08257
April 3, 2008
Gradye Parsons tapped as Stated Clerk nominee
Election of successor to Cliff Kirkpatrick set for June 27 at GA
The Rev. Gradye Parsons LOUISVILLE — The Stated Clerk Nominating Committee (SCNC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced today that the Rev. Gradye Parsons is its consensus nominee to serve as the next General Assembly Stated Clerk, the top ecclesiastical post in the 2.3 million-member denomination.
The election — to a four-year term is slated for Friday, June 27, during the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA). If elected, Parsons will succeed the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, who earlier this year declined to seek a fourth term.
Parsons has served as associate stated clerk of the General Assembly for the past eight years. In that role, he has been the director of operations for the Office of the General Assembly (OGA), including director of OGA’s General Assembly Meeting Services department.
Previously, Parsons served as pastor of two churches in Tennessee for fifteen years. He was executive presbyter and stated clerk of Holston Presbytery for six years.
“Guided by a strong faith in Jesus Christ and a deep love of the church in general and the PC(USA) in particular, Gradye Parsons brings a wonderful blend of experiences and creative leadership to successfully fill the position of Stated Clerk,” said Steve Grace, an elder, member of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and chairperson of the nomination committee.
“Gradye has led the way in changing from annual to biennial General Assemblies and encouraging the church to explore tools of discernment and other innovative ways of decision-making. The committee was excited to hear about his vision to revitalize elder leadership in the church, which began with the first-ever national elders conference last August.”
Grace noted, “Gradye brings a broad knowledge of the church, as well as a breadth of experience — from a pastoral perspective and a middle governing body leadership position.”
Parsons said, “I am humbled and excited to be asked to serve the PC(USA) as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. This church matters, not only within the PC(USA), but as part of the larger body of Christ. I look forward to the opportunities to be both a leader and a learner in this new call.”
The SCNC was elected by the 217th General Assembly in 2006 in Birmingham, AL. The nine members include four past General Assembly commissioners, three individuals from the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, a representative from the General Assembly Council and a representative of middle governing body staff.
Since its election, the committee has overseen a churchwide application process that resulted in fourteen applications being submitted and reviewed by the committee. Telephone interviews were held with all of the applicants. The committee then held face-to-face interviews with five of the applicants.
“Our committee has been through a marvelous discernment process,” said Grace. “We truly felt God’s presence with us on our journey. All the applicants had many gifts for ministry, but it is very clear to all of us that Gradye Parsons is the person we believe is being called by God to serve as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.”
“We enthusiastically endorse his nomination.”
But most observers expect a contested election.
All of the applicants not selected by the nomination committee have until 45 days prior to this year’s General Assembly (May 7) to notify the committee that they intend to stand for Stated Clerk as well. The Standing Rules of the General Assembly require that persons wishing to stand for the position of Stated Clerk in addition to the committee’s nominee must have submitted an application to the committee by last December’s deadline and have gone through the committee’s process.
Formal nominations will be made on Sunday, June 22, the second day of the Assembly. “A new feature this year,” Grace said, “is a ‘meet-and-greet’ with the candidates on Wednesday morning, June 25. “We are very sensitive to the ‘no campaigning’ issue, but we want to give commissioners the opportunity for more time with the candidates.”
The Stated Clerk is an officer of the General Assembly, leader of the Office of the General Assembly staff, spokesperson for the church as directed by the General Assembly, and permanent ecumenical representative for the church.
If elected, Parsons will assume his duties no later than thirty days after the General Assembly.
In addition to Steve Grace, an elder from Beulah, MI, members of the Stated Clerk Nomination Committee are elders Tom Adger of Atlanta; Pamila Deichmann of Winterset, IA; and Joan Fong of Fremont, CA; and ministers Anna Case-Winters of Chicago; Helen Baily Cochrane of Bethlehem, PA; Lyle Hillegas of Santa Barbara, CA; John Purcell of Dallas; and Donnie Woods of Charleston, SC. Carol McDonald of the Synod of Lincoln Trails served as staff to the committee.
Additional information about the work of the nomination committee is available online.
Sharon Youngs, communication director for the Office of the General Assembly, contributed to this story. |
