3 Apr 2020, 12:02Pastor Ian Sweeney
Several BUC Staff Placed on Furlough Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Statement from BUC President Ian Sweeney
The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This includes a package of measures to support businesses including a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
These are truly unprecedented days in which we now live. It is because of the unknowns, that the British Union Conference (BUC) has taken a decision to temporarily shut down a number of departments as we come to terms with the realities of our situation. This decision was not made without much prayer, soul-searching and agonising.
The British Union and indeed the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally, operates as a result of the goodwill and dedication of its members. The gifts members give by way of time, skills, talents and money is incalculable. However, it is because of the calculable unknowns that we have furloughed a number of department staff as part of the UK Job Retention Scheme.
As I have previously said, the doors of our churches may be closed but the Church has always been about people, people who are the presence of Christ in their neighbourhoods. The British Union has had to make the difficult decision to temporarily furlough a number of departmental staff including: Family and Children's Ministries, Personal Ministries, Sabbath School and Church Growth. The decision to furlough staff in these and other departments was not because they are unimportant but rather because we want to ensure that we have an operating, functional church organisation when the events of COVID-19 are finally behind us.
We welcome your prayers and of course your suggestions as we navigate through these difficult times.
Ian Sweeney (Pastor & President)
The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This includes a package of measures to support businesses including a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
These are truly unprecedented days in which we now live. It is because of the unknowns, that the British Union Conference (BUC) has taken a decision to temporarily shut down a number of departments as we come to terms with the realities of our situation. This decision was not made without much prayer, soul-searching and agonising.
The British Union and indeed the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally, operates as a result of the goodwill and dedication of its members. The gifts members give by way of time, skills, talents and money is incalculable. However, it is because of the calculable unknowns that we have furloughed a number of department staff as part of the UK Job Retention Scheme.
As I have previously said, the doors of our churches may be closed but the Church has always been about people, people who are the presence of Christ in their neighbourhoods. The British Union has had to make the difficult decision to temporarily furlough a number of departmental staff including: Family and Children's Ministries, Personal Ministries, Sabbath School and Church Growth. The decision to furlough staff in these and other departments was not because they are unimportant but rather because we want to ensure that we have an operating, functional church organisation when the events of COVID-19 are finally behind us.
We welcome your prayers and of course your suggestions as we navigate through these difficult times.
Ian Sweeney (Pastor & President)
