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06559 November 1, 2006
Kearns named GAC executive administrator
GA coordination, racial-ethnic concerns among new duties for former NMD chief
by Evan Silverstein
LOUISVILLE - The Rev. Curtis A. Kearns Jr., who for more than a decade led one of three ministry divisions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has been named executive administrator of the denomination's General Assembly Council (GAC).
Linda Valentine, the GAC's executive director, announced Wednesday that Kearns had accepted the newly created position, which he will begin working Nov 6.
"I'm grateful that Curtis has accepted this key role," Valentine said. "This position will serve as my 'right hand' in overseeing the work of the executive director's office."
Kearns, 61, served as director of the PC(USA)'s National Ministries Division (NMD) from Jan. 1, 1994 - Oct. 1, 2006, before division structures were eliminated as part of a GAC restructuring plan.
Now as executive administrator, the Roanoke, VA, native will oversee General Assembly coordination for the GAC, as well as research services, cultural proficiency, the Advisory Committee for Social Witness Policy, the advocacy committees for Racial Ethnic Concerns and Women's Concerns, as well as special projects on behalf of the executive director's office.
Valentine called Kearns the ideal candidate for the job.
"He brings significant management experience," Valentine said. "A theological perspective as a minister of Word and Sacrament, and an in-depth knowledge of the organizational and cultural shifts that have shaped the council and the church over the past few years."
Kearns, who could not be reached for comment, said in his application for the position that the GAC had made significant strides the past three years in responding to the changing denomination by "moving from a program-based structure to a more disciplined and adaptable focus on contemporary mission objectives" and through "its intention to collaborate in new and better ways with the broader church, particularly with middle governing bodies."
Before joining the PC(USA), Kearns served in management with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company later the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T).
Kearns was ordained in 1969 by the Presbytery of Southern Virginia of the former United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. He has a bachelor's degree from Johnson C. Smith University, in Charlotte, NC, and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Over the years he has served the church in many capacities. He was on the Support Agency Board of the former UPCUSA, and he worked for years with Presbyterian Self-Development of People committees at presbytery, synod and national levels. He also has been on the board of directors of National Capital Presbytery.
The restructure comes in response to the GAC's decision last April to reorganize both the council and its work in light of the Mission Work Plan and a $9.15 million budget cut that reduced the PC(USA)'s national staff on May 1 by more than 100 positions, including 40 overseas jobs.
The new structure, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2007, replaces the 13-year-old Ministry Division structure - Congregational Ministries, National Ministries and Worldwide Ministries - with a single mission arm under the Deputy Executive Director for Mission.
Two more deputy executive director posts must be filled as proposed in the new structure: Deputy Executive Director for Mission and Deputy Executive Director for Communication and Funds Development. It's expected that both positions will be filled by the end of the year.
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