Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Workshop 1 presented as part of the 200th ‘Aha Pae‘āina
Background: The ‘Aha O Nā Mokupuni ‘O Maui, Moloka‘i, A Me Lāna‘i (formerly "Tri-Isle Association") is bringing a resolution to the 200th ‘Aha Pae‘āina for adoption and support for action at the 34th General Synod of the United Church of Christ.
There will be a formal motion to adopt this resolution and forward it to the General Synod. The ‘Aha O Nā Mokupuni ’O Maui, Moloka‘i, A Me Lāna‘i asks the delegates of the 200th ‘Aha Makua to adopt this formal motion by consensus. This motion will be part of the ‘Aha Makua agenda for decision.
The church has not always taken the forms that we are most familiar with today. Historically, the churches went from being a persecuted minority meeting in homes with fledgling leadership to being the official religion of the Roman Empire. Each generation has responded to the mission and ministry of the church by authorizing some for special ministry. As we move into an uncertain future and seek the guidance of the next generations, we can be reasonably sure that both the shape of ministry and the local church will change and require a variety of authorized ministers.
Purpose and Objective:
-To affirm the valuable ministry of licensed and commissioned ministers in the HCUCC and the entire UCC
-To present practical and theological rationales for continuing the varieties of authorized ministers in the UCC
-To put authorized ministry into the context of the HCUCC’s and the UCC’s commitment to the priesthood of all believers
-To inform delegates of the process used by the General Synod for formal motions and the support required for those proposing and endorsing specific formal motions
-To challenge the delegates and members of the HCUCC to provide leadership for the UCC that will create opportunities and authorization of such ministers
-To accept and act on our responsibility as a Conference of the UCC to bring pressing issues to General Synod
Presenters:
The Rev. Elizabeth Dilley is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Ordained in 2003, she served a small, progressive congregation in Red Oak, Iowa for nine years before moving to Cleveland to work in the UCC's national offices in 2012. In her work in the national setting, she serves as the Minister and Team Leader for the Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) ministry team, building support for the vision that all ministry settings deserve gifted, supported, accountable, and transformational pastoral leadership, and creating and curating resources to equip the church for this vision. Rev. Dilley lives in Cleveland with her spouse, Paul Richardson, their child, and a rowdy dog.
Rev. Dr. Kimberly Fong
Tri-Isle Committee on Ministry
Rev. Kyle Lovett
O‘ahu Committee on Ministry
Kahu Wayne Higa
Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches Committee on Ministry
Rev. Jack Belsom
Author of resolution
hcucc.org/aha-paeaina-2022-workshops
Workshop 1 presented as part of the 200th ‘Aha Pae‘āina
Background: The ‘Aha O Nā Mokupuni ‘O Maui, Moloka‘i, A Me Lāna‘i (formerly "Tri-Isle Association") is bringing a resolution to the 200th ‘Aha Pae‘āina for adoption and support for action at the 34th General Synod of the United Church of Christ.
There will be a formal motion to adopt this resolution and forward it to the General Synod. The ‘Aha O Nā Mokupuni ’O Maui, Moloka‘i, A Me Lāna‘i asks the delegates of the 200th ‘Aha Makua to adopt this formal motion by consensus. This motion will be part of the ‘Aha Makua agenda for decision.
The church has not always taken the forms that we are most familiar with today. Historically, the churches went from being a persecuted minority meeting in homes with fledgling leadership to being the official religion of the Roman Empire. Each generation has responded to the mission and ministry of the church by authorizing some for special ministry. As we move into an uncertain future and seek the guidance of the next generations, we can be reasonably sure that both the shape of ministry and the local church will change and require a variety of authorized ministers.
Purpose and Objective:
-To affirm the valuable ministry of licensed and commissioned ministers in the HCUCC and the entire UCC
-To present practical and theological rationales for continuing the varieties of authorized ministers in the UCC
-To put authorized ministry into the context of the HCUCC’s and the UCC’s commitment to the priesthood of all believers
-To inform delegates of the process used by the General Synod for formal motions and the support required for those proposing and endorsing specific formal motions
-To challenge the delegates and members of the HCUCC to provide leadership for the UCC that will create opportunities and authorization of such ministers
-To accept and act on our responsibility as a Conference of the UCC to bring pressing issues to General Synod
Presenters:
The Rev. Elizabeth Dilley is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Ordained in 2003, she served a small, progressive congregation in Red Oak, Iowa for nine years before moving to Cleveland to work in the UCC's national offices in 2012. In her work in the national setting, she serves as the Minister and Team Leader for the Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) ministry team, building support for the vision that all ministry settings deserve gifted, supported, accountable, and transformational pastoral leadership, and creating and curating resources to equip the church for this vision. Rev. Dilley lives in Cleveland with her spouse, Paul Richardson, their child, and a rowdy dog.
Rev. Dr. Kimberly Fong
Tri-Isle Committee on Ministry
Rev. Kyle Lovett
O‘ahu Committee on Ministry
Kahu Wayne Higa
Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches Committee on Ministry
Rev. Jack Belsom
Author of resolution
hcucc.org/aha-paeaina-2022-workshops
