NEWSLINE - July 3, 1996 NEWSLINE is the weekly online newsletter of the Church of the Brethren posted each Thursday by the Communications Dept. through cobnews@aol.com. Interested persons can "hear" Newsline by calling 410 635-8738 or receive a "fax" of Newsline by calling 800 323-8039, ext. 257. Newsline by "e-mail" is available by sending an online request to cobnews@aol.com. To print this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, P To save this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, S To search this listing (Netscape) Hold CTRL + Tap F %%%%%%%%% = (heading of a new week) --------- = (heading of a new item) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% NEWSLINE 07-03-96 CINCINNATI -- This is the Church of the Brethren Newsline for July 3. In the news today, the General Board approves the termination of three General Board staff as one of several actions it took as it continues to redesign itself and the programs it oversees. After holding several closed-door sessions over the weekend and on Tuesday morning during which it discussed various aspects of its ongoing redesign process, the General Board convened in open session Tuesday afternoon, announcing three staff terminations and releasing two documents that will help it redesign itself by 1998. The termination of three Human Resource staff-David Leatherman and Barb Ward in Elgin, Ill.; and Nan Spindler in New Windsor, Md., was approved by the Board’s executive committee as a move that is in keeping with the 14 recommendations the Board's five-member Redesign Steering Committee submitted to the Board in a document called "Cross-Option Recommendations." The second document, "Three Options for Staff Deployment," lists three options for how Board staff might be deployed in the future: in one centralized location; in three to five regional locations the east, midwest, and west being the minimum; or spread throughout the 23 Church of the Brethren district offices. Each category includes a description as to how each would work and a listing of each option's strengths and weaknesses. The Redesign committee also submitted a separation policy that specifies the compensation employees terminated in the redesign process will receive, and proposed the naming of a transition team, which will be named to work with the RSC in implementing all redesign changes as they are approved. Both the separation policy and transition team proposals were approved, while the deployment options and cross-option recommendations options were received. Of all of the information discussed Tuesday afternoon, however, the cross-option document provides the best insight into how the RSC sees General Board programs functioning in the future, regardless of where staff are deployed. That document is divided into six sections. The first, titled "Elected Board," calls for the General Board's name to be changed. As RSC chairman Chris Bowman explained to the Board and about 150 others in attendance following Board chairwoman Kathy Hess’ redesign presentation, the Board no longer is the "general board" overseeing all denominational programs. Bowman said a new name reflecting what the current General Board is about would be appropriate. This section also calls for the size of the Board itself to be reduced from 25 to 20 members, and for a process to be established whereby people with specific skills would be selected to serve on the Board. One possibility cited would be for 15 members to be elected by districts and five members to be named by the Board, all of whom would be appointed by the Annual Conference. Under "Increasing Connectivity and Unity," the RSC recommends that the five-member Administrative Council be reduced to four-composed of a general secretary, director of program, director of leadership, and director of finance. The Administrative Council currently consists of the general secretary; treasurer; and general services, parish ministries, and world ministries executives. The RSC advises the Board to ask Annual Conference to consider making the General Board a party for the contracts with district executives, much like the way districts are parties to contracts between pastors and congregations. This section also calls for the Board's Goals and Budget and the denomination's Planning and Coordinating committees to be replaced by a new group, possibly called the "Mission Planning Committee." This new committee would be composed of Board members, the Administrative Council, the Annual Conference moderator and moderator- elect, and three district executives or district representatives. Under "Self-funding groups," the RSC recommends that SERRV International, the General Board's self-help crafts program, become a General Board subsidiary, with SERRV's director reporting directly to the Board. Currently that director reports to the World Ministries executive. This item also calls for the Material Resources and Disaster Relief programs located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. to combine, with a goal of balancing its budget. Finally, the RSC calls for Brethren Press, Communications, Yearbook, and newsletter production to be combined into one organization called Brethren Press. This department would be supervised by the general secretary. Though it would be revenue earning, it would not be viewed as a self-funding entity. Under "Programming and Administration," the RSC is calling for all volunteer services to be placed under the jurisdiction of Brethren Volunteer Service, including the European volunteer coordinator. It calls on the New Windsor Conference Center to break even within three years or be closed. It recommends that On Earth Peace Assembly and Association of Brethren Caregivers continue to report to the General Board through the director of program. The fifth section of the Cross-Option Recommendations document is "Size of Reduction." It calls for the Board to pare its nearly $7 million budget by $472,000 in 1997 and by about another $2 million by 1998. Finally, under "Wage, Salary, and Benefit Structure," the RSC recommends that the new administration evaluate the current wage and benefit structure for Board employees. The aforementioned separation plan covers General Board employees dismissed from July 1 through December 31, 1997, for "...reasons other than performance or discipline," according to Kathy Hess, who presented the report. These employees are to receive three months notice prior to job termination, and then three months severance pay. Both time-periods also include full insurance coverage. Career counseling, the use of General Board resources to find new jobs, and time off for interviews will be included. Vacation and personal days earned but not used will be paid; time accrued for sabbaticals will not be reimbursed. For those eligible to retire (60 years old), the medical insurance benefit will continue until they are eligible for Medicare (65 years old). Employees are able to continue with the General Board's insurance plan for up to 18 months after their severance expires; for the first six months the General Board will pick up two-thirds of the cost for those who have been unable to secure healthcare coverage through other employment and one-third of the cost for dependents. The final 12 months is to be paid by the individual. The Board's next step in the redesign process is to appoint a three- member Transition Team, as recommended by the RSC and approved by the Board. After the Board has reorganized Thursday evening during its annual reorganization meeting, the Board chair and two other Board members will be appointed to the Transition Team. This team is to serve through December 1997. It will work alone on some aspects of the redesign process and with the RSC on others. Of the three employees whose jobs have been eliminated, Barb Ward's tenure has been the longest. She joined the General Board in the late 1970s and has served as support staff for Marketing, secretary to the Parish Ministries Commission, and, since 1985, has served as a secretary in the Office of Human Resources. Dave Leatherman joined the General Board in 1987 as director of Human Resources. Nan Spindler joined the General Board in 1993 as director of Human Resources in New Windsor. Two secretaries, one in Elgin and one in New Windsor, are all that will remain of the Human Resources staff when the terminations go into effect on October 2. Until the redesign is completed, the Administrative Council will share those responsibilities, overseeing their own department's human resources needs. During her redesign report Kathy Hess also announced World Ministries executive Joan Deeter’s intention of resigning at a mutually accepting time in the process. In light of her intent and General Secretary Don Miller’s scheduled retirement on December 31, the General Board’s Executive Committee has offered the other three Administrative Council members two-year contracts. Glenn Timmons, Parish Ministries executive; Dale Minnich, General Services executive, and Judy Keysey, treasurer, each has accepted that offer. The Cross-Option Recommendations and the staff deployment options have now been released for dissemination and discussion over the next few months. The Board is expected to consider acting on the recommendations at its October meeting. In other General Board staff news, Lamar Gibble, director of Peace and International Affairs Consultant and Europe and Asia representative, last week announced his retirement. Gibble has served the General Board for over 27 years. Gibble’s secretary, Marie Wykle, who has served the General Board for almost 19 years, also announced her retirement. Gibble and Wykle plan to retire on March 15, 1997. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Annual Conference News Items 07-03-96 In Conference news, four hearings on business items returning to the Conference floor were held Tuesday evening. The hearings focused on the Simple Life, Ministerial Leadership, Nonviolence and Humanitarian Intervention, and Ethics in Congregations statements. A forum by the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee also was held Tuesday evening. One new church project and three new fellowships were welcomed prior to the evening service. The project is located in Cincinnati. The fellowships are Shalom Fellowship in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Community Fellowship in Cleveland, Ala., and Gardiner Fellowship in Gardiner, Maine. Conference business begins Wednesday morning. Business items scheduled to be discussed Wednesday include the following queries "How Should Faith be Expressed in Political Processes," "The New Testament as Our Rule of Faith and Practice," "Congregational Structure," "World Mission Philosophy and Global Church Mission Structure," and "Denominational Polity: Property and Stewardship Issues." Also scheduled is the "Human Genetic Engineering & Fetal Tissue" committee’s progress report. Fifteen women will be recognized by the National Women’s Council during the Program for Women Luncheon on Wednesday for their unique or valuable contributions to the denomination, their congregations, and their communities. "These women serve as role models and mentors who pave the way for other women," said Sue Weybright on behalf of the council. The women to be honored are Christina Campbell, Helen Constable, Mary Eikenberry, Theresa Eshbach, Denise Gabbert, Sonya Griffith, Mary Mason, Jean Moyer, Judy Reimer, Gayle Sheller, Elaine Sollenberger, Shirley Spire, and June Wolfe. Doris Knicely and Ramona Jagger will be recoginized posthumously. Wednesday evening’s worship service will feature the message "Come as you are" by Robin Wentworth Mayer, pastor of Kokomo (Ind.) Church of the Brethren. Leading worship will be Bob Kurtz, pastor of Potsdam (Ohio) Church of the Brethren. This is the Church of the Brethren Newsline for July 3 in Cincinnati.