AMEC News - 031005

	October 5, 2003	ORG. DEV. (OD) FOR THE AME CHURCH
	Are we going to develop our connectional church? It is time for organizational renewal for our church. Bishop Adam preached about this need at the close of the last two general conferences. The response to his preaching was very, very supportive. Yet, nothing has been done to develop our church at the connectional level. Let's take our educational institutions as examples. Our forefathers and mothers started these institutions on nickels and dimes. We have many forms of dollars. Some of our schools are suffering. The question is why. Perhaps many of us think we have the answer and there is not a need for a study of this issue. If so, what are we going to do about this known answer? The power of the bishops and pastors needs to be addressed. For example, we should consider changing the discipline to have the pastor to appoint 9 steward board members and the congregation should be able to appoint 10. This issue should be brought up at our annual conference level to introduce such a change at a general conference. There are several ministers and lay people who have PhD’s in organizational change (including cultural changes) among which I am one. We are too close to the need for organizational development for the connectional AMEC to serve the church effectively. However, we certainly can meet at the upcoming general conference or elsewhere to discuss this issue. Note that Bishop Adam presented the 2nd district with an organizational development study when the 2nd was under his supervision. That was almost twenty years ago. Still, a noticeable change has not been made at the connectional level. If you are concerned as i, please let me know. It is time for a change. Let it begin with us. We must be willing to cite issues and stand behind them and in front of the power structure of the connectional church. Those who have an interest in moving up in the organizational structure of the church need not respond. But, be ready to deal with those of us who want our church to progress and develop.

	Contribution of: Rev. Emma Jean Ghee Leche Episcopal District: 2nd Episcopal District Conference Name: Washington PE District Name: Potomac

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