Global Ministries History

Origin and legacy of the Common Global Ministries Board by William J. Nottingham
History and Memorial to Wayne Steinert and David Blackburn
The Haystack Prayer Meeting
United Church of Christ at 50!
That All May Be One… so the World May Believe: 50 Years of Global Mission Practice and Thinking in the United Church of Christ
This comprehensive study guide exploring the roots and evolution of mission in the UCC was created in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ.
Division of Overseas Ministries General Principles and Policies [PDF]
UCC Timeline of Mission
Sing a New Song!
Celebrating the 10 year Anniversary of Global Ministries
FOCUS: Fellowship of Continuing Understanding and Support
Overview of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in China and the Missionaries Who Bore Witness

Chronology of the journey toward the Common Global Ministries Board

1965 Early discussion on “joint action and of a possible administrative merger of the agencies.”
1967 Establishment of a Joint Southern Asia Office with shared staff.
1968 Joint Office for Latin America was established.
1971 Joint Office for Latin America discontinued.
1980 Joint Office for the Middle East was established, with one executive staff.
1987 Evaluation of Joint Offices for Southern Asia and the Middle East conducted.
1989 UCC General Synod and Disciples General Assembly vote for the establishment of an “Ecumenical Partnership” between the two communions.
Common Ministry in Latin America and the Caribbean was established, with one executive and shared staff in Indianapolis and New York.
Joint Ministry in Africa was established, with DOM and UCBWM executive staff working cooperatively.
1990 Cooperative ministry begins in East Asia and the Pacific.
The Joint Long-range Planning Committee of DOM-UCBWM begins coordinated efforts for the development of a common ministry for the future.
1992 Establishment of Mission Personnel Office, with one executive and shared staff in Indianapolis and New York.
Joint Ministry in Africa moves to one executive and shared staff in Indianapolis and New York.
DOM staff colleague joins World Ministries in the U.S. staff team.
1993 UCBWM Office for World Ministries in the U.S. resources Disciples [geographic] regions and congregations in establishing special partner relationships.
UCBWM Office for Global Education and Advocacy adds Disciples to the global advocates network and bulletin.
DOM and UCBWM jointly appoint all missionaries.
1994 Establishment of Joint Office for East Asia and the Pacific, with one executive and shared staff in Indianapolis and New York.
Establishment of a Joint Office for Europe, with one executive in New York.
Establishment of the Office of Missionary Relationships to administer relationships of missionaries with both denominations, with one executive in Indianapolis.
1995 The Latin America and Caribbean office staff is consolidated in Indianapolis.
The UCBWM and DOM Boards vote separately to create a Common Global Ministries Board.
The UCC General Synod and the Disciples General Assembly affirm the formation of the Common Global Ministries Board.
1996 The Common Global Ministries Board came into existence on January first.
CGMB jointly calls the executive for the Racial Ethnic Constituency Education and Development office, located in Cleveland.
The Strategic Planning Committee is formed and begins its work.
Southeast Asia Area Office is combined with Southern Asia and is located in New York.
The Africa Office staff is consolidated in Indianapolis.
The CGMB logo is approved.
1997 The Strategic Plan and Directions are approved; new programs and emphases are to be developed and implemented by staff teams.
The Mission Personnel Office staff is consolidated in Indianapolis.
1998 The first common budget of the CGMB is approved.
The Middle East and Europe offices are combined in New York.
A decision is made to close the New York office by July 2000.
1999 First joint publication of the Whole Earth/good news newsletters.
The United Church of Christ restructure is approved at General Synod, and new officers of the church are elected.
2000 Wider Church Ministries comes into being on July 1, 2000, with the Common Global Ministries Board as an integral part of that new entity. The New York office is closed, with program offices moving to Cleveland. United Nations Liaison office remains in New York.
2006 The 200th Anniversary of the Haystack Prayer Meeting is celebrated
The Haystack Prayer Meeting
10th Anniversary of Global Ministries is celebrated Sing a New Song!
2007 Global Ministries develops 5-year Strategic Plan
2013 Global Ministries begins implementation of new Long-Range Plan
2021 Global Ministries celebrates 25th Anniversary