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2010-04-06 issue:

Franconia Conference names steering committee and review timeline

by Stephen Kriss

Print Article

The board of directors of Franconia Mennonite Conference has named a conference review steering committee to provide oversight for the assessment being performed by consultant LaVern Yutzy. The committee includes:

• Donella Clemens, Perkasie (Pa.) Mennonite Church
• Gerry Clemmer, senior pastor, Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church
• Randy Heacock, pastor, Doylestown (Pa.) Mennonite Church
• Jim Laverty, pastor of equipping and discipling, Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church
• Karen Moyer, Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church at Quakertown, Pa.

In early March, Franconia Conference announced plans to dismiss most of the conference staff. Then on March 15, the conference board announced those plans will be put on hold while an in-depth review of the conference is undertaken.

The review, being conducted by Yutzy, consulting associate with Mennonite Health Services Alliance, is intended to shed light on the staffing decisions within Franconia Conference; to provide better understanding of issues that will need further processing and to find a path toward a hopeful future. The process is designed to review the role, structure and staffing of Franconia Conference, clarifying issues around recent events and underlying concerns while not intending to answer all questions.

The review listening process began on March 18 and initially focused on conversations with 14 conference staff. Yutzy met with 15 people on March 29 and 30, including delegates, pastors and other interested people from the conference. With guidance from the conference review steering committee, Yutzy will continue the listening process.

The conference will send postcards with response questions to all congregations and delegates encouraging feedback into the process by April 24.

Recommendations that emerge from this review are likely to require further review and processing with people and groups involved in order to determine appropriate direction.  The conference review steering committee will develop a potential process for reviewing the recommendations and a path for decision-making regarding those recommendations. The report is expected to be available to the board and delegates in mid-May.

For background information, see "Franconia Conference board hires consultant."

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