The Indiana e-Christian

The Regional Board of the Christian Church in Indiana met in retreat at Camp Camby on September 1-2, 2009.  The purpose of the retreat was to follow up on a proposal for a process leading to regional transformation that the Board approved the previous April.

During a brief business session, the Board received and approved a report from the Nominating Committee.  The Board approved the nominations of Kay Koenig to chair the Regional Assembly Time and Place Committee and Rebecca Zelensky to chair the Regional Assembly Planning Committee.  After the business session was concluded, the Board put its nose to the graindstone on transformation.

At its March 30 meeting, the Board voted to begin a journey toward transformation.  (Read the proposal presented to the Board in April.)  As a first step the Board acknowledged that an outside voice was needed to guide us along.   Alan Roxburgh of the Roxburgh Missional Network has been working with Disciples congregations in Indiana in a transformation process since 2007.  The Board felt Alan was the best fit for the Region in its transformation process as well.

Three processes needed to begin.  The first was to have the five ministerial staff persons begin working with Alan to explore their leadership through an Executive 360 and follow-up coaching.  The ministry staff is also working with Alan through a process that examines how they function as a team.

The second process had Alan to interview a representative sample of people within the life of the Region to get a sense of what needs to take place for transformation to come about.  That report laid the groundwork for the Board’s work during the retreat.  (Read a copy of the report.)

The third piece was for Alan to bring those insights to the Board at the retreat.  After spending time in retreat digesting and discussing the content of the report, the board agreed to form a pro temp executive team to work with Roxburgh in developing a starting point for the region.  Team members are Pam Ditson-McCall, Mark Calvert-Rosenberger, Travis Hacker, Brenda Truax and Will Jewsbury.  The team will report back to the Regional Board on November 16.

Regional Moderator Pam Ditson-McCall had these observations about the retreat and the process that the board will engage again at its next meeting.

I came out of our time together with a realization that our first big obstacle will be our natural desire for a map that has a definite route laid out, steps to follow, and a guaranteed outcome.  We will have to acknowledge that isn’t the reality for real and effective transformation. 

This is what I do know.  There needs to be, has to be, a great deal of listening and honest conversation within the Region.  We need to discover again or for the first time who we are as Disciples in Indiana, as a community held in relationship through our common bonds, Jesus Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

This isn’t about us and them.  The Indiana Region is more than the office in Indianapolis; the Region is you and I, who are members of the 180 Disciples churches in Indiana. This is a time for flexibility and adaptability.  Your Board is seeking to be proactive not reactive to the rapid change, challenges and realities of being church today.

We will keep you informed along the way as we journey together and live into transformation. I ask for your patience, your passion and your prayers.

The Regional Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana met for the first of its biennial meetings on Monday, March 30, 2009. The Board met at the North Campus of Geist Christian Church in Fishers.

Rev. Travis Hacker makes a comment during the Regional Board meeting on March 30.

During the course of the meeting, the Board received and approved the audited financial statements for 2008, which showed an increase of $43,156 in unrestricted net assets for the year. At the same time, the investments of the region lost 25% of market value in 2008. Regional Treasurer Mike Srbljan reported that, in spite of those losses, the Region is in solid financial condition.

The Board also received and approved a proposal to engage the Region in a process of transformation. The proposal is based on the learnings gained from the pilot group of congregations that have worked with Alan Roxburgh since 2007. It reflects the combined efforts of the regional ministry staff, the Transformation Team and the Personnel and Pastoral Relations Committee. A copy of the proposal is available at www.indianadisciples.org.

The process that was proposed includes a 360 feedback evaluation for all ministry staff. The intent of the evaluation is to assess readiness to lead the church in change. As a result of this evaluation, ministry staff will be able to identify and receive coaching on specific leadership challenges. The regional ministry staff will also receive coaching on their ability to function as a team and to lead the church during times of change and transformation.

The Regional Board, in its role as the administrative governing body, will participate in late summer 2009 to design a process and develop action plans for regional transformation. This retreat will utilize help from an outside consultant. The board will also evaluate progress toward transformation and will incorporate elements of the action plan in its future financial and staffing plans.

The Region will engage Alan Roxburgh, who has worked with the pilot group of congregations in transformation and has trained Carolyn Reed to continue giving leadership to the transformation process, to provide evaluation and coaching for both the staff and the board during the transformation process.