An A Corp elevator pitch

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation Board approves a succinct description of what A Corp does

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — On the recommendation of its Nominating, Governance and Personnel Committee Friday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation Board approved a succinct statement describing how A Corp functions.

The board had sought such an “elevator pitch” to explain the work done by the A Corp, which includes the Administrative Services Group. Now it has one:

“The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation (“A Corp”) is a corporate entity of the General Assembly. Established in 1789, it holds funds and title to property. It is accountable to the General Assembly and works closely with all PC(USA) agencies. A Corporation stands at the intersection of the business world and the church.

“The A Corporation has assets of over $500 million. It is the official employer of nearly 500 staff, including overseas mission personnel. A Corporation provides business services for the PC(USA) through its Administrative Services Group (ASG). ASG provides the services of finance/accounting, legal and risk management, human resources, global language resources and research services. It also provides support services such as information technology and distribution services. ASG also manages the Presbyterian Center (Louisville, Kentucky), which is the national headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”

During the second and final day of meetings, the A Corp Board approved committee reports, received a tutorial on reading financial reports from PC(USA) controller Denise Hampton, and heard briefly from both the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, and the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA).

Moffett told the board she’d spoken this week with partners from the Church of Scotland’s annual conference. Church leaders there had asked her to share the PC(USA)’s experience with the Matthew 25 invitation. Church of Scotland leaders asked a handful of PC(USA) congregations who have engaged in any of the three Matthew 25 focus areas — building congregational vitality, eradicating systemic poverty and dismantling structural racism — to participate in the conference as well.

“It was something to get that call,” Moffett told the board, “to see that the Matthew 25 vision extends beyond us.”

Nelson told the board that the church is in “a major time of transition.”

“How do we begin to look at the church we are presently in, with the retooling of leaders in the life of the church?” Nelson said. “What do we look like and how do we carry out our mission and prepare others to do the same?”

“What will the assembly look like?” he said. “How do we get people engaged so the assembly is more relevant to the whole church? It’s creating a good feeling,” he said, “and yet a lot of anxiety.”

The board also held a closed session Friday afternoon to discuss litigation, personnel and property matters. After it emerged from closed session, the board voted to receive the report of the annual performance review of Kathy Lueckert, president of the A Corp, with “high commendation and deep gratitude for her service.”