Maine Conference Staff Leadership Adjustment

Ten years ago, the Maine Conference restructured itself to better respond to needs for shared leadership, greater involvement of associations, plus closer relations with local churches and clergy. Jean Alexander and David Gaewski were each called separately to be one of two conference ministers with co-equal responsibilities and authority. David and Jean were not hired as a team; rather to work as a team. The design was for coverage tasks to be divided, while decision-making was to be mutually negotiated. As a result of their efforts and the hard work of many others, the Maine Conference is in a healthier place than it was a decade ago. Many of the needs have been addressed or met, and a new style of cooperative collegiality with churches and Associations has been established. But, in the present design, there is no stated process to guide us in times of leadership transition. When Jean decided to accept another call and David decided to stay in Maine, instead of two conference ministers we now have one conference minister.

In looking ahead to fill the vacated position, the Coordinating Council discussed many questions. How can we best celebrate the gains made and continue the positive momentum? Can we realistically expect a new person to function effectively as a co-equal when the inherited partner has 8 years of experience, knowledge, and relationships in the conference? Since both Jean and David spoke to their shared decision making as highly labor intensive, would it take valuable time and energy away from other conference work? Is the same careful consideration of timing and circumstance that led us toward the co-equal model now leading us to adjust it? The recent survey sent to ministers, churches, Associations, staff and commission members about staff design produced a mixed response with no clear direction to be pursued.

Each time has its own "givens", as well as its own needs and opportunities. Thus the Coordinating Council recommends a leadership pattern adjustment to affirm David Gaewski's continuing ministry as Conference Minister; to begin the search for an Associate Conference Minister; and building into the adjusted pattern an emphasis on collegial staff functioning, enhanced presence with local churches, and other positive aspects of the past 8 years experience in Maine Conference Ministry.