet the pledged costs. Please send your financial support to:
“Speaking Our Faith” Initiative
Illinois Conference
United Church of Christ
1840 Westchester Boulevard
Westchester, IL 60054

We are the United Church of Christ. We are blessed by our diversity. We are a church of open ideas, extravagant welcome, and evangelical courage. While we do not require uniformity of belief, we are united in our faith in our crucified and risen savior, Jesus, who reminded us that our neighbor is everyone who believes in the Still Speaking God. Please join us in Speaking our Faith to the community and the world!


Yours in the struggle for justice and peace,



Reverend Jorge Morales Mr. Harold Harmison
Associate Conference Minister President

Proposed Resolution for 2008 Annual Meeting: Adopting a Mission Statement

Resolution to adopt Statement of Mission
and Core Processes for the Illinois Conference of the
United Church of Christ

To be considered by the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, June 7, 2008

Theological Rationale:

“Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Matthew 5: 15. See also Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16, and Luke 11:33.

Summary:

The current mission statement of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ is essentially unknown. Through the process of reviewing the leadership and structure of the Illinois Conference in 2006 and 2007, there was widespread support for the adoption of a new, more vibrant statement that explains the purpose and activities of the Illinois Conference to itself and to others.

Resolution:

Whereas: The Illinois Conference Council commissioned the Illinois Conference Leadership and Structure Working Group (Working Group) in March 2006 to review the structure and common life of the Illinois Conference, with the goal of presenting a fully vetted and carefully designed restructuring plan to the Illinois Conference for action at the 2007 Annual Meeting in Rockford, IL;

Whereas: After considerable deliberation, the Working Group in 2006 developed a proposed statement of purpose and core activities of the Illinois Conference, built upon the passions and interests of the Illinois Conference as surfaced in the Open Space Initiative sessions, the Marketplace of Ministry held during the 2006 Annual Meeting, and other discussions held in recent years;

Whereas: After much prayer and active reflection, the Working Group developed the following mission statement as the essential purpose statement of the Illinois Conference:

The Illinois Conference is a United Church of Christ covenant community promoting congregational health and vitality and pursuing God’s peace and justice.
Whereas: Based on this statement of the essential mission of the Illinois Conference, the Working Group identified and addressed six essential core functions of a Conference with this mission, in other words, its core processes;
Whereas: In January 2007, the Working Group obtained the input and general concurrence of the Illinois Conference Council regarding this statement of mission and core processes;

Whereas: During February and March 2007, the Working Group sought broad input regarding its Report and Recommendations. It conducted over 20 Listening and Feedback Sessions and received input from over 400 persons throughout the Illinois Conference. Each session included a presentation and discussion of the Conference’s proposed statement of mission and core purposes;

Whereas: There was strong endorsement of the statement of mission and core processes from virtually every sector of the Conference during the Listening and Feedback Sessions, although there was considerable difference of opinion regarding the other structural recommendations of the Working Group;

Whereas: The Illinois Conference Council, meeting in March 2007, adopted the Working Group Report and Recommendations (“Council Recommendations”), including its proposed statement of mission and core processes, for consideration by the Illinois Conference at its meeting in June 2007;

Whereas: At its meeting in June 2007, the Illinois Conference narrowly defeated the Council Recommendations, with many expressing their support for the proposed statement of the mission and cores processes but not of certain structural aspects of the Council Recommendations;

Whereas: The Working Group, meeting after the Illinois Conference meeting, felt that while some of the structural aspects of the Council Recommendations were too controversial to be adopted in June 2007, the Council Recommendation’s statement of mission and core processes were widely embraced, were integral to the Conference’s understanding of itself and should be officially adopted;

Whereas: At its meeting in February 2008, the Illinois Conference Council considered the Council Recommendation’s statement of mission and core processes, made a clarifying modification, and received it for use with the Search Committee for the new Conference Minister, with the understanding the the full Illinois Conference would be asked to vote on this matter specifically at its meeting in June 2008; and

Whereas: To implement the action of the Illinois Conference Council at its meeting in February 2008, the Illinois Conference Council hereby submits for adoption the attached statement of purpose and core processes to be the official statement of the Illinois Conference; now, therefore, be it

1. RESOLVED That the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ shall adopt the attached Statement of Mission and Core Processes of the Illinois Conference as an official statement of the Conference; and be it further

2. RESOLVED That the attached Statement of Mission and Core Processes shall be used in conjunction with Article II of the Constitution of the Illinois Conference to explain the purpose of the Conference; and be it further

3. RESOLVED That the attached Statement of Mission and Core Processes shall be used as appropriate on all Illinois Conference and Association websites, stationery, etc., based on the availability of funds; and be it further

4. RESOLVED That the attached Statement of Mission and Core Processes shall be shared with the national setting of the United Church of Christ, other faith and denominational groups, and specifically with any interested individuals who are interested in serving on the professional staff of the Illinois Conference.




Illinois Conference of the
United Church of Christ


Statement of Mission:

The Illinois Conference is a United Church of Christ covenant community promoting congregational health and vitality and pursuing God’s peace and justice.

Core Processes:

Consistent with this mission, the following are the essential core functions of the Illinois Conference:

1. Facilitating communication, participation, reconciliation, justice, and action;

2. Bridging local churches and pastors to concerns and relationships beyond the local church;

3. Training/equipping/supporting leaders and congregations;

4. Identifying and empowering Conference ministries for mission and outreach;

5. Developing and nurturing new churches and churches in transition; and

6. Linking the local churches and members to the national and global ministries of the UCC.

Interim Conference Minister Search

News from the Interim Conference Minister Search Committee

The interim conference minister search committee has been meeting since early December, 2007.

In late January, 2008 we received profiles from a diverse pool of candidates for the interim position in the Illinois conference. The search committee reviewed those profiles and we have identified three excellent candidates.

We have interviewed the references for those three candidates and, after prayerful consideration, we have arranged to conduct face to face interviews with all three candidates on April 18 and April 19, 2008.

Please prayer for us as we move to the next step in this process.


The Interim Conference Minister Search Committee

Search Committee -- Nominating Guidelines

Notes on Gathering A Search Committee
Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ

Seek to have people who understand that the search is a discernment process and not a “hiring” or “corporate hiring” process. Both the conference and the candidate are seeking to discern God’s will and hear God’s call. Committee members need to be open to God’s Spirit.

Find people who can and will dedicate the amount of time needed to do the task correctly. In the formation period this would likely be a meeting once every 6 weeks.

Always choose the best people. Don’t accept volunteers.

The search committee needs to include someone who is skilled at taking minutes. At least one person on the search committee should be a member of the Conference Council, and there should be a reasonable expectation that person will remain on Conference Council through the search process.

Persons need to be able to maintain confidentiality, as this is of uppermost importance. It is critical members of the search committee leave all progress reports and, indeed, all other pronouncements to the chair of the search committee.

Persons need to be of good will and willing to respect the opinions of others, and they need to be willing to express their own opinions.

A chaplain and secretary will be selected at the first meeting of the Search Committee.

Key tasks of the Search Committee are
Establishing the Conference Profile
Learning the conference’s history
Learning the qualities and characteristics of the conference
Coming to terms with the recent past
Become familiar with UCC polity
To receive and review candidate profiles with the best interest of the
To give regular progress reports to the Conference Council
To offer a call and to recommend the candidate to Conference Council

Members of the search committee will be willing:

To make a commitment of time and energy that may be required over the next twelve to twenty four months
To determine the meeting schedule
To plan 100% attendance at scheduled meetings

The search committee should be representative of and embody the rich diversity of the conference.

Search Committee Formation

Search Committee
Conference Minister, Illinois Conference,
United Church of Christ


At the February 16, 2008 meeting the Conference Council of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ established a process for calling a conference minister search committee.

The search committee will be called as follows: One each from Eastern, Western, Prairie, and Fox Valley associations, and 2 from the Chicago Metropolitan Association.

To assure diversity (age, gender, laity/ordained, racial, ethnicity, sexual orientation), Conference Council will select 6 additional members of the search committee from a pool Conference Council will create.

Important Dates

Candidates recommended by Conference Council
Email to the conference president at h.harmison@sbcglobal.net
March 15, 2008

Candidates recommended by the association
Email to the conference president at h.harmison@sbcglobal.net
March 22, 2008

Conference Council will begin the selection process on March 29, 2008.

It is the intent to commission the conference minister search committee at the annual meeting of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ

If there are questions, please don’t hesitate to address them to me at h.harmison@sbcglobal.net

Peace,

Harold Harmison
President, Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ

January News -- Interim Conference Minister Search

The Interim Conference Minister Search Committee, called in accordance with the Illinois Conference constitution includes the following members/associations. Please note that two members were added to the committee in order to have each Association represented:

Harold Harmison, Conference President, Eastern Association
Rev. Wanda Seydel, Conference Vice president, Western Association
Sammie Dortch, Personnel Committee Chair, Chicago Metropolitan Association
Carol Holden, moderator, Fox Valley Association
Rev. Judy Harris, Associate Pastor. First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeKalb, Prairie Association. Rev. Harris was selected by the Prairie Association to replace Rev. Rita Root who resigned to assume the call to be CMA's interim Co-Minister.

Although the Committee meets with Lorin Cope, Minister of Conference Relations, National Church Office, his role is strictly advisory in that he gathers profiles and answers process questions. The selection of the interim Conference Minister is the committee's responsibility.

We will continue to communicate with you as this process moves forward. Please, include us in your prayers.

The Interim Conference Minister Search Committee