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
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
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
Gavin, please keep me informed when you hear of more details on this re-structuring! thanks
Nate
Gavin, please keep me informed when you hear of more details on this re-structuring! thanks
Nate
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
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
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
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
thanks for the support everyone. i’ve got some more to share, but i plum tuckered out after today. &:~D
thanks for the support everyone. i’ve got some more to share, but i plum tuckered out after today. &:~D