One thing I’ll say about the 815 lay-offs is that firing people is the thing I hate the most about being a manager, and it’s often the kind of thing that can throw a community into a tailspin.
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My current parish has enough of a budget deficit that I don’t know if I’ll have a job as an associate rector there in a few years, barring some big changes. It’s a shitty feeling!
We have a group called the Legacy Circle that makes it easy to leave money to our church in one’s will. It’s not a bad idea! It’s also not going to fix everything.
I mean ... people have been saying this out loud for my entire career, which is 17 years at this point? There's statistics and everything (it typically takes 7 Millennial households to replace one Boomer giver, yadda yadda).
This is my reality, too. I absolutely love…and feel called to…assistant ministry. Cong I serve is 3-5yrs away from not being able to afford me. I don’t feel called to leave, but I’m def looking at what training I need now to be effective as a diff kind of ministry.
I'm a solo pastor at the moment, at a chuch that can't afford to pay me full time. I miss having clergy colleagues, and wish I could go back to being an assistant minister. But in my denomination and location, those opportunities are few and far between.
Twitter got me started in those relationships last time. I suspect something like BlueSky and regular zooms with people I choose will be something I have to cultivate
I understand that. I was solo clergy at a cong that became unable to pay me full time before my current call. I didn’t realize how intentional you need to be about nurturing those clergy relationships in an ongoing way. When I go back solo, it will need to be part of my week just like sermon writing
But because I am the trained person who is there the most, they identify me as "our pastor" and have to reconcile that with knowing I am not there as a pastor, but as a weekly sermon.
I make time for those with greatest need anyway, but.
I suspect that will be one of the challenges as well with the shift away from seminary-trained ministers to certified lay or whatever various denoms call it- the specific care training is not unneeded.
Our church reduced the hours/budget for the office admin position when our long-time person moved away last year, and maintained the reduction in the new budget, to the chagrin of the new staff. However, to the delight of the treasurer, we’re operating in the black for the first time in many years.
I do have a question, and I don’t know who to ask. I am accustomed to this same-day-out policy being for people who are in trouble, or at places that handle very competitive things. Is it standard now in the church??
“The church” varies a lot. This isn’t your local congregation. 815 had over 140 employees, and you never know how people might respond to being let go. It does sound like it was pretty messy, but there are very few good ways to fire people.
You’re right, Kira, there’s no good way to fire people. I’m not sure “your job is ending in three months” is kinder than “your job is over and here’s X number of months severance per our employee handbook.” Frankly, I’d just as soon go home.
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We don't have enough Xers and Millennials with enough money to replace Boomer and Greatest Gen giving.
I know the church will have to resurrect, but it is going to hurt.
"You have stored up plently of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy!" Lk 12:13-21
Better to come out with it and cope with it.
I just feel bad being the one to say it, since I have less of a role in churches.
They have started hurting for the lack of pastoral care, and are trying to balance knowing I cannot fulfill that on supply pay, against their need.
I make time for those with greatest need anyway, but.
I'm sorry the episcopal church is hanging on by a thread and its way better to do what was done than eventually collapse with nothing to offer anyone.