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General Assembly
Moderator Patricia G. Brown, who described herself during her
moderatorial year as "Queen of the Presbyterian Church (USA),"
has sent an open letter to Presbyterians that questions her place in
history. "As my time as moderator of the 209th General Assembly
draws to a close," she said, "I cannot help but wonder if
my work will be remembered."
She said she also wonders if the denomination's Bicentennial Fund
is being remembered, particularly by those whose pledges remain
outstanding. "It is easy for yesterday's promises to slip from
our memories," she said.
On December 31, 1997, the Bicentennial Fund reported gross receipts
of $74,358,304, less than half of its $150 million goal. Campaign
administrators spent $22,643,419, a whopping 30.45 percent of
campaign receipts, trying to raise the money, making this one of the
most expensive campaigns in the history of the Presbyterian Church
(USA). Actual funds received by the denominational office in
Louisville totaled $49,079,500.
Rev. Robert Bohl, chairman of the Bicentennial Fund campaign,
called the effort "a success." Bohl told commissioners to
the 1993 General Assembly that the campaign had produced numerous
intangible benefits that would not show up on a balance sheet. |
