wfn.org | Division Director Poethig Is Not Affirmed by the GAC

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

17-February-1998 
98052 
 
          Division Director Poethig Is Not Affirmed by the GAC 
 
                             by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-Agreeing with the recommendations of its End of Term Review 
and Congregational Ministries Division (CMD) committees, the General 
Assembly Council (GAC) did not affirm the Rev. Eunice B. Poethig as CMD 
director following a private session here on Feb. 13.  Poethig was released 
from her duties as a division director on Feb. 14, when her contract 
expired. 
 
      As was the case during the CMD Committee's meeting last November, 
committee members were again charged with the task of evaluating the needs 
of the division and deciding who will lead it into the future. The 
end-of-term review process is prescribed by the GAC, and is used to assist 
the Council in reaching a decision regarding the renomination of division 
directors. 
 
    Emerging from a marathon executive session on Feb. 12, the CMD 
Committee not only failed to recommend Poethig for another four-year term, 
but rescinded its action from Nov. 13, 1997, which called for an extension 
of her current contract through Sept. 30, 1998. Their recommendation was 
then submitted to the GAC for discussion and action. 
 
    "I felt genuinely called to this position,"  Poethig disappointedly 
told the Presbyterian News Service shortly after the GAC's decision was 
announced. "I think we have accomplished wonderful things together and we 
always worked as a team in the Congregational Ministries Division. I have 
great trust that the leadership in the division will go forward and that 
they will continue what they have accomplished." 
 
    On Feb. 11, Poethig requested that the CMD Committee reconsider its 
November action regarding her end of term review and replace it with a 
recommendation that she be allowed to stand for re-election to a second, 
two-year term as division director. She claimed her November review did not 
meet the requirements for the "End-of-Term Performance Review" as provided 
by the GAC Manual of Operations. Furthermore, Poethig said, violation of 
the procedures under her employment contract and denial of her eligibility 
without due process constituted an unlawful breach of her agreement. 
 
    Specifically, Poethig said, her interview with the End-of-Term Review 
Committee lasted 20 minutes, not the 2-3 hours prescribed in the Manual. 
Additionally, she said, the committee's decision came before she was given 
an opportunity to respond to the information she was presented. 
 
    Poethig told the Presbyterian News Service she questioned the review 
process at the suggestion of the Presbytery of Western New York, of which 
she is a member. During its Jan. 27 meeting, the presbytery expressed 
concern about the process and outcome of Poethig's end of term review. 
 
    Support for Poethig came in several forms, including letters from the 
Synod of the Covenant, Chicago Presbytery, Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church 
in Chicago, where Poething was ordained, and from Justice for Women of 
Louisville Presbytery, which circulated a petition that received more than 
1,200 signatures from people across the denomination. "I want to give 
thanks to all the staff and all those who have supported us and me through 
this very difficult time," Poethig said. 
 
              The Executive Session of the CMD Committee 
 
    During their executive session, the CMD Committee: 
 
    *  Heard Poethig, the Rev. Ed Craxton, CMD associate director for 
       Christian Education; the Rev. Frank Diaz, GAC interim executive 
       director; John Evans, chair of the End of Term Review Committee; 
       Eric J.  Graninger, Technology and Finance Office general counsel; 
       and Jinny K.  Miller, a GAC member of Mishawaka, Ind., to speak 
       about the situation. 
    *  Heard the End of Term Review Committee review their process, 
       recommendation and rationale in not recommending Poethig for another 
       term. 
    *  Heard Poethig respond, sharing her perspectives on the review 
       process and results, her recommendation that the Nov. 14, 1997 CMDC 
       actions be rescinded, and her vision for the division under her 
       leadership. 
 
    Yet, indications of  Poethig's dismissal were imminent - even before 
the GAC handed down its ruling. On Feb. 10, GAC Executive Committee chair 
Fred Denson of Webster, N.Y. told the Presbyterian News Service there were 
no substantive errors in Poethig's review process, adding that the GAC's 
Personnel Subcommittee also reviewed the process to ensure proper 
procedures were followed. 
 
    Denson, acknowledged however that Poethig's meeting with the 
End-Of-Term Review Committee lasted 20 minutes, not the 2-3 hours as 
specified in the GAC Manual of Operations. He said  "some further review" 
may need to be given to the Manual. 
 
    While undecided on whether to file a lawsuit, Poethig told the 
Presbyterian News Service she has retained the services of a law firm in 
Chicago. Clearly unwilling to exit her position quietly, Poethig said her 
desire to  remain a division director stemmed primarily from her devotion 
to the church. 
 
    "My passion is for the anxiety that's present in the employees across 
the church, for how vulnerable they are if personnel policies aren't 
followed and the responses that have come to me and the public responses 
illustrate this quite clearly," Poethig said. "The process that has 
affected me raises issues for the whole church." 
 
    Responding to the question of whether or not her termination was the 
result of action by conservative opponents, Poethig said any time 
performance reviews are conducted there is a high probability they are 
shaped by "many different influences." That is why, Poethig said, the 
review process needs to be conducted in a manner in which  "all factors can 
be considered and dealt with." 
 
    "Based on the (present end-of-term review) model that we use with 
General Assembly personnel ... opportunities to speak are guarded," Poethig 
said. "We need to be alert and careful to use that process well." 
 
    Poethig was elected by the GAC in 1994 to be director of the 
newly-constituted Congregational Ministries Division following restructure 
of the Council in 1993. In accordance with procedures outlined in the GAC 
Manual of Operations, her performance over the past four years was 
evaluated by the End-Of-Term Review Committee. Their review included 
receiving evaluations from 96 individuals from across the denomination who 
were familiar with Poethig's work, consideration of her annual and mid-term 
performance evaluations and information provided by Poethig. 
 
                        The next steps for the division 
 
    In accordance with procedures to be followed when a director vacancy 
occurs, Denson said he has conferred with the GAC Executive Committee 
regarding next steps. The GAC's Manual of Operations provides for the 
following interim steps: 
 
   *   The GAC interim executive director, the Rev. Frank Diaz will meet 
       with the CMD staff to explain the procedures, hear concerns, answer 
       questions and seek their suggestions for the interim period. 
   *   Diaz will confer with the CMD Committee and staff on skills and 
       talents needed in the new division director. 
   *   Diaz, in consultation with the Personnel Subcommittee and 
       appropriate persons selected by the CMD Committee, will determine 
       the need for an interim director, begin the selection process if it 
       is determined that an interim director is needed, and appoint the 
       interim director. 
 
    If an interim division director is not needed, Diaz will determine how 
the functions of the CMD director will be filled. An interim division 
director may serve only during the interim period and may not be called as 
the CMD director. 

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