wfn.org | Church Women United firings raise concerns

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 20, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-71B{580}

NEW YORK (UMNS) - United Methodist Women is temporarily suspending funding
to Church Women United (CWU) because of questions raised over the recent
firing of program staff.

Joyce Sohl, chief executive for the Women's Division, United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries, told United Methodist News Service she was concerned
that proper procedures were not followed when three CWU officers abruptly
dismissed seven staff members Dec. 11. "It appears that the policies of the
organization also were not followed," she added.

In a Dec. 19 letter addressed to the Rev. Jerrye Gray Champion, CWU national
president, Sohl said the 2001 contribution from United Methodist Women would
not be made "until there is a clear direction set for the national
organization and the justice issues regarding the firing of seven staff is
resolved."  

As the administrative arm of United Methodist Women, the Women's Division
has made annual contribution of $32,525 in the past few years. Sohl said
that amount represents the ecumenical organization's largest contribution
from a single denomination.    

Founded in 1941, CWU is a grassroots movement of Protestant, Roman Catholic,
Orthodox, and other Christian women, organized into more than 1,400 local
and state units in the United States and Puerto Rico. Ongoing programs
include World Day of Prayer, May Fellowship Day and World Community Day.

Kathleen Hurty, CWU's top staff executive, was among those dismissed. In a
Dec. 12 letter to 100-plus members of the organization's common council, she
reported that she had resigned under duress and at the request of the
officers and has since withdrawn that resignation. "It was in reality not a
resignation but a termination," she wrote.

Others asked to resign or be fired were Jeannie Lee, program manager for
ecumenical development and global advocacy; Ascension (Inday) Day, program
manager for leadership development; Mary Stamp, program manager for
communications, and Jeanette Zaragoza De Leon, program manager for
ecumenical celebrations. Also fired were Aaron Agne and Jennifer Peterson,
two Union Seminary students serving as part-time staff.

Hurty contends that the actions taken Dec. 11 violated provisions in the
organization's constitution and bylaws and "constitute wrongful
termination."  Attempts by UMNS to reach Champion were unsuccessful. 

Dorothy Rose of Baldwinsville, N.Y., a member of CWU's Board of Directors,
believes the constitution, bylaws and personnel policy were violated by the
actions of the three officers. In a Dec. 12 letter to "sister" board
members, she said she had been contacted by telephone the evening before the
firings. "I went on record as opposing such an action without a legally
constituted board meeting, noting that polling the board by phone was not a
legal board meeting," she wrote.

Rose, a member of the board's personnel committee, also noted that no
meeting was called of that committee to discuss the terminations.

Ellen Frost, senior associate for the Disciples Women, a part of Homeland
Ministries for the Disciples of Christ, serves as convener of the
denominational executives group for CWU, a position that places her on the
board of directors. Yet, she said, she was never notified about the firings
and remains "extremely distressed" over the actions of the officers.

Also concerned is Carol Sutton of the American Baptist Women's Ministries.
Both women told United Methodist News Service that funds from their
denominations would be withheld until their concerns are addressed.

The Rev. Lois Powell and Deborah Bailey, executives with the United Church
of Christ, sent a letter to CWU's national president on Dec. 18, with copies
to the board of directors and common council, expressing "our shock and
dismay." The letter requested answers to questions about the basis of the
action and the way it was conducted.

"The credibility of the CWU Board of Directors has been seriously
compromised and the relationships that Kathleen Hurty had been rebuilding
with the denominations in a very positive way is also threatened," the
letter said. "The programmatic work of CWU which evolved in a collaborative
manner is jeopardized. The credibility of the organization itself now comes
under close scrutiny."

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United Methodist News Service
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