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2008-10-21 issue:

CLC will try 'rotating white male' model

Constituency Leaders Council wrestles with racial healing, role of conferences.

by Anna Groff

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After extensive discussion during its Oct. 19-21 meeting in Glorieta, N.M., the Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) consented to use a "rotating white male voice" model on a trial basis at its next meeting.















Left to right: Joanne Dietzel (partially hidden), John Rohrer, Herm Weaver, Jai Prakash Masih and Merlin Morales demonstrate the role of conferences with skit at the Oct. 19-21 meeting of the Constituency Leadership Council. Photo by Anna Groff.

Ed Diller, moderator-elect and CLC chair, said this direction to "slightly mute white male voices" should serve as an example to the rest of the church and implemented humbly and enthusiastically.

The "rotating white male voice" model was one of three suggested by the CLC’s anti-racism task force. In this model, participation by members of a white male caucus will be decided by the caucus and CLC members.

The other models brought by the task force included a "volunteer model," that would secure a list of white male volunteers from a "do not attend" list if the percentage of attendees needs adjustment to reach the CLC’s goals and an "expanded registration model" that would make CLC attendance less expensive and more convenient.

CLC covenants to "build a CLC council of elders in which at least 30 percent of those at the table are underrepresented racial-ethnic people." The CLC consented to aim for 25 percent at the next meeting—acknowledging the reality an incremental change.

CLC did not provide a strong preference for any one model, but the table groups that did favor one model selected the rotating white male voice.

"The spirit we offer is moving to something in the future," said Dorothy Nickel Friesen, task force member and Western District Conference minister. "Percentages are one of the ways we look at that."

"The task force wanted to offer concrete options—none of which is perfect—to build on our CLC consensus to model inclusiveness at the leadership level of Mennonite Church USA," Friesen said on Oct. 23.

Churchwide healing: CLC also passed a recommendation from the anti-racism task force that asks the Executive Board to "appoint a task force to develop a healing process for the church to address the historical and current wounds of racism," according to the Sept. 23 document.

Three representatives from the associate groups, one other under-represented racial-ethnic person and two white people would comprise the task force, and resource people from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., and Mennonite Central Committee could provide consultation.

Justin Heinzekehr, Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference representative, reported from his table group that this task force may need to look outside the denomination’s agencies to help this process.

Linda Dibble, Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference moderator-elect, reported from her table a suggestion to use the Methodist reconciliation materials, "Healing the Wounds," instead of MCC’s Damascus Road staff and material.

Virginia Mennonite Conference’s letter to Executive Board: Beryl Jantzi, VMC moderator, brought an open letter dated Oct. 8 from his conference to the Executive Board regarding plans for churchwide restructuring.

"We are serious about wanting to receive counsel from [CLC]," Jantzi said, "in terms of the tone and the content [of the letter]."

"Part of our concern with the proposal," the letter read, "relates to its basic theological principles. To us it seems hierarchical and businesslike rather than patterned after the church and Christ’s own example of 'incarnational' leadership."

Jantzi said a one-board model impacts VMC uniquely because of the conference’s high representation of institutions in its geographical location and the dynamic that many church leaders wear multiple hats.

This was the second letter in a series of correspondence with the EB.

Diller said the executive committee of the EB plans to meet with leaders from VMC.

Role of conferences: CLC also addressed the role of conferences and discussed new models for the future.

During table discussion, George O’Reilly, Central Plains Mennonite Conference assistant moderator, reported a question from his table: "Is this conversation backward ... should this conversation start at the congregational level?"

Wayne Hochstetler, Illinois Mennonite Conference minister, completing his final meeting with CLC after serving for nine years, reported what his table expects for the future: "The parts of Mennonite Church USA will catalyze and inspire each other. Leaders facilitate collaboration ... we need to hire collaborators, not administrators that only maintain."

Marathana Prothro, director of communications for Mennonite Church USA, reported an idea from her table: that conference, EB and agency boards meet together annually for three days and each group chairs one day. Iris de León Hartshorn, director of intercultural relations for Executive Leadership, also suggested the idea from her table group of an annual, weeklong meeting for all church leaders to replace other meetings.

Steven Brown, Virginia Mennonite Conference assistant moderator, reported a call for an emphasis on young adults in this conversation and suggested revisiting the denominational priorities—adding a fifth one of commitment to involving young adults in the church.

CLC passed a recommendation from Diller to name a group of five or six conference executive ministers and moderators to shape the input received from this meeting and inform further processes but not necessarily form a recommendation.

"We don't want to let this work lie fallow," Diller said. "We want it to move."

In other news: Executive leadership staff member Keith Harder provided an update to the health-insurance plan for pastors, called The Corinthian Plan. Harder requested help from the CLC in certifying the eligibility of church workers, in identifying ambassadors for the health-care plan and in encouraging congregations to participate in the plan. Harder said 80 percent participation will be needed for the plan to work.

Ron Byler, associate director of Mennonite Church USA, announced Marty Lehman’s appointment as director of communications and development for Mennonite Church USA, effective Nov. 1.

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