 Work at PCUSA headquarters begins under new leadership, work structure By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Tuesday, October 3, 2006 LOUISVILLE – Business as usual at 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville – the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (USA) – isn't the usual today. October 2 marked the first business day under the General Assembly Council's restructuring of its staff and work. The council voted Sept. 28 to approve the plan submitted by Executive Director Linda Valentine. There is no longer a Congregational, National or Worldwide Ministries division. Also gone is the Mission Support Services. And the directors of those divisions, Don Campbell, Curtis Kearns Jr. and Marian McClure, respectively, no longer have jobs with the PCUSA. Joey Bailey's position as former deputy director of MSS has also been cut, but he has been selected as deputy executive director for shared services. It isn't known yet who will fill the other top management spots or when they will be filled. In explaining the restructuring of staff to the GAC at its Sept. 26-29 meeting, Valentine named three principles for guiding the process: being responsive to governing bodies, the whole church and other constituencies, being accountable for outcomes and results, and being collaborative, transparent, efficient and effective. Valentine referred to a chart outlining the reorganization, saying that all three of the deputy executive positions support the mission of the church. "There is no more support side versus the program side," she said. When asked about the position of deputy executive director for communications and funds development, she noted "how important communications is for the connectional church, for doing the mission, for spreading the gospel." Communications, she said is a very important part of what we do. "It's not aside and separate, but it undergirds all we do and funds is a part of it." The new leadership, all of whom will report to the executive director, includes a:
She said cited different activities within the evangelism, church growth, vocation and leadership area, and said, "The important vital need for this denomination is to get better at church growth." "Theology and worship is one of the best things we do," Valentine said. "Christian education is also an important thing we do. … Both of these are currently in the Congregational Ministries Division, so they are used to working together. … This area does address the whole continuum of life-long learning." She said the women and racial ethnic areas "work together and have some synergies." Placing them in their own area, she said, "assures that they are together and they have a seat at the table." GAC members expressed some concerns over the restructuring plan during the weeklong meeting. Dale Lindsay Morgan, chair of the Congregational Ministries Division committee, was wary of combining theology and worship with Christian education. "I see these two areas as so big that they need to be on their own," she said. "What we do very well is Christian education and theology. I want to continue to do them well." Valentine described combining the two areas as "streamlining. … and building on strengths." She said the two areas work closely together and that putting them together is not a move to "dismantle" them. Valentine called Presbyterian-ism "a life-long learning process. We need to keep curriculum informed by theology." Asked about the budgets for the new staff structure, Valentine said that the entire structure has been "costed out" and "they are well within the budget that was approved already." In fact, according to Bailey, the new structure will save approximately $500,000 in 2007 and $850,000 in 2008. "Cost savings is not the intention," said Valentine, "but this was the outcome." Bailey warned council members, though, that other budget problems in the 2007-2008 budget used up those savings and GAC action would be required for the budget to balance. In responding to who would be on the staff leadership team, Valentine said she wanted to meet with all directors at least quarterly, not only looking at advancing mission work plan goals, but to prioritize work and make sure everyone keeps the focus and vision. Concerns were also raised about combining the functions of communications and finances. GAC member John Bolt said there were two kinds of communication – one is about telling the facts, the other is the telling of the story. "We need to keep the difference between the PR story and the telling of the facts," he said. The telling of the facts, he said should not be tainted to "keep the money flowing in." Valentine answered that the implementation of the whole restructure will be crucial. Overall, she said, "we are taking existing programs and re-arranging them. … We have not delved into and we have not said should we do communication or mission differently." She said that the role of the Presbyterian News Service had not been addressed. She acknowledged that the PNS charter does say it has an independent voice, "but we also need to be able to tell our story." A transition team composed of Sara Lisherness, Gary Cook, Pat Chapman, Barry Creech and Peggie Blenman will provide management until a deputy for witness is in place. The team, which will report to Valentine bi-weekly, will make routine management decisions. It will also meet with staff to keep employees "fully informed on overall issues and respond to employee concerns." |
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