my letter to the bishop & conference connection director of tennessee conference on poor communication : updated

update: jay has had a conversation with our bishop and got permission to blog about it. so if you have already read this stuff or will do, i suggest checking out what word jay has heard. my update, i still haven't received an email or phone call.

in following up the events of recent with our conference & the recent "restructuring" moves. i wrote this letter this morning to the bishop & loyd mabry our director of connectional ministries for the conference. i will update with whatever reply i receive. probably not my best letter, but it will do.

Dear Loyd & Bishop Wills,

I am sending this note as your standing Tennessee Conference Youth Coordinator and CCYM member.

I have been sitting and waiting hoping to be given some "official" communication as to the change and restructuring of the conference program staff. Beth is a friend of mine, we have worked together as Director of Youth Ministries & Youth Coordinator for almost 7 years now, not to mention our time before that. As a friend I am upset for her. I know that the church is not just Beth and things will go on, at what capacity is what I am burdened with.

What upsets me more is than anything is the lack of communication in these moves. No CCYM member was informed or consulted at any point prior and I know that I have not been given any official communication as to the change. There was no phone call, no email, no listserv, letterhead mail or txt message (though I would have personally deemed those two insufficient, but it would have been something). I have since fielded emails, phone calls, and text messages asking Me what is going on. I have no answer to give. I cannot comfort by saying it is "okay." All I can say is that FRESH will go on as it will be my last event as Conference Youth Coordinator because you, Loyd, said that I had to rotate off.

I know that others have called or emailed and gotten a stock statement of "if you got the impression the conference doesn't care about youth ministries then you are misinformed" or something to that effect. But the fact of this matter, there is no information being communicated at any level, so there is no way for people to be informed to be "mis-informed."

Is there a plan at all? Who will be overseeing Day at Nashville Sounds, Conference Mission Trip, Nashville Shores, Summer Sizzler in the short term? If I remember correctly we stated a few years ago that a staff person has to be at events that involve youth & children and event type situations. For example a staff person has stayed at Cedar Crest during camp weeks, Beth has been present at all conference events. So we are in danger of breaking our own policy.

There is more I could go on about, but consider this my plea for some communication as to the plan or idea behind these actions and where they will lead the conference. If we do not have any communication than people have nothing else to work with than "misinformation" and that fault falls on the administration of the conference.

shalom
-gavin

Comments

[Bart]

Gavin,
I "rediscovered" your site a short time ago. I know...I'm pretty lame, huh? Anyways, please keep me informed on what response you get and what the reasoning was for the restructuring.
Bart

[Nate Sawyer]

Gavin, please keep me informed when you hear of more details on this re-structuring! thanks
Nate

[Tony Mitchell]

Gavin,
To me, it is not surprising that any conference would make a move such as this. It seems to be part of a trend that I identified last summer after the various annual conferences (see "We are eating our seed corn".

Let us hope that the Holy Spirit prevails and common sense rules.

In peace and with Christ,
Dr. Tony

[natalie]

Here is the text of the email I sent to the Bishop and Lloyd:

Dear Bishop Wills and Rev. Mabry,

I would like to express my disappointment in the way your conference's youth program has been restructured, particularly in the way the situation itself is being handled. I certainly am not in a position to comment on any decision that has been made in regard to staffing. However, the way in which the restructuring has been handled is something I feel like I cannot remain silent about.

As the former President of Youth in the N. GA Conference, I can only imagine the frustration and pain that your CCYM is going through. Any time CCYM staff changes are made, it is a difficult experience for all who are involved. However, a whole new layer of pain is added when the CCYM is not clearly communicated with.

The youth who serve on the CCYM especially deserve straight answers from the people who can give those to them.

Speaking from experience as a youth myself, it is very hard to see this side of the church -- the side that is an institution and nothing more. It is especially hard when as a youth, you are left alone to navigate such situation without guidance and explanation. If the adults involved (i.e. Gavin Richardson) are not given the proper information and explanation, the youth cannot be supported. Experiences like this can shake youth to their core, and -- like I've said -- it is difficult to heal without any explanation from those in positions of authority.

It is my sincere hope that the Tennessee conference will take the appropriate course of action in this situation from this time forward.

Please don't forget the youth...

Natalie Stadnick

[gavin]

thanks for the support everyone. i've got some more to share, but i plum tuckered out after today. &:~D