A Corp board, Moving Forward Implementation Commission get some friendly advice

Board’s second meeting begins Thursday at Presbyterian Center

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Thomas Priest, a member of the A Corporation board, spoke about finances as the Rev. Mark Hostetter (left), formerly of the Way Forward Commission, listened during the board’s first meeting in September. (Photo by Paul Seebeck)

LOUISVILLE — As the board of directors for the A Corporation, the corporate arm of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), prepares to meet Thursday and Friday at the Presbyterian Center, a three-page letter of advice and encouragement awaits.

Labeled a welcome letter to the Moving Forward Implementation Commission, the letter — signed by the leadership of the General Assembly Way Forward Commission, the All Agency Review Committee and the Way Forward Committee — was also sent to A Corp members.

Action by the 2018 GA includes initiatives “that will require coordinated work throughout the agencies of the denomination,” the letter states. Some of the more complicated initiatives, including creating a Diverse Voices Table, implementing recommendations regarding translation and examining the financial sustainability of the national structure, will require more direct involvement of the A Corp board and the Moving Forward commission “to ensure the General Assembly’s mandate is faithfully followed,” according to the letter.

Attached to the letter is a 10-item “to-do” list created by the Way Forward Commission just before the start of the 2018 General Assembly. That list includes improving denominational communications, building “responsive and relationship-based” collaboration and innovation with mid councils, improving the institutional culture, streamlining shared services and broadening relationships with the 12 PC(USA)-affiliated seminaries.

Signers of the letter — the Revs. Mark Hostetter, Eileen Lindner and Eliana Maxim of the Way Forward Commission; the Rev. Deborah Block and Jim Wilson of the All Agency Review Committee and the Rev. Cindy Jarvis of the Way Forward Committee — say they’re happy to offer their assistance to both the Moving Forward Implementation Commission and the A Corp, “and to continue the conversation begun by this letter in whatever manner you desire.”

As for the board meeting itself, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. both Thursday and Friday, committee meetings (there are three A Corp committees – Audit, Legal and Risk Management; Finance, Operations and Budget; and Nominating, Governance and Personnel) dominate the first day’s agenda. Over lunch on Thursday, the board will hear from 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.

Thursday’s committee meetings are scheduled to conclude by 3:30 p.m.

On Friday morning, the board will consider approval of committee charters, then go into closed session at 9:15 a.m. Two hours later, the board will, in open session, hear the reports of the three committees and take action on items ranging from adopting an ethics policy for employees as well as elected and appointed officials to determining a list of authorized check signers.

The meeting is scheduled to conclude by 2:30 p.m.