Comments on: A Statement on Change — A Deconstruction

By: Last night I was reminded… « Be still and know…

Last night I was reminded… « Be still and know… — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:35:37 +0000

[...] A Statement On Change: Deconstruction [...]

By: bdc

bdc — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:47:59 +0000

I have to agree with Jay’s comments. Could Lloyd Mabry’s statement be any more vague, veiled, or self-serving? Clearly, he is either unaware of or unconcerned about the hurtful implicit messages recent actions sent to all the work areas to which the affected staff members related. His comments appear to be a very weak attempt to sweep his own accountability under the rug. There is a clear disconnect between his office and the maelstrom outside its walls.
No one seems to be asking about the elephant in the room: what was this REALLY about? Have other offices/employees been evaluated by the same standard (and whose standard is it?). Obviously, these decisions are not about the things that have been suggested by the powers that be. If their reasoning was valid, at some point an attempted explanation would be received with at least a modicum of understanding or satisfaction. Instead, the frustration level escalates with each new statement. What has been revealed so far simply does not make sense; it is not reasonable. It circumvents the connectional system for no apparent reason. So that leaves people to wonder: what is the hidden agenda? And why can’t the members of the Tennessee Conference be trusted with it? Was it worth damaging the reputations of two staff members who have serve d faithfully and competently (some would even say exceptionally)? And more importantly, was it worth damaging the trust between the affected laity (including youth, children, parents, committees, work areas, and local church congregations) and the conference “hierarchy?”
I agree with Jay. I was hoping for more—a lot more. The circumstances would certainly dictate more, Rev. Mabry—beginning with an apology to all concerned parties.

By: honesty

honesty — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:18:59 +0000

[...] mind even technology occupies chunks of space. He innovates and improvises on whim. …indiapost.comA Statement on Change ?? A Deconstruction I have spent a bit of time recently talking with many folks about the staff restructuring at the [...]

By: Mark F. Hagewood

Mark F. Hagewood — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:36:36 +0000

Jay,
Thanks for articulating so clearly what so many of us are feeling. I still don’t feel the basic questions have been answered.

One more question I would add – if it was clear that Beth and Susan couldn’t do these “new jobs,” why have the Bishop and Loyd claimed that they are welcome to apply for the new position(s)? It really upsets me that they would make this hollow statement with no intent to give them a fair shot just to placate those of us who have been hurt by this top-down decision making.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:45:03 +0000

Sounds like this “task force” is the same thing as the “conference site committee”- a body that never met and is used to cloak the decisions of a few people behind closed doors. Our Discipline is designed so that all decisions are a democratic as possible, with transparency and integrity: values that are sadly lacking in this conference.

By: Lake Neuron | Conference Council situation

Lake Neuron | Conference Council situation — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:16:50 +0000

[...] Jay Voorhees has an excellent post about Loyd Mabry’s defense of the recent reorganization in the Tennessee Conference UMC office. I was extremely unsatisfied with Mabry’s posting and think Jay does a great job of critiquing it. [...]