Tuesday, June 26

The Duran brothers, from one of our Hispanic churches in El Paso, Texas, started things off for us with lots of percussion. Many hands were in the air, which, of course, is very common every Sunday in UB churches across the United States.

Bishop Ray Seilhamer gave some introductory remarks, and then, after a rather grand re-entrance, launched into his report. By the 10 a.m. break, we had finished all of the reports of the officials and associate staff. Kyle McQuillen expressed his appreciation for the chance to serve eight years as Director of Missions.

Paul Hirschy, Director of Church Services, gave his report next. He began by reporting on his health condition, which involves a diagnosis of lymphoma earlier this year. The day before, he had had a 7-hour treatment. He has had six of the traditional chemo treatments, and hasn't gotten sick yet from it. He's feeling fine, he said, and is grateful for people's prayers.

The Bishop introduced Marilyn Reeck, who is serving as interpreter throughout the conference. Marilyn is the youngest daughter of Archie Cameron, and is a Wycliffe missionary in La Ceiba, Honduras. All of the Hispanic delegates have earpieces, and she speaks quietly (from the back of the room) into a microphone, which is transmitted wirelessly to each earpiece.

When reports were finished, the Bishop noted some changes regarding delegates. Dean Hoffman was officially seated as a lay delegate from Mid-Atlantic Conference. He replaced Frank Newman, who was unable to attend.

Kyle mentioned the problems some of the international delegates had in getting visas from the US government. In Honduras, elected delegate Samuel Torres, unable to get a visa, was replaced with former superintendent Jose Ramirez, who was appointed as a substitute delegate by the Honduras Conference Council. A Mr. Savala, from Honduras, also couldn't come. In Nicaragua, Domingo Velasquez was denied a visa, as were both lay delegates from Sierra Leone.

Time for Business

The discussion for the rest of the day revolved around Report 63, the report of the International Conference Task Force.

Pat Jones, chairman of the International Study Committee (left), went to the microphone and gave an introduction. He gave a quick historical overview, showing how the process started over ten years ago as a result of issues which emerged in Canada. As a result of trying to correct some flaws in our structure regarding Canada, we extended our vision to the entire church, considering how we were organized internationally. After all, the issues in Canada, particularly regarding national sovereignty, also applied to other countries.

Pat emphasized that the various national conferences would still work together, and funding from the United States wouldn't be cut off. It's just that there would be a change in how we relate to each other internationally.

He said his committee was charged with bringing together all the things which had been developed previously. The committee worked with the international conferences through the established structure of the Missions department, and specifically through Missions Director Kyle McQuillen, who helped the national conferences develop their own governing documents.

He mentioned two issues, control and money. The US was giving up a lot of control. In the past it had functioned as a US church with mission fields around the world. Now those fields were functioning well on their own. The US was giving them equal footing. But the US still has the most money. And while there is no intention of cutting off funding, the US will want to ensure that money is used wisely, so there are stewardship issues.

Pat outlined the four parts of the governing documents:

1. Confession of Faith
2. Core Values
3. Constitution
4. By-Laws.

You can also see the international structure here.

Pat finished his introductory report. Then the bishop told how we would proceed: with each part of the proposed governing documents, starting with the Confession of Faith.

Confession of Faith

There were no motions to amend it. So the Confession of Faith, as adopted in 1815, is the Confession of Faith of the international church. No surprise there.

Core values.

Tom Brodbeck, speaking on behalf of the Central Conference delegation, asked that the supplemental proposal on Social Concern be added to the Core Values. Central Annual Conference of 2000 had asked for this. The Bishop asked Tom Brodbeck to read that core value, which he did.

Dave Bell proposed adding "the unborn" to the list of persons requiring our aid. It passed.

Dave Burkett moved to remove a reference to slavery in the US, saying we were wanting to make it an international document and remove references to the US. So the first part of a sentence was chopped off.

There was a motion to add "gender" to one of the things we want to end discrimination against. That produced a lot of discussion. Dan Paternoster (Michigan) thought gender issues should be left to the national conferences. Paul Michelson (Central) felt the word was kind of loaded with cultural baggage, since in some circles in the US there are five categories of gender. Mike Newman (Mid-Atlantic) and Dan Paternoster both felt there were scriptural reasons for "discrimination" in such things as having women as senior pastors; adding this in the Core Values, they said, would speak against holding that biblical conviction.

The amendment was voted down on a voice vote.

George Weaver (bishop emeritus) spoke on an issue already dealt with, slavery, because he argued that it still exists in our world.

John Pierce (Canada) moved to insert the word "slavery" among the things we opposed. It passed.

Paul Fetters (Central) made the point that we haven't "always" stood against slavery. He moved to change that line to say "We stand against." Passed.

Paul Michelson (Central) moved to delete the word "creedal," saying HC discriminates on the basis of creedal differences (for instance, won't hire Muslims). The motion passed.

The Core Value passed in that form. It'll be inserted in the middle of the current list of core values. This is what it looks like.

We Demonstrate Social Concern

We must not only seek the salvation of our fellow human beings, but show genuine concern for their total well-being. We recognize our responsibility to victims of poverty, prejudice, injustice, and other forms of human suffering.

The poor will always be among us, and we cannot ignore their plight; the Bible clearly states our obligation to those living in poverty. But there are many others, whether they are poor or not, whose situation requires our aid. They include persons in prison, immigrants, widows, orphans, the unborn, the handicapped, the homeless, the elderly, and victims of abuse. We also respond corporately to large-scale tragedies, giving sacrificially to help victims of natural disasters or social strife.

Demonstrating social concern also involves raising our voice against injustice and prejudice. We stand against slavery, discrimination and injustice, insisting that equal rights be granted to everyone. We advocate fairness in the workplace, in the courts, and in all other settings, and seek the end of any discrimination based upon racial, national, economic, or social differences.

The Bishop observed that "we are at peace with our core values," and he moved on to the constitution.

Constitution

Bob Eberly (Mid-Atlantic) asked about the name: Church of the United Brethren in Christ International, Inc. He asked, "Where do we incorporate internationally?" Nobody could offer a reason for keeping "Inc." at the end of the name. A lot of discussion followed, and it seemed like nobody really knew the answers, and anyone who seemed to speak authoritatively was bluffing it.

There was a motion to remove the word "Inc.", which was tabled. Then a motion to delete the word "international." Dan Paternoster argued against that, saying we are all United Brethren in Christ churches, but "international" helps recognize our worldwide union. Motion to remove "international" lost.

Lunch

The international delegates (everyone but the US delegates) had met together on both Sunday and Monday with Bishop Ray Seilhamer and Missions Director Kyle McQuillen. The foreign delegates had many concerns about the structure, and specifically about the Director of Global Ministries to be elected to lead the United States Missions program. They wanted to be able to help elect the person who would be working directly with them.

Lloyd Spencer (Jamaica) presented a proposal from the international delegates which included five recommendations:

We recommend that:

1. The Director of Global Ministries for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ be an ordained minister.

2. That the election of the Director of Global Ministries take place in the General Conference sessions to include the vote of International delegates.

3. That the Director of Global Ministries be an ambassador of unity when visiting the United Brethren national conferences and mission fields around the world.

4. That the Director of Global Ministries be a member of the international executive committee or Cabinet of bishops.

5. The Director of Global Ministries be accountable to the National Conference of the USA and its bishop.

My oh my, was there a lot of discussion. Many of the foreign delegates spoke in favor of being able to help elect this person. They argued that since they would be working a lot with the US Missions Director, they needed to have a say in who the person was.

Lloyd Spencer said, "He who pays the piper calls the tune." They didn't want the US deciding everything. There were comments about lingering paternalism on the part of the US.

After much discussion, most of it--from US and foreign delegates--in favor of he proposals, the delegates voted strongly in favor of the second recommendation, which says the international delegates would be able to help elect this person. The motion passed.

They then moved on to recommendation number 1, which passed with a voice vote with little discussion. That means the Director of Global Ministries had to be an ordained minister. It also presented complications with the ballot for that position, which included one minister and one layperson. The lay candidate , Jim Elliott, would now be disqualified.

Next came recommendation 3. With no discussion, it passed. We now had an "ambassador of unity."

Recommendation 4 passed, but with an amendment making this person an advisory member of the international executive committee.

Along the way, there was all kinds of discussion. There were arguments that this would be creating an international position out of the UB Director of Global Ministries, while the international delegates were united in wanting to be able to elect this position.

Break. The Bishop declared a 30-minute recess.

Roger Burk (Michigan) made a motion to delete the 5th recommendation, so it would be totally an international position (not a US-accountable person elected by the international body). The international body would elect this person, and this person would be accountable solely to the international body.

The idea is that there would be a new position, perhaps a part-timer who might be an older US pastor with an interest in missions.

Luke Fetters (Central) spoke in favor Roger's motion. Kyle questioned him about this: would there also be a UB Director of Global Ministries who would also travel abroad, along with this other person? The answer: yes. Which means a new position would need to be funded.

They voted on whether or not to delete recommendation 5. The voice vote was close, so the bishop called for a standing vote. It was 27-34, against deleting recommendation 5.

They then voted on whether or not to keep recommendation 5. It was 28 in favor, 33 opposed.

So they voted not to delete recommendation 5, and voted not to adopt it.

"I'm confused," said Bishop Seilhamer.

Steve Gilbertson (Arizona) argued in favor of having an international bishop. He suggested that perhaps the international executive committee could select a person to be this international bishop.

A motion was made to have one person elected as Director of Missions, and for that person to serve at the international level.

They readily agreed with that. The Bishop declared a one-minute recess so everyone could get up and stretch. Then he turned to Pat Jones to continue moving everyone through the bylaws.

From this point, they began going through the By-Laws fairly quickly, section by section. There was minimal discussion.

Just before supper, the bishop asked five persons to work on the specific wording for incorporating recommendations 1-4 into the international governing documents. Those persons were Tom Brodbeck, Pat Jones, Steve Dennie, Jose Ramirez, and Lloyd Spencer.

Time for supper.

Tom Brodbeck read a new recommendation, developed over lunch to incorporate recommendations 1-4 into the international documents.

"The General Conference elects an ordained elder as the United States Director of Global Ministries to serve as an ambassador of unity to national conferences and mission fields, in addition to other duties assigned by the United States National Conference."

Tom also pointed out some changes which would need to be made in the US National Conference documents.

In another place in the by-laws, the Director of Global Ministries would be an advisory member of the international executive committee.

The Bishop asked a delegate from each national conference--Peter Lee, Juan Pavon, Joe Bob Amara, etc.--if they felt okay with the statement Tom read. Each delegate said he felt his concerns were met satisfactorily.

Bob Eberly raised a concern. If the US Conference task force recommendations go through, the US National Conference will include a pastor and at least one layperson from every UB church in the United States. Eberly said it didn't seem right to have 500 people come together, the people who give money for missions, but they are unable to elect the Director of Global Ministries. Instead, just 22 people, many of them from other countries, would elect this person.

Other concerns were raised. Mike Newman (Mid-Atlantic) said he couldn't support it, because it would mean the US would have only 10 of 24 delegates electing their own Director of Global Ministries.

But when the vote was taken, it passed with a strong voice vote.

Mike Newman moved to adopt Supplemental 65-3, which says each national conference will be responsible for the expenses of its own representatives on the executive committee. He said he didn't particularly like the motion, but felt we had to deal with funding somehow; otherwise, there will be no provision for funding the executive committee meetings.

Dave Rahn suggested an addition, which was then added. The whole line would now read, "Each national conference shall be responsible for the expenses of its own representatives on the Executive Committee. This is not to preclude expenses being raised by one national conference and offered for the expenses of those representatives from another national conference."

The motion carried.

A similar motion was made to have national conferences be responsible for the expenses of their own General Conference delegates.

Then it was time to vote on the whole international structure. They took a standing vote. It was agreed earlier that it would require a two-thirds vote to adopt the international structure. Six opposed, the rest in favor.

The Bishop asked Brian Magnus and Lloyd Spencer to come and pray for what had happened, the implementation of a new international structure.