Oregon Conference Shares Open Letter from President Dan Linrud
20 March 2024 |
The Oregon Conference released a letter from President Dan Linrud, openly discussing the reasons for last month’s budget adjustments and staffing changes, which drastically affected the Conference’s employees, churches, and schools. Linrud began the letter by acknowledging the feelings that many in the Conference were experiencing:
“Such reductions always cause us to deal with feelings of loss—lost jobs, lost programs, a sense of lost security. In any time of loss, it is natural for us as humans to experience the stages of shock, denial, confusion, anger, hurt, sadness, resignation, and other emotions. I accept, as part of my role as a leader, when that pain is directed at me. I am praying unceasingly for our whole conference church family as well as our affected employees. I am truly so sorry for how difficult this situation is for many.”
He then addressed, in detail, some of the main pain points within the system which triggered the necessary changes:
- Financial Struggles: He said that the financial difficulties began in 2022, exacerbated by post-pandemic inflation. Significant factors included increased operational and employment expenses, particularly health benefits, which nearly doubled from $3.5M to over $7M. The Church’s single-payer health benefits system was highlighted as a primary cost driver.
- Comparative Data: Outreach to other conference presidents revealed lower church attendance ratios and higher pastor-to-attendee ratios in Oregon compared to averages. This data suggested a need for reevaluation of staffing and engagement strategies.
- Staffing and Budget Adjustments: The unsustainable cost of maintaining current pastoral staffing levels, with an average total cost of over $100,000 per pastor, necessitated a reduction of up to 25-30 pastors. Additionally, conference headquarter staffing was identified as being 20% overstaffed, leading to further reductions.
- Education System Challenges: The Adventist education system faces funding challenges, with a mix of students from community backgrounds requiring financial assistance, along with the continued challenge of maintaining a three-way cost-sharing funding model.
- Financial Generosity and Stewardship: Despite the faithful tithing and generosity of many members, the inflationary pressures of 2022-2023 have outpaced the ability of contributions to cover expenses.
Linrud’s overarching tone was one of regret over the current challenges, transparency regarding the financial limitations, and a hopeful outlook towards moving forward through community support, faith, and strategic adjustments. He invites continued engagement and dialogue through upcoming town hall meetings. The full letter can be read at the Oregon Conference website.