ONA Staffing update

The results of this intense examination produced a configuration that better matches our priorities and capabilities and reduces overlaps in staff work. The Executive Director will now be the primary spokesperson and advocate for the ONA Program, as she is for the Coalition as a whole. This reflects the priority of the ONA Program within The Coalition. Activities with local churches are further realized with our volunteer ONA consultants—59 of them already—who work within their conferences to increase the number of ONA settings and the activity and outreach of existing ONA settings. ONA training sessions will continue. Please contact the Coalition national office if you are interested.

Tim Brown will continue in the role of Youth and Young Adult Coordinator, in which he so effectively provides resources, leadership and education to young people and the adults who mentor them. Michelle Sims is in the new role as fulltime Project Director, a role that is both administrative- and program-oriented. We will also have a part time administrative assistant for reception, data base maintenance, and ongoing clerical tasks. Michelle will be the first point of contact for ONA-related questions and requests. You may reach her at The Coalition’s national office, 800-653-0799, or projects@uccCoalition.org

To the extent that The Coalition relies of volunteers, our capacity is limited. Volunteers who join us in our work make it possible to accomplish our mission. Coalition members are not only working as ONA consultants; they are also planning events, participating in local chapters, fundraising, maintaining our electronic communication, developing other communication media, serving on on-going and short-term project teams, and connecting churches to LGBT-related political activities.

We have places to go, people to meet, and a vision to realize. Come join us on an exciting journey!

Kathy Church, Vice-Moderator