{"id":20802,"date":"2024-11-02T17:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T17:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=20802"},"modified":"2024-11-08T09:12:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T09:12:54","slug":"workingtogether","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/workingtogether\/","title":{"rendered":"Working Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

31 October 2024 | Budva, Montenegro [Vanesa Pizzuto and David Neal]<\/p>\n

Year-End Meetings (YEM) are a time when Division departmental directors deliver reports to Union leaders on the targets met and work done in the years prior. This is an important exercise that promotes transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n

The End of the Silo Mentality<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, attendees and delegates were pleasantly surprised with a completely different type of report. Rather than individual reports on the work done by each department over the last triennium, departmental directors delivered a joint report focusing on the Division’s main strategic values: 1. Extending Love, 2. Growing Life-Long Disciples, and 3. Multiplying Communities.<\/p>\n

According to Daniel Duda, Trans-European Division (TED) President, the point of the joint report was \u201cto model working together and end the silo mentality.\u201d Additionally, Duda highlighted that while Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and programmes are important and necessary, \u201cvalues are what truly mobilise community transformations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Standing side by side, departmental directors shared the main stories and inspiring moments from the last three years and the strategies used to live out these values and expand God\u2019s kingdom. In addition to the oral report and audiovisual support, union directors received detailed written reports from all departments.<\/p>\n

Committee Member Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several committee members commented on this new approach and expressed their appreciation for it. Frieda Souhuwat-Tomasoa (Netherlands Union Conference lay member) liked the reporting because “It made sense to me as the combined reports followed a certain line, each report linking with the other\u2014the red thread of the TED!”<\/p>\n

Jani Virolainen (Executive Secretary, Finnish Union of Churches Conference) thought it was really good and energetic without being long and boring, even though it took time. What helped was “presenters changing frequently, topics moving on quickly, and a logical flow in terms of the three values.”<\/p>\n

Lidija Maleti\u0107 (Adriatic Union Conference lay member) described the presentation as brilliant! “It was vivid, with all of us watching and listening very carefully. It was interdisciplinary, with an invitation to give feedback. This has to be the best approach, and I hope it can stay this way in the future.”<\/p>\n

Jimmy Botha (President, Scottish Mission) shared that he “Really appreciated how the directors put their reports together, and a good example of doing away with silos. I think we will report for our session like this from now on.”<\/p>\n

Extending Love<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Trans-European<\/a>
Heli Otamo-Csizmadia explains how she has shared the value of extending love through stewardship ministries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Some of the main initiatives and stories from this section of the report include:<\/p>\n