General Board of Discipleship to Trim Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 19, 2008/GBOD -- The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) is reducing staff in response to a deteriorating U.S. economy and an effort to align resources around its strategic directions and the four areas of focus approved by the 2008 General Conference.

Karen Greenwaldt, top executive at GBOD, after consultation with the president of GBOD, Bishop Charlene Kammerer, and other key board leaders, announced staff is being reduced in GBOD’s Upper Room Ministries, which does not receive apportionment dollars, and other apportionment-funded units (those receiving World Service dollars). Overall, this will result in 15 positions being eliminated, five of which are not presently filled. The staff reductions will begin at the end of January 2009.

“We deeply regret that this announcement is being made during this Christmas season, and we will miss our valued colleagues. However, we feel that we must start the New Year ready to serve the denomination with a leaner and focused organization that also recognizes the economic reality facing our churches and the larger society,” said Greenwaldt. “These changes are being made after a thoughtful and careful review of our operations and a strategic decision to align our ministries around the denomination’s goals for the next four years,” she said.

Although GBOD will be reducing staff in some areas, New Church Starts, a new unit responsible for training and equipping 1000 church planters to start 650 churches over the next four years, is acquiring four new staff members. “We are excited about this new area and the direction it is taking the church. The impact of its service to the denomination has already been felt,” said Greenwaldt.