A Corporation authorizes presidential search

Selects Boardwalk Consulting to aid the national search process

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — On Wednesday the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A Corporation authorized its President Search Committee to conduct a search for a president and to engage Boardwalk Consulting, a national firm that specializes in recruiting chief executives and senior leaders for nonprofits and foundations.

The board of the A Corp, the principal corporate entity of the General Assembly, announced its actions following a closed meeting.

In other action Wednesday, the board approved a leadership profile, which spells out the qualities the board is looking for in the president.

The profile includes these key responsibilities and essential functions:

• Developing a “customer-centered service organization” to deliver “high-quality, efficient, and effective administrative services” to various PC(USA) entities, including the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency. That will include the development of translation services.
• Promoting cooperation and partnership with PC(USA) agencies and entities, working closely with the heads of agencies “to develop and administer an appropriate financial and services model” that maintains trust “in an efficient, fair and transparent cost allocation and contracting model.”
• Assessing organizational capacity in part to identify gaps in systems and staffing.
• Giving “strong direction in policy formulation and interpretation” by partnering with the board and senior leadership to “ensure the board’s directives are carried out effectively and efficiently.”
• Leading a “multi-cultural staff structure” and maintaining “an organizational climate that supports the goals and mission of A Corp and the Christian values of the PC(USA).”
• Overseeing the development of systems “to monitor and assess process and performance and to measure results and customer satisfaction.”

The President Search Committee is looking for someone with substantial experience in the nonprofit sector and senior strategic leadership experience. Membership and experience in the PC(USA) or other Reformed denomination is preferred. Knowledge or experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, human resources, information technology, legal, property management, risk management and research are a must.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of promoting diversity and the ability to build collaboration, as well as implementing complex initiatives on time and within budget. A “high level of intelligence and intellectual curiosity and a desire to explore new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems,” as well as excellent verbal and written skills, are also required.

The president must have “unquestioned integrity, a long-term perspective, a strong sense of accountability, a practical ability to get things done, wisdom and good judgment, all wedded to a fair and thoughtful approach to management, combined with the flexibility and courage to shift direction in keeping with the mandates of the General Assembly as it explores new initiatives every two years.”

Competencies include cultural proficiency, having a “deep understanding and commitment to cultural and racial inclusiveness” and “valuing diverse groups, ethnicities, genders, communities, cultural constituencies and points of view.” Another competency is understanding that the PC(USA) is “led by the power of the Holy Spirit and that it is important to cultivate and manage relationships towards a common goal.”

The Leadership Profile does not include a proposed salary range.