LOUISVILLE — Clifton Kirkpatrick has been appointed as visiting professor of ecumenical studies and global ministries at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary beginning next fall.
The announcement was made during the “Voices of the Church Dinner,” held March 4 in conjunction with Louisville Seminary’s annual Festival of Theology and Alum Reunion. Kirkpatrick was the guest speaker.
Kirkpatrick is currently stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) He is also president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and serves on the governing boards of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and the Council of Presidents, United States Chapter, of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
Last September, Kirkpatrick announced that he would not seek a fourth three-year term as stated clerk of the 2.3-million-member PC(USA). In a published statement addressed to friends and colleagues, he cited a desire for “more quality time with my family, to be able to devote myself more fully to the responsibility I have undertaken since 2004 to serve as president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and to share in the life of the church, both locally and globally, in new and creative ways.”
Kirkpatrick’s time as stated clerk will conclude at the end of the 218th General Assembly (2008) in San Jose, Calif., in June. He was first elected to the office in 1996 and is only the second General Assembly stated clerk elected since Presbyterian reunion in 1983.
At Louisville Seminary, Kirkpatrick will teach up to two courses per year in areas of his expertise, including the ecumenical church, Presbyterian studies, the global church, Presbyterian polity and governance, congregational leadership and ministry, and practical theology.
“We at Louisville Seminary are deeply grateful for Cliff Kirkpatrick’s wise, humble, and unselfish service in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and among ecumenical and Reformed communities throughout the world. We look forward to his new and promising relationship with our dedicated faculty and students,” stated LPTS President Dean K. Thompson.
Kirkpatrick’s appointment will run three years and will also allow him to offer his services in Doctor of Ministry degree seminars and in Lifelong Learning events, which address the ecumenical and global church, middle governing body leadership, and church leadership.
Kirkpatrick said he welcomes the opportunity for interaction and conversation with faculty and students and of becoming an active member of the seminary community.
Prior to his 12 years as stated clerk, Kirkpatrick served 15 years as Director of the PC(USA)’s Worldwide Ministries Division, where he led the denomination’s ministries in more than 80 countries in the areas of evangelism, education, health, world service, and development.
He is a graduate of Davidson College (BA), Yale Divinity School (M.Div.), and McCormick Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He was awarded the Merrill Fellowship for post-graduate study at Harvard University. He also has received honorary doctorates from Westminster (Pa.) College, Hannam University in Korea, and Silliman University in the Philippines. He is co-author with LPTS alumnus William Hopper of What Unites Presbyterians: Common Ground for Troubled Times.
In addition to extensive service to the wider church, Kirkpatrick is an active participant and affiliate member of Springdale Church in Louisville.
