3 October 2016
Dear Brian (Yates),
Thank you for the clarification. I apologize for any misunderstanding or mischaracterization. I accept your apology and ask that you forgive me, as well.
You are right, you did send me a thorough and helpful email on 9/16, to which I failed to respond (I’ve included below for all to review). I apologize for not responding. I shared, however, with the stake presidency that I was not inclined to approve a move of the YSA Branch to the Institute (or any other building in the Gresham Stake), but forgot to communicate my feelings to you after you so kindly shared your thoughts.
So you’re aware, here are three major reasons I see for not moving the YSA branch into the Institute building or a location in Gresham: (1) I was the bishop that moved the YSA Ward out of the Institute into a church building and it made a huge difference in helping the YSA feel they were a true Church unit and they began to grow (40 to 75 in average attendance) and function (accept leadership roles) as such; (2) the full-time missionaries in our stake would not be able to attend the YSA branch meetings without some special permission, which may be hard to get inasmuch as crossing mission boundaries is, as one Area 70 said, a send-home transgression; and (3) placing the YSA branch within the Gresham Stake boundaries would inherently undermine the Springwater YSA Ward. While it may make sense to us to rescue the many YSA on the east side seemingly being neglected right now, this is not an appropriate way to get priesthood leaders to change direction.
If there’s a silver lining, hopefully this discussion on both the Spanish and YSA units has now been broached with all the “key players” (the stake presidency and you, as the HC over both units) so that we can once-and-for-all put to rest any rumors or hidden agendas among any of us with regard to thoughts of moving an existing ward or branch into the Estacada building. And while the idea of creating a fourth ward out of E-SR-TC is enticing, we are not seeing enough growth (either in converts or move-ins) to justify such a consideration at least not until we consistently see 250+ attendance in at least two of the three wards and even there I believe SLC might balk at such a recommendation in part due to the thin numbers in the TC Ward (they’ve stopped opening the first curtain for sacrament meeting).
Brian, thank you for taking the time to explain what happened. We value very much your service on the high council and for your faithful service to two units—the YSA and Spanish. The fact that you serve both units speaks to how much confidence we have in you. We are equally grateful for your willingness to provide double-duty service.
Gratefully,
Crismon
Your email to which I never responded (my apologies!):
When I was asked to work with the Spanish group, I began to look to the future and began looking for the solutions to the problems we addressed last night, as well as some others.
Growth of the group was one thing I looked at and the fact is, at some future date, the Sandy building will not be able to accommodate both the Spanish Branch/Ward and the YSA Branch/Ward.
President Hansen and I discussed this and he asked me to explore what options exist, and to get the opinions of Pres. Westover and of Bro. G - from a YSA, not Spanish, point of view.
Pres. Westover is not concerned about the possibility of having to move, as long as Estacada is not the destination building. We both believe moving the Branch there would be damaging to our efforts. He likes the idea of the Stake Center or the Institute or the Troutdale building.
Brother G hopes we choose the Institute, but he also likes the idea of the Troutdale building.
My thoughts are that having the YSAs meet at the Stake Center would be the best option for the Stake, but I recognize it will likely not happen.
Why do I say it is best for the Stake? Moving Damascus Ward for a short time to the Estacada building would give the minimum required 2 units per existing building, which then would allow us to petition Salt Lake to build another building. We will need that building because the SR/Tickle Creek/Estacada combination will soon birth a 4th Ward.
At that point, the YSAs could move to Troutdale, (because by then, they will have outgrown the possibility of using the Institute) also by then, our relationship with the Gresham Stake YSAs will be so solid that the Gresham location will be desireable. Or they could just stay in the Stake Center with Damascus and the Spanish Branch. The 2 Gresham Wards would meet in the new building located in Gresham proper.
The units per building would be:
Sandy - 2 Units
Estacada - 2 Units (Estacada + the new Ward)
The Stake Center - 3 Units
The new building - 2 Units
So, if the YSAs don't go to the Stake Center, I recommend they go to the Institute, and when they outgrow it, the Troutdale building (which currently houses 2 wards) will be nice. And yes, I know we will outgrow the Institute in a year, but there are benefits to meeting there until we do outgrow it.
Thanks,
Brian
In response to this email chain:
Brian,
I appreciate your vision and enthusiasm for growth, but SLC is doing everything possible to avoid building in the USA since most of the growth (and need) is in Africa and Latin America.
So our chances of getting a building in Gresham are very remote because…
1. The Church sold the land where the Hogan building was located in Gresham and there are few pieces of suitable size remaining, that I can tell;
2. We would have to have sacrament meeting attendance in multiple wards of 300 or more before they’d start looking at dividing wards (we only have two wards that pull more than 200 sacrament meeting attendance and that’s only on an occasional basis);
3. We need 3 units, not 2, in every building before they’ll consider building;
4. The Church is monitoring attendance and growth in every building (we are required to submit an annual report) and they require wards to attend in “open” slots in buildings even located in other stakes before they’ll build a new meetinghouse, i.e. they would require WH and PV wards attend meetings in the Gresham Stake Center or Stark or Troutdale before building again;
5. City of Gresham has a reputation of making it difficult to build within the city limits, partly because there is so little land left so they can be tough.
In short, it is extremely remote that we’ll ever see another meetinghouse in Gresham. So I appreciate your eagerness for growth, but—because of your stake calling—anything you say can be taken as a reflection of the stake presidency. So please do not drop hints or suggest to leaders or members that someday a Sandy unit will be going to Estacada. That just isn’t practical. In fact, to force a Sandy congregation anytime soon to drive to Estacada just because leaders want to create the appearance of growth is both unrealistic and unkind. Please do not instigate rumors.
Thanks,
Crismon
FROM BRIAN: I would never instigate rumors. I have not made suggestions or dropped hints to anyone - leaders or otherwise - that one of the Sandy units would be going to Estacada. What has made you think that I had?
FROM CRISMON:
During our Spanish Branch discussion meeting you mentioned openly that you had already communicated to President Westover that he should be thinking about a possible change in location (due to the possibility of a Spanish branch), maybe even Estacada. President Westover confirmed with me later that you had dropped a hint to him that the branch may move, possibly to Estacada. I assured him that would not happen.
Later I was told (I believe in a stake presidency meeting) that Bishop Howes, hearing that there was a possibility a Sandy unit might eventually move to Estacada, supposedly said, “Well, if any ward should go to Estacada it would be our ward” since he has a number of members who live off of Highway 211 half way to Estacada.
I am concerned that this idea (rumor) is even being discussed anywhere outside of the stake presidency (where it’s NOT being discussed). It just creates unnecessary instability and insecurity in the hearts of leaders and members.
I concluded that such a rumor came from you because of the comment I heard you make at the Spanish Branch discussion meeting. That’s when I began probing as it raised a deep concern with me. Then when you asked the question in the email below about moving a ward to Estacada (an idea that I have never suggested, proposed or entertained, that I recall), it further concerned me that the idea (and rumor) was coming from you. Hence this email chain.
If I’ve misunderstood or unfairly judged, please accept my apology.
FROM BRIAN:
That is not accurate. During the Spanish meeting, when we talked about a potential meeting-time conflict I said that I don't think we need to be concerned with the YSA branch in regard to meeting time conflicts. Only after the meeting and then in a private email to you did I talk about speaking with President Westover. I have never openly discussed this.
Here is the related portion of the email I sent to you:
"Growth of the group was one thing I looked at and the fact is, at some future date, the Sandy building will not be able to accommodate both the Spanish Branch/Ward and the YSA Branch/Ward.
President Hansen and I discussed this and he asked me to explore what options exist, and to get the opinions of Pres. Westover and of Bro. G - from a YSA, not Spanish, point of view.
Pres. Westover is not concerned about the possibilty of having to move, as long as Estacada is not the destination building. We both believe moving the Branch there would be damaging to our efforts. He likes the idea of the Stake Center or the Institute or the Troutdale building.
Brother G hopes we choose the Institute, but he also likes the idea of the Troutdale building."
I believe the idea of a ward splitting occurs to most people when they see the overflow being opened, and especially when the second overflow is opened. When the Stake has the creation of two new units as a goal, you are guaranteeing discussion, at the members level, regarding which ward will split and where the new units will meet. Hopefully, it does not strike fear or insecurity into the hearts of leaders when they consider this goal, it should make them consider what they can do to help bring it about.
I can't speak to what Bishop Howes thinks or said, or as you wrote: "supposedly" said; I have never talked to him about this. And speaking of not talking to someone about this, if in the future you need to probe about me, please feel free to talk to me. I'll give you first hand information.
If I have done anything wrong I sincerely apologize, and I will publicly apologize to whoever I have wronged.
