by Sharon K. Youngs

"Receiving this award is an affirmation of the work of all stated clerks," he said.

The award was presented by the Association of Stated Clerks of the PC(USA) during the General Assembly Middle Governing Body Staff luncheon Monday.

The award is named in honor of the late C. Fred Jenkins, who served as an associate stated clerk of the General Assembly for 11 years before his unexpected death in 2000. The citation given to MacKellar noted that "his peers look to him for his extensive knowledge of the constitution and respect him for his principled, thorough, clear and constant counsel in his interpretations."

MacKellar's career in the church includes pastorates in New York, New Jersey and Vermont and service as clerk in numerous middle governing bodies. He also has been a member of the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) and of the GA Advisory Committee on the Constitution. He now is moderator of the PJC of the Presbytery of Northern New England.

In his remarks, MacKellar said that, of all systems of church government, the Presbyterian system is the "most likely to lead us to understand the will of Christ for the church."