March 22, 2010 issue
Franconia puts layoffs on hold
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewThe board of Franconia Conference of Mennonite Church USA has put on hold its plans to lay off conference staff during an in-depth review of its work and membership.
“We deeply regret the pain and confusion that has resulted from our announced plan to lay off conference staff later this year,” the board wrote March 15.
The board had announced March 3 that the conference would lay off most of its 17 staff members. The action would aim to more fully align the conference’s work with its mission, the board wrote in a statement.
“We have been sobered and are distressed by the erosion of trust that has resulted from our actions,” said Randy Heacock, assistant conference moderator, in the March 15 statement.
The board did not handle well the process of coming to the staffing decision and communicating that decision, Heacock said in a phone interview.
“We acted apart from staff and constituency involvement or engagement,” he said. “There was not enough understanding leading up to the decision.”
The board has retained LaVern Yutzy, a consultant who completed a one-year review of MC USA’s alignment efforts in January, to conduct an in-depth review of the conference’s board, executive minister, staff and congregations.
“We anticipate that his review will include recommendations about changes that are needed and that it will provide guidance about how we might move forward,” the board wrote.
Since its initial announcement, the board has held two face-to-face meetings with pastors and other credentialed leaders in the conference.
The board is holding a March 16 meeting for delegates to the Franconia Conference assembly and a March 23 meeting for any Franconia constituents who wish to come.
Heacock hopes at the meetings to take steps towards building communication.
“I would hope for further understanding,” Heacock said.
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