wfn.org | PC(USA) Leaders Agree to "Covenant of Leadership"

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14-August-1996 
 
 
 
96294   PC(USA) Leaders Agree to "Covenant of Leadership" 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Thirteen Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders -- the chief 
executives and chairpersons of major General Assembly entities -- have 
signed a statement of cooperation designed to improve the sometimes 
tattered relationships among some of them. 
 
     The group, called together July 31-Aug. 1 at the invitation of General 
Assembly moderator the Rev. John Buchanan and stated clerk the Rev. Clifton 
Kirkpatrick, also agreed to meet regularly "to promote the health of the 
whole church and to deal with interagency and churchwide concerns." 
 
     Conflicts between various General Assembly entities have erupted 
several times in the past year and have been widely reported in the church 
press.  Many believe the internecine squabbling contributed to the recent 
Assembly's decision not to confirm outgoing General Assembly Council (GAC) 
executive director the Rev. James D. Brown to a second four-year term. 
 
     In their covenant, the leaders agreed to "share one another's 
successes and challenges," to deal with each other "directly, honestly, 
openly, respectfully and with civility," and to "pray for each other by 
name." 
 
     The group also unanimously agreed to complete four General Assembly 
actions that were placed in jeopardy on its final day when funds were not 
budgeted for them.  Two of the participants in the meeting -- the GAC and 
the Office of the General Assembly -- pledged to find the $201,000 
necessary to fund 
 
          a consultant to review the GAC executive director's office, the 
Corporate and 
          Administrative Services office and the relationship between the 
GAC and other 
          Assembly entities (an approved recommendation of the General 
Assembly's 
          Quadrennial Review Committee) 
          a special committee to improve middle governing body 
relationships with the General 
          Assembly (another approved Review Committee recommendation) 
          a task force to look at partnership in the allocation of 
restricted funds 
          a task force to study the relationships between the denomination 
and Presbyterian 
          organizations that are not otherwise related to the structures of 
the church. 
 
     The full text of the August 1 statement: 
 
     "We, the elected chairpersons and moderators and the executive 
officers of the General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 
Foundation, Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 
Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, and the Committee on the Office 
of the General Assembly, have met together for 24 hours at the invitation 
of the moderator of the 208th General Assembly (1996) and the stated clerk. 
 
     "We have shared the challenges and opportunities which face each of 
our agencies. 
 
     "We have discussed ways we can work together and support one another. 
 
     "We have talked together about ways we can serve our church in 
implementing important decisions made by the 208th General Assembly. 
 
     "We covenant together to 
 
          affirm that each of us and agencies we serve are integral parts 
of the body which is the 
          Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and that we each share one another's 
successes and 
          challenges 
          deal with one another directly, honestly, openly, respectfully 
and with civility, 
          attempting to reflect in our work together the reconciling love 
of God in Jesus Christ 
          share the content of this covenant with our respective boards and 
staffs 
          pray for one another by name in our personal devotions and by 
agency name when our 
          respective agencies worship. 
 
     " For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the 
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.' (1 
Cor. 12:12)." 
 
Youngil Cho, chair, GAC 
The Rev. Frank Diaz, acting executive director, GAC 
James R. Bellatti, chairperson, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation 
Larry D. Carr, president, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation 
D. Eugene Sibery, chair, Board of Pensions 
John J. Detterick, president, Board of Pensions 
Price H. Gwynn III, board chairperson, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 
Davis Perkins, president and publisher, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 
Alvin N. Puryear, board chairperson, Presbyterian Investment and Loan 
Program The Rev. John M. Coffin, interim president, Presbyterian Investment 
and Loan Program The Rev. J. Oscar McCloud, moderator, Committee on the 
Office of the General Assembly The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk 
of the General Assembly The Rev. John M. Buchanan, moderator of the 208th 
General Assembly (1996) 

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