UCCtruths

According to UC News, "the boards of directors of the UCC's Local Church Ministries and Justice and Witness Ministries have affirmed some general-direction recommendations for streamlining the denomination's national setting."

Yawn.

I don't know if consolidating the national office's powers will ever happen but for all practical reasons, it doesn't really matter. The dysfunction inherent in the existing structure (the herd mentality) will not be corrected by consolidation - it will just make fewer people less accountable in a structure that doesn't have accountability now. Regardless, Local Church Ministries and Justice and Witness Ministries will do whatever they can to protect their fiefdoms and nothing will really change.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I thought this was an interesting statement in the article:

The General Minister and President's office would be given expanded oversight over the whole of the national setting, but would still work collegially with the elected heads of each ministry body. An appointed Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the General Minister and President, would manage day-to-day operations.

(The Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's current general minister and president, is not eligible for re-election in 2009, meaning any new structure would not affect his time in office.)

There are two ways of looking at this statement:

1. Although he is advocating for the consolidation of power, he is disinterested since he won't benefit from it himself
   
2. Regardless of what you think of John Thomas' disastrous leadership, don't base your opinion of consolidation on him - he won't be in charge when it kicks in

Until we have real leadership in our denomination that can think strategically (and critically when needed) the same people will be making the same decisions yielding the same results - it'll just take fewer meetings.