Letter on Staff Changes at the Massachusetts Conference
April 3, 2006
To the Churches and Clergy of the Massachusetts Conference:
In nearly thirty-five years of ordained ministry I can think of no communication
that gives me more sadness than the one that follows. This news is as difficult
for me to share as it will be for many of you to hear. I can think of no easy way
to say what follows.
As has been anticipated in prior communications, the Conference Board of
Directors recently received and acted upon recommendations for reductions in
staff and other expenses to be effective at the end of 2006. These reductions
were required by the projection of deficits of $117,000 for 2006 and over
$200,000 for 2007.
I want to share with you the painful news of these reductions. First, however, I
want to share with you how I arrived at these recommendations. Every position
was reviewed as it related to the Conference mission of nurturing vital local
congregations and the covenant among our churches. Each position was
reviewed related to its relevance to the current Conference size in terms of
churches and members. Each staff person was reviewed based on the history
of performance reviews, demonstrated willingness to support the mission of the
Massachusetts Conference, and demonstrated willingness to work as part of a
staff team. Even with all of that review I found no staff person or position an
obvious candidate for reduction. I then added a review based on what work we
might now be doing that is a vestige of larger membership and more affluent
times. I checked with procedures used in a few other larger UCC Conferences. I
reviewed the information shared by staff and Board members in retreats and
staff meetings. Out of all that, I came up with my recommendations. All
recommendations were reviewed by the staff team leaders and the Conference
Board of Directors. Dr. Jim Antal, candidate for the Minister and President
position, was aware of the recommendations, but did not actively participate in making them.
The recommendations went through many iterations. It became clear through
this process that any staff reductions meant losing staff who are capable,
gifted, hard working, and well liked around the Conference. In that painful and
difficult reality, recommendations were accepted by the Board of Directors after
a prayerful and serious period of deliberation. All affected staff have been
offered severance schedules that will provide full salary and benefits through
2006.
The Rev. Laura Lee Kent, Associate Conference Minister serving in the Central
Area, Ms Joanna Bickford, Associate for Administration, Ms Fran Lajoie,
Administrative Assistant in the Northeast office, and Ms Marlene Bryant, part-time
Administrative Assistant in the Framingham office, have received the news
that their positions are being eliminated. Additionally, Carl McDonald, Associate
for Youth Ministries and Christian Education, has been informed that his
position will be reduced to half-time in 2007. However, we are offering to work
with Carl in finding funding for the other half of his position outside of the
Conference operating budget. At this point we cannot say for certain that will
happen. The position of Administrative Assistant in the Central office, currently
being filled on a temporary basis, will not be extended. There will be a new full-time
administrative assistant position offered in Framingham. There will be an
open search for this position. Any staff person whose position has been
eliminated may apply for this new administrative assistant position.
Additionally, the Central office and the Northeast office will close at the end of
2006. The work of those offices will be moved to other Conference office
locations. These two are the least functional in terms of space and usage of all
Conference offices. It is expected that the Conference will maintain offices
throughout the state.
These actions will certainly be a part of our conversations with clergy at Day of
the Covenant meetings. Laity are invited to a special forum on the Friday
morning of Annual Meeting to have conversations about these reductions and
about the process for developing a new staffing pattern and structure for the
Massachusetts Conference.
I will be asking the leaders of the Central, Essex, and Andover Associations to
set up a special time when I can meet with them to talk about the changes that
have a particular relevance for them and to start planning for how we will move
forward from here. I am open to scheduling meetings with others as well.
I also want to assure those with a special interest in Christian Education and
Youth Ministry that there will be staff support for these significant areas of local
church vitality. We will work with staff, local church educators, youth workers,
and other appropriate parties to develop an acceptable plan for going forward.
This has been an incredibly stressful time for our staff. All of them have acted
professionally and with faithfulness. I ask your prayers for all of them,
especially for those whose positions have been eliminated. As we move
forward, staff, Associations, clergy, churches, and commissions of the
Conference will work together to provide a staffing plan and structure that
continues to support vital local churches and the covenant among our
churches. May God’s tender mercy hold us all in this moment.
Faithfully,
Steve Sterner
Interim Minister and President
Massachusetts Conference, UCC
|
