Welcome to another "Lay-Ups!" Gail Minnick and I, your Nova lay delegates, host this feature to keep you informed of notable news items from greater MCC.

Seismic changes are shifting the landscape of our denomination. MCC's Structure Review Team has issued its lengthy proposal for re-arranging our organizational flow chart and started a process for fellowship-wide questions and comments.
 
Elders are systematically conducting phone conferences with clergy and lay delegates all over the denomination, answering questions, clarifying issues, and recording feedback.  Two weeks ago, our current Elder Darlene Garner hosted a phone conference and Rev Kharma, Rev Tim, Gail Minnick and I participated.  (The following week, others from Nova may have joined a repeat conference.)  Over the course of 2 1/2 hours Darlene went through a summary of each section and opened the floor to questions and discussion, careful to make sure all points of view were aired. Issues about which there were still questions or concerns were noted and will be channeled back to the Structure Review Team which will refine the proposal. It will be issued again with similar structures for feedback and comments.  After this, a THIRD refinement will be offered for final debate at the business meeting of General Conference in Acapulco, Mexico where it will be voted on.

In a nutshell, the proposal would restructure the entire denomination in a parallel to the local church. The people would still elect their Moderator ("senior pastor") and a Governing Board ("board of directors") but, as a senior pastor of the denomination, the Moderator would now be more responsible and accountable for hiring other "staff." Elders would be newly considered "hired staff."  Also what we now know as "regions" would disappear and, instead, all local churches would voluntarily affiliate in smaller "networks" (or clusters) and "affinity groups."

See the whole proposal in very readable form on MCC's website (http://www.structurereview.mccchurch.org/?page_id=45 )

After its second pass, Gail and I will conduct at least one opportunity at Nova to present the proposed new structure and solicit your feedback so we can bring YOUR vote to Conference. "Stay Tuned!"