November 11, 2011

WASHINGTON – The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon will remain at his post as National Council of Churches general secretary for an indefinite period, but he and the NCC Governing Board have begun a "process for a stable and grace-filled transition" as Kinnamon brings his tenure to a close.

Kinnamon told the Governing Board this week that his cardiologist has advised him that the heavy travel schedule and other demands of his office are detrimental to his health. He signaled his intention to step down as soon as a transition process can be worked out.

In a statement released Wednesday, the governing board said it "received the news with reverence and respect for Kinnamon's leadership of the council during the last four years" and many expressed ":a sense of loss and offered tributes of appreciation for his ministry."

NCC President Peg Chemberlin noted that "Kinnamon's announcement comes at a challenging time for the life of the council but we're encouraged that Michael is willing to work with us on this important transition and be a resource to us going forward."

The council's existing Task Force on General Secretary Oversight will meet with Kinnamon to draft a mutually agreeable separation agreement that the NCC's Executive Committee can act upon at its December meeting.

At the same time, NCC President Peg Chemberlin and President-elect Kathryn Lohre will develop a proposal for transitional leadership for the Executive Committee to consider in December.

At 62 and vigorous despite his health challenges, Kinnamon said his future plans are indefinite but he intends to keep working, perhaps as a writer and teacher.

Kinnamon has written so prolifically on the church unity movement that he is occasionally referred to as "the general secretary who wrote the book on ecumenism." He is the author of The Vision of the Ecumenical Movement and How it has Been Impoverished by its Friends and he wrote the official report of the Seventh Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He is the co-editor of The Ecumenical Movement: An Anthology of Key Texts and Voices, a volume widely regarded as an essential tool for students of ecumenism.

Kinnamon has made important contributions to two other staples of ecumenical literature, The History of the Ecumenical Movement and the Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement.

A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clergyman and a long-time educator and ecumenical leader, Kinnamon brings a long record of ecumenical activity to his office. He was General Secretary of the Consultation on Church Union, which became Churches Uniting in Christ, from 1999 to 2002.

He was executive secretary of the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order from 1980 to 1983 and had a major role in drafting the World Council of Churches' major planning document, "Toward a Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC."

He has been the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission, Peace and Ecumenical Studies at Eden Theological Seminary since 2000. He was professor of Theology and Ecumenical Studies at Lexington, Ky., Theological Seminary from 1988 to 2000 and was dean of the seminary from 1988 to 1998.

Kinnamon was Assistant Professor of Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, from 1983 to 1988 and Acting Dean from 1986 to 1988. He was a visiting professor at United Theological College and South Asian Theological Institute, Bangalore, India, in 1987 and 1997.

Addressing the General Assembly prior to his election, Kinnamon said the church of Jesus Christ is "already one."

"Unity is not synonymous with agreement," he said. "We understand that we have deep disagreements and try to address them. This is a consequence of being in Christ."

The assembly interrupted him with applause when he added, "We can fight like cats and dogs and still sit at the same table."

Kinnamon said, "The church is where the Spirit is. Look for that when we sit around these tables. Trust that the Spirit has claimed these others. Getting to know one another builds that trust. This is how we deal with ongoing conflicts – not as a political caucus, but as sisters and brothers."

He stressed that a council of churches isn't just an agency in New York or Washington. "It's a community of the churches themselves."

Before the NCC Governing Board elected him General Secretary by unanimous ballot in November 2007, Kinnamon was chair of the Council's Justice and Advocacy Commission. He oversaw the commission's development of resolutions and statements on a wide range of justice and peace issues and was the primary drafter of the NCC's Strategic Plan over the porevious three years.

Kinnamon earned a Ph.D. degree from the University of Chicago in 1980 in the field of religion and literature. He studied at Tel Aviv University from 1969 to 1970. His A.B. degree is from Brown University in 1971.

Kinnamon was ordained in 1976 and he has ministerial standing in the Disciples of Christ and the International Council of Community Churches.

He chaired the NCC's Ecclesiology Study Task Force from 1993 to 1997. He has been a featured speaker at such ecumenical gatherings as the National Workshops on Christian Unity and Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington.

Michael Kinnamon has been active in the mission and ministries of his denomination and has been a frequent speaker at Disciples and United Church of Christ national and regional assemblies, ministers gatherings and special conferences including the Disciples Peace Fellowship and the North American Pacific Asian Disciples.

Kinnamon is married to Mardine Davis and has two daughters, Anna and Leah.

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA