WORK OF THE MINISTERS COUNCIL 2006

After Jerusalem Council project, back on mission. Which means: Show me the money for the work!

 

• Three-part Ministers Council strategy (scope and frequency variables)
  • Face-to-face groups that meet monthly
  • Strong constituent Councils with exciting programs
  • Pattern of national conferences

 

• Together in Ministry
  • In 2006 118 funded collegial covenant groups with over 1,000 participants
  • Lilly annual report on project and its learnings in process of preparation, with massive 2005 participant evaluation input
  • Lilly has opened door to possibility of further funding, for sustainability (primary focus after RFP arrives)
  • Sustainability hinges on resourcing local leadership to carry the covenant group ethos (two parts of strategy meshed)

• Valley Forge Ministers Council
• Valparaiso invited former “exemplary projects” to a second grant application for a faith practice, like “The Body Honors the Body” in 2002 and 2003. Grant proposal in process for Mission Center year-long luncheon series on faith practice of testimony, bringing to speech our experience of God in daily life as means to quell the “dementers” of negative language here sucking the life out of us and to better equip national staff for positive interface with constituents

• Pre-Biennial 2007
• Goal: gathering for ordained and lay ministers on ministry and faith practices for ministry in postmodernity. Partnering with Campus Ministers Association. Invitation extended to all pre-biennial sponsors and BIM to partner, with possibility of extending time and leadership to include Parush Parushav and Susan Johnson Cook. Brian McLaren already invited to keynote
• CBF will also partner if McLaren accepts (or perhaps another speaker of note?)
• Perhaps embed funding in Valparaiso proposal or develop a proposal for Louisville Institute General Grant application?
• Vision: as we celebrate 100 years of faithful and effective ministry that have transformed us into a poster of heaven people positioned to reach out to this world of which we are a microcosm, we meet together to be equipped for that work in this new and strange time we call postmodernity

 

• Fund for Theological Education – focus on culture of call; March meeting with ecumenical colleagues and theological educators on hopes for seminary curriculum revisions to equip for ministry in this time; ABC invited to send a theological educator already engaged in such transformation work

• Jerusalem Council –  hope to host mediated conversation among former ABE leaders and AWAB leaders about how to live in the same family together; AWAB Council open to such engagement 

• Website resources – continual additions, e.g., resources for a congregation with a registered sexual offender, shared ministry stories, ethics of blogging 

• Post-WOTL meeting – executive committee and TIM steering committee together focus on “back on mission” initiated by Organization and Culture Team Indicator Work process 

• Constituent Councils – transitions in process: PSW MC has delayed 2006 membership recruitment “pending outcome of April vote” but conversations are in process with those forming a new entity with goal of a new MC (as Greater Bay Area MC formed in West); MT MC executive committee met to discuss breaking ties with national MC but voted to remain because “not a single-issue organization”; Central MC will meet to discuss possibility of local dues only for some

• Statements on issues – December 05 Message on Poverty; April 06 executive committee agenda item on rapid-response plan for addressing issues; goal to address government regulation and enforcement on mine  safety issues, to stand with our colleagues in WV

• Children Living in Poverty – Chicago TIM group meeting as a prototype of how a local body engages the subject; results to be shared and model encouuraged