After mandating employees sign a non-compete clause, prohibiting employment at any similar ministry for a year, church curriculum provider Orange cut 25 staff members, multiple sources told El Informe Roys (TRR).

The cuts come after Orange announced last month it was merging with Dallas-based Amazing Life Foundation. It also follows last year’s escándalo sexual, which led to the resignation of Orange Founder Reggie Joiner and CEO Kristen Ivy.

Around the time of the merger, Amazing Life sent Orange employees a letter offering them continued employment at the merged nonprofit. But included in the letter was a non-compete agreement, obtenido por TRR, which staff were reportedly required to sign.

The agreement states that former staff are restricted “for 12 months after the date his or employment with the Company terminates, regardless of the reason for such termination.”

Then, last Friday, Orange Anunciado “strategic staffing adjustments to position the organization for long-term sustainability and impact.”

Orange fired 25 staff members, including Orange Interim President Mike Clear, and released a longtime Orange contractor, according to two current and one former Orange staff member, who all spoke to TRR on the condition of anonymity.

The employees said they were given less than a week to sign the letter when the merger happened. “And if they didn’t, their job was over, effective immediately,” one of them told TRR.

A former marketing employee called what management did a “bait and switch.”

Another longtime employee conceded that what Orange did may have been legal. But she asked: “Was it ethical? Was it good? Was it Christ-like? Absolutely not.”

Former Amazing Life/Orange staff also confirmed they were offered two weeks of severance. After some initial negative reactions, it was later extended to four weeks for the laid-off staff members.

En un comunicado a TRR, Amazing Life declined to specifically answer most questions, including how many Orange staff had been affected by the layoffs and the length of severance.

Instead, chief marketing officer Ryan Moore kept an upbeat tone.

“Our mission and vision for the future is stronger than ever,” he told TRR. “What will change though is more impact, more value, (and) serving more churches with better technology.”

The ReThink Group, the nonprofit that transferred its Orange assets and intellectual property to Amazing Life Foundation, declined to comment to TRR about layoffs. They referred us back to Amazing Life.

“These transitions are never easy, and we are deeply grateful for the contributions of every team member who has been part of Orange’s journey,” said Chris Heaslip, CEO of Amazing Life Foundation, in the press release.

A tech entrepreneur, Heaslip has developed multiple apps marketed to church leaders and congregants including Tome, Bside, y Leadr.

In 2020, Heaslip sold his stake in his most successful company, Pushpay, which helps churches collect digital donations, for $45 million.

Further rounds of Orange layoffs are not planned, Amazing Life implied in its press release.

“This is the only staff reduction related to the merger,” it stated. “Moving forward, Orange is focused on building for the future—investing in the team, content, technology, and partnerships that will empower church leaders and families.”

Years-long decline of Orange

In 2023, Orange laid off about a dozen employees. Meanwhile, Orange Founder Reggie Joiner recibió $852,000 annual compensation in 2022, including royalties and benefits. And board chairman Joel Manby received a total of $217,000 that year, including payments to two outside groups.

This raised red flags with ministry watchdogs because the royalties arrangements are opaque while Orange reportado higher expenses than revenues for multiple years, as TRR previamente reportado.

Barry Bowen, lead analyst at Trinity Foundation, who recently examined Orange’s public reports, told TRR: “Looking at payments and royalties over and above just salaries, it appears these ministry executives have been double-dipping, even triple-dipping.”

In April 2024, Joiner and Ivy admitido en an “inappropriate relationship” and resigned from their roles.

Ivy later amended her initial statement, declarando that Joiner had engaged in “clergy sexual abuse” through his position of power over her. Ivy added that she wasn’t the only one.

ReThink Group then opened an investigation, which is ongoing.

Last summer, another half-dozen Orange staff lost their positions. And the turmoil prompted “evaluation of various opportunities for Orange’s future,” according to Orange board chair Manby in a presione soltar last month that announced the merger with Amazing Life.

TRR reached out to Moore of Amazing Life on several specifics, including whether laid-off Orange staff would be released from non-compete agreements. He declined to comment on the record. 

In a Jan. 14 statement to TRR, Moore claimed the changes are strategic.

“While the mission of Orange remains unchanged, certain adjustments are necessary to fully steward and realize our mission as well as ensure that our curriculum is Gospel-centered and theologically sound,” he said.

Amazing Life has emphasized the upcoming Orange Conference, starting on April 29, where “Orange 2.0” will be unveiled. Similar to past years, the curriculum ministry has booked GAS South Convention Center in Atlanta for the large-scale event.

Josh Shepherd is production editor at The Roys Report and a journalist who escribe sobre fe, cultura y políticas públicas para varios medios outlets. He and his family live in central Florida.