 4 nominated; commissioners to elect stated clerk Friday By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Monday, June 28, 2004
One of the four – incumbent Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, Robert "Bob" Davis, Linn Rus Howard and Alex F. Metherell – will be elected by commissioners Friday morning. Each of them will give a speech to commissioners, followed by a question-and-answer session not to exceed one hour. Then commissioners will vote. Since Kirkpatrick is running for re-election and couldn't participate in the duties of the stated clerk , Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase appointed Associate Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons as the "temporary stated clerk" during the nominating speeches. A random drawing backstage determined the order of the nominating speeches - Metherell, Davis, Kirkpatrick and Howard. Elder/Commissioner Matthew Johnson of the Presbytery of the James, in nominating Metherell, said that, "like the preacher in Eccelesiastes ("There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven), this is a season and this is a time to elect a new stated clerk." Saying that the PCUSA "has a long and storied history," Johnson said that, at one time, "the denomination had a plain sense of what it meant to be Christian, Reformed and Presbyterian. 'Should' really meant 'should,' and 'shall not' meant 'shall not.'" "Ours is church built upon the grace of God," he said, and "our foundation is the Bible understood in our confessions." Saying that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," he said that is "why our polity is the way it is." Johnson admitted that "we do elect people to serve the church," but said those people are not "to act unilaterally for the church. Each is to act on behalf of the church, serving the church through the stewardship of its faith, theology and government. When they do these things, it works." He then lamented the troubles assailing denomination, with thousands of members leaving, when "the constitution is defied and when plain sense is disrupted." Now, he said, "it's the time and season for a change." Johnson said Metherell "will be guided first by Scripture, then by the confessions and then by the Book of Order – putting God's law above our own personal opinions." "These are the priorities of Alex Metherell," he said, adding that "we must uphold the constitution, defend our constitution." Metherell will do that, Johnson said, "no matter what powers assail him" because he has a "faith that can move mountains – and even bureaucracies." Minister/commissioner Christopher Scruggs of Memphis Presbytery nominated Davis, saying that he is well described in "an article in Presbyterians Today on 'Young Presbyterians to watch – Under 40." Scruggs than quoted a portion of the article, saying that Davis, "Emerged on the national scene online under the pseudonym 'PresbyBob.' His quick analyses of ecclesiastical politics soon became familiar to anyone interested in keeping abreast of PCUSA business…." "Davis understands process, whether political, legislative or judicial. He worked in Indianapolis as a trial attorney specializing in medical-negligence cases and served as an attorney for the Indiana Department of Insurance before entering private practice." "Bob Davis has the talents and experience to meet the needs of the church today and in the future," he said, and he's been endorsed by sessions all over the country "because he's been helpful to them. He helps people like you and me do the jobs that we are called to do." He told commissioners that Davis is a "leader for this time in the life of our denomination Whatever our position, we are in a denomination in crisis. It has declined over many years" Davis, Scruggs said, has "two qualities that will serve the denomination well: He's willing to face the hard facts about our denomination. We need leadership that has a grassroots vision for the future. His vision for the office of stated clerk is equipping the people of the church to do the work of the church. That's exactly what this denomination needs." Kirkpatrick was nominated by Stated Clerk Review and Nomination Committee Moderator Sandy Peirce, who listed what she called "some of the reasons the committee believes the church will be very well served by Cliff." He is a "man of integrity and honesty, a committed disciple of Jesus Christ, a serious student of Reformed theology and polity, and a compassionate pastor." She then discussed some of the trips he has made because they were "they were mandated by the General Assembly," citing a visit to Florida to be with workers who are boycotting Taco Bell and a trip to the Middle East. He is "known and respected in ecumenical circles around the world." All of this activity, she said, was on behalf of the General Assembly. "When the General Assembly speaks, "the stated clerk acts on its behalf. The stated clerk acts because the church has acted and set policies." Commenting on the committee's review of Kirkpatrick's performance in office, she said he received "very high marks in every area of review. Cliff knows and honors both the responsibilities and the limitations of the office." "I've known Cliff Kirkpatrick for 13 years," Peirce said. "He is worthy of your trust, and he works for all Presbyterians." Minister/commissioner Rodney Bakker of Great Rivers Presbytery, who nominated Howard by calling him "a good man, a good pastor," posed the rhetorical question: "Why should he leave the congregation he loves to be stated clerk." The answer, Bakker said, is that Howard has a "prophet's love for the church and, like Luther when he nailed his 95 Theses on the door, is unwilling and unable to remain silent while the church founders." Citing such issues as constitutional defiance and talk of schism, Bakker said the church needs a new stated clerk because it is threatened "by shrinking membership, shrinking finances and persistent conflicts. We need some changes. Rus Howard is committed to returning the church to its Reformed and Reformed and Presbyterian roots." "Our church is not doing well," he said. There has been "30 years of war over the heart and theological soul of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Our church has grown weaker and smaller, and we have lost our influence in society." Stating the tenets of the Confessing Church Movement in which Howard has been an active leader, Bakker said he will promote the "unique saving Lordship of Jesus Christ, promote the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God and the only infallible guide to faith and practice, and God's call for us to live holy lives." "The church needs a Reformation according to the Word of God," he said. "It needs strong leadership to bring about that Reformation." The church, Bakker said, needs to "obey the Word of God so that we might be prosperous and strong again." Before the nominating speeches were heard, the Stated Clerk Review and Nomination Committee presented its report. Peirce told commissioners that, "We have studied the Standing Rules and carried out the rules listed there with all respect for the process outlined. We did not create the process, we followed it." Committee member Tom Are, in outlining the review process, said the "first task of the committee was to conduct the end of term evaluation. The stated clerk is accountable to the General Assembly for the performance of his duties." Are said the committee had requested that Kirkpatrick "submit a written assessment of his past term," including listing his "goals for a third term." But the committee didn't stop there, he said. It "also sought input from the church - through 300 questionnaires and letters." He said "166 questionnaires were returned," a response rate that he said "was pretty good." Are said the questionnaires rated Kirkpatrick's "overall effectiveness as 4.68 out of 5," which he called an "overwhelming appreciation for his work." Speaking about some of the criticism Kirkpatrick has received, such as the church's involvement with the World Council of Churches and the rejection of a called meeting of the 214th General Assembly, Are said the committee had received "190 letters" regarding Kirkpatrick's performance while in office. "Eighty-nine expressed reservations and some clear opposition to the re-election," he said, while "101 expressed support." Summing up, Are said that, "It will not surprise you, in our diverse church, that the same issues brought criticism and praise." Those issues, he said, were "fully discussed by the committee and shared with the stated clerk." Are then supported a stance taken by Kirkpatrick, who is sworn to "preserve and defend" the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Kirkpatrick has contended that it would be unconstitutional for him to take an enforcement role, which caused evangelicals to criticize him for failing to at least use his bully pulpit as the denomination's highest constitutional, ecclesiastical and ecumenical officer to remonstrate governing bodies that have openly defied Presbyterian law. "In the judgment of the committee," Are said, enforcing the constitution "assumes that the role of the stated clerk should change to become the power of the Permanent Judicial Commission, which would be a violation of his constitutional responsibilities." Kirkpatrick, he said, "understands his authority and responsibility and the role of the constitution," adding: "Our stated clerk has performed very well in this last term. This committee feels very well to have him serving the church." |
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