New board concludes its first action items
By Scott O’Neill and Paul Seebeck | Presbyterian News Service
The newly convened A Corporation board elected co-chairs and made committee assignments Wednesday, the second day of a two-day orientation session. Presbyterian News Service/Paul Seebeck/
LOUISVILLE – The newly elected Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) A Corporation elected co-chairpersons and made committee assignments on Wednesday, the final day of its two-day orientation session. The 11-member board also heard prayers and pleas for collaboration and cooperation from the Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Mission Agency executive director and General Assembly co-moderators.
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the Office of the General Assembly, thanked the board for its work to come.
“Let me thank you for your commitment to this work and thank those on the Way Forward Committee, who put in countless hours to get us where we are today. You will be moving much of the work we do going forward,” he said. “Your work will free us up to do the work of mission.”
Much of the discussion in Tuesday’s session centered on the new board not being tied down to a “business as usual” framework. That concept manifested itself early Wednesday as the nominations for chair and vice chair came up for discussion as the first item for action. Board member JoAnne Sharp alluded to the talent in the room and questioned why it was necessary to bind themselves to a traditional chair/vice chair structure.
“We have the opportunity to say, “We’re trying something new because that’s what we’re called to do,” said Sharp. “Let’s be open to something that is not as it’s always been.”
After some discussion about the appropriate number of chairpersons for an 11-member board, Bridget-Anne Hampden and Chris Mason were elected co-chairs and co-vice chairs, both serving in dual roles. Chairpersons will serve two-year terms, for up to six consecutive years.
Next on the agenda was establishing committees and assigning board members to the committees. The A Corporation committees and members are:
Nominating/Governance and Personnel Committee:
Cynthia Campbell, Bill Teng, JoAnne Sharp and Thomas Priest
Audit/Legal and Risk Management Committee:
Sam Bonner, Sinthia Hernandez-Diaz, Tom McNeill, Bill Teng and Chris Mason
Operations/Budget and Finance Committee:
Bridget-Anne Hampden, Cynthia Campbell, Julie Cox, Carol Winkler and Sam Bonner
Nelson told the board he was grateful that they were taking on the task of resource management and that they would help make the PC(USA) “a turnaround denomination.”
Citing hundreds of Presbyterians’ participation in a cash bailout of individuals incarcerated in jail, as part of the 223rd General Assembly (2018), Nelson said he envisions a church with a strong evangelistic focus.
“We have to learn to talk about Jesus; otherwise, our witness can get confused,” he said. “We’re doing this because this is how our faith in Jesus leads us. This becomes a significant part of the way forward for this denomination.”
He also said the church’s six agencies must become more of a “close-knit web of support for one another.”
“It’s clear you have a vision strategy,” Hampden said to Nelson. “The board supports and needs to be driven by ‘pillars of strategy’ you and your team have set.”
Presbyterian Mission Agency Executive Director Diane Moffett and the 223rd General Assembly co-moderators, ruling elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, also spoke to the A Corporation board.
As Moffett talked about her life and the importance of relationship-building, she shared some of her hopes with the board.
“Administration and our ministry are closely aligned,” she said. “I hope that you will dream and share your hopes with us, that you will help turn our church around, plan and bear witness to share the story of Jesus, as we live out our Christ principles.”
Cintrón-Olivieri expressed her gratitude to the board for their work and love for the church. She encouraged them to lead with their hearts, to put people first and to take the time to get to know one another — so that they can rely on and trust one another’s gifts.
Kohlmann, remembering a time when she stepped into presbytery work in a system that wasn’t healthy, challenged them to be aware of the dynamics of the current systems in place in the PC(USA).
“In the midst of change, systems always try to find an equilibrium,” she said. “There’s going to be a lot of pressure. But you have an opportunity to be a linchpin of change, by helping us shift and turn around.
“When you’re suddenly feeling anxious to preserve systems, be faithful to your ministry, imagine what is possible through Jesus and help us restore health where our systems are unhealthy.”
The Board also approved a 2018 manse housing allowance and authorized the PMA general counsel to resolve claims and lawsuits without Board action for settlements that do not exceed $50,000.
The Board went into executive session Wednesday afternoon but took no action before adjourning.
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