wfn.org | APA: the Church's Unsung Heroes

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

28-October-1997 
 
 
 
    Administrative Personnel Association: 
    the Church's Unsung Heroes 
 
    by Teri Bauer and Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
    They are the unsung heroes of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- the 
secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, bookkeepers and 
business administrators who keep the church and church-related offices of 
the denomination running. 
 
    And their jobs are far more complicated than we give them credit for. 
With office technology advancing rapidly and the demands of Presbyterians 
growing no less complex, Presbyterian office workers are in regular need of 
a network of support and continuing education. 
 
    The Administrative Personnel Association (APA) of the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) is the organization that knits together the denomination's 
office workers.  Nearly 100 of them gathered in Cincinnati recently for the 
APA's 21st annual conference "We Are Partners Together Working for God." 
 
    The focus of the conference was decidedly practical.  Participants 
attended workshops on such topics as Presbyterian polity, stress and 
burnout, communication and problem solving, General Assembly issues, the 
preparation of statistical reports, leadership development, stewardship and 
time management, current developments in desktop publishing, Internet and 
other electronic communications and changes in the Board of Pensions 
benefits plans. 
 
    At the concluding banquet, numerous association members were presented 
certificates for successful completion of continuing education programs. 
 
    The 1998 APA national convention will be May 15-17 in Fort Myers, Fla. 
The registrar is Linda Ketchum, who can be reached at (941) 542-2858.  For 
more information about the Administrative Personnel Association of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), call Joyce Bauer at (919) 787-7780 or Dot 
Bass at (919) 787-2055. 

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