1October2017AnOpenLetterfromtheStrategicLeadershipTeam:AstheStrategicLeadershipTeamofthestaffofMCC,webelieveitisimportantforustoshareanoverviewofpreviousofficerestructuringsandstaffchanges,andstateoursupportofthecurrentrestructuringofouroffices.TheworkoftheStrategicLeadershipTeam(formerlySeniorLeadershipTeam)andconfigurationofourofficeshasbeenfluidandevolvingsincethedenominationalrestructureof2010.Wefeelthataperspectiveonsomeofthereorganizationsthathaveoccurredduringthepastsevenyearsmaybeahelpfulcontextforthecurrentrestructuring.FollowingtheGeneralConferenceadoptionofthenewdenominationalstructurein2010,therewasastaffreorganizationthatretainedthreeexistingoffices:OfficeofFormationandLeadershipDevelopment,OfficeofDevelopment,andOfficeofOperations;andcreatedthreenewoffices:OfficeofChurchLifeandHealth,OfficeofOutreach,andOfficeofChurchEmergence.Attheendof2011,theofficesandstaffwerereorganizedagaininordertoreduceoverallexpenses.TheOfficesofDevelopmentandOutreachwereeliminated,aswerethejobsofthedirectorsofthoseoffices.TheworkoftheOfficeofOutreachwasshiftedtotheOfficeofChurchEmergence,whichwasrenamedtheOfficeofEmergingMinistries.TheworkoftheOfficeofDevelopmentmovedtotheModerator’sOffice.TheAssociateDirectorforIberoamericaChurchesandMinistrieswasalsoaddedtotheSeniorLeadershipTeamatthistime.Additionalreorganizationshavebeenimplemented,includingtworeorganizationsin2015,whichimpactedallstaffoffices.Thesereorganizationsforworkefficiencyorfinancialnecessityhavebeenrequiredastheneedsandresourceschange.Asaregularpartofongoingworkflowimprovementswithinstaff,responsibilitiesforspecificfunctionshavealsobeentransferredfromoneofficetoanotherastheneedaroseovertime.ExamplesofworkrealignmentspreviouslyimplementedincludetransferringresponsibilityfortheJudiciaryProcessfromtheOfficeofEmergingMinistriestotheOfficeofFormationandLeadershipDevelopmentandtransferringcommunicationsfromtheOfficeofOperationsintotheModerator’sOffice.Webelievethislatestrestructuring,whichhascreatedtheOfficeofChurchandMinistryDevelopment,ispartoftheongoingevolutionofstaffworkandtheStrategicLeadershipTeam,andwillallowustoworkmoreeffectivelyandcollaboratively.Wealsoidentifiedasenseofliberationand

freedomforeachofficetobemoreengagedintheworkofdiversityandinclusionfromaglobalperspective.Inthenewstructure,responsibilityforsupportingexistingMCCclergyandlayleadersanddevelopingnewleaderswillrestwithintheOfficeofFormationandLeadershipDevelopment.ResponsibilityforsupportingexistingchurchesandministriesanddevelopingnewoneswillrestwithintheOfficeofChurchandMinistryDevelopment.AstheStrategicLeadershipstaffbodyoftheorganization,wearecommittedtoMCCandourworkinthisnewstructure.WewereencouragedatthebeginningofthistimeoftransitiontobeginworkingmorecloselywiththeGoverningBoard.WeremaincommittedtoworkingcollaborativelytowardsthedevelopmentandfundingofprojectsandprogramsthatsupportourcommoncommitmenttoMCC’sCoreValues,leaders,andchurches.Withrespectandgratitude,LindaBrenner,AssociateDirectorforCommunications,OfficeoftheModeratorBarbCrabtree,Director,OfficeofOperationsRev.ElderTonyFreeman,Director,OfficeofChurchandMinistryDevelopmentRev.ElderHéctorGutiérrez,AssociateDirectorforIberoamericaChurchesandMinistries,OfficeofChurchandMinistryDevelopmentRev.ElderMonaWest,PhD,Director,OfficeofFormationandLeadershipDevelopment