08019
January 8, 2008

George F. Barber III resigning as president of Montreat Conference Center

Presbyterian elder returned facility to solid financial footing

by Evan Silverstein
Presbyterian News Service

George F. Barber III

LOUISVILLE — Montreat Conference Center President George F. Barber III — who is credited with restoring the conference center’s financial accountability and completing a long-range planning process — has announced his resignation effective Feb. 15.

After that the Presbyterian elder will serve Montreat on a consulting basis as needed through April, according to a press release announcing Barber’s resignation posted on the conference center’s Web site.

A search committee will soon begin looking for a successor.

Barber “has provided leadership for us as we restored financial accountability, achieved unprecedented success in the establishment of an endowment, completed a long-range planning process and revitalized conferences across the entire age spectrum,” said Frank Spencer, chairman of Montreat’s board of directors.

Montreat, located near Asheville in western North Carolina, is one of three national conference centers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Barber was elected president of Montreat by a vote of its board of directors on Sept. 5, 2003. He succeeded elder R. James “Jim” Henderson, who assumed duties as interim president on Feb. 25, 2003, following the earlier resignation of Emile H. Dieth, Jr.

In the press release, Barber said “after much deliberation and prayer” that he and his wife, Wanda, “have concluded God is calling us to explore new ministry opportunities away from the conference center.” 
 
Stabilizing the organization’s financial condition, business infrastructure and re-establishing public trust for the conference center were the major challenges facing Barber when he assumed the post.

“We have achieved those goals and believe it is time for someone else to lead the next chapter of the conference center’s bright future,” Barber said. “I’m proud of what our staff, volunteers and board have accomplished during our tenure here.”

Among other highlights of his term, Barber referred to four consecutive fiscal years resulting in surpluses, repaying endowment loans, establishing an audit committee and an investment committee, restructuring the board of trustees, significant facility improvements and unprecedented endowment growth.

As a new president is being sought, executive committee members will work one-on-one with Montreat’s Senior Leadership Team, Spencer said. He said day-to-day operations will be handled by vice presidents Bob Tuttle, John Richardson, Merri Bass, Mike Morse and Richard Sills.

Barber is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin. After a 20-year career in business, Barber in 1995 responded to what he has regarded as a call from God by leaving a Memphis CPA firm to develop an affordable retirement community in Blytheville, AR, as president and CEO of the Presbyterian Development Corporation.