Staffing for a Good Start

This week New A.C.T.'s Interim Personnel Planning Team posted job descriptions and a request for applications for four senior executive staff positions: Director of Connectional Ministries, Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services, Director of Communications, and Conference Benefits Officer.

Why these four and only these four to start off? New A.C.T. applied the same principle to decisions about conference staffing its been applying to other aspects of new conference development: we want to start off as a new conference with enough but not too much.

New A.C.T. believes these four senior executive staff positions are enough to get us off to an excellent start. Wherever we discern Christ leading us as a new conference and area in the future, we'll want these four persons to be walking along side us. They will provide vital and necessary support to all sorts of conference and local church leadership.

But New A.C.T. also believes to develop more senior level staffing at this time would be to do too much. Why? Well, not because these first four will be all the staff we need, but because we haven't discerned what our future staffing needs are.

You know the saying, "get three United Methodists together, and you'll hear at least four opinions." Just imagine the number of opinions you'd hear if you get 180, 000 United Methodists together! Well, sisters and brothers, that's what we're about to do in the Upper New York Area.

Since I joined New A.C.T. last November I've been sitting with just a small fraction of that 180,000. Around the table at New A.C.T. meetings the twenty-five of us have all sorts of ideas about what this new conference could offer God and the people of Upper New York. And many other folks who don't sit around that table but who've been interested in the process have shared their hopes, dreams and desires.

It's pretty exciting and I know its just the beginning. As this conversation is deepened, broadened, focused and blessed, our conference's programs and ministries will emerge. And we'll be looking for some new staff to help us turn our dreams into accomplishments.

But we're not there yet. We don't know what outcomes (i.e., the fruit of our mission and ministry) God seeks from us yet. Discerning those outcomes is the work of the new conference, not New A.C.T.

And because the outcomes we seek determine the sort of staffing we need to put in place, we need to wait on identifying other staff. To do the staffing before we're clear about outcomes would be to put "the cart before the horse." Once our new conference and its leadership are in place (i.e., after July 1, 2010), we can begin this work.

Does that make sense? Let me know.

Trains a Comin'

Last Saturday New ACT met in Baldwinsville, NY for its monthly meeting. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say we made more decisions that day then we've made in months, not because we've been indecisive, but because now is the time.

Up until now New ACT's work has been focused on tasking various Planning Teams and task forces with developing the structures, policies and programs we need to get going as a new annual conference. These teams and task forces have gotten right on this work and now they're ready for New ACT to evaluate and approve their proposals. Last Saturday New ACT received, examined and approved several of these proposals.

In subsequent posts I'll talk about the details involved in these specific proposals. Right now, let me share the general process of evaluation and approval we started using this past Saturday. As we began to look at various proposals I asked New ACT to imagine our process as kind of like inspecting a train as it pulls into a station as part of a long journey. New ACT is charged with seeing that this "train" (i.e., proposal) is on track with our stated vision and purpose. Its not our job to redo or rethink the proposal, but to make sure it's solid and moving us in the right direction.

Several outcomes of this "inspection" are possible. 1) New ACT might like the proposal in its entirety and send "that train" on its way to the June 19, 2010 Uniting Conference for final approval; or 2) we might affirm some parts of the proposal to be sent forward, but refer some pieces (cars?) back to the planning team or task force for reconsideration. In a few cases where decisions need to be implemented now rather than later, New ACT might act in a third way and enact the proposal immediately.

Check back here soon for specifics about some of the proposals we've "sent down the tracks."

Lightbulbs and other Leadership Challenges

Questions: "How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb?"

Answer: "Change?!!! United Methodist don't do Change!"

Sorry. I know you've probably heard that joke a million times and don't like the punchline any better than I do. We United Methodists aren't as "change-averse" as it suggests. At least not United Methodists in the Upper New York Area! Right?

One thing is for sure - we United Methodists in Upper New York are about to experience a lot of change: New Conference, New Area, New Era. God is about to do a new thing among us.

And its going to take a whole bunch of United Methodists to help make this change. That's why the Interim Leadership (i.e, Nominations) Planning Team just issued a call for leaders from across the region to submit their names for possible leadership positions. This team has been asked to recruit hundreds of United Methodists from across Upper New York to work on the various new conference teams, committees and boards.

They are looking for you.

Now, before you click on to another site, stay with me for just a few more lines. I promise not to lay on the guilt about how much the new conference needs people like you to volunteer your time and talent. That's a true statement, but I'm not going to go there.

Instead, I want to invite you to consider what leadership in our new conference might bring into your life. I want you to wonder and ponder if God is seeking to bless you by calling you to serve in this way.

As I page through the Bible and consider the stories of people like Abraham and Sarah, David and Jeremiah, and Mary and Peter, the pattern becomes pretty clear: God blesses us by making us a blessing to others. A double blessing, in other words.

Would you prayerfully consider if one of the ways God is seeking to achieve this double blessing in your life is through following this link?

Lots of Work (But Not Too Much)

I'm in the process of building the agenda for our next New A.C.T. meeting (September 19, 2009 at Cicero UMC). It will be a packed day. Frankly, it looks like every meeting this fall and into early next year will be packed. Our sub-committees or Planning Teams have been busy all spring and summer developing proposals. This "fruit" is about ready to be picked and laid out on the table for New A.C.T. to discuss and decide how to fit the pieces into an overall plan.

There's going to be lots of work. But hopefully not too much work. There will be pieces of our new conference structure, staffing, programs and policies intentionally left out.

Yes, intentionally left out! You see, our goal isn't to have everything about our new conference worked out and in place by July 1, 2010 (the official start of the New Conference). We're striving to have just enough, but not too much. We're leaving much to be worked out by the New Conference. Why?

In a video clip shown at several of our annual conference sessions last spring I shared some thoughts on this approach. To summarize, we're going "minimal" with new conference design because:

1. practically we believe we have only so much time to develop plans, so we're prioritizing and doing the basics.

2. ethically we believe the members of the new conference ought to have a say in how they are organized and they can't have that say until after we come together July 1.

3. theologically we believe God is doing a new thing among us and we're only beginning to perceive it. We don't want to get ahead of God!

Having said all that, please don't think our new conference will lack the ability to provide essential services and engage in meaningful ministry. We have over 200 people engaged in this process right now across the Upper New York region working hard to ensure we have what we need to get off to a great start.

More on the pieces in the weeks ahead.

Technology and Trust

At our last New A.C.T. meeting I heard two crucial resources named as absolutely essential for building a vibrant new conference: distance-shrinking technology and community-building trust.

Technology: our new conference and area will stretch across Upper New York from east to west and north to south. We’ve learned from the New A.C.T. process that even when we agree to meet somewhere in the middle of the state, some of us have to drive three or more hours to get there. The cost in time and money is significant. There will be times when this sort of expenditure will be worth it. The range of benefits provided by a face-to-face meeting is significant. No single “technological solution” can reproduce this. But technology can help us bridge the distance when the need for face-to-face isn’t as crucial as need to keep costs down. Conference calls, video conferencing, online meeting software and a host of other strategies can (and must) help us gather together virtually and make real-world decisions.

But in order to take full advantage of such technology, we’ll need an abundance of a second resource: trust.

Trust: our new conference brings together thousands of people who’ve had little opportunity to get to know each other. Yet come July 1, 2010 we’ll need to count on one another to care for our soul and the soul of this new conference. The combination of unfamiliar relationships and intimate need will make trust a challenge. Can I put my soul in your hands? Will you put yours in mine? Can we accomplish anything if we don’t take this risk?

Here’s where technology and trust impact one another. Connecting “virtually” with one another via technology will require a certain level of trust. An example: conference calls work best if you have no more than eight people on the line. More than eight voices turn speech in to babble. Which means you and I may need to bow out of a particular decision so we don’t overload the line. Can we trust the eight folks on the line will get it right without us? Even if several of them are people almost unknown to us?

Here’s another thing about technology and trust: unlike technology, trust can’t be purchased and installed. It’s organic, growing like a garden or a stand of trees. It needs the proper environment and requires the right nutrients. It takes time. It demands we take risks.

One of the blessings I’ve had during the 4 ½ years I’ve been involved in developing our new conference is the opportunity to work with a variety of people across the region. My trust has grown as I’ve experienced the commitment and the giftedness of my sisters and brothers outside my normal circle of trust. Indeed, it’s been the desire to “draw this circle wider” that’s been the main reason I’ve been so excited about our new conference. I’m looking forward to sharing ministry with some awesome people from the four corners of this new conference, most of whom I’ve never met, but who’s souls have that same “God-shaped” hole as mine and who share that same high calling to “live the gospel of Jesus Christ and be God’s love to our neighbors in all places.”

Fresh?

I just got a voice mail from a friend (who shall remain nameless...for now!) reminding me a blog needs to be fresh to be helpful.

Point taken! I can't promise daily updates, but I will make sure this space is filled with something fresh and new every week. Look on Wednesdays.

There's certainly no lack of things going on as our new conference comes together. New A.C.T. met last Saturday and much was accomplished. Gil Rendle, New A.C.T.'s outside consultant, guided team members through a very helpful exercise where we reviewed our work in terms of 1)what had been accomplished; 2)what was in process; and 3) what remained to be started. Using a wall of Casowasco Retreat and Conference Center's new dining hall, we stuck labeled post-it notes in one of these three columns.

Scanning the wall, Gil noted how we'd seemed to have forgotten some of the work we'd accomplished under column #1(what had been accomplished) and how many items we'd loaded under column #3 (what remained to be started)! Gil's counsel, especially with regard to remaining work, was to understand not everything we'd like to see in place by July 1, 2010 can happen or should.

One key learning reinforced for New A.C.T. was the need to think in terms of "interim plans" for many areas of New Conference life. In other words, some of the programs, ministries and structures we approve at the start of our new conference will be temporary. As needs and insight change, these areas of our life together will change as well.

Our conference will need to be kept fresh and open to changing circumstance.

Kinda like a good blog...

More next Wednesday.

A Year From Tomorrow

On June 19, 2010 - one year from tomorrow - we become a new conference and area. Twelve months, 365 days, 8760 hours...okay, you get the point. On June 19 we will "gather together to ask the Lord's blessing" on a new conference and a new area.

So here's what's ahead from New ACT's perspective. The good news is we've organized most (but not all) of our Planning Teams and given them authority to develop the structures needed for the first couple years of our life together. These teams are working diligently and purposefully and will begin to funnel proposal to New ACT as early as this summer.

New ACT is also about ready to authorize six Critical Question Teams to begin working. (There's still time to join one of these teams. Please think and pray about doing so!). These teams will begin to tackle the "big picture" issues our new conference will face over the next several years:

• Spiritual Formation: How shall we grow in our relationship with God?
• Ministry: How shall we be the body of Christ within the world?
• Discipleship: How shall we live in accordance with the example of Jesus Christ?
• Local Church: How shall we engage, equip and empower?
• Leadership: How shall we encourage and develop leadership?
• Outreach: How shall we build and sustain relationships with our neighbors?

In the months ahead I see New ACT focusing on two crucial strategic tasks:

1. helping Planning Teams align their work with the New Conference's Vision and Purpose.
2. developing some principles to guide the creation of the "Plan of Union" legislation New ACT is charged to submit to the June 19, 2010 organizing session of our new conference. This document will contain enabling resolutions creating initial conference structures, staffing and policies.

One more area New ACT will be looking at is how to help us both grieve the loss of our current annual conferences and begin building new relationships. More about these issues in a future posting.

As always, your comments are welcome and helpful.