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"ADRA headquarters was right-sized."
The Adventist Review recently published a traditional year-in-review piece about 2011, a sixth of the year into 2012. But even more tone deaf, it appeared almost exactly a year after the new ADRA International leadership fired 20% of the employees at the headquarters, leaving many crying in the halls of the General Conference headquarters of the Adventist Church. Published on February 23, 2012, the flagship publication states:
ADRA headquarters was right-sized.
Is that some wannabe Orwellian euphemism for down-sized?
I can understand why they would be afraid of using "down." According to actual people who work there morale is down. Funding is down. In fact, a recent petition signed by 65% of ADRA International employees that was quashed by a few at the top noted the following:
- "ADRA International’s USG (U.S. government) funding portfolio has decreased"
- "recent internal fundraising strategies to increase unrestricted private income have come at the price of decreased transparency, especially in regards to emergency appeals."
With all this actual, factual evidence of decreases, it's no wonder some church leaders are attempting some creative spin. If gutting an institution this badly sounds right to them, I'd hate to (G) see wrong.
*The "Pray for ADRA" graphic comes from the Facebook pages of several past and current ADRA employees who were using it to commemorate the Feb. 22, 2011, mass firing.
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Alex, "they" didn't choose "right-sized," the opinion column's author, Delbert Baker, did.
There seems to be a lot of pride going on there. You know what comes after pride.
Here is a suggestion that should be made at the next GC session.
ALL Seventh-day Adventist administrative leaders, without any exceptions, should not be in administrative power for more than 8 consecutive years. Unfortunately, they have become like our nations politicians. Out of touch with the reality on the ground. They should leave administrative work for at least 4 years, pastor during that period of time and rub shoulders with people on the ground.
Sean R is right. What you will find in most situations where great angst is expressed is that people have great difficulty absorbing the salient points in life and in conversation.
A good example is the one Sean R correctly points out.
The other is from those Alex paints as the opposition.
If..."In fact, a recent petition signed by 65% of ADRA International employees " said, "ADRA International’s USG (U.S. government) funding portfolio has decreased", only those who are incapable of reasoning from cause to effect would not grasp that it takes much less people to distribute and oversee a corresponding less amount of materials to distribute and less projects to be run with less revenue coming in.
The opposition have the same problems in the second point. "recent internal fundraising strategies to increase unrestricted private income have come at the price of decreased transparency, especially in regards to emergency appeals."
They cant grasp that ADRA income from "unrestricted private" sources is down and what funding is coming from restricted sources must be spent as the individuals that donated it wish. That is law. The same as giving to the local church for a new piano cant be re-tasked to send the church kids on a mission trip.
They cant grasp that the employees are not privy nor entitled to know where restricted funds are to be spent, no matter they call it un-transparent or not. With unrestricted funds down and many projects competing for funds, declaring something an emergency doesn't automatically fill your pantry with goodies.
Michael
Sean R. Alex, "they" didn't choose "right-sized," the opinion column's author, Delbert Baker, did.
You are right Sean R, but I think the point being made is that the flagship publication allowed that term to be published, which means they agree with it, at the very least by default. Unless they issue a disclaimer. AR edits every word and if they had a problem with the term they would have removed it.
Sean R., the editorial connection to what's published in the paper of denominational record is more complex than your comment allows. That's especially true as the editor uses it to comment (and report) on internal church politics.
While it's a poor phrase by an individual, the fact that it was included by the Adventist Review (sans disclaimer as they have done occasionally in the past) reveals a corporately flawed sense of the situation with ADRA International and a flippent attitude toward the lives of church employees.
Was ADRA living beyond its means?
Are there other church departments that suffered?
Is this about ideology? Or is it just something that was badly done?
No need to speculate.
From the careful reporting Spectrum did a few months ago.
This bad news came on the heels of good news from the Audit Committee which found 2010—under Charles Sandefur's leadership—to be ADRA’s best year ever in terms of funding. ADRA’s assets grew from $33 million in 2009 to $42 million in 2010. Strangely, finances were a reason given by Ted Wilson for the leadership change.
http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2011/08/13/adra-changing-itself-more-world
As strange as it sounds, it appears that the new church leadership wants a smaller, weaker ADRA.
If you want to report on finances and do a thorough job, you need to look further back instead of taking a snapshot in time. Otherwise you risk reporting on gains that include anomalies, such as renewal of grants and emergencies. You should look at the picture prior to 2009 when the agency lost millions under Sandefur's leadership. The facts may surprise you. So whose fault is this? The ADRA president and his sidekicks or the church leadership? If Rudi Maier conducted mass layoffs, were they in response to Sandefur's mismanagement or were they at the behest of church leadership? Or is this just the way the ADRA president rules his roost? Confused. Just seeking clarity.
[Feel free to provide any actual evidence. —A.C.]
"As strange as it sounds, it appears that the new church leadership wants a smaller, weaker ADRA."
----------------------------------------------------------------
Why?
>>ALL Seventh-day Adventist administrative leaders, without any exceptions, should not be in administrative power for more than 8 consecutive years.<<
Dream on. No one will let that through. As for the GC, my guess is that we'll be gone before Ted Wilson will. He's a fixture now, and has the church in the developing world to thank for it. You can be sure he'll continue to court them, and he'll be our pope until death.
To label Ted Wilson as pope is an ad hominem attack. Restrain yourself. - website editor
I'm looking forward to when the GC right-sizes itself!
The GC will right-size itself as soon as its budget is cut.
While congregations continue to send their money to the Conferences, and the Conferences to the Unions, and the Unions to the NAD which is a branch of the GC, nothing will change.
But no rule requires congregations to send their money to the Conferences, and no rule requires the Conferences to send it to the Union, and no rule requires the Unions to send it to the Division.
So, if you don't like what Ted is doing STOP SENDING HIM MONEY
/Bevin
Web Ed, please do tell us why pope is an insulting term!
Oops!
[Maggie, name calling, even of church leaders one doesn't like, is not conducive to thoughtful conversations. Why are you wasting your time, ability to form sentences and Spectrum's space? If calling name-calling is really important to you, feel free to start your own blog. - website editor]
The topic is ADRA.
I see.
Alexander Carpenter - Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:26
The topic is ADRA.
AC, you made it about the church when you wrote:
As strange as it sounds, it appears that the new church leadership wants a smaller, weaker ADRA.
That's why I asked who is responsible? The church or ADRA?
Please ASIT, the topic is ADRA.
As I said before, maybe the story will never be told. I have to wonder if Spectrum is being leaned on in some way.
It is all about ideology and keeping all power in hands of those who adore the GC administration. Those with experience and expertise in International Development that have worked there for years are not appreciated unless they are marching to the "historic adventist" drum beat
"Please ASIT, the topic is ADRA."
Glad I wasn't drinking something when I read that. Dick, come sit next to me at any party.
ASIT, I think you asked some good questions. I think any careful report should address whether spending outstripped revenues under Sandefur, even if there were record revenues. I have no idea.
It's certainly possible that there needed to be some changes, but the changes made ended up being targeted more towards ideology or something. But I'm just speculating.
Well Beth, God forbid if we were to stumble around in the peripheries.
Why We Need Positive Deviance:
http://www.positive-deviant.com/positive-deviance.html
Change comes from the fringe....
Beth, I've just realized what ASIT means. I've been looking it up on Google. LOL
Too funny ASIT. That could have been dangerous. I hope it doesn't also mean something unmentionable at Urban Dictionary or something!
Oops, I need to focus now. ADRA.
ADRA, ADRA, ADRA...focus, Maggie, focus....
Why did the auditors exit en masse? Or did they?
The devil's in the details.
I am the last who would want to ruin anybodies fun but this is a warning to a few of you (who I shouldn't need to name) that your attitude is not always appreciated.
(Not from ASIT or WeBED)
P.S. Not always
I appreciate the Spectrum coverage of this important topic, and it's intimidating for participants, such as Dick Larsen, to "issue" warnings as to what is posted. Congratulations if you intended to quell speech.
We suspect Dick was just having fun and not being serious. - website editor
That is an ominous warning! I shall commence immediately to pleasing everybody all the time!
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