Episcopal Church Center Chief Operating Officer Linda Watt . . . began by saying that a human resources consultant hired by the Episcopal Church Center (located at 815 Second Avenue in New York) in 2006 “reported his impression that we were a place of broken wings where the primary focus was placed upon caring for individual staff members and less attention was paid to the work those individual staff members were accomplishing.”
She said that “this inward focus was troubling” to Jefferts Schori, who was just beginning her term, and who “also recognized that there were dangers inherent in a staff that consisted in considerable part of individuals whose working style was fundamentally isolated in silos.”
“Many mission staff considered themselves to be in charge of an area ”“ to be the expert ”“ individually in control of events and budget and information,” Watt continued. “Bishops and others in leadership positions around the church expressed annoyance and even hostility toward 815, and some staff members exhibited some patronizing attitudes. There was really very little accountability on how money was spent, or if events had to take place or if goals were met, if indeed goals were set.”
“Sherrod said the diocese wants to focus on reconciliation and renewal, yet it ponders ‘how to welcome back people who sat in silence while many of us were called terrible names, subjected to public shaming, asked or told to leave our church homes because we were not ‘real Christians.'”
Doesn’t sound like they’re quite ready for reconciliation.
Heh — I don’t think Sherrod needs to worry too too much about “how to welcome back” folks who left TEC in Fort Worth. ; > )
She can ponder how on earth her “diocese” is going to stay afloat with so few few people.
My limited experience with some of the staff at 815 in the 1990’s leads me to agree with Ms. Watt’s statements.
“Effectiveness of programs?” This is not in my book. Program is not mission. Program is, well, just program in most cases.
What is surprizing is that they needed a consultant to tell them this stuff. When I worked with a lot of those folks regulary from 2001 to 2006, it was obvious. The exception was congregational development; but EC axed that for a law suit coordinator. Afterall, is Evangelism really more importanat than law suits.
God Bless the Attorneys.
After ++Katherine, the second worst thing to happen to TEC was Linda Watt.