February 20, 2009

connecting the staff community

PIE WITH A PURPOSE

The second annual PIE DAY was held Thursday, February 19, in the Auditorium lower assembly room. Following the delicious afternoon snack safety awareness training, provided by the Independence Police Department, gave a lot of good tips on how to keep yourself and others safe; be aware of your surroundings, and a better awareness of 9-1-1.

WOMEN’S GATHERING POSTPONED

The First Presidency and the World Church Leadership Council called for an international gathering of women in 2009.  The intent was to promote the worship, learning, interaction, and missional leadership of the church’s women.

The desire to provide a gathering for international women continues to be a reality.  However, on review of economic concerns and choices of international events planned close to this event, it has been decided that it is in the best stewardship of the church to postpone the gathering. Consideration of this event will be given during the three-year period following the 2010 World Conference. 

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF

• Marsha Brown is the new administrative assistant in the Presiding Bishopric. Her extension is 2216. Marsha’s skills will be a valuable asset to the Presiding Bishopric team.
• Judith Yager is the Leadership Development Specialist.  Her office is found with the Ministry Specialists in the Temple.  Judith brings twenty years of management and training experience to the IHQ family and we are excited to benefit from her expertise.  
• Michelle Booth’s phone number has changed to extension 2459.

SPRING E-GROUP MEETINGS

An all-staff meeting is planned for March 4 at 3 p.m. in the lower assembly room. Results from the IHQ survey will be shared along with table discussions reflecting on the results and looking forward. 

Individual e-groups will meeting on March 25 at regular times to discuss the survey within the context of each particular e-group. Please mark these dates as well as upcoming e-group meetings on your calendar.

• April 8
• May 6

WE SHARE

The “We Share: Identity, Mission, Message and Beliefs” document is the result of a collaborative effort among representatives of the worldwide church and church leaders. It provides common threads to use to weave unique expressions of the vision and mission of the Community of Christ throughout the world. 

A downloadable copy of this paper is available at www.CofChrist.org/discernment/weshare/

We expect this paper will play a major role in guiding the church in the years ahead. It provides a foundation on which we will build classes, sermons, ministry models, resources, small group activities, and worship experiences that speak to those we serve.

DYNAMIC TEAMS AT IHQ

This past Friday IHQ staff completed “Creating Effective Teams” presented by The Pryor Center for Leadership and Development, William Jewell College. The training covered how to build trust, embrace feedback, work as a collaborative team, and getting collaborative results. Topics included work plans, team purpose, management versus leadership styles, and setting expectations. Eighty-five people attended (out of a possible 136) and the feedback about the experience was positive.

There will be another team member training session scheduled as a benefit to those who had to miss the previous sessions. The exact date of the training is not determined but will be between April 20 and May 15. If you have not attended this training and wish to do so, please watch for the exact date, time and location.

To all who attended, WELL DONE!

INTERPERSONAL PEACEBUILDING TRAINING

How do I deal with disagreements? How do you deal with disagreements? How can we collaborate?

Interpersonal Peacebuilding is a multi-session class on understanding yourself and others during differences, and how to resolve differences through collaboration. This training is excellent for anyone who wants to learn the skills needed to resolve conflict in their daily life.

“I really enjoyed learning the different Style Profiles we each have and ways to communicate with each other. What a wonderful tool to have for us in building the Kingdom of God.” - Michelle Booth

You’ll learn that conflict unites a community when:

• Conflict is viewed as inevitable.
• Members separate issues and people.
• Direct communication is used, even when difficult.
• Members draw strength from spiritual depth to maintain a gentle spirit.
• Members take responsibility to seek change.
• The atmosphere is interactive.
• Leaders invite disagreement.
• Group discussion is initially problem- and process-oriented, followed by a discussion of possible solutions.
• Calmness and confidence enable members to tolerate the periods of uncertainty necessary in good decision-making.

There are 3 classes scheduled this year and they are filling up fast! Each class is spread over either 5 days or 2 days for your convenience. Contact Judith Yager, ext. 2358 to reserve your seat now.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

The following one-day seminars are available for IHQ staff. If you are interested in attending please contact your e-group leader. Contact Judith Yager, ext. 2358, with questions.

Mistake-Free Grammar & Proofreading     
March 12 – Overland Park, KS – Radisson Hotel

• Get a firm grip on grammar rules, learn to proofread with perfection – and enjoy yourself in the process

Management Skills for First-Time Supervisors    
April 24 – Kansa City, MO – Holiday Inn Sports Complex

• Get the solid skills you need to achieve exceptional results through others

WHAT’S GOING ON AT IHQ

Legal Services Team

Legal Services is making some internal changes to help us become more efficient. One of these changes is a software program that allows Legal Staff to monitor work load, time allotments per project, and deadlines.  Another software program allows us to enter data from all files that will make information more accessible and better organized.

Continuing our effort to assist the field, in January we implemented a contract template for low risk projects under $50,000.00 and they have been sent to the Mission Center officers to assist them in working with the congregations in their Mission Center.

Matters dealing with immigration, copyright, Youth Worker applications, sales and purchases of property, contracts, leases, easements, Houses of Worship Loans, litigation, property taxes and tax exemptions, and legal support of the Groves and Graceland are handled for both the field and International Headquarters.

Legal Services is already seeing an increase in the number of new youth worker applications in preparation for the 2009 camping season.  We anticipate approximately 500 new applications will be processed during the months of June, July and August. 

Please check the website at www.CofChrist.org/legal/ for more information.

Retail Sales Team

The Retail Sales Team meets monthly to discuss sales and profitability at the retail stores. The church manages four retail operations: Independence (Temple Book Store) Nauvoo, Illinois (Red Brick Store Books and Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store) and Kirtland, Ohio (The Mercantile).

We work together to design new products for the sites as well as special events. This year we will develop product for IYF, Peace Colloquy, Messiah, and 2010 World Conference. We are always looking for new product ideas so please share yours with Christin Mackay at cmackay@cofchrist.org.

CHARACTER PLUS

Word of the Month:
COOPERATION – to respectfully play and work with others

"It is probably not love that makes the world go around, but rather those mutually supportive alliances through which partners recognize their dependence on each other for the achievement of shared and private goals." -- Fred A. Allen (1894-1957, American Radio Comic) 

"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live." -- Irish Proverb
 

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