Board of Pensions begins search for next president
Next year, the 227th General Assembly will be asked to confirm the person selected to succeed the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer
PHILADELPHIA — The Board of Directors of The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has launched a comprehensive, national search to identify the next president of the Board of Pensions following the retirement announcement of the Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer, whose term will end July 1, 2026.
S. Bradley Perkins, who chairs the Board of Directors, selected Andrew Junkin, First Vice Chairperson, to lead the search committee. “Maintaining the integrity and transparency of the succession process is our top priority,” said Junkin. “We are diligently following the guidelines set forth in our bylaws to conduct a national search designed to attract a diverse and inclusive candidate pool.”
In compliance with the Board of Pensions bylaws, the presidential search committee consists of at least five members and includes one member designated by the PC(USA) Unification Commission. In addition to Perkins and Junkin, the committee includes the Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark Clémot (Board of Directors); the Rev. Dr. David A. Davis (Unification Commission); Fred Gamble (Board of Directors); Jean Reynolds (Board of Directors); and the Rev. Fernando Rodríguez (Board of Directors).
After consulting with the Rev. Jihyun Oh, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, the presidential search committee will present a candidate to the Board of Directors for election in spring 2026 and for confirmation at the 227th General Assembly in June 2026. The new president would assume the role upon receiving the confirmatory vote of the General Assembly.
To assist in the search, the presidential search committee has engaged Korn Ferry, a global consulting firm with expertise in executive searches. Korn Ferry will help identify and evaluate qualified candidates whose values align with the PC(USA) and whose vision can position the Board of Pensions for continued growth.
The president serves as the chief executive officer and is responsible for the overall management of the Board of Pensions. The president is supported by a nine-member Executive Team and more than 200 employees.
“The next president will set the direction for how the Board of Pensions will serve the PC(USA),” said Junkin, “with the goal of serving as many active and retired plan members as possible. Maintaining the health of the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA) is critical so that we may continue to provide comprehensive benefits and programming that support wholeness.”
Those interested in the role should contact John Elkerton, managing associate at Korn Ferry. Information on the progress of the presidential search can be found on the Board’s website.
The Board of Pensions supports wholeness in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) community and care for Benefits Plan members. For information, contact [email protected].
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