Wednesday action moves about 80 employees into newly-named group
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A Corporation (A Corp) took an important step Wednesday toward achieving its mandate from the 223rd General Assembly (2018).
According to a news release issued following an executive (closed) session, the A Corp board of directors voted unanimously to approve structural changes combining seven departments into the newly named Administrative Services Group.
Prior to Wednesday’s action, these administrative services were provided through the Presbyterian Mission Agency, although structurally, they have always been housed in A Corp.
The Administrative Services Group — managed by Executive Vice President and CFO Mike Miller — includes seven departments: Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Logistical Services, Research Services, Human Resources, Legal Services, and Global Resources, which includes translation services.
The newly-formed group provides services for the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Mission Agency, Presbyterian Investment & Loan Program, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and Presbyterian Women.
“Uniting these administrative services brings clarity to our organization,” said Miller. “Day-to-day responsibilities for staff and the quality of our service level will not change.
“In fact,” Miller said, “we expect to be able to improve our overall service levels for all our constituents. We have already begun the process of implementing change and the spirit of collaboration with OGA and PMA has been terrific. We are confident that these changes will further enable the PMA to fully focus on its work in ministry and mission.”
Until an A Corporation president is elected, Miller will report to the co-chairs of the A Corp. board, Chris Mason and Bridget-Anne Hampden.
Approximately 80 positions have been moved into the Administrative Services Group. The changes are effective immediately.
Those 80 employees provide a wide variety of services. Finance and Accounting does budgeting and forecasting, payroll and purchasing, among other functions. Logistical services includes Presbyterian Distribution Services and Hubbard Press, building services as well as the Presbyterian Center’s mail and print center.
A review is being made of other A Corporation employees assigned to the PMA and the OGA acting in a finance, human resources or information technology capacity. They will likely be assigned to the new group eventually. Eight such employees have been identified; their transition to the Administrative Services Group is expected by Jan. 1, 2020.
The A Corp also announced Wednesday that Michael Kirk is serving as Acting General Counsel for the A Corp while a search is underway to fill the vacant General Counsel position. Kirk, along with April Davenport, will co-lead Legal Services until a General Counsel is appointed.
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Categories: Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Tags: a corporation, a corporation board, administrative services group, finance and accounting, general counsel, global resources, human resources, information technology, legal services, logistical services, presbyterian investment and loan program, presbyterian publishing program, presbyterian women, research services, translation services