February 10, 2006

connecting the Community of Christ World Headquarters community

Generous Disciples Recognized

Community of Christ has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross Greater Kansas City Chapter for hurricane relief. This morning, February 10, 2006, President Steve Veazey and Bishop Paul Davis accepted a certificate from Michael Tarry, major gifts officer, and Vaughn Cornish, past chair of the board of directors, from the Red Cross.

Since September 2005, the church had given $70,000 to American Red Cross. During this presentation President Veazey offered an additional check for hurricane relief in the amount of $30,000, bringing the total of funds donated by the Community of Christ to $100,000.

This support for the Red Cross is made possible by the contributions of the church’s members around the world who have provided generous financial contributions to aid those affected by last year’s devastating hurricanes. These monies have helped and will continue to assist those who find themselves in need following the devastation of the hurricanes. “We are thankful to our members who reach out and assist in these ways,” said President Veazey.

Around Headquarters

Pastors from Cohort I and Cohort III of the Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative have shared with us here this week, along with MEADS students. Cohort I focused on “The Pastor as Leader of the Gathered Community.” Cohort III focused on “The Pastor as Leader Grounded in Scripture and Theology.” Cohort I began their journey in December 2004, and Cohort III started in October 2005. During their time together they also participated in sessions looking at church law issues, ministerial ethics/boundary issues, mediation ministries, leading through change and conflict management, leadership team building and practical strategic planning, and more.

They worked hard and spent hours in fellowship and learning together. However, these groups are not without play. A hymn sing Wednesday night in the chapel brought both cohorts together in shared ministries and sacred space. Thursday evening they challenged their minds and bodies to a volleyball match in the Liberty Street congregation gymnasium. These groups were complete with players, team captains, and cheerleaders on the side.

When we talk about work-life balance, these pastors have modeled this healthy lifestyle together. Our prayers go with them and all pastors and ministers who seek to share the peace of Jesus Christ and encourage disciples around the world.

Cohort II will be returning to the Temple in April and join the newest group, Cohort IV, as they begin their journey.

Redesign News

Q. What’s the difference in benefits between voluntary and involuntary separation?
A. The benefits are the same.

Q. If someone qualifies for early retirement and decides not to take it, but later finds out their position is downsized and there is really nothing else they want to apply for, can they still take early retirement?
A. Yes, they still qualify for early retirement as long as it happens within the 2006 calendar year.

Q. As jobs change and possible pay grades are associated with different responsibilities, will salaries be taken away?
A. Compensation will remain the same for staff moving within the same pay grade. If moving from one pay grade to another, salaries may be at the top of a lower pay grade, but will not be taken away as people adjust to new positions.

Q. If I receive notice that my position is eliminated, do I have to leave immediately?
A. Upon notice of position elimination, the employee has the flexibility to stop work on their current assignments in order to look for new employment or seek new possibilities while receiving full pay and benefits at regular intervals for two months beyond this notification date.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Kathy Marek in Human Resources, visit with your supervisor, or contact Dave Schaal, chair of the Mission Support Ministries Redesign Team.

Thought You’d Like to Know

Snack Day will be February 15 in the Auditorium break room from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. We’ll be continuing our Valentine’s Day celebrations with a focus on chocolate, including sugar-free items! There’s something for everyone. Thanks to Discipleship Ministries, Peace and Justice, International Field Support Office, Worship, Children’s Peace Pavilion, and Risk Management for coordinating this community gathering.

Monday, February 20, is Presidents’ Day (U.S.). The Auditorium and Temple offices will be closed for the holiday. Tours and the Daily Prayer for Peace will occur as scheduled.

Many times those using the Web site at www.CofChrist.org want to print a document or a page from the Web site. Remember, there is a printer icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Click on this icon before printing and the entire page will be printed without deleting parts of the right side of the page. Any questions about printing from the Web site or locating the icon, contact Pam Robison.

Team Charters

The Mission Support Ministries Redesign Team has started its work and is currently visiting each service and ministry area for conversation and input into creating task inventories. These task inventories will help the design team have a sufficient understanding of all the things people do and what it takes to accomplish these tasks. If you have questions about these task inventories or you think of something you want to make sure is included, contact any member of the Mission Support Ministries Redesign Team.

Team members include: Mike Hoffman, Jenn Killpack, Steve Jones, Scott Murphy, John Pinkerton, Kathy Marek, Stassi Cramm, Jerry Nieft, Dave Brown, Ron Harmon, David Schaal (chair).

The Redesign Team requests prayers for each member and the work of the team.

Did You Know?

There are four projects currently being worked on by Facility Services.

1. Last summer the church was approached by Independence Power and Light (IPL) about cutting down the 26 red maples that sit on the eastern property line of the Temple. The trees have grown into the overhead power lines and the IPL arborist recommended that they be cut down. We (the church) counter-proposed, asking that the overhead power lines be buried, allowing the trees to stay and grow to maturity without having to be trimmed every two or three years. After several months of negotiations, IPL agreed to bury the power lines and save the trees. The underground conduit has been installed and the conversion of overhead power lines will be completed this spring.

2. Two years ago Tom Burchett (former Risk manager) had been working with the City of Independence Traffic Division about installing a speed table (bump) in front of the Auditorium on Walnut, to slow down traffic, allowing pedestrians to cross the street safely. The City took it under advisement, and after months of traffic studies, they agreed something should be done at that location. After Tom left, this project was assigned to Louie Jorgensen to try to get it completed. The speed table was approved and will be installed this spring in conjunction with intersection improvements at Lexington and Walnut. The City will be doing a total upgrade to the intersection, installing new traffic signals, left-turn lanes, curbs, and sidewalks.

3. A contract has been signed to upgrade the Auditorium northeast elevator, like the northwest elevator was three years ago. Once the materials arrive and the project gets under way, the elevator will be shut down for three months to complete the project. Facility Services will announce the closing of the elevator, sometime around early May. Hopefully, it will be open by mid-July.

4. For some time there has been a safety concern for staff who work on top of the clouds. Risk Management and the Presiding Bishopric approved funds to research the feasibility of installing a fall-protection system so that staff could walk around on the clouds safely. The project is still in the design phase with in-put from Electronic Media, Facility Services, Risk Management, and the Presiding Bishopric. We hope that this project will be completed by fall 2006.

Community News

Looking for something to do with your Presidents’ Day weekend? Check out Independence’s Miniature Marvels, a three-day fun-filled Presidents’ Day weekend, February 18–20, extravaganza of everything miniature including:

• "White House in Miniature" at the Truman Museum
• Miniature old-time county fair, dollhouses, collections of "Hot Wheels" and 126-scale cars from Danbury & Franklin Mints at Bingham-Waggoner
• Scale model train, "John Bull" train, and miniature depot at Chicago & Alton Depot
• Madame Alexander Presidents’ Wives dolls at Vaile Mansion
• Miniature frontier village, Queen Mary's dollhouse film, and miniature covered wagon workshop at National Frontier Trails Museum
• "Little Amazing Pigs" Puppet Show at Puppetry Arts Institute
• Themed breakfasts with costumed servers at Englewood Cafe; and
• "Thank You, Mr. President," a free Saturday evening event, at the Truman Memorial Building, 416 W. Maple, featuring children's choirs, American Rhythm Cloggers, and miniature past Presidents. 

For hours and costs, call (816) 325-7108, or 1-800-748-7323.