Newly Organized HR Department Creates New Hire Orientation

In January 2024, Southern New England Conference (SNEC) reorganized its Human Resources (HR) team into a fully staffed HR department.  One of the many upgrades they have initiated is a new hire orientation, with its third session held on March 3 - 5, 2025, at Camp Winnekeag.  The goal is to run two sessions per year, in March and October.  

“We were very concerned that the pastors and employees did not have [complete understanding of the] information that we give them,” said Edgardo Herrera, HR director, noting that this is probably due the large number of documents involved. “So we made it a priority during the first two orientation sessions [held in January and April 2024] to home in on explaining the policy to the pastors.”

During the most recent session in March 2025, all SNEC departments presented to the new hires, educating them about what comprises the conference, who the directors are and who to contact if they have questions.  “We also went over benefits, record keeping and communication expectations, and talked about SNEC’s mission, vision and goals,” explained Norys Agudelo, associate secretary for HR.

For the first time, the HR team invited Atlantic Union (AU) administrators to present to the new hires.  “We were looking to build our employees’ relationship with the union, foster collaboration between the local field and the union, and give the union an opportunity to pour into them their experience,” Herrara said.  Elias Zabala, AU treasurer, explained the intricacies of budgeting and finance from a union perspective, and how it transfers to the local field.  Ted Huskins, AU executive secretary, presented excellent counsel on what a pastor should do in the first 100 days in a new district. 

Another innovation by the HR department for new hires is a 20-minute sexual harassment program validated by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), in which employees are certified and sign off on.  All SNEC employees will receive this certification in October 2025.

“Our studies show that if you tell employees what their benefits are and coach them, there is a higher probability that they will stay in the conference,” Herrara said. Above all, “we want our employees to know that we support them and we’re here to serve them.”

Several SNEC administrators and department heads pose with newly hired pastors and their spouses at the March 2025 New Hire Orientation.