wfn.org | People, Relationships, and Trust" Are Key Words for Detterick

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19-June-1998 
GA98125 
 
"People, Relationships, and Trust" Are Key Words for Detterick as He Begins 
Work 
 
                        by Bill Lancaster 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--"People, relationships and trust" are three words that 
underlie the three foci John J. Detterick brings to his work as executive 
director of the General Assembly Council (GAC), he told a news conference 
June 19. 
   Detterick, 57, was confirmed and installed by the 210th General Assembly 
June 18 in what outgoing interim executive director Frank Diaz called "the 
most positive message [going out of the Assembly] in a long time." 
Detterick, an elder in the Wayne Presbyterian Church in Wayne, Pa., will 
begin his duties August 12.  He has been president of the Board of Pensions 
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  since 1993. 
   The three foci he will bring are: "supporting and enabling mission 
through congregations and presbyteries," supporting "a cohesive and 
service-oriented staff;" and supporting the General Assembly Council "in a 
pro-active and constructive definition of its future role." 
   "Underneath those three goals," he told the news conference, "are three 
very important words--people, relationships, and trust.  Those are the real 
key elements to what I hope we can focus on.  It's people that we need to 
focus on serving, people coming together in their congregations and coming 
together in presbyteries.  It's people doing, serving, working together in 
teams.   
   "It's relationships.  People have relationships with each other.  When 
we have relationships, we know each other.  We know each other for our 
beauties and our flaws and love each other in Christ for that and in spite 
of our differences.   
   "Out of being people and being in relationship and understanding each 
other comes trust, trust in each other.  And if we can begin to build those 
relationships, if we can focus on people, trust will come.  When trust 
comes, we really will come together as a community of the church, a rich 
and diverse church with great diversity, diversity of people and diversity 
of theology, but coming together.  That's where I hope we will be as we 
enter the 21st century, serving each other." 
   In his speech before the Assembly when confirmed, Detterick elaborated 
on the three foci. 
   "First: I will focus on supporting and enabling mission through 
congregations and presbyteries.  Quality service organizations have a clear 
understanding of who they serve and of the expectations of those they 
serve.  We must ask,  what do congregations need from us to facilitate 
their mission work?'  Typically, Presbyterians begin to experience the 
larger community of the church in their presbyteries.  We must ask,  what 
do presbyteries need of us to facilitate their mission work?'  The gap 
between congregations and presbyteries and the GAC is huge.  And we must 
forge stronger partnerships with the synods, sharing resources together to 
support and enable mission through congregations. 
   "Second: I will bring a focus on supporting a cohesive and 
service-oriented staff.  Quality service is provided by committed and 
empowered people working together with a common vision.  I have been in and 
out of the GAC offices in Louisville enough to know that the council is 
blessed with many very gifted and talented people who have a strong desire 
to serve the church.  I've also observed that their work has been buffeted 
by restructuring, financial pressures and turmoil.  We need to create a 
supportive and productive work environment for the General Assembly staff 
that equips and supports them in the process of serving congregations and 
presbyteries. 
   "And finally, I will bring a focus on supporting the council in their 
pro-active and constructive definition of their own future.  You may know 
that there are several committees presently working and considering 
restructuring issues for the General Assembly Council.  It seems that 
everybody knows at least one thing the council could do better.  This is an 
opportune time to be supportive of and interactive with these outside 
committees.  This is an opportune time to move ahead in focusing more 
intently on new ways for the General Assembly Council to demonstrate 
responsive and efficient service to the church in the 21st century." 
   Search committee chair Lynda Ardan told the Assembly, "The reasons why 
the search committee selected John were: his very strong sense of call to 
this position; his commitment to Jesus Christ and to the mission of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); his proven management, financial ability and 
experience with large, complex organizations.  He is well-known and 
respected throughout this denomination.  He's a good listener, and he 
projects a sense of calmness even during difficult times.  He sees the 
focus of the General Assembly Council is to enable and support 
congregations and presbyteries in mission involvement." 
   Ardan said the search committee asked Detterick to assess the health of 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  and its governing bodies.  She said, "He 
answered,  Jesus tells us to feed my lambs and tend my sheep.  Assessing 
the health of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  is not about numbers of 
members, or churches or size of budgets.  It's about how well we proclaim 
the good news and feed the poor.  The challenge before the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) is to enable and support the working of the Holy Spirit in 
ways that are more relevant to congregations and presbyteries while 
nurturing the sense of community as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).'" 
   In the news conference, Detterick was asked what the prophetic role 
(leading congregations and presbyteries) of the denomination might be in 
light of his service emphasis.  
     He answered, "For the prophetic side to be healthy, I think the 
servant side needs to be healthy first.  I'm convinced that if we can focus 
on being wonderful, efficient, effective servants to congregations and 
presbyteries and build relationships among people and trust level, then the 
national church will be in a position to be very effective as a prophetic 
voice and will be in synch with the church as much as it can possibly be 
and actually be in a position to be getting out in front.  But when we are 
not functioning well as servants, I don't think we can be out in front as 
well.  So, I think we need to do our homework first." 
   The unanimous vote of approval in the Assembly was preceded by the 
unanimous vote of the Assembly Committee on Mission Coordination and 
Budgets in concurring with the General Assembly Council (GAC) in 
recommending Detterick. Ardan also reported the search committee was 
unanimous in approving Detterick after considering 62 potential candidates 
and interviewing four.  

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