Full Recording
Written Recap
Tom Mauriello sends greetings live from his kitchen. That's a pig cutting board on the wall. It's infamous. Ask him about it.
- It might come as a shock, but not all Reliant staff check their emails. There is a lot of vital info coming out now and over the next few months that we'll be communicating to people's Reliant emails. Can you help by encouraging your Reliant co-workers to check their Reliant email regularly? A great hack to this is to view Reliant emails in one's main email in-box. For more on that, check out this Solomon page and scroll down to "How to Use Multiple Email Accounts."
- Good news! Your Reliant Central Team is still processing gifts quickly and working hard to serve you well.
- Out of extreme caution, the Central Team will continue working remotely for a while, even as the state of Florida opens up.
- If you have local concerns (maybe you have medical needs or concerns), we encourage you to continue physical distancing. As an employee, Reliant doesn't want you to feel pressure to do anything you feel wouldn't be safe for you or your family or someone in your household. If you have questions, talk to your supervisor or contact the Reliant office. We are here to help.
- We are very pleased to report MTD is going really well on the whole.
- We do recognize while it's going well for many, that might not be the case for your specific situation. If this is you, please reach out to your MTD Coach or your program team lead. We want to help.
- God's people are still giving. There are enough people who are still able to give and want to be a part of mission giving.
- You can check out the MTD During COVID-19 page on Solomon for more tips on how to do MTD during this time of social distancing.
- Our training used to say in-person is better for MTD appointments, but we do not consider in-person MTD appointments essential right now. We do ask you approach MTD appointments virtually or over video. If someone invites you to their house or to walk with you outdoors and stay socially distant, we'll trust that decision between you, your supervisor and your MTD Coach. But, we don't want staff initiating or pressing people into in-person meetings in case they're not ready for it or don't feel safe. Since we're now seeing video appointments are as effective as in-person for casting vision and connecting, we feel confident recommending them to you. An added bonus is they are easier to schedule (sometimes scheduling and attending a meeting all within the same hour) and you can attend more in one day than the traditional in-person appointment. If you haven't had a video appointment for MTD yet, contact your MTD Coach to set up a practice session. This is a skill to build right now, regardless if you're in an active MTD season or not. Don't know who your coach is or need extra help? Contact the Reliant office.
- June and August New Staff Trainings will be virtual. We wouldn't be surprised if all trainings are virtual through the end of the year. Right now we are also hosting a virtual intern training.
- This task force was put together by the Reliant Board to address issues of power, harassment and abuse with our staff and partner churches. They've been assessing Reliant's policies, procedures and training. That's led to some of the things we will be discussing in this call.
- The Task Force consists of: two Reliant board members (Jim Kaufman & Kara LaFleur), two Reliant Central leaders (Tom Mauriello & Julie Thomas) and an abuse, trauma, and organizational behavior counselor (Tracy Johnson).
- Tracy Johnson has extended the invitation to you to reach out if you want to talk about anything you've experienced in ministry. Contact her directly over email at tracy@restorationcounselingcono.com
- A highly anonymous survey will be sent to you this week through SurveyMonkey. We're asking you to complete it by the end of May. Individual results will go to a statistician and Tracy. Reliant will only be presented with aggregated data such as totals and averages. We will not know who gave any particular answer. We really want to hear from you and what you've experienced or seen. This will help us assess how things are going and what areas we can improve on. Your feedback is very important to us!
- We need your help getting this survey out to current and former lay leaders or student leaders. Will you forward the survey link to those you work with or worked with? If they're not a current or former Reliant employee, we don't have their email address. So, we're depending on you to get this out to them so their voice can also be heard. There's a bit more time on the deadline for the non-employee survey.
- Welcome Julie Thomas, Reliant's new HR Compliance Officer. Julie.Thomas@reliant.org She comes to us from Advent Health. Originally from Indiana and attended Butler University and University of Central Florida. Julie raised support to work internationally with Children of the Nations and also has first hand experience in the church planting world as her family planted a church when she was young. She lives with her husband and two young children in Central Florida.
- Julie can help you by responding to any instances of harassment or abuse. To help in that, Reliant has created a dedicated email for you to share concerns or report any instances of harassment or abuse: NotifyHR@Reliant.org . It's monitored only by Julie and will be kept private and responded to promptly. You can also report directly to your supervisor. Supervisors are being directed to also notify their Program Lead at Reliant Central so we can respond quickly and appropriately.
- New trainings: In the coming months, you will have the opportunity to go through some new, faith-based trainings designed to detect, prevent and understand sexual harassment and abuse, particularly in ministry and church settings. Think of these policies and procedures as a blueprint for building your ministry into a safe and beautiful space for people to connect with their Creator. These trainings will be required annually because we believe they are really important as we seek to honor and respect everyone as image bearers of God.
- This is a mandatory training. As an employee of Reliant, you do need to complete these modules.
- All the courses are online and taught by experts in the field who teach from a Biblical perspective.
- In June you'll receive TWO emails for each training: one from Reliant and another one from the vendor. Vendors are:
- Telios Teaches
- Ministry Safe
- Safety Skills
- Aim to complete your trainings before the end of July (the sooner, the better!).
- If your supervisor isn't a Reliant missionary, we will be emailing them links to the courses and strongly encouraging them to complete the courses as well.
- Ministry Safe was founded by a husband and wife team who are both attorneys. They work mostly with churches and ministries that minister among children and students.
- This training will increase your awareness. Supervisors will also go through the skillful screening training. *If you aren't a supervisor and would want to take the Skillful Screening course, you are welcome to take it.
- Telios is a law firm that developed sexual harassment training for Christian churches and ministries.
- You, as a Reliant employee can take as many of the training modules you wish. There is a minimum requirement, but you can always learn more if you're interested.
- Q: With video appointments, how is the "Names Ask" going? Just as fruitful? Less? - Chad Frank
- A: It is going the same as normal. Follow-up to this ask is critical. A great way to ask is, "Who do you know that I should know?"
- Q: Is the HR training required for interns and residents? - Seminole Christian Life
- A: Yes. It is required for all Reliant employees. For those whose internship or residency is ending before the deadline, it's not required, but is still recommended. All new staff, as they come on, will do the training.
- Q: If we have taken these classes recently through other organizations, do we still have to take them again? - Sarah Swann
- A: If it is the exact same training, then we won't have you take it again. You can reach out to Julie Thomas for this exception. Even if we certify you for this year, everyone will be taking them again next year since they are annual trainings.
- Q: If I'm currently Associate status, do I still need to take the HR training? If so, what version do I need to take? - David Park
- A: Yes, you still will take the HR trainings because propriety is for everyone. If you supervise someone or are a pastor, minister or field manager, then you will take the field level one. If you aren't sure, reach out to your Program Liaison or to Julie Thomas.
- Q: I'm a little confused on who "Program Liaisons" are. Can you clarify? - Seminole Christian Life
- A: At Reliant, we've made a shift to giving dedicated program teams to the large groups we work with. For example, Collegiate's liaison is KZ, International's liaison is Bethany Orys, Intern and Residency program liaison is Carly Erskine, donor liaisons are Judi Major and Natalia Perez. You can find liaison contact info on this Central Staff Contact List - ARCHIVED. *When in doubt, contact Kathy.Zellinger@reliant.org and she will put you in touch with the right person.
- Q: Any updates on when StaffNet will be getting some upgrades? - Dave Schubert
- Q: In regards to the survey due date, what about staff that are on sabbatical? - Raegan Michelle McAdams
- A: The survey is not mandatory, although we'd love everyone to take it. You can reach out to those on sabbatical and ask them if they want to give their input through the survey.
The trainings are mandatory and will need to be completed by the August 7th deadline, even if you're on sabbatical. If someone is on leave (medical leave, personal leave), they will be granted an exception, but will have to take the trainings after they return from leave.
- A: The survey is not mandatory, although we'd love everyone to take it. You can reach out to those on sabbatical and ask them if they want to give their input through the survey.
- Q: I don't see the survey in my email. Who would it come from? - Ashley Ramirez
- A: It hasn't been sent yet. You should see it later this week. It will come from SurveyMonkey. It should be titled "Reliant Culture Survey."
- Q: Is there a possibility the survey or training emails may go to my junk folder? - Barb Seckler
- A: Yes! If someone else on your team has received theirs and you haven't, check your junk or spam boxes.
- Q: Do you have the results from the comprehensive review of Reliant conducted by Cantey Hanger, Scott Fredricks' law firm? - Anonymous
- A: Scott Fredricks and Cantey Hanger have been assisting us both with review and investigation of past cases of abuse or harassment at Reliant and with the churches we serve. They've also been advising us comprehensively on our policies. The reviews are not comprehensive of all of Reliant, they pertain to specific situations or findings and are not completed. The results of current reviews will be made later this year once we get the results, and there will be a public report we will share. They are assisting us in an ongoing way with a comprehensive review of policies, standards, and procedures. Also, Cantey Hanger has not found or uncovered other instances of abuse within Reliant staff or churches. They are currently focused on the instances we've directed them to investigate.
- Q: Tom, can you explain the pig on your wall? - Averie Wendt
- A: If you are lucky enough to have a pig cutting board, it is worthy of wall display. Feel free to name it. Tom's taking suggestions.
We bless you with this from Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
