Breaking in the new guy

The new guy had two meetings with the M'nette sponsors who resigned. Even my wife (the coordinator until canned on Jan 1st, but still teaches Rainbows) doesn't know what the outcome was.

Back in January, the new guy and lead pastor agreed to give me their decision on RR by mid-March, when the annual Pow Wow package is received. Well, it's here and I reminded the new guy. He wants another two months. I suggested we discuss it further at the next leadership meeting (pastors, deacons, elders attend). But he doesn't think that's the right venue for a discussion like that. He "will keep me posted" on his eventual decision. So transparent. He doesn't want to say anything until the summer slowdown. Just like a Friday afternoon document dump by the government, when no one's paying attention.

I guess we'll have to have a confrontation next Tuesday night. Pray that it's civil.

My father used to say,
"The only way to get a mule to work for you is to talk to it real sweet.........but sometimes, you have to whack it between the ears with a 2x4 to get its attention."

joecool wrote: I suggested we discuss it further at the next leadership meeting (pastors, deacons, elders attend).

Unfortunate to suggest that, but I've gotten the run-around and broken promises at 3 private meetings. Not willing to do that anymore. He's in charge. All he has to do is tell us his decision. We can take it. We're all adults. But his replacement plan better be as good as or better than Rangers. His track record on Sunday hasn't gone well. Went from an average of 40 kids to less than 20.

Well, that's doing better than Obamacare.

I think that last figures are that 6,000,000 people have gotten kicked off of their private insurance, but that about 1,000,000 previously uninsured persons have signed up for the program.

(I know that HHS is putting out the figure of 4,000,000, but 3,000,000 of those had to get Government Insurance, because they got kicked off their own plans.)

I would bring it up at the next leadership meeting. It needs to be openly discussed and force his to lay his cards down. Either fold them or play'em but time to stop holding them.

(You're making me think of the old Kenny Rogers song.)

The meeting is tomorrow night, but I still haven't made up my mind what to do here. Yeah, we might be a couple of guys at a card table, and I'm pretty sure I have a winning hand, but there isn't supposed to be a loser in this game. A related thought is to give him more rope, but that usually doesn't end well, either. WWMD?

What would Maverick do? (not being irreverent; humor helps gets me through)

Kenny Rogers was what I was going for haha. 

WWMD could mean what would Matt do as in Matt Dillon.

joecool wrote:

What would Maverick do? (not being irreverent; humor helps gets me through)

If it was James Garner............if he figured that he could out-shoot him, then he would Draw.

If he figured that he could not out-shoot him, he would Run Away..............

OK, I can't hold this story in.

Slap me with a "Hijack", if you must.

About 28 years ago, our Special Forces Team was going through "Arctic Warfare School", and it was down to -28 degrees; actual temp.

The entire Team (Officers & Enlisted) slept in the bay together. We had just gotten in a new Lieutenant (O-2), and he had a Real-Bad attitude toward the Enlisted Pukes, even thought we were all E-5's through an E-8.

So anyway, since there is nothing to do at night at 28 below zero, a poker game was going until 3:00 AM. This Lieutenant was in the game, was doing poorly, and couldn't stand losing to a bunch of Non-Commissioned Officers, so he was trying to use the "system" of doubling the bet for the last hand that he lost - but it wasn't working, and he was down about $150.00.

So the deal had turned to our Heavy Weapons Sergeant, Tommy Zanis. The players had gotten their cards, and it was time for the "Draw". When he got to the Lieutenant, Sergeant Zanis turned to him and said, "How many do you want, Maverick?"

The entire Detachment roared. And that handle stuck with him for the entire 3 years that he was assigned with us.

We had to slap him for about 6 months to keep him in-line, but he eventually got his head straight, became a good X-O, made Captain and was a good Team Commander, until he got his next assignment.

Last I heard, he made O-4, and we still called him Maverick.

Great story!

The new guy called this morning. He's setting up a meeting for all the RR commanders next month. He wants to "hear our hearts." Just another delay? Positive sign? I'm hoping for the latter.

One thing that always remains the same is that people can change. Maybe RR didn't originally blend with his plans, but he's starting to see it now. 

I'd go into it prayerfully optimistic.

Hopefully, its not a politcal move like Obama did by sitting down with NRA leadership to dictate terms.

RRCmdrBennett wrote:Hopefully, its not a politcal move like Obama did by sitting down with NRA leadership to dictate terms.

Such a Negative Nelly....  

I've seen as much politics in the church as there is outside. Only in the church we can invoke the "spirit-claus" that says since I'm in charge God put me here and I can do no wrong. At least our president hasn't declared Allah-claus yet...  Maybe someday!

The new guy has held several meetings with the M'nette ladies lately. Trying to hold it together until the end of the year. He never invited my wife, the "fired" coordinator. The other ladies complained about that, and today he e-mailed an apology. E-mailed.

We've lost that expectation of a face to face interaction in our day of shopping online, texting, email, facebook, and websites.  Electronic messaging of any kind is good for fyi's to disseminate info to the masses but somethings require good ole fashioned social interaction.

joecool wrote: and today he e-mailed an apology. E-mailed.

................so is that what they're teaching for "People Skills" at the Seminary, today?

He acts like the church is a corporation and laymen are employees.

I thought that "Employees" were the ones who were taking the pay.

And "Employers" were the ones who were furnishing the money.

They do but I think he treats them like employees because of his disregard for their feelings. Most businesses or agencies care nothing for associates. When you are employed you're expected to follow orders without question.

On a rare positive note, I had a victory today. He agreed that we should give away our children's video-based curriculum since he has no intention of using it. That's three years' worth, and I already have a needy Foursquare church in mind. One more hoop to jump through, and I'm shipping it out.

OK, Bruce.  I've gone back and noticed that the conflicts with this gentleman have gone back to November of 2013.

Has he ever revealed what his Agenda is (aside from having his wife take over Missionettes)?

Also....

Not to be unkind to your Senior Pastor, but it seems rather short-sighted to have the "Family Life" Pastor's wife running the Girls' Program (and I take it, by inference, that he is the R/R Senior Commander).

So what happens to the Kids' Programs when they leave? Look at the normal tenure of Pastoral Staff Members: normally 2 to 4 years.

The Navy was smart enough to not put everyone in the same Boat, after the Sullivan Brothers.

I'm 99% certain that he intended to take over Rangers on Jan 1st, but backed off when I told the lead pastor that a Sr Cdr should not be the same person that's cancelling the program.

Agenda? No idea. Vision? No idea. I assume he's shared it with the senior pastor, seeing as he's gone ahead and tried to change everything. I guess if all us little people knew his whole plan at the same time, we'd revolt. As it is, no one's happy. Volunteers, kids, and parents alike. The monthly report to the board is full of self back-slapping and smiles, but I don't know if the big boss knows the whole picture.

VERY good point about short-term tenures having the potential to create long-term instability. If the pastors continue to push for a single service at next month's meeting, I'll have to stand up alone once again to say the emperor has no clothes. We've got to get our problems (more than just children's ministries) out into the open and deal with them, rather than keep kicking the can down the road.

Your line about if you knew his full plan you guys would revolt made my mind go political...

Seems a logical conclusion he was going to oust you as well. 

Claymore, explain "Sullivan Brothers" please?  

If he left 3 positions would be left vacate f he had taken your job. 

If it were me I'd respectfully be direct in a leadership meeting and force an answer out. He won't make a decision or tell you privately. Time for him to show his hand and see if he's got a full house or just a pair of duces.