The Board of Directors of Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC) met last weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. Linda and I came back very encouraged.
FWC is a network of ECOTs (those who consider themselves evangelical, conservative, orthodox, or traditional) in the United Church of Christ. I chair the board. Linda is a board member. Charissa Loftin takes care of “office details” for us.
The most encouraging part of our 3-day session was a conversation with Rev. Geoffrey Black, who began work as the UCC’s new General Minister and President last October. Rev. Black had promised us an hour on his busy schedule, but he spent two and a half hours with us, including lunch.
We told him it is our desire to represent the voices and concerns of ECOTs in the UCC, but to do so with respect and continued presence. We chose Cleveland for our board meeting because it is the headquarters of the UCC. That not only made it convenient for Rev. Black to meet with us – it was also an important symbol that our strategy is not to lob verbal grenades from a “safe” distance.
The conversation was, indeed, mutually respectful. By the end of our time together, Rev. Black not only expressed appreciation for us – he said he would include our voice and speak positively about us when he explains to others the breadth of thought that is the UCC. That’s an important milestone forward, and about all we could ask.
We also toured the UCC “church house,” since the Radisson Hotel where we had our meeting is UCC-owned and connected by a hallway to the UCC headquarters. There we interacted with various staff members and two of them from the publication arm of the UCC met with us to hear our thoughts and concerns. That conversation seemed a little less productive, but we’re still glad we met.
The other encouraging part of the weekend was just connecting with other board members who have the same spirit and calling. Linda and rode to and from Cleveland with two FWC pastors from North Carolina. All seventeen board members expressed appreciation for being able to connect, fellowship, pray, and dream together.
Next up: a conference in Chicago August 6-8 designed to connect renewal groups from various mainline denominations and to issue the call to a new generation of ECOTs to join us in mainline ministry. For more, ask the church office for a brochure or click on mainlinecall.org.