Denomination's news service gives Kirkpatrick glowing tribute By John H. Adams The Layman Online Thursday, June 24, 2004 Clifton Kirkpatrick, the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is a "self-deprecating" "intellectual," "open, affable, passionate," "a citizen of the world who is never far from Mayberry," "plain and straightforward." Those and other glowing tributes are included in a public relations profile by one his co-workers, Alexa Smith, a writer for the Presbyterian News Services, just as Kirkpatrick prepares to face three challengers for his office. Smith's tribute to the stated clerk was placed on the denomination's Web site Wednesday. The news service unabashedly made Kirkpatrick sound like a marvelous leader – despite the fact that 260,000 Presbyterians have dropped off the rolls during his eight years in office and 46,683 departed in 2003 – the highest membership loss since before mainline Presbyterians reunited in 1983. Smith did include some negative comment – from Jerry Andrews, one of the leaders of the Presbyterian Coalition – but she did not quote any of Kirkpatrick's challengers, who have made numerous statements that are highly critical of his leadership. In fact, Smith's piece didn't mention by name any of the challengers – Robert "Bob" Davis, Linn Rus Howard and Alex F. Metherell. Another story by Jerry Van Marter, director of the News Service, was a wrap-up of information submitted by the three challengers. It was posted separately – and less prominently, on the PCUSA Web site. (Kirkpatrick's story began at the top of the News Service's home page.) Van Marter's story included none of the editorial applause that was accorded to Kirkpatrick by Smith. Kirkpatrick himself has ignored the opposition. He turned down an invitation to debate the issues with Davis, Howard and Metherell in Kansas City, Mo., saying that wasn't part of the "process" for electing a stated clerk – although that "process" doesn't preclude participation in a debate. The Presbyterian News Service also received an invitation to cover the debate and ask the candidates questions, but, like Kirkpatrick, it turned down the offer. Nonetheless, the debate, which was sponsored by the Presbyterian Lay Committee, went on as scheduled and a verbatim transcript was published on The Layman Online. The Lay Committee also mailed copies of the transcript to the 554 commissioners who will elect Kirkpatrick or one of his challengers. In a cover letter to the commissioners, Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications, called the election of a stated clerk "one of the most important decisions" the 216th General Assembly will make. "By all accounts, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is in crisis. Massive membership losses and a precipitous income decline (mission budget reductions of almost $30 million between 2001 and 2005) are symptomatic of significant institutional distress," Williamson said. "Sadly, the procedure for selecting a Stated Clerk provides you with very little exposure to the candidates," he added. "The official nominating committee interviewed only one of the four persons who are standing for office. You will hear a five-minute nominating speech for each candidate, a five-minute speech from each of the candidates, and a one-hour period of questions divided among all four candidates. Thus your live exposure to each of the candidates who stand for this office is approximately 25 minutes." Although the Lay Committee has frequently criticized Kirkpatrick, it gave him and his challengers equal treatment in The Layman's pre-General Assembly issue. In her story, Smith offered an explanation for why evangelicals and conservatives in the denomination have been criticizing Kirkpatrick. She said that "some would say he is under fire these days – and facing three evangelical challengers in his current bid for a third four-year term as stated clerk – partly because of his mild demeanor." But evangelicals have not complained about "his mild demeanor." Rather, they have said that Kirkpatrick, who is sworn to "preserve and defend" the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), has failed to at least use his bully pulpit as the denomination's highest constitutional, ecclesiastical and ecumenical officer to lay down the gauntlet to governing bodies that have openly defied Presbyterian law. She quotes Kirkpatrick as saying, "We have always tried to (speak) in a gracious and pastoral spirit, for which I do not apologize," but makes no reference to Kirkpatrick's 2002 statement to stated clerks and executive presbyters. In that statement, he warned that church officers who advocate withholding per-capita or discussing "gracious separation" are in danger of violating their ordination vows – although neither withholding nor discussing separation plans is prohibited by the same constitution that explicitly does forbid the ordination of practicing homosexuals. For the homosexual activists, Kirkpatrick has been pastoral, often acknowledging their pain and piety and suggesting that the ordination ban might be overturned. For the record, Smith's profile mentions only two of Kirkpatrick's jobs: "top ecclesiastical officer and ecumenical liaison." She does not say he is the top constitutional officer as well. Neither does she mention that Kirkpatrick has proposed a radical revision of the constitution – making the first four chapters of the Book of Order be authoritative for the whole denomination and relegating the rest to local option. The ban on ordaining practicing homosexuals is in Chapter 6. Besides Smith's salutary profile, Kirkpatrick will have other political advantages in his quest for re-election. The election will occur on July 2, the day before the General Assembly adjourns. But from the beginning of the 216th General Assembly on June 26, Kirkpatrick will have a high-profile presence as parliamentarian, at caucuses and at special events. He'll also have the support of most of his 400 fellow workers in Louisville who will join him in Richmond for the meeting of the General Assembly and – if they agree with the News Service profile – trumpet his case for re-election.

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