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Structure Review Team

In July 2001, the General Conference of the UFMCC overwhelmingly passed a major restructure plan for Metropolitan Community Churches. The plan had been carefully developed with extensive grassroots consultation and feedback over the previous four years. Over the following four years, from 2001 to 2005, many elements of the new structures and systems were successfully put into place. Six full years of experience with the new structure in place have been gained since 2003. Much has been accomplished globally by MCC since 2001.

Since July 2001, many changes have occurred both within MCC and in its external environment. In response to these new realities some adjustments were made in the implementation of the plan. Also, some needed changes have been made to the structures and systems.

Moving forward, it is now important to assess these structures and systems from the vantage point of experience and results. Over the next year, a Structure Review Team (see the list of team members below) will conduct a full review and evaluation of MCC’s structures and systems projected in the 2001 Plan, as well as the subsequent changes, and make recommendations for future actions.

Purpose and Scope of the Review

The 2001 Restructuring Plan had three goals:

• Increase the effectiveness of leadership in our local churches.
• Broaden our span of inclusion, reaching new people all over the world with MCC’s message of hope and transformation.
• Increase our level and quality of resources and tools available to support the mission and ministry of local church leaders.

The review and evaluation should assess the progress toward these goals to date. It should highlight accomplishments and identify challenges that have limited progress toward these goals.

This process will review the following structures, giving all stakeholders opportunity for input and feedback.

• The Board of Elders
• The Board of Administration
• Office of the Moderator
• Executive Director and Staff
• Local Churches
• Regions
• Lay Ministry Council
• The General Conference
• The Geographic Review Board
• Office of Formation and Leadership Development
• Judiciary
• Elders Nominating Committee
• Regional Elders Facilitating Committee

Within each of these structures we need to look at the systems issues and assess the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the needs to be addressed for the future efficacy and sustainability. Additionally, the larger external environment presents issues that need to inform future directions.

The Structure Review Team

The Structure Review Team will report to the Leadership Team of the Board of Elders/Board of Administration. The members of the Leadership Team are the Chair of the Board of Administration, Moderator, Vice-Moderator, and Executive Director. Team members and biographical information are below.

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Structure Reveiw Team Members

Rev. Tony Freeman, Chair

Tony served as Senior Pastor of MCC San Diego from August 1996 to March 2006. He has also served the denomination in a number of roles, including Chair of the Strategic Growth Initiative, and as a pastoral consultant to MCC's around the world helping with strategic planning, church transitions, conflict resolution, team ministry, and leadership development. Tony is currently the Executive Director of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the 3rd largest LGBT-focused community foundation in the United States. He also managed a corporate giving program and led the establishment of a new corporate foundation with a mission to serve at-risk children and youth. Tony has been actively involved in his local community serving boards and committees ranging from alcohol and drug treatment facilities to AIDS organizations. He has received several awards for his work in the community, including The NickY's Governor's Award, Champion of Pride award, and the "Visionary" award from the Center for his leadership in the establishment of the LGBT homeless youth sheltering project.

Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston

Cecilia is currently serving as the Pastor of MCC Newcastle, a vibrant and exciting congregation in the NE of England. She served as Regional Elder for Region 4 for four years and prior to this, served as the District Coordinator of the European District for five years. She served on the General Council that guided the denomination through the transition from the district to the regional structure. She has worked with congregations in Europe and Africa and understands the joys and challenges of becoming a truly international movement. Cecilia is a member of the Geographic Review Board and has also ministered on the Church Planting Initiative, the Bylaws Advisory Committee and the Church Revitalization Initiative. She is a trained facilitator, specializing in consensus building, especially where there are greatly diverging views.

Barry Hundley

Barry Hundley is a long time MCC Lay leader and community activist. The recipient of numerous awards hailing his participation in causes which uplift, educate and inform LBGT people of color. Barry is a leader in the "In The Life" conference, the largest LBGT conference of people of color in the nation..

He is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he obtained a BA in Business Administration, with a minor in Political Science.

After graduating from college Barry eventually settled in Atlanta, GA with a successful career in retail management. With his 21 years of successful Retail Management experience, Barry is now the General Manager of the Atlanta flagship store for Brooks Brothers.

In 1992, Barry made the decision to leave the AME church and to make his spiritual home at First MCC of Atlanta. Barry has served on the Board of Directors, been Co-Facilitator of the Christian Education Program, been a CELL group leader, and has served 12 years as Lay Delegate. He was also the Chair of First MCC's 30th Anniversary Celebration and has served as a mentor for many of the up and coming leaders at First MCC.

Barry has served in ministry for the former Gulf Lower Atlantic District, Region 2, and UFMCC. He was a lay member of the Gulf Lower Atlantic District Board of Ordained Ministry . After the Fellowship switched to Regions, Barry served as the Communications Facilitator and then as Laity Development Facilitator for Region 2.  Barry helped to organize two MCC conferences in Brazil and served as the Coordinator of the 2004 Regional Conference for Region 2. Barry has attended all of the People of African Descent Conferences and served as co-chair for the 2002 conference in Atlanta. Barry is currently a member of the MCC Geographic Review Board and a Project Manager for the Church Revitalization Initiative. In honor of his excellent service and leadership, Barry was presented with a Laity Leadership Award at the 2005 General Conference. At the 2006 People of African Decent Conference Barry was awarded the Trail Blazer Award for opening doors for minorities in MCC and helping to shape and mold the next generation of MCC leaders.

Dr. Jonelle Neighbor

Dr. Jonelle Neighbor has been a part of the UFMCC since Fellowship Sunday of 1980 and has belonged to four congregations in Texas, Minnesota, and Colorado. Dr. Neighbor has served at the local church level as Lay Delegate, as teacher of Christian Education and facilitator of Creating a Life That Matters, as praise team sign language interpreter, and as lay pastoral leader for 10 months. She has worked at the district level as Lay Representative, founder of the Mid-Central District Commission on the Laity, and Conflict Management Consultant. She has ministered at the regional level, working with six different congregations in two regions on conflict transformation. She has volunteered at the denominational level as member and assistant chair of the Commission on the Laity and as member and currently chair of the Geographic Review Board. Dr. Neighbor holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and works professionally as a School Psychologist with middle and high school aged students. She further holds credentials as a Licensed Psychologist and School Administrator, and coaches middle school volleyball.

Stan Kimer

Stan Kimer is a long time lay leader across all levels of MCC ministry.  He’s a member of St. John’s MCC in Raleigh, NC; was chair of the MCC Commission on the Laity 2001 – 2003, is currently Second Vice President of the North Carolina Council of Churches, and currently serving as the chair of the MCC Moderator’s Ecumenical and Inter-religious team. In his professional life, Stan is currently the Director of Sales Operations for IBM’s Global Business Services and is one of IBM’s out GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) executives. His 29 year career in IBM has included management and staff positions in sales, finance, marketing, and Human Resources (on the diversity staff leading IBM’s GLBT diversity initiatives.) Stan received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Science from Georgia Tech, and his MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Rich, his partner of 17 years and his avocational interests include coin collecting, stamp collecting, exotic world wide travel and photography.

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