December Meetings

The Arizona Conference Education K-12 Board takes place today.  There is a full agenda.  Some very meaty topics will be discussed today.  The future is sobering.  I truly do not see in myself the person who has the ability to solve the puzzle that is Adventist Education.  In fact I feel pretty small to the task.  But I have no choice—I am here during this time.  There are enrollment, financial, and infrastructure challenges in every school in the conference.  Add to this the added burden of increased costs for faculty remuneration and benefits that are not presently budgeted.  The committee will have to find a creative way to address the projected shortfall in next school year’s budget.  The only option if no solution is found is to close schools—and that is not an option that I want to consider.

My morning will be spent putting the finishing touches on the materials that need to be presented on this topic.  AAF will also be bringing a report and some recommendations to enhance the partnership dynamics between the Foundation, the academy, and the conference.  There are challenges, but we do not want the information channel to be compromised in any way.

The topic of how best to associate with Adventist home-schooling parents will be addressed.  There are pitfalls in running ahead without a long-range plan.  I will be asking permission to launch a pilot plan, subject to Pacific Unionapproval, to engage this segment of our church membership.  Failure to do so will cause long-term harm to our school system.  Much prayer and wisdom is needed here as well.

I have been thinking that leadership is most often defined by the context in which is develops.  It is easier to be a leader in times of relative peace and abundance.  But leadership is forged in times of crisis and opposition.  I pray I will be willing to be endowed with the qualities needed during these challenging times.  There is a way.  There are resources.  We have to connect with the ultimate Source of wisdom in order to confront head-on the spiritual forces that are determined to destroy what God is doing.  Send up a prayer on our behalf today.