Redesign News
In President Veazey’s pastoral letter dated June 15, 2006, he
writes, “A basic principle of Christian community is the inherent
interconnectedness we share as human beings and as sisters and brothers in
the faith. If we are truly living in the love of God as revealed in Jesus
Christ, then when one member suffers, we all suffer.” Over the past week and
the many months prior, we have lived in a balance of uncertainty. As we go
forward, we extend the grace and peace that is found in Jesus Christ. To
read President Veazey’s letter in its entirety,
click here.
The web cast presentations regarding field redeployment and
International Headquarters redesign held yesterday and today, June 15-16,
were well attended. Opening with worship, each presentation then provided
opportunity to hear Paul Davis, Steve Veazey, Jim Slauter, Stassi Cramm,
Becky Savage and Dave Schaal. Human Resources, represented by Bill Barnhard
and Kathy Marek responded regarding employment and separation issues. Staff
pastor, Rich Kohlman, sent his greetings and thoughts regarding the week’s
activities. His letter can be
read here.
A handout sharing information regarding the entire process was
e-mailed to all staff prior to the webcast presentations. The presentations
followed the information outlined in the handout. The handout can be found
here for
further review.
Open position
postings are available for application on-line and can be reviewed
and applications accepted at this site. If there are questions regarding any
position posting or application process, contact
Kathy Marek by e-mail or at ext.
2356.
The following statement was released to the media on Wednesday, June
14, 2006.
Community of Christ International Headquarters, located in Independence,
MO, announced today a new organizational design that will foster greater
alignment with the church's priorities and provides for greater
responsiveness to the needs of a world-wide church within a sustainable
budget. Transition into the new organizational design is underway with the
new design being completely implemented in January 2007.
To accomplish the redesign within a sustainable budget, some staff
reductions have been necessary. There is an approximate reduction of 80
positions from the Fiscal Year 2006 budget, including early retirements,
voluntary separations, and involuntary separations. The final design will
include over 400 employed ministers both at the international headquarters
and in church jurisdictions around the world.
“We are sad that it has become necessary to reduce and redeploy staff due to
changing economic circumstances. The church is extending every type of
employment transition and pastoral support within its ability to those whose
lives are being disrupted by these changes,” said church president Steve
Veazey. “The Community of Christ continues to remain faithful to God in
responding to leadership challenges as we passionately pursue our mission to
proclaim Jesus Christ and to promote communities of peace throughout the
world. We are grateful for all of our employees and the vast number of
volunteer ministers who do so much to support the world-wide ministries of
the church.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Anonymous questions continue to be received via the website link at
www.formrouter.net/forms@COFC/NewsPeaceAskAQuestion.html
Q: You say the people working through the ongoing process of MSM redesign
and field redeployment have been blessed by the MANY PRAYERS offered on
their behalf. How about your prayers for us as we lose our jobs.
A: During difficult times, prayer is often a common thread that binds us
together. It is true that members of the design team and the implementation
team have been blessed by the supportive prayers of others. It is also true
that both the design team and the implementation team have taken time in
their meetings to pray for those who will be affected by staff reductions.
This includes praying for those who will continue to have employment with
the church as well praying for those who will not. It includes an
acknowledgement of grief, while at the same time recognizing that all of us
will continue to be held in the hands of God's love and grace, whether or
not we continue to be employed by the church.
Below are the question asked during the Thursday and Friday, June 15-16,
webcast presentations and the responses.
Q: As part of the severance package, two additional months of health care
coverage is provided. We have been told that the church is not required to
provide COBRA coverage for an additional period of time for those wishing to
cover the full cost of the insurance. However, the church is not prohibited
from providing such a benefit, are they? Could the HR committee consider
that possibility?
A: The church is prohibited from providing such a benefit. The
church’s insurers mandate that all people covered through the church’s
insurance be full-time employees and dependents of employees. During the two
months of continued benefits staff are still employed by the church making
them eligible for the benefit. We are not providing coverage to anyone who
has already separated from employment. The HR committee has tried to
negotiate the ability to extend insurance to previous employees, but to no
avail. We will continue to pursue this issue and we’re sorry that our
benefits have this limitation.
Q: Why were years of service not a factor when cut-backs were made?
A: The priority was given to matching people’s giftedness to the
skill-set needs of specific positions. Years of service were a secondary
factor when there were more people with equal giftedness.
Q: What does "International Headquarters" say or imply that "World
Headquarters" failed to communicate as to the functions of our headquarters?
i.e. Why is this change necessary?
A: As we consulted people from around the church whose first language is
other than English, we discovered that the word “international” carries with
it all that we wish to imply about our headquarters in a way that the word
“world” does not.
Q: If a person who was selected for one of the new positions decides to
retire, voluntarily separate, or takes another position, will the position
be filled from the previous applicants or will a new posting occur?
A: The position would be re-posted and everyone would have an
opportunity to apply.
Q: I have heard conflicting information on who can apply for the NEW
positions. One version is that anyone anywhere that sees the jobs posted on
the web can apply for any position. The other is that only current church
employees (HQ & Field Staff) can apply for these newly created positions. If
no one who is qualified applies then it will open up to all others. Can you
explain who can apply?
A: Everyone can apply. Preference will be given to current staff based
on skill-sets required by the position description. If no one is qualified
from within current staff, other applicants will be considered.
Q: In my long career in industry, it was common to have a list of those
released to avoid a) speculation; b) hunting down the person who now has the
responsibility. I don't have enough contact with Independence, but I can
kind of make out the outline of *some* of those released. Would it be
possible to make a list of those released in headquarters AND in the field?
Is there a summary showing the field redeployment available? There is a
projection of stats for the field on page five; it would be nice to know the
reality.
A: At the current time employees whose positions will not exist starting
in January 2007 still have the opportunity to apply for posted positions,
and if selected, to continue as employees. Others who are candidates for
retirement, or choose voluntary separation, are leaving at various times. To
produce a list would be temporarily accurate and not representative of the
overall picture. To respond to the needs that have been raised we will
continue to publish positions that are filled and to provide updated phone
lists and point of contact lists that represent the new organization.
Additionally, the Council of Twelve will be releasing more detail about the
field redeployment when position movements are complete.
Q: On page 13 "Translators & Language Coordinators" In the rest of the
staff update names are consistently with 'first name' 'last name'. Yet here
on this page only the last names appear. It is important to give the first
names as well. Is there some reason why first names were left off for this
block of persons?
A: We agree that all names should be represented similarly. We apologize
that this did not happen. The first names had not been received from the
source before the handout needed to go to press. No disrespect was intended
and we are sorry if any disrespect was perceived. We will be adding these
names very soon.
Q: The information has indicated that if we move to a position with a
lower grade than the one we are currently in, we will not take a salary cut.
I am assuming that if we move to a part-time position that is of equal or
lower grade--for example a .5 position--we will be receiving .5 of our
current salary?
A: Yes, that is correct.
Q: What I thought I heard was that part of the determination as to making
positions staff executives included certain skill sets. Given that, how was
the determination made in some cases to merge two executive positions
together to form one staff assistant position?
A: The process for determining a staff assistant and a staff executive
position is based on the level of education, the scope of authority, and the
level of professional skills, experience, and training required. Although it
is natural to look at current positions and try and figure how these were
collapsed into the new posted position, this is not how it occurred. It
truly was a redesign of the process and skill-sets needed in the redesigned
organization.
Q: What will be the status of Temple School and the CPI program in the
new design?
A: These functions in the new design will continue. An example would be,
currently Temple School provides coursework for pre-ordination requirements.
We are committed to continuing this support for this ministry education.
Structurally it may not look the same, but functionally these types of
ministries will continue. The same principle applies for the CPI program.
Our priority is that the training of pastors will continue in the new
design. The CPI pilot program is funded by a separate grant and will
continue with the four currently existing cohorts.
Q: What’s the difference between an associate and assistant?
A: An associate is the new word we are using in position titles for
staff assistant positions. Staff assistant indicates a category of staff. As
we've worked through the process of new position descriptions we recognize
there are still some inconsistencies. These will be corrected as we move
forward and continue to refine the descriptions. Categories of staff — staff
assistant and executive — are the designations used by Human Resources to
determine whether staff are paid hourly (non-exempt) or salaried (exempt).
Q: Can more be said about Apostle Slaughter’s comment regarding Mission
Center administrative positions monetary support? How wide spread will that
be applied?
A: We have the budget to support 11 currently defined as X-Field
Specialists. These people receive Ministerial Reimbursement and a car, but
no salary or other benefits. As we move forward and other opportunities for
similar service in various jurisdictions arise then we will continue to
expand this venue of service.
Q: How do I move about as I encounter colleagues and coworkers? It feels
awkward and I’m not sure what to say.
A: Our response is that you are wonderful folks. Our greatest gifts are
the gifts of ourselves. Instead of looking for the illusive right thing to
say, the best thing is to be present in the moment. Some will want time to
be alone and others need your listening ear. Let us not be unduly concerned
but be present with kindness and charity as we have done so well in the
past.
News Updates
Telly Awards
Electronic Media recently received notification that the "Road to
Recovery" video feature has won a Telly Award!
"Road to Recovery" web video feature wins Telly Award
A recent video feature produced by the Community of Christ Electronic Media
office has won a Telly Award in the Internet Film/Video section of the
Religion/Spirituality category, honoring the video as a finalist for
outstanding creative achievement in the 27th annual Telly Award competition.
This entry also marks the first time the Electronic Media office has
submitted its work for Telly consideration.
"Road to Recovery" explores how the Community of Christ offered time, money,
and helping hands to respond to brothers and sisters and neighbors in a time
of crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The 12-minute video
premiered on the church's website in January of 2006, and may be viewed or
downloaded at
http://www.cofchrist.org/broadcast/2006archive.asp#0106news.
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding
local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the
finest video and film productions. And this year, for the first time, the
Telly Awards also honors work created for the Web. The Telly Award is given
based on the merit of each entry and annually showcases the best work of the
most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television
stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The
Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and
international competition and receives over 12,000 entries annually from all
50 states and many foreign countries.
They anticipate receiving a shiny statuette and certificate in the near
future. Congratulations!
Herald Awards
For the third time in the past four years, the Herald has been honored in
the annual “Best of the Christian Press” awards competition sponsored by
Associated Church Press, the oldest religious press association in North
America. The announcement was made at the annual ACP convention held in
Orlando, Florida, April 23-26.
Two awards were given for the March 2005 Herald, both for outstanding
design, with specific commendations for Herald art director Jack Martin and
executive art director Clint Metcalf. An Easter resurrection theme prevailed
throughout the issue, from artwork of the empty tomb by Matt Mills on the
front cover, to inside illustrations by Jack Martin to accompany the
scripture feature “Can These Bones Live?” and an Endnotes illustration on
magazine redesign by Clint Metcalf. One award of merit was given in the
category “magazine design, entire issue, 1- or 2-color.” The second award
was an honorable mention in the category “publication redesign.”
The yearly competition draws more than 1,000 entries from approximately 150
publications and news services in the United States and Canada with a
combined circulation of several million, including the Christian Century,
Sojourners, and Horizons. The ACP honor reflects the professionalism of an
international association “brought together by faithfulness to their craft
and by a common task of reflecting, describing, and supporting the life of
faith and the Christian community.”
The Herald received a first place and two honorable mentions in ACP’s 2002
competition, and an honorable mention in the 2004 competition.
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