Calling Denominational Leadership Study Committee present interim report

By Frances Townsend

The Calling Denominational Leadership Study Committee, created in response to a 2022 query, presented an interim report to this year’s Annual Conference. The original query was brought by the Nominating Committee of Standing Committee, which is the group responsible for the ballot to be voted on at Annual Conference by the delegate body.

The committee shared some of its findings and also received comments and input from those at the Conference. Issues around the calling of leadership are many. It has become increasingly difficult to get enough nominees for the ballot, and many of those nominated decline. The positions being filled can be time-consuming and increasingly difficult for volunteers to take on.

Another issue concerns the way the current election process discourages many capable people. The Nominating Committee must find at least four qualified candidates who have agreed to serve for each ballot position. A ballot with four candidates for each position is presented to Standing Committee, which narrows the ballot to two candidates for each position on the final ballot that goes to the delegate body. This means that the process leaves three willing people rejected for every person who is chosen. Many times, those rejected decide they do not want to go through the process again.