Overture 44

On Directing the Presbyterian Historical Society to Retain Its Office in Montreat, North Carolina, and to Find Ways and Means to Fund Same—From the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee.

The 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to direct that the Presbyterian Historical Society retain its office in Montreat, North Carolina, at the Historical Foundation, and to find ways and means to fund same.

The Historical Foundation at Montreat contains a remarkable and exceptionally rich collection of materials on the history of the Presbyterian church and its worldwide Reformed tradition and relationships, housing resources that enable Presbyterians to understand the roots of our Presbyterian history.

The Historical Foundation is the primary place for holding the official records and artifacts of Presbyterianism in the South, including those of governing bodies such as congregations, presbyteries, synods, general assemblies, and their missionary enterprise, but also priceless personal and family records, such as letters, manuscripts, paintings, photographs, tapes, and memorabilia that reflect the life and mission of the church both here and abroad.

The Historical Foundation is the place where Presbyterian Women historians have for years placed annual histories of the life and work of their congregations, in confidence that this unique collection of primary source materials would always be conveniently accessible to their wide regional constituency.

The present facilities of the Historical Foundation are well-designed and eminently suited for their specific purpose, and are visited each year by several thousand persons, including many researchers, scholars, and congregational historians.

The Historical Foundation is located on the campus of the Montreat Conference Center, which is the largest conference facility of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a major gathering place for Presbyterians from across the nation.

The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly has announced that, because of the ongoing decrease in the per capita income to the Office of the General Assembly, the Historical Foundation should be closed and its holdings distributed between the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia and Columbia Theological Seminary, with the present Historical Foundation building becoming a museum under the management of the Mountain Retreat Association.

Such an arrangement would destroy a precious heritage that has great potential for the life and ministry of the total church, as well as of partner churches around the world.

There has been an outpouring of concern protesting the contemplated closing of the Historical Foundation from the spiritual heirs of the Presbyterian missionary enterprise, such as the Presbyterian Church in Korea, the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, and the Presbyterian Church of Congo.

The Friends of the Historical Foundation at Montreat, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is prepared to undertake the support of the Historical Foundation as a self-standing independent institution, relieving the General Assembly of responsibility for its restoration and continuing support.

The Historical Foundation at Montreat has legally existed as a North Carolina nonprofit corporation under the name “The Historical Foundation of the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, Incorporated”, beginning in 1927 and still existing until the present day, with the legal ownership of most or all of its assets still being lodged in the still existing North Carolina corporation.