PCUSA's stated clerk helps WCC meet committee quotas The Layman Online Tuesday, September 7,1999 Cliff Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is playing a leadership role for the World Council of Churches (WCC) as it seeks to meet goals for inclusiveness and quotas for membership on its committees and advisory bodies. Kirkpatrick, a member of the governing Central Committee of the WCC, served as moderator of the nominating committee, which has a goal of including 25 percent Orthodox, 50 percent women and 20 percent youth on its committees and advisory bodies. "We came close," said Clifton Kirkpatrick in a WCC press release. The release did not break out the percentages of the nominees and compare them with the quotas. The numbers are still unsettled because nominees must have the endorsement of the church bodies they represent. In several cases, when churches proposed alternate candidates for committee membership, the matter was turned over to the WCC Executive Committee, which will make the final decision. All those nominated, must have the endorsement of the church body to which they belong. The Commissions to which persons were nominated, along with the one named moderator of the commission, are: Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, Rev. Ruth Bottoms of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, moderator. Commission on International Relations, Mr. Bethuel Kiplagat, Anglican Church of Kenya, moderator. Commission on Education, the Rev. Ofelia Ortega, Presbyterian Church in Cuba, moderator. Advisory Group on Church and Ecumenical Relations, Father Michael Tita, Romanian Orthodox Church, moderator. Advisory Group on Regional Relations and Ecumenical Sharing, Bishop Mvume Dandala, Methodist Church of South Africa, moderator. Advisory Group on Inter-Religious Relations and Dialogue, Rev. Ipe Joseph, Mar Thoma Church, India, moderator. Advisory Group on Justice, Peace, and Creation, Rev. Stanley McKay, United Church of Canada, moderator. Advisory Group on Women, Mukami McCrum, Church of Scotland, moderator. Advisory Group on Youth, Mr. Hildo Bos, Russian Orthodox Church, moderator. Joint Consultative Group with Pentecostals, Dr. Bruce Robbins, United Methodist Church, USA, moderator. Advisory Group on Communication, Manoushag Boyadjian, Armenian Orthodox Church, Lebanon, moderator. Nominations were also made for the Faith and Order Commission, a group which includes participants from the Roman Catholic Church, and for the WCC's Joint Working Group with the Roman Catholic Church.

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