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Houston church responds to record layoffs at Enron
By Thomas Blanton
2002-007
1/14/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
When the Enron Corporation laid off more than 4000 employees in the Houston area just after Thanksgiving, the Rev. Jim Nutter, rector of Palmer Memorial, Houston, knew the church needed to respond. Palmer's congregation was the spiritual home to many Enron employees and their families, who suddenly faced unemployment and uncertain futures even as the Christmas holidays approached.
Nutter sent an e-mail 'newsflash' proposing a lunch and prayer session to offer support for people dealing with layoffs. Within minutes, he had replies from several former Enron employees and others still employed at the Houston-based energy company. More response came from parishioners who had recently lost jobs at other suffering Houston businesses and from family members of former employees.
'I had people calling and saying, 'I've been laid off, and I'm doing okay, but my wife isn't. Can I bring her?'' Nutter said.
'I came as a victim'
One such parishioner was Linda Shelton, Palmer's parish life coordinator. Shelton's husband worked at Enron for 27 years, and lost his entire retirement fund when the company collapsed.
'I came as a victim,' Shelton said, explaining that she and her husband were trying to cope with the loss of substantial financial security.
More than 30 parishioners came to the lunch. 'We spent about an hour and a half together, sharing support and solace,' Nutter said, who set no agenda for the meeting. Instead, Nutter encouraged the attendees to talk about their experiences. 'We just listened to stories,' Shelton said, shaking her head.
One man started work at Enron in September. Three months later, he was given 30 minutes to leave. Another person still employed at Enron, had spent the last several weeks watching friends and co-workers lose jobs. He was forced to fire 200 of his own employees, and is currently trying to salvage jobs at the dying company.
Online job bank
When Nutter asked what, as a Christian community, Palmer could do to help, one attendee wondered what would happen if they sent their resumes to the church. That suggestion got things rolling. As ideas sprang up, people came forward to make them a reality.
During services the following Sunday, Nutter announced plans for unemployed members of the congregation to post resumes on Palmer's web site. Immediately, a parishioner approached him and asked if she could post two job openings.
Another parishioner with years of experience in Human Resources offered to organize training sessions to teach job-hunting and interview survival skills. Palmer has set aside office space to update resumes and prepare new ones, said Peter D'Alessandro, former director of industrial outsourcing operations for Enron. 'Their response was rapid and effective,' D'Alessandro said. 'Even though most people have computers at home, there is a networking aspect of getting together to exchange leads and ideas that is very important for those who are out of work. I've been here before, I know how you play the statistics and the networking game, but most people don't,' he added.
Coffee and commiseration turn to ministry
In addition to its employment ministries, Palmer has reinforced its bonds as a community. When several people said they simply did not know what to do with their mornings, Palmer responded with a daily 'coffee house,' offering unemployed parishioners a place to spend their mornings together and share their progress.
Additionally, several parishioners have discovered opportunities in lay ministry. According to Shelton, two parishioners who have spent their suddenly uncluttered schedules working with the Way Station, Palmer's homeless outreach ministry, reported that they now felt important and validated during their lay-offs.
Despite the uncertainty of searching for jobs, the Palmer congregation remains optimistic about its members' futures.
'Security rests in our Savior,' Shelton said. '[The Christmas] season is a gift to us all. That's very comforting.'
During the original lunch meeting, D'Alessandro encouraged the group to keep up morale. 'I've been here before and I came to share my experience' D'Alessandro said. 'A large number of people at the first lunch came to offer support--I gotta tell you, it warmed the cockles of my heart. This is different from other times I've been looking for a job. I didn't get crossways with my boss or anything else. I consider this situation without stigma for everyone who was let go.'
'This is not what life is about,' another parishioner said. 'Who you are is not changed. You are and always will be a beloved child of God.'
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