NBA Board of Trustees Meets in St. Louis, Updates on Strategic Plans

Members of the Board of Trustees for the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met June 6-8, 2019, for their Spring 2019 in-person meeting.

For the opening session, NBA board members joined with NBA staff for a meal and presentation by Mark D. Anderson, NBA President and CEO. His presentation focused on the accomplishments and organizational updates from NBA’s Strategic Plan (2018-2021). With only one and a half years into the strategic plan, meaningful milestones across the organization have included launching new peer group cohorts such as Executive Nonprofit Leaders, Advocacy and Activism, Disciples Chaplains, and Prison and Jail Ministries. Through these peer learning groups, NBA seeks to weave a new tapestry of support for health and social service ministries across the Disciples Church. Accomplishments also included a full-scale data analysis of the five years of NBA XPLOR offering deeper understanding of the impact of this leadership development program not only in participants’ lives, but within the churches and communities that have been serving as hosts for XPLOR Residents. Additional organizational achievements mention implementing better budgeting tools for operational reports, establishing compliance with new accounting rules for nonprofits, and comprehensive marketing and development plans for NBA. These accomplishments and more were included in the presentation and discussions.

Committee meetings took place on Friday with plenary sessions on both Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. In addition to the strategic plan discussions, primary business items included the board approval of an employee sabbatical leave benefit for full-time staff, an updated gift acceptance policy, and the 2018 financial audit was reviewed and received.

The board celebrated and honored the term completion of three board members including Jackie Compton Bunch, Bob Cooper, and Willie Garcia. Bunch also concluded her role as Chair of the Board. The board also welcomed four new board members: Lisa Buday (California, PA), Rev. Clarence Johnson (Oakland, CA), David Rodriguez (Bronx, NY), and Rev. Dr. Elaine Sanford (Memphis, TN). We are grateful for the wisdom and service of all of these faithful leaders!

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As the health and social services general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the National Benevolent Association partners with congregations, regions, general ministries, and Disciples-related health and social service providers to create communities of compassion and care. Founded in 1887 by six women responding to the needs of the day and on their doorsteps, for more than 130 years the NBA has continued to serve “the least of these.” Learn more at www.nbacares.org.