York, PA - The York County Council of Churches board is weighing whether to disband York's largest ecumenical organization, which dates to 1951.
The board last month fired its executive director -- the fifth leader to depart the organization in 10 years -- who has since asked member churches to investigate its actions.
The board, comprised of 10 clergy and lay leaders, wrote to churches, donors and others across the county last week about the firing and asked whether the council should continue.
If yes, "we must get it right," wrote Chad Linder, board president. If no, "we must accept this reality with grace and humility, knowing we have done our best."
Linder said in an interview the board wants
Metta Barbour, interim executive director of the York County Council of Churches.
to hear from the community on whether and how the council should move forward and, if so, who will volunteer their time and money to support it.
To aid the evaluation, the board has appointed attorney and former nonprofit executive Metta Barbour as interim executive director, following the dismissal of the Rev. Guy W. Dunham on Jan. 6.
Barbour of Red Lion lost a bid last fall to unseat Republican Rep. Stan Saylor in the 94th state House district. She once led the nonprofit Coalition for Smart Growth in Lancaster.
Barbour joins the council this week and is tasked with assessing the operations and structure of the organization, its board and staff during the next three months. "We're looking for a business plan for the next 12-18 months. If it's determined it's best we keep our doors open, that plan would be executed by the next full-time director," Linder said.
The council, which would turn 60 this year, has historically served as an ecumenical fellowship of Christian congregations in the city and county of York. Among other projects, it has overseen ministries to AIDS patients, raised funds for hunger relief and organized communitywide worship services such as the one at the York Fair.
Of the 400-plus churches in York County, about 140 are members.
Most recently, the council tried to improve collaboration and communication among congregations and partnered with community groups on initiatives such as poverty and emergency preparedness planning.
The council had an estimated budget of about $223,000 last year with an anticipated deficit of up to $100,000, Dunham said. The council is funded largely by private donors, grants, membership dues and fundraisers such as the Festival of Trees. It has enough on hand to sustain itself for at least a year during the self-assessment, Linder said.
His Feb. 7 letter also addressed Dunham's dismissal.
Late last year, the board became "increasingly concerned" about Dunham's ability to execute the "core responsibilities and recommendations" as outlined in the council's strategic plan, Linder wrote.
That included the organization's financial stability and "clear, meaningful dialogue" with the board, member congregations and potential members.
"Ultimately, it was clear that a change in leadership was not only prudent, but required," Linder wrote.
Dunham, 59, of Springettsbury Township has said his firing was due in part to the board's dysfunction and instability in leadership. He's called on members to form a fact-finding panel to investigate the board and hold it accountable.
Last week, he disputed several points in Linder's letter.
"Tying my dismissal to not carrying out the responsibilities related to the strategic
The Rev. Guy W. Dunham, former executive director of the York County Council of Churches.
plan is ludicrous in light of the fact that the strategic plan was never officially approved and, therefore, goals and responsibilities related to it were never assigned to me," Dunham said by e-mail.
"My refusal to enter into 'meaningful dialogue' was due to the fact that they were holding a meeting on December 14 without a quorum and subsequently attempted illegally to terminate me."
After the Dec. 14 termination vote, Dunham mainly communicated with the board through his attorney, Walter A. Tilly III, he said. A quorum of the board repeated the vote to dismiss him Jan. 6.
Linder wrote that Dunham's termination included a notice period and offer of severance.
However, Dunham said severance was only discussed weeks after his firing. The board withheld its severance offer pending review of his public comments on his dismissal and Dunham's willingness to sign a liability release, he said.
"After careful review of the statements you provided to media, we feel that in good conscience that we can no longer consider offering the two months of salary and benefits," Linder wrote in a Jan. 27 e-mail to Dunham.
Linder said Friday there were "other issues" that affected the severance decision, but he declined elaborate.
Tax exemptions for religious organizations such as the council generally include exclusion from unemployment taxes, so Dunham cannot collect unemployment benefits, he said.
On Monday, Dunham began a part-time position as the temporary pastor of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Springettsbury Township. He expects to serve the congregation for about two months, until it calls a permanent pastor.
The council
Name: York County Council of Churches
Established: 1951
Members: 140 congregations
Address: 30 E. King St., York, 854-9504
Web site: www.yccchurches.org
Board officers: Chad Linder, president; Jason Lewis, vice president; George Lenkner, secretary; Ed Hesson, treasurer
Related coverage
· The Rev. Guy Dunham's letter to the editor
· "York County Council of Churches board removes leader"
· YCCC board president Chad Linder's letter. Scroll to "nonprofits."
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