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NewsPEACE
March 24, 2006
connecting the Community of Christ Mission Support Ministries community
Alphabet Soup?
Do you sometimes feel you’re swimming in a sea of acronyms?
ac·ro·nym: a word (as NATO, radar, or snafu) formed from
the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of
a compound term; also: an abbreviation (as FBI) formed from
initial letters.
At headquarters one can find themselves searching through the alphabet to
decipher WMCT, WCLC, FAQ, FTE, WCHRC, BPC, HQCT, PD and more. Briefly here’s a
short list of acronyms and their definition to help you navigate the alphabet
sea.
BPC—Budget Planning Committee
EM—Executive Minister
FA—Field Appointee
FAQ—Frequently Asked Questions
FS—Field Specialist
FTE—Full-Time Equivalent (Employee)
HQCT—Headquarters Coordinators Team
PD—Position Description
SA—Staff Assistant
SE—Staff Executive
WCHRC—World Church Human Resource Committee
WCLC—World Church Leadership Council
WMCT—World Ministries Coordinating Team
What is the difference between the WMCT and the WCLC?
The WMCT refers to the World Ministries Coordinating Team and comprises the
First Presidency, executive assistant to the First Presidency, presiding bishop
of the church, and individuals who are now in responsibilities that have the
title of director linked to them: the director of Field Ministries, director of
Human Resource Ministries, director of Mission Support Ministries, and the
director of Leadership Development Ministries. We also have the World Church
secretary who assists in the group’s functions and takes the minutes. This group
is responsible for defining priorities in terms of operational systems and
processes, ensuring good cross-functional communication among the various
functions of headquarters and the fields of the church, and defining
accountabilities and delegating responsibilities to those responsible for
implementing them.
The World Church Leadership Council is composed of a larger group: the First
Presidency, all of the Presiding Bishopric, Council of Twelve, presiding
evangelist, president of the High Priests Quorum, senior president of Seventy,
and director of Human Resource Ministries. Those individuals are responsible for
looking at the mission of the church throughout the whole world and discussing
overall missional priorities; clarifying vision; informing the prophetic voice
of the church; and dealing with theological, sacramental, and worldwide policy
issues as they would impact the whole church. The World Church Leadership
Council is composed of all of those who have responsibilities for the ministries
of the church throughout the world.
The World Ministries Coordinating Team is composed of those who have direct
responsibility for implementing the priorities that have been determined and
ensuring that everyone is on the same page in terms of accountabilities,
expectations, decision-making and what’s been delegated to whom.
What is an FTE? An FTE refers to a full-time equivalent and is equal to
an employee who works forty hours per week. (Example: 1.0 FTE may be one
full-time staff or several part-time staff.)
There are more acronyms out there, and
click here and
forward your favorites. NewsPEACE will print a follow-up to add to this
definition listing.
Redesign News
The all-staff meeting on Thursday, March 16, was well attended and is still
available for viewing on the Web at
www.CofChrist.org/broadcast/031606.asp until April 1.
During this meeting there were 151 hits to the Web stream that stayed
connected for less than 15 minutes; 41 hits stayed connected for 15 minutes to 1
hour; and 58 hits stayed connected for 1 to 2 hours. We believe there were
approximately 99 locations connected for most of the meeting time. Country
connections included: 144 from United States; 12 hits from Chile; 7 from United
Kingdom; 2 from Australia; 1 from Canada; and 84 unresolved.
A handout was available during the meeting, e-mailed to all staff, and is
still available at the broadcast download page on the Web site.
The following are the next steps in this redesign process:
1. April 2006:
a. Position descriptions for enrichment group leaders and selected other
positions developed by World Ministries Coordinating Team will be posted,
candidates screened/tested, and interviews conducted.
b. Selection of new enrichment group leaders and selected other positions
will be made by World Ministries Coordinating Team. These other positions
are within enrichment groups and have unique gifts and skills that will
allow them to be designated as initial team leaders for the identified
teams.
2. April–June 2006: Enrichment group leaders and team leaders will form
Mission Support Ministries Implementation Team and will work with World
Ministries Coordinating Team in completing the redesign of Mission Support
Ministries.
3. June 2006: Staff Announcement
a. Existing positions that are in the new design and in the field
redeployment will be announced.
b. New positions created by the new design and in the field redeployment
will be posted.
c. Existing positions that are not in the new design or in the field
redeployment that are being eliminated will be announced.
Severance package information was distributed a few months ago and published
in an earlier edition of NewsPEACE.
Click here to review this
information.
Redesign Questions and Answers
Q: Since the job postings will be open to anyone, does this mean that we are
intentionally looking for outside persons to staff these new positions?
A: Every effort will be made to fill positions with our existing staff,
including consideration of additional training, if it is felt a current staff
member meets the majority of the qualifications for the new position. However,
it’s possible a position may be created that requires a skill set not found
within our current staff. Those positions may need to be filled with an external
candidate.
Q: Do I have to apply for my current position?
A: If your current position exists in the new organizational design or in the
field deployment plan, that position will not be posted and the incumbent does
not have to apply. If the scope for the job you currently hold changes by 30
percent or more, the job will be considered a new job even if the job title
remains the same.
Q: What if I’m interested in a position posted in April, but my preference is
to keep my current job or I see another job posted later that interests me more,
can I apply for more than one position?
A: Now is not the time to hold back. If a position posted in April speaks to
your sense of calling and your gifts, talents, and skill set, you should apply.
You are welcome to apply for all positions that meet your sense of calling.
During the interview process be open about your desires either to keep your
current job or your concerns that there might be another position in which you
are interested.
Click here for additional
questions and answers. Submit additional questions
here.
Pastoral Thoughts
“Struggle is an essential feature of the Prayer of Relinquishment. Did you
notice that Jesus asked repeatedly for the cup to pass? Make no mistake about
it: he could have avoided the cross if he had so chosen. He had a free will and
a genuine choice, and he freely chose to submit his will to the Father”
(Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard J. Foster, 50–51).
As we continue to move forward in our redesign and downsizing, we face many
personal and corporate struggles. These may at some times be just disconcerting,
while at other times down right painful. Sometimes in our struggles, we think
God isn’t listening and maybe doesn’t even care. However, the problem may be
that we are not stopping and resting long enough to hear what God is saying to
us. Other times we need to enter the struggle with hope. That which is most
meaningful in our lives usually comes with great effort, struggle, and sometimes
even pain. Lance Armstrong did not win seven Tour de France races without
struggle. Babies are not born into this world without struggle. God asks us to
“work it out in our own mind” at times when we would rather have God provide a
quick and easy answer. And, as in the Prayer of Relinquishment, sometimes we
just have to let go and let God—that means the good stuff and the bad stuff.
Remember, God made humankind from the dust of the earth, so sometimes we need to
let go of what we call the “dirt” of our lives and our experiences and watch
what God can do with it. If God has created all we know from dirt, imagine what
can be done when the flesh of our lives is relinquished to the Divine mind and
will.
In this advent time of uncertainty, waiting for what we will become, may we
find unexpected blessing as we relinquish ourselves, personally and corporately,
to the God who promises to be with us and to strengthen us for the tasks that
lie ahead. - Rich Kohlman
Around Headquarters
Divine Moments—Paintings and Passages for Meditation
Take a few minutes and stop by the art display near the Temple School
entrance. Artists Chris Robino Bridge and Joey Newcome Kartarik share that one
of the most powerful ways to deepen our relationship with God is to step away
from daily distractions and take time to be still. When we are quiet and listen,
truth and knowledge are given to us. These passages aren’t random thoughts, but
are meant to take you through a purposeful journey that encourages spiritual
growth.
Chris is a teacher and minister of the arts. She serves as an associate
pastor for the Community of Christ in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joe believes the
expression is a “view finder” to see the extraordinary in everyday life.
Lost and Found
Recently this photograph was found in an interoffice envelope, along with a
Selectric typewriter owner’s manual. The office that found this would like to
return it to the rightful owner—if they knew who it belonged to. There isn’t a
name on the back of the photograph. If you know who this is, or to whom the
photo should be returned,
click here.
Reminder: When emptying interoffice envelopes, especially the larger size, be
sure it’s completely empty before filing in the pile of other interoffice
envelopes.
Do You Know?
Who uses the
www.CofChrist.org Web site? Just this week the following e-mail
was received and we thought should be shared.
“Thank you so much for sharing your Good Friday service outline with
everyone. I am with the Salvation Army Canada, and we have never done a Tenebrae
service before and had little or no idea how to conduct one. Our pastor and
myself have really been led by the Holy Spirit that our church needs revival and
we are praying that a Tenebrae service at this most important time of the year
for Christians will jolt some into the presence of Christ and his love for us in
a new a vibrant way.
So, I started searching the Web to get some information. Some examples were
too denominational and “heavy”
for our first time. Then, by God’s grace, I happened
onto your site. It is perfect for us. I will just replace the hymn selections to
ones we traditionally sing at this time, hence some familiarity, but otherwise
it is beautifully reverent and not too shockingly bold.
We are a very small church with next to zero for resources, so to have folks
like you who are willing to do this really is a blessing. Your site is now on my
favourites. J
Thank you so much for fulfilling your mission in this way with us! May God
continue to bless you and others as you proclaim Jesus the Christ.”
Shalom
Carol Parcher, Director of Community Relations
Thunder Bay Community Church
Thought You’d Like to Know
Plan now for the next Snack Day—April 12 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the
Temple lunch room. Snack day celebrates Easter and will be hosted by Human
Resources, Legal Services, First Presidency, Council of Twelve, WorldService
Corps, Missionary Ministries, Estate and Financial Planning, and Funding for
Mission.
Continue your Easter remembrances with an all-staff worship, April 12, in
the Temple sanctuary at 11 a.m. Be sure to put both of these events on your
calendar today.
Kudos goes to RIMS for their successful project management, installation
and training with the new multifunctional Ricoh machines in various offices.
Congratulations and appreciation has already been shared in different areas, and
we lift up RIMS again for a job well-done.
Remember to sign-up for the Blood Drive to be held April 19, 10:00
a.m.–2:00 p.m. in the lower assembly room of the Auditorium. If you haven’t
taken the time to sign up to give blood, stop and do it now. Contact
Sharon Knapp, ext. 2266, with
questions or to sign-up. Click
here for more information.
Check out the new Web site design for the Children’s Peace Pavilion at
www.kidpeace.org.
Community News
The Mormon Visitors Center has now reopened after more than a year of
complete renovations. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and admission is free. Summer
tourism is just around the corner and numbers are expected to be above 2005’s
tourist season.
News and Announcements
Click here to submit
news and announcements for consideration in NewsPEACE.
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