General Board Business Report #GB-12-0789 Title: Origin: Report of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in South Carolina Regional Minister: Sotello V. Long The following is provided for information to the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Date: 022512 Regional Staff: Regional Pastor: Sotello V. Long, male, Black Associate Regional Pastor: Deveta Smith Brown, female, Black Disciples Women Coordinator: Gloria Gilliard, female, Black Administrative Assistant: Alma Turner, female, Anlgo Secretary: Barbara Williams, female, Black District Moderators/ Coordinators District Assembly 1: Lucille Kinard, female, Anglo District Convention 1: Freddie Lawton, Sr., male, Black District Assembly 2: Pete Cosgrove, male, Anglo District Convention 2: Eva P. Husser, female, Black District Assembly 3: Joseph Cobb, male, Black Regional Board: Term Oct 2010 Oct 2014 Chairperson: Eleanor Davis, First Christian Church, Columbia, SC Vice-Chairperson: Harold Samuel, Path of Life Christian Church, Columbia, SC Secretary: Rosa Orr, Greater Cherry Grove Christian Church, Hampton, SC Co-Treasurers: Alma Turner, First Christian Church, Charleston, SC Barbara Williams, Canaan Christian Church, Moncks Corner, SC 1) How has your region fulfilled the regions primary purpose as stated in paragraph 20 of The Design 1. 1 The primary purpose of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in regions is twofold: (1) to extend the ministry of Christ in mission, teaching, witness, and service among the people and social structures of the region; and (2) to establish, receive, and nurture congregations in the region, providing help, counsel, and pastoral care to members, ministers, and congregations in their mutual relationships, and relating them to the worldwide mission and witness of the whole church. We extended the ministry of Christ through our Regional Conference featuring Friday keynote speaker Minister Amy Gopp; Bible Lecturer Pastor Claude Walker;
Thursday Commission on Ministry keynote speaker Pastor Edward Cushingberry, Jr; Friday, Disciples Women Ministry speaker, Mrs. Debbie Raymer; & Saturday, Breakfast Minister s Wives and Husbands Fellowship Ministry speaker, Mrs. Rosa Orr. They all took us on a journey unveiling various insights on God s Amazingly All Sufficient Grace! Disciples Youth led in a twofold plenary presentation one led by Minister Lula Richardson and another featuring the New Hope Open Mic Ministry. We extended the ministry of Christ through Disciples Women spring and fall retreats. Men and Youth Fellowship ministries engage in discipleship and leadership development. We extended the ministry of Christ through leadership summits, retreats and facilitating the preparation of those called to ministry through promoting seminary and specialized educational preparation. We extend the ministry of Christ through collective giving and participation in several congregational clothing & food distribution ministries including the regionally supported New Beginnings Outreach. 2) As appropriate, please comment on your work in regard to the four mission priorities of New Church, Transformation, Leadership Development and Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism and the mission imperative of strengthening congregational life for our mission. New Church: The Commission Church, Beaufort and New Revelations Ministries, Ridgeville were started since last year s report. Transformation: We understand congregational transformation to be a community of people vitality connected with God and one another who are gifted by God fulfilling the vision and purpose God has called them to do. We posted the information from the Congregational Transformation Symposium in 2011 on our website: scdisciples.org. We launched a series of Regional Transformation summits focusing on Who we are; Where we are; and Where we want to go! Postings of our work are available on the Regional website. Leadership Development: Our leadership development is lodged with districts and the fellowship group ministries. Districts: District Assembly 1 Convener is Lucille Kinard, Luray Christian Church, Luray, SC ; District Convention 1 Moderator is Freddie Lawton, Sr., Antioch Christian Church, Varnville, SC;
District Assembly 2 Pete Cosgrove; District Convention 2 Moderator is Eva Husser, St Phillip Christian Church, Reevesville, SC; and District Assembly 3 Convener is Joseph Cobb, Agape Christian Church, Columbia, SC Group Ministries: Disciples Men President is Sidney Ladson, New Hope Christian Church, Burton, SC; Disciples Women President is Almetia Brown, New Hope Christian Church, Burton, SC; Disciples Women Staff Person is Gloria Gilliard, Poplar Hill Christian Church, Cross, SC; Disciples Youth Coordinator is Lula Richardson, Poplar Hill Christian Church, Cross, SC; Ministers Wives and Husbands Fellowship President is Pamala Brown, Canaan Christian Church, Moncks Corner, SC; and Commission on Ministry Chairperson is Melvin Brown, My Father s House Ministry, Ladson, SC. Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism: Our regional reconciliation team, True Community, is leading in planning our Regional Conference for 2012. It will celebrate a major milestone in our journey toward expressing the tangible unity of Region. The Convention formally exercised a motion for disillusionment in order to more fully embody a unified order of Regional governance. We are living into being one! Praise God! We give thanks for the excellent leadership of the True Community team chaired by Pastor Torrie Osgood and the God s resident grace imparted through Minister Sekinah Hamlin Sullivan. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in South Carolina Min. Sotello V. Long, Regional Minister Treating You with Love Because Jesus Loves You! Regional Minister s Email: newscrm@aol.com 1293 Orange Grove Road Charleston, South Carolina 29407-3947 P.O. Box 32064 Charleston, South Carolina 29417-2064 Telephone: (843) 852-4537 or (800) 637-2718 Fax: (843) 852-4538 Regional Church Email: ROCCSC@AOL.COM Website: WWW.SCDisciples.org The Regional Council of South Carolina announces the celebration of the 9th South Carolina Regional Conference of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ! It will be held from 7pm Thursday through Sunday worship, October 4-7, 2012 The Theme: Yet I Will Rejoice! Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19 Featured Keynote speaker: Rev. Dr Glenn Carson, President, Disciples of Christ Historical Society It will be hosted by: First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2062 N. Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC 29204 - in partnership with Agape and Path of Life Christian Church. The Conference Hotel: Comfort Suites Hotel 1540 Daulton Drive, Columbia, SC 29223 Ph: 803 678 4266 Request Reservations under the SC Regional Conference Call 843.852.4537 or 800-637-2718; email: roccsc@aol.com website at: www.scdisciples.org
Enjoy the Celebration! Grow Spiritually! Be Inspired! Host Pastor: Minister Torrie Osgood. SOUTH CAROLINA REGIONAL FINANCIAL REPORT As you know, for the last few years, in addition to the regular reporting on Regional programming and participation in the denominational mission, the General Board has requested more insight and in-depth reporting by Regions about their finances. A sense of uniformity will be important in such reporting, so we are asking each region to respond to the following questions in its General Board report. 8. Financial Information, Concerns, and Reports of the Region: A. What type of accounting method do you use? x Cash Accrual B. Is a professional audit done annually on your books? Yes x No If not, please explain. A non-professional examination is done monthly on the checking account by a professional mathematician. A professional audit is done approximately every three years. C. For the last three years, with regard to your OPERATIONS BUDGET ONLY, Please provide the following information: 2011 2010 2009 Total Income $137,682 $147,562 $154,092 Total Expenses $135,819 $146,130 $156,933 Surplus (Deficit) $ 1,863 $1,432 $(2,841) D. Currently, what is the total amount of Permanent Funds the Region has from which an Annual Draw of endowment earnings income is used to support your operations and programming? What is that percentage of draw and how is it calculated? Approximately $34,000. No planned Annual Draw from permanent funds has been made. E. If your Region has had insufficient income of deficits in Part 6 C above, how has your Regional Board and Finance Committee been trying to balance your budgets (e.g. staff reductions, program cuts, larger draws from permanent funds, initiative postponements, new streams of income, etc.)? Portions of the deficit have been recovered from sponsored regional programs. A concentrated Stewardship and Giving campaign is being planned to educate congregations and individuals on the blessings of cheerful giving and support. F. What are the key financial issues and concerns currently facing your region s life and vitality? Rising costs and getting more churches in the Region to consistently participate.
Recommended Action: The General Board receives the report from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in South Carolina.