Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The Rev. Andrew D. Black has announced his resignation as director of Constitutional Services for the Office of the General Assembly effective January 3, 2013, in order to join the office of Martin Heinrich, the newly-elected U.S. Senator from New Mexico. Black will represent U.S. Senator-elect Heinrich as liaison for Domestic Issues.

“Andrew has brought his considerable faith and talents to the office of Constitutional Services at a very important time of transition for our Form of Government and Christ’s church,” said the Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. “He has been a faithful colleague, a popular representative of this office in the church, and has helped us reframe our conversations in very important ways.”

Constitutional Services is a department of the Office of the General Assembly concentrating on the new form of government and church polity, judicial process, and immigration law and policy.

Black, who holds a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity degree from the University of Louisville’s Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, has previously worked in the field of HIV/AIDS law as well as in domestic violence law. He also spent three years as a field representative for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman covering issues of health, education, poverty, and veterans. Ordained as a teaching elder in 2008 by the Presbytery of Santa Fe, Black will continue to work closely with the presbytery and its member congregations in New Mexico while serving U.S. Senator-elect Heinrich. He will also volunteer for the Interfaith Community Shelter, which provides services for the homeless of Santa Fe.

“It has an been an honor to serve and work with Gradye Parsons, my colleagues in the Office of General Assembly, the General Assembly committees, and the mid councils and congregations within Christ's church,” Black said. “I remain encouraged that our church can continue to discern and discover new ways to faithfully participate in God's mission and live into its calling as a community of faith, hope, love, and witness. I am humbled by the continued desire and opportunity for us to grow in spiritual formation, active listening, and the ability to engage one another in respectful and constructive dialogue as we live into what it means for us to be the church together in the 21st century.”

Until Black’s successor is named, the Rev. Joyce Lieberman, manager of Polity, and Laurie Griffith, manager of Judicial Process, will continue to resource and serve mid councils.