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
