wfn.org | General Assembly Council reviews staff election process

[PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org]

05-July-1996 
 
GA96110 
 
         General Assembly Council reviews staff election process 
 
ALBUQUERQUE--The General Assembly Council today accepted the resignation of 
the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick as director of the Worldwide Ministries 
Division of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  During a brief noon meeting, 
the Council applauded Kirkpatrick's election as Stated Clerk of the 
denomination and put in motion the process to find a new division director. 
 
    Kirkpatrick's resignation as division director is effective August 5, 
1996. 
 
    In brief remarks, Kirkpatrick said it had been a "tremendous, 
tremendous privilege" to lead the mission endeavors of the church.  Since 
his "ecclesiology is that the church is a missionary society," Kirkpatrick 
said he did not see the division some saw between the ecclesiastical work 
of the church and its work in mission.  He pledged to work "extraordinarily 
closely" with the General Assembly Council. 
 
    Bill McIvor, chair of the Council, outlined the process for replacing 
Kirkpatrick.  First, the executive director of the Council will appoint an 
interim director after consultations with both  elected members of the 
division and its staff.  Then a search committee of seven persons will be 
appointed, four from the division and three from the GAC, including the 
executive director.  This committee will nominate a division director to 
the Council; the director will be elected by the Council and confirmed by 
the General Assembly. 
 
    McIvor also outlined the process for replacing the Rev. James Brown as 
executive director of the Council.  Brown, who is completing a four year 
term in office, was nominated for a second term.  The Assembly voted not to 
confirm his reelection. 
 
    Brown briefly addressed the Council.  "I don't have a speech," he began 
before being overcome by emotion.  "I didn't think I'd cry," he confessed. 
"I have prayed for myself that I will come out of this without bitterness; 
I have some very deep pain," he said.  "We are sort of out of focus in the 
structure of the church," he continued.  "At [General Assembly] it is hard 
to know where a GAC director fits in, where a Council fits in. . . In a 
leadership role it's been tough to know the fit."  If he had it to do over 
again, Brown said, "I would not do this differently.  When I recover, I 
will cherish this time, and I want to thank you," he concluded. 
 
    McIvor stressed that Brown "will continue in office with full 
authority" until his term ends September 16, 1996.  He noted that the 
Manual of Operations does not deal specifically with what to do if the 
executive director nominee is not confirmed.  "We will follow [the 
established] procedures as closely as we are able," he concluded. 
 
      The first step, McIvor said, would be to consult with staff and 
appropriate entities.  The personnel sub-committee will determine whether 
or not an interim executive director is needed. The executive committee of 
the Council will appoint one, if necessary.  Seven members of the Council 
will be appointed to be a search committee.  They will be nominated by the 
GAC's nominating committee and elected by the Council.  They will nominate 
a new executive director to the GAC, which will elect that person, subject 
to the confirmation of the General Assembly. 
 
    Council members voiced great pain over the Assembly's action not to 
confirm Brown.  They debated whether or not to express to commissioners 
their concerns over the process and their pain over the results.  They 
chose not to do so because, as McIvor said, "it will inevitably be received 
in the wrong way." 
 
Peggy Rounseville 

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