WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Church elects new president PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A Connecticut native has been elected to lead The United Church of Christ. The Rev John H. Thomas, who is from Darien, on Monday was elected general minister and president of the church which has 1.4 million members. The church's General Synod was to conclude today. By July 2000, the UCC will have restructured 10 of its 12 national boards to bring leaders and local congregations closer together. The new boards are called ministries by the liberal church. "The old structure is a pastiche of different mission boards," said Andy Lang, a church spokesman. "We've had 40 years of that structure. It's quite clear it's aging." Since 1957, about 600 people have had seats on the 10 administrative boards. That is being reduced to about 200 people on four boards _ and to only a handful of church leaders. Thomas, who served his first church in Cheshire, Conn., has been the United Church's officer in charge of ecumenical affairs at church headquarters in Cleveland. He was elected to a two-year term and is eligible for two more four-year terms. He succeeds the Rev. Paul H. Serry, who is retiring after 10 years in office. Also elected: Rev. Jose A. "Joe" Malayang, who will be the new executive minister of Local Church Ministries; Bernice Powell Jackson, who will serve as the new Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and Edith A. Guffey, who will be the new associate general minister. (Copyright 1999 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Church elects new president
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A Connecticut native has been elected to lead The United Church of Christ.

The Rev John H. Thomas, who is from Darien, on Monday was elected general minister and president of the church which has 1.4 million members. The church's General Synod was to conclude today.

By July 2000, the UCC will have restructured 10 of its 12 national boards to bring leaders and local congregations closer together. The new boards are called ministries by the liberal church.

"The old structure is a pastiche of different mission boards," said Andy Lang, a church spokesman. "We've had 40 years of that structure. It's quite clear it's aging."

Since 1957, about 600 people have had seats on the 10 administrative boards. That is being reduced to about 200 people on four boards _ and to only a handful of church leaders.

Thomas, who served his first church in Cheshire, Conn., has been the United Church's officer in charge of ecumenical affairs at church headquarters in Cleveland.

He was elected to a two-year term and is eligible for two more four-year terms. He succeeds the Rev. Paul H. Serry, who is retiring after 10 years in office.

Also elected: Rev. Jose A. "Joe" Malayang, who will be the new executive minister of Local Church Ministries; Bernice Powell Jackson, who will serve as the new Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and Edith A. Guffey, who will be the new associate general minister.

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