Moderator’s Report August 2020



Moderator’s Report August 2020Submitted to Governing Board meeting 1st September 2020As the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation begins its work, I have continued dialogue with Washington Consulting Group (WCG), Rev. Roland Stringfellow, co-chair of the Commission and Rev. Cathy Alexander from MCC staff re anti-racism training and organisational change. The WCG will facilitate a one day training day for all MCC staff, Governing Board members, Council of Elders and members of the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation. This shared training will provide a common understanding of racism, white supremacy, white privilege and the ways in which individuals and MCC as an organisation can start to address these issues. Further follow-up, more specialist training for the different bodies will be discussed as required. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that all the different leadership bodies in MCC have undertaken such training together. This is a significant first step on our road to becoming a more truly diverse, inclusive and racially equitable Fellowship. Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann is currently on a student placement with MCC, as part of his university studies on diversity and inclusion. As part of this placement, I asked him to write an academic paper on diversity and inclusion within MCC. He has now completed this paper and has prepared a presentation on it, which he has already given to MCC staff, and will also present to the Commission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation and to the Governing Board. This analysis is very helpful to understand the different approaches that there are to diversity and inclusion, as well as learning more about the complexities of this work. This is another tool which will assist MCC in the organisational changes it needs to make around becoming an anti-racist organisation. With the MCC staff, I am participating in a 21 day anti-racism challenge. Every day, we receive an email containing a variety of resources – short videos, questionnaires, podcasts. Staff individually choose at least one activity each day to deepen our understanding and awareness. There will be a discussion on this challenge at the monthly staff meeting to share our learning. The Still Giving campaign held in July to celebrate the milestone birthdays of Rev. Troy Perry and Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson was a wonderful success. It was a delight to be part of their joint virtual birthday party, attended by guests, drawn “out of a hat” from all those who have donated. Huge thanks to everyone who gave a financial gift and the MCC staff and volunteers who worked on the campaign. The campaign raised funds to start an MCC endowment fund and to support our racial justice work. The generosity of those who gave will have an immediate impact through the anti-racism training mentioned above. The Governing Board approved the establishment of a working group to develop policy on ethical investing and to make recommendations to the Governing Board on different potential endowment funds. Donations continue to come in for this campaign, which is a real testament to the generosity and vision of MCCers around the world, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Other areas of work include:Connection with MCC churches and NetworksPrepared and recorded sermon for European Network gatheringRecorded greetings for Brazilian gatheringWrote a Moderator’s reflection on faith as activismAttended the Rainbow Praise music concertOffered weekly time of prayer and reflection on Facebook LiveIndividual conversations with MCCers around the worldOutreachRecorded video interview for MCC websiteDiversity and InclusionMet with Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann to discuss his student placement progress and academic paper on MCC, inclusion and diversityReviewed diversity and inclusion statistics from MCC staff recruitmentGoverning BoardParticipated in Finance Committee meetingStaffRegular meetings with Rev. Elder Hector Gutierrez and Rev. Dr Kharma Amos as Senior Leadership TeamAttended Fund Development Advisory Group meeting Had one to one meetings with individual staff to discuss their work plans and review progressCouncil of EldersParticipated in planning meeting for Council of Elders meetingParticipated in Council of Elders meetingWorked with Elders on protocol for honouring retiring EldersCommissionsParticipated in Commission on General Conferences meetingsCo-chaired Commission on Pathways of Healing and ReconciliationMet with Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey to discuss establishing Commission on Rites and Sacraments ................
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