Church agencies announce layoffs
The Rev. Edward Paup of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries
sent letters to staff in early June asking for “voluntary
separation in lieu of possible layoff.” A UMNS file photo by Cassandra
M. Zampini.
A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom and Kathy L. Gilbert*
June 8, 2009
Two of The United Methodist Church’s largest agencies are trimming more than 90 jobs in response to the economic crisis.
The Board of Discipleship
announced nine layoffs June 2, bringing the total positions eliminated
since January to 30. The Board of Global Ministries will eliminate 41
positions, and 20 open positions will not be filled.
In early June, the Board of Global Ministries
sent individual letters offering a retirement package to eligible staff
and a general letter offering the option of "voluntary separation" to
the remaining staff. All employees have until June 30 to decide whether
they will accept a retirement or severance package. In general, the
separations will take effect July 31.
Any layoffs will take place in early August, after the other
staffing options are considered and the 2010 budget is final, according
to the letter sent by the Rev. Edward Paup, the board’s top executive.
The Rev. Karen Greenwaldt
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Facing similar economic pressures, the Board of Discipleship is reducing its administrative and support staff by 17 percent.
"Decisions like these are never easy to make. The staff affected by
these decisions have dedicated decades of service to The United
Methodist Church," said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive of the
board.
Mission agency
The Board of Global Ministries has around 300 employees, including
the Women’s Division and the United Methodist Committee On Relief. That
total does not include missionary and relief workers.
The mission agency already has reduced its 2009 budget by nearly $4
million and is now projecting a further loss of $3 million for 2010.
With the economic downturn, the board’s assets fell by $62.5 million
over the past year, Treasurer Roland Fernandes reported in April,
although the overall operating revenue for 2008, at $68 million, was
higher than the total operating expenses of $66.3 million. Board
directors then adopted a 2009 revised budget of $53.7 million, down
from $57.6 million. The board’s projected income for 2010 at that time
was $51.5 million.
The financial incentives for employees who choose to leave this
summer include severance pay determined by years of service and the
payment of health-related benefits and pension contributions through
Oct. 23. Employees also can continue their benefits for an additional
18 months by paying the full premium.
Treasurer
Roland Fernandes reports mission agency assets fell by more than $62
million last year. A UMNS file photo by Cassandra M. Zampini.
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Those eligible for retirement under the point system for the church’s
general agencies would be paid through Oct. 23. At least some retirees
could receive a lump sum payment of three months’ severance following
that date.
Outplacement services will be available to departing staff members
for three months, and the Board of Global Ministries is offering to
circulate an employee profile to other general agencies for those "who
are interested in remaining employed with the church," the letter said.
A restructuring plan is being developed. On July 1, Lois Dauway,
currently a Women’s Division executive, will lead a process to unite
five program units of the agency into a single mission operation.
The five units being combined into the new mission area are
Community and Institutional Ministries, Evangelization and Church
Growth, Mission Contexts and Relationships, Mission Personnel and
Mission Volunteers.
The board’s president, West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough, has named task
forces to help lead the restructuring. A governance task force will be
examining issues such as the size of the board of directors and how
often it meets. A task force on location will explore how and where the
agency places its resources for mission in an increasingly global
church, he said.
Working with Paup and the staff cabinet, a third task force will
help oversee the implementation of specific recommendations made by
Management Partners, the firm hired for the operational audit.
"The task forces will all report to the fall meeting," Ough
said. "They may be ready with other very specific recommendations
for action by the directors."
Discipleship agency
According to information on the Board of Discipleship’s Web site,
the agency has around 200 employees. In a statement about the staffing
changes, the agency stated it is concentrating on the need for new
church starts and its commitment to support young people’s ministries.
Young
people cheer at Youth 2007 in Greensboro, N.C., sponsored by a division
of the Board of Discipleship. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.
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"Relationships will be enhanced between the Board of Discipleship and
young people as well as people in ministry with young people in
jurisdictions, conferences, districts and local churches," said the
Rev. Michael Ratliff, executive of young people’s ministries.
Some administrative and program support activities are being
eliminated, some will be outsourced on an as-needed basis, and others
will be integrated into existing positions, as work is reorganized, the
statement said.
"While we grieve the loss of their continuing ministry with us, we
celebrate their contributions to help us in our mission to make
world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ," Greenwaldt said.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New
York. Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer in
Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Board of Global Ministries
Board of Discipleship |