August 26, 2022
Dear Edwards Church Community,
Since the ECM, Personnel Committee, and I announced on May 9th that David Kidwell was no longer employed by Edwards Church, you have been asked to trust without the ability to verify. I often wish I could give you all the verification you want. Then I remember why I cannot.
There is an important, often overlooked difference between what is secret and what is confidential. Secret implies information withheld because people do not want it known. They either could be embarrassed, lose an advantage, or otherwise suffer from disclosure. Confidential information may be shared, but only in limited ways based on a legitimate need to know, in order to fulfill one’s role and responsibility to an individual or organization.
Employers also attach special value to confidential information related to employees, and for good reason. This remains true regardless of what David Kidwell or his advocates might say about having “nothing to hide,” implying inappropriate secrecy on the part of others (ECM, Personnel, and me). It is much easier for a disgruntled, former employee or his advocates to make a naked claim than it is for an employer to explain why it might disclose one item of information and not others. If David really wants to let the church leaders reveal as much as possible, he could sign a waiver to that effect.
Because David has shared so many details with others (which is demonstrated by specific, factual statements only he could know), he has opened the door to us sharing more than we have before. So much has been written that contorts the truth as we know it, that we must disclose some information we have tried to maintain as confidential in order to protect the community as a whole and provide a response to what has, until now, been a largely one-sided narrative.
David’s employment was, in fact, terminated on May 9th. During that process, we offered him the option to resign and asked him to let us know his preference. We thought letting him decide whether to tell others he chose to leave or was terminated gave him a measure of personal agency and would have allowed more ease with which to seek future employment. Keeping options open for him required a vague announcement and silence on our part. When Judy Cardell spoke during the announcements at worship on May 15th, we had our answer from David. It also foreshadowed a pattern to follow: spin an accusatory narrative that assumes the worst about those you disagree with.
Much is made of the unfortunate fact that Chuck McCullagh and Mark Dion entered the sanctuary when David, Deb and I were having our weekly meeting for worship planning and David was taking his turn reading part of the scripture for the week. It was a sad moment, but it was just as likely they would walk in when I was reading, or when we were discussing hymns, or any other part of our regular meetings. Do I wish we had stage-managed that particular moment better? Sure, but there was no moment-by-moment rehearsal of the event to control every detail.
David, on the one hand, and the church’s elected leaders, on the other, have different understandings of the nature of his employment. The church’s elected leaders fervently deny that they violated any contract or David’s rights in any way. There is plenty of background and context that is relevant to that discussion, but because this is the subject of threatened litigation, we do not comment further.
In an effort to acknowledge David’s musical gifts and long service to Edwards Church and to resolve this conflict, we have previously offered him severance equal to one full years’ salary, which he has rejected. That amount is, compared to severance in similar situations, quite large. We have offered it in recognition of his talent and service and because several church members urged us to be generous. To receive the payment, we have required that he enter into a customary severance agreement. If he were as willing to compromise as the ECM, we could all be in a very different place.
The availability of unemployment insurance for church employees is a matter of state law. Although churches may choose to pay into the system, they are not required to do so. Edwards has historically followed the overwhelming majority of Massachusetts houses of worship by opting not to participate. No decision regarding unemployment insurance was made with David Kidwell or any other person in mind. To assert otherwise is recklessly disregarding any concern for the truth. In fact, it is exceedingly rare for us to terminate an employee. We count on severance to be mutually agreed upon when it happens.
Much has also been made of the manner in which David was told he was losing his job. No doubt it was hard to hear. For better or worse, people with experience in delivering that very bad news have learned the hard way that one can never be sure how any individual will respond in the moment. That is why employers insist on collecting keys, cancelling passwords, and the like. No matter how well you think you know someone, they can (and sometimes do) surprise you in a negative way.
Several people have written things about me that are hard to take. But I know what is true about myself, and my conscience is clear. I am more troubled when I read things suggesting that I have somehow misled or manipulated the ECM and Personnel Committee. Those lay leaders serve as volunteers. In our church’s congregational tradition, which I treasure, they are an indispensable resource for guidance in all I do. I share my thinking with them, and I seek and follow their suggestions. They are more than able to challenge or correct me when they see the need, and to support me when they agree with a recommendation. To allege that I could somehow mislead or manipulate them insults their intelligence and independence as critically thinking adults.
Finally, I ask you to consider this: I worked with David for almost 9 of his 21.5 years. During those years we sometimes struggled to see eye to eye, but we most often found ways to provide the church with worship that kept you spiritually fed. I have been fully aware from my first days here of how close he had become to many members of our community and how treasured he is. I personally valued his wonderful music for the way it could open and uplift us in worship.
Some of the writers of emails seem certain they can intuit my motivations. I promise all of you, before God and each other, that my guiding purpose at all times is the long-term health and welfare of this congregation, the people and Spirit within it, and the people and God it serves. At times that may require actions not supported by all current members. But knowing what I know, as your pastor for almost a decade so far, I can assure you that the pain we are going through now will end and a stronger church, with a new and wonderful music program, will emerge.
In faith, with hope, for love,
Michael
From the Minister of Faith Formation
Dear Beloved of God,
“Faith can take root anywhere, but imagine how far it can grow when nurtured.”1
David M. Csinos is associate professor of practical theology at Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and founder and president of Faith Forward, an ecumenical organization for innovative ministry with children, youth and families. In his latest book, a gospel for ALL AGES: teaching and preaching with the whole church, several strategies for proclaiming the gospel among intergenerational faith communities, including meaningful conversation, vibrant worship, and experiential education are explored. In part two of the book, he shares experiences of colleagues with intergenerational faith formation.
Now to be sure, as most of you are aware, this is not the first text pertaining to intergenerational faith formation I have read (must be at least ten in my office) and certainly not the first time you may have heard me write or talk about it. I thought I would share two of the experiences in one of the chapters with you.
The first involved a church where members share a meal midweek and after dinner a scripture is shared with those of all ages who would like to help with worship prep. One such gathered group included families with children, children who came without parents, teens, young adults, a couple of people in their sixties and a couple more in their eighties who explored the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). All stayed and engaged in LEGO building scenes of the story which were scrolled through during the worship service as the scripture was read. The dialogue recounted in the book between the generations was engaging.
The second involved a CafeStyle Church and the Parable of the Sower found in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 4:1-9). A group discernment planning team (not always the same) met a week ahead of the scheduled service to explore the passage and questions it raises. The theme chosen was “Faith can take root anywhere – but imagine how far it can grow when nurtured.” Those attending the service were split into groups to reflect on discussion prompts.
It will probably come as no surprise to many of you that the theme of nurturing spoke to me as I have shared with many of you with the well-known fact that children and youth in our congregations need at least four adults – other than their parents – interested and participating in their faith journey.
As we begin a new program year, envisioning a multiage church school setting in Addis Hall, I wonder dear adults in our congregation, how might you help nurture the faith of our younger members in an intergenerational setting, say once a month? Perhaps you could share a favorite Bible story or scripture passage, perhaps you have a hobby or a vocation in which you feel or have felt called to that you might lead us in a telling of it or an activity about it. For example: gardening, poetry, an art form, a spiritual practice, health care, science, teaching, where you feel God’s spirit in your life, care for creation, activism, photography, etc. We might even title them “God Stories Sundays.”
The seed planting of intergenerational faith formation and worship began about twenty years ago. I wonder how we might nurture the roots and the growth of those plantings across the lifespan? I wonder who we might invite the youngest among us to nurture our faith journey.
With ECM and Michael’s approval, Jim Stokes-Buckles, Melissa Mattison, and I are working on a draft Vision for Faith Formation…we will keep you posted.
In the meantime, as I head off for vacation and Sabbath rest, I share with you a picture of one of God’s little creatures I met along an early morning walk on the Cape Cod Canal.
Blessings,
Deb
- Csinos, David. a gospel for ALL AGES: teaching and preaching with the whole church. Fortress Press, MN, 2022. Pg108.
To read the full SPIRE click here.