Southern Province Task Force Makes Re-Structure Recommendations For Consideration at Special Synod

Change means different things to different people. Some of us readily embrace change …we like variety, challenges, and different ways of seeing and doing things. Others of us are slower to embrace change…we tend to favor the status quo. Some of us change only when forced. Like individuals, organizations face change in different ways. We also find it easier to accept change when we are either miserable where we are… or we can clearly see the benefits of the proposed change. Even then, accepting that change may not come all that easily (think of the Israelites complaining that life was better in Egypt!). So why change? Change is essential for growth and new life. What if the Herrnhut Moravians had decided to stay comfortable where they were settled?

In 2006 the Southern Provincial Synod passed Resolution 55, a resolution emphasizing the advantages of change and adaptation. Listen to phrases from the “whereas” section: “as a province that seeks to be faithful” “we are called to greater efforts” “making our ministries more available and active” “we wish to improve communications, polity, unity, and community building” “better organize[d]…for the service of Christ.” The Synod instructed the Provincial Elders’ Conference (PEC) to appoint an impartial Task Force to “systematically and critically” examine “all aspects of our provincial administrations and ministries.” The resolution stated that “those serving as Provincial staff or on Provincial boards shall not serve on this task force.” This Task Force convened in September 2006, under the leadership of Powell Winstead. In addition, two active and two retired ministers and five laypersons served on the Task Force, for a total of ten.

The Task Force followed a five-step process: 1). Environmental assessment reviewing the Stewardship Study Commission Report, Board of Evangelism and Home Mission (BEHM) statistics, and Moravian Church Southern Province (MCSP) profile including finances, attendance, and age trends and an assessment of provincial stewardship 2). Extensive fact-finding via agency interviews, surveys of ministers and educators, and input from congregations (240 surveys from the Intersynodal Conference) 3). Focus on Moravian Church governance including a review of Moravian theology with Daniel Crews; a review of ‘conferential;’ a workshop for Task Force members, PEC and provincial agency representatives on ‘characteristics of good organizations” led by Lyn Trodahl Chynoweth; 4). Organization and analysis of results 5). Development of recommendations. Recommendations were made to the PEC and, after final refinements, the proposal was accepted by the PEC in December 2008. PEC has called for a Special Synod September 11-12, 2009, to consider the proposed structure.

The proposed structure has been publicized through meetings with ministers at the Ministry Association, presentations to existing agency boards and staff, town meetings in Charlotte, Clemmons, Kernersville, King, Palm Beach, and Raleigh, and through a website www.moravianstructure.org.. A workshop was held for Synod delegates on August 15th.

A key focus in developing these recommendations was the assertion that healthy congregations create a healthy province, and that strengthening and supporting congregations is central to achieving the challenges set forth in the resolution.

Some of the proposed changes:
• A single Board of Cooperative Ministries (BCM) will oversee development and implementation of provincial ministries as set forth by synod’s visioning (the types of ministries handled by the Board of Christian Education and the Board of Evangelism and Home Mission will come under the BCM)
• Each congregation will have representation (one pastor and two lay) on a Regional Conferences of Churches (RCC). RCCs will facilitate communication among congregations, RCCs, the BCM, and the PEC. Each RCC will select a representative to serve on the BCM (additional BCM members to be appointed by the PEC).
• Provincial Support Services (PSS) will provide ancillary services (Financial, Human Resource, Archival, and Risk Management)
• PEC will be composed of seven members (instead of five)
• Provincial synod will be more visionary and strategic in nature

Please see the website for a copy of the resolution, the proposed structure, and more detail on the background and the process.

What is the next step? Synod delegates will vote on the proposed structure and, if approved, will call for a Steering Committee to implement and make provisions for transition.

So why change? After much work, thought, and prayer, the task force believes the proposed structure will result in better coordination of provincial ministries and will strengthen ties between congregations. We believe provincial resources will be allocated more effectively and more efficiently. We believe more people will be encouraged to participate across the province. We believe communication will flow more effectively among congregations, RCCs, BCM, and PEC.

The needs around us are constantly changing and we need to adapt to follow our Chief Elder, wherever Christ may lead us.

Betsy Bombick served on the Task Force for the Southern Province to address the 2006 Provincial Synod resolution #55 regarding change and adaptation. She is a member of Home Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Editor’s Note: A report on the Special Synod being held at the time of this issue’s publication will appear in the November 2009 Issue of The Moravian. Photo by Deanna L. Hollenbach.