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Church agencies announce layoffs Linda Bloom and Kathy L. Gilbert, Jun 15, 2009
UMNS FILE PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA M. ZAMPINI
Treasurer Roland Fernandes reports mission agency assets fell by more than $62 million last year.
By Linda Bloom and Kathy L. Gilbert United Methodist News Service
Two of the United Methodist Church’s largest agencies are trimming more than 90 jobs in response to the economic crisis.
The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) announced nine layoffs June 2, bringing the total positions eliminated since January to 30. The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the church’s mission agency, will eliminate 41 positions, and 20 open positions will not be filled.
In early June, the GBGM 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.
Facing similar economic pressures, the GBOD is reducing its administrative and support staff by 17 percent.
“Decisions like these are never easy to make,” said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive of the board. “The staff affected by these decisions have dedicated decades of service to the United Methodist Church.”
The GBGM has about 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.
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 GBGM 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 Mr. 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,” Bishop Ough said. “They may be ready with other very specific recommendations for action by the directors.”
According to the GBOD’s Web site, the agency has about 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.
“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,” Ms. Greenwaldt said.
UMNS FILE PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA M. ZAMPINI
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. 
