October 5 1998

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In a major ministry realignment, Promise Keepers (PK) will trim its full-time staff by 28 percent, from 250 to 180, as of October 31.

Last fall, the men's movement, which is now eight years old, announced plans for a radical transition from fee-based to donation-based operations along with a shift in emphasis from emotionally charged stadium events to working in closer partnership with denominations, local churches, and grassroots networks.

"It's a case of tapering and posturing ourselves so that we can be poised to move quickly and do what we were called to do," PK founder Bill McCartney told CT. "As we see more clearly our vision, we don't think we need as many staff to pull it off."

That vision includes helping spark similar movements abroad, staging a simultaneous gathering at state capitol buildings on January 1, 2000, and continuing to promote racial reconciliation.

McCartney, who earlier served as chief executive officer of the Denver-based ministry, is now overseeing three divisions as president and founder. Randy Phillips has moved from president to the new position of vice president for global ministries, and Tom Fortson from chief operating officer to executive vice president of administration and operations. Raleigh Washington is now vice president of reconciliation.

ROLLER COASTER EMPLOYMENT: Following PK's climactic Stand in the Gap rally in Washington, D.C., one year ago (CT, Nov. 17, 1997, p. 62), McCartney promised his staff they would stay together through the 1998 conference season. In February, McCartney announced that all 345 workers would be laid off on March 31 unless donations made up for a shortfall caused by eliminating the conference fees (CT, April 6, 1998, p. 18). The layoff came, but most of the ...