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