LOUISVILLE – The new board of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation has begun to set its course – electing its leadership, hearing from denominational leaders on everything from investments to evangelism, and acting on some specific items of business. This new board, approved by the 2018 General Assembly, is both smaller and more broadly representative than the previous one. Formerly, the voting members of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board served as the A Corporation Board. The new board includes representatives from five of the six PC(USA) agencies, along with representatives of Presbyterian Women, the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee, the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns and three at-large members, two of whom are currently drawn from the All Agency Review Committee and the Way Forward Commission. The shift has been controversial and much-debated at top levels of the denomination, but there is hope it can lead to greater efficiency, transparency and … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE – The newly-reconfigured board of the Presbyterian Church (U.SA.), A Corporation, is up and running – and the list of questions or issues it may need to take on in the months to come is considerable. That new board is holding its first meeting Sept. 4-5 in Louisville, with the first day spent on introducing the people and some of the issues involved, and with the board expected to take its first votes Sept. 5, including electing its chair, considering its committee structure and electing at least some officers of the corporation. The first day’s discussion, however, also demonstrated in broad strokes some of the issues the A Corporation board likely is to consider going forward – including questions of how better to explain to Presbyterians how the denomination spends its money, and how to fund the services the A Corporation will be expected to provide. Several board members voiced concern about financial transparency – wanting clearer budget and cost allocation … [Read more...]