Dear SEGA friends and colleagues,

 As you know, our Regional Minister is retiring at the end of the year.  A celebration of Danny Stewart’s ten year ministry with Mid-America is being planned for Saturday, November 19, in Jefferson City.  The details have been in the last several issues of our Area newsletter, “The Connection,” and I hope that many of you will plan to be there.  As a result of last Saturday’s Council of Areas meeting, Don Hiscox (former Regional Minister for Congregational and Clergy Care for the Upper Midwest Region) has been called to serve as the Mid-America Interim Regional Minister.  Here is a link to a short biography for him.  I became acquainted with Don nearly three years ago when both of us traveled with Global Ministries to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  He brings a wealth of skills and experience to this interim position, and I look forward to working with him.

 You may not be aware that during the past year John Harwell (pastor of First Christian Church in Doniphan and of New Life Christian Church United in Poplar Bluff) and I have been serving on a Regional Transformation Team along with representatives from the other three Areas in Mid-America.  Dick Hamm has served as our coach while we have worked together to re-envision the form and structure of the Mid-America Region for this post modern era in which we are living.  During last Saturday’s Council of Areas meeting, the Transformation Team presented the proposal you will find attached.  The following motion was passed unanimously:  

 Move that the Council of Areas approve the CCMA Transformation Team Proposal, “The Christian Church of Mid-America: A Region Re-Envisioned,” as presented to the Council of Areas on October 1, 2011 [attached].  Approval of this motion authorizes the Regional Ministry Team, the Implementation Team and the Executive Committee (CCMA) to move forward with further development of the framework, consulting regularly with congregations and clergy, and keeping the Executive Committee and the Council of Areas regularly informed of progress.  It is understood that any necessary formal changes in the CCMA By Laws will be brought before the Regional Assembly in Fall 2012 upon the recommendation of the CCMA Executive Committee and the Council of Areas.

 Also attached you will find Article VIII, Section 3 of the CCMA By Laws, which describes some specific responsibilities of the Council of Areas.  The SEGA representatives who currently serve on the Council of Areas are as follows:  Doug Cripe (Crossroads Christian Church in Caseyville, IL), Bill Foglesong (Dover Place Christian Church in St. Louis), John Harwell (First Christian Church in Doniphan and New Life Christian Church United in Poplar Bluff), Margie Pride (Memorial Blvd. Christian Church in St. Louis), Steven Williams (First Christian Church in Poplar Bluff), and David Woodard (Affton Christian Church).  Jeff Moore (Webster Groves Christian Church) represents SEGA on the Executive Committee.

 Prior to the Regional Assembly in the Fall of 2012, our Region’s current form and structure will remain the same as details are discussed and worked out.  Please know that during the upcoming months I will be seeking opportunities to engage our SEGA board and congregational clusters in conversation about this proposal.  If you have questions or would like to share concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  In the meantime, I encourage you to join me in prayer for our Region as together we continue to move forward in this transformational endeavor.

 Blessings,
Penny Ross-Corona
Area Minister