wfn.org | John Detterick Is Tapped as Candidate For GAC Executive Director

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2-June-1998 
98197 
 
    John Detterick, Board of Pensions Head, Is Tapped 
    as Search Committee's Candidate For GAC Executive Director 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-John J. Detterick, who in five years as president of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Board of Pensions rescued that organization 
from serious financial difficulties and vastly improved benefits and 
service while keeping dues in check, has been tapped by the Executive 
Director Search Committee as its candidate for the General Assembly Council 
(GAC)'s top post. 
 
    Detterick, 57, must be elected by the Council at its June 10-12 meeting 
and confirmed by the upcoming General Assembly in Charlotte.  Based on 
Detterick's record with the Board of Pensions, no significant opposition is 
expected.  If elected and confirmed, he will begin his new work as 
executive director in mid-August. 
 
    In a May 29 letter to GAC members, Lynda Ardan, chair of the search 
committee, said Detterick's selection was unanimous and that the search 
committee "was motivated by his strong sense of call to the position and 
his commitment to Jesus Christ and the mission of the church." 
 
    His financial and management credentials are impeccable.  Detterick, 
57, has more than 30 years' experience in the banking industry.  The Board 
of Pensions assets total more than $5 billion. 
 
    Prior to coming to the Board, Detterick was president of First Federal 
of Elgin, Ill., and its holding company, University Financial Corp.  Before 
that he was president of Sears Consumer Financial Corp., the administrative 
umbrella for the Sears banks, Sears Mortgage Corp., Sears Consumer Finance 
and Discover Card.  Before that he worked for 17 years in key management 
positions for several banks. 
 
    Detterick, a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts, is an elder 
at Wayne Presbyterian Church in Wayne, Pa.  He and his wife, Bobbye, are 
the parents of four children. 
 
    Detterick told the search committee he intends to focus on quality 
service and the empowering of people - the same goals he successfully 
implemented during his five years as head of the Board of Pensions.  "With 
each new generation the church is challenged to respect and respond to the 
symbols and vessels which make the unchanging gospel message relevant and 
alive for the next generation," he told the search committee.  "The 
organization structure must respond also. ... I believe the GAC can focus 
more intently on enabling and supporting the mission work of congregations 
and presbyteries." 
 
    He also recognized the changing ways in which Presbyterians are doing 
mission.  "As we enter the 21st century, Americans find their sense of 
community less in institutions and more in causes, more in local and 
individual relationships."  Acknowledging that Presbyterians are paying 
more attention to their congregations and less to the denomination, 
Detterick said, "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.)." 
 
    And yet, Detterick said, the gospel is pretty simple.  "Assessing the 
health of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is not about number of members 
or churches or size of budgets.  It is about how well we proclaim the good 
news and feed the poor."  He said that finding and developing a more 
relevant mission support function for the GAC "is a very difficult but very 
important challenge." 
 
    The search committee, Ardan said, is convinced it has found the right 
person for that task.  "The search committee believes that God has led Mr. 
Detterick to this position and has blessed him with the right combination 
of skills and experience to serve our denomination at this critical time." 

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