Unification Commission, A Corp Board use a case study to discuss how they can cooperate

LOUISVILLE — Meeting jointly on Thursday morning, members of the Unification Commission and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation Board looked at a case study to help them explore when and how they might work together when needed.

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Kelly Beeland, the UC’s consultant, led a discussion on the A Corp Board’s acceptance of the gift of a property in Kentucky, a vote that followed significant investigation by staff members. Beeland asked those gathered: What additional information do you need from staff to make an informed decision? From what perspective is each board reviewing and approving the solution? What are the governance areas where there needs to be clarity of roles or collaboration? What direction needs to be given to the Stated Clerk/Executive Director on lines of accountability to the boards? How does this work with two board and two sets of staff? What expectations does each board have to provide feedback while the solution is being developed? What, if any, information needs to be exchanged between the two boards?

“It seems to me both boards could benefit from shared conversations,” said the Rev. Deb Avery, a UC member, “keeping the bus in the lane but understanding at some point, the lane narrows.”

“I think history shows that taking the time to invest in relationships is always a good thing,” said the Rev. Dr. Dave Davis, a UC member. “Once there is a permanent agency, with [governance] folks getting elected [at the 227^th General Assembly] in Milwaukee, relationship-building will be important between the two.”

Asked how it turned out in the end, April Davenport, the PC(USA)’s General Counsel, said that the property eventually was sold to the highest and best bidder. It was then up to two former governance bodies, the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board and the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, to decide how to use the proceeds pursuant to the denomination’s real estate policy.

Also during Thursday’s joint session, the Unification Commission and A Corp Board told each other about the work they do.

Unification Commission Co-Moderator the Rev. Dr. Felipe Martínez explained the UC serves as both a commission and a governing body. “We strive to stay in our lane,” Martínez said. He explained the UC’s committee structure and the role of the Unification Management Office. The UMO, he said, is “the central coordinating office for unification-related projects and initiatives.” UMO’s primary role “is to develop and oversee a structured plan and process that supports a collaborative, organized, smooth and mission-driven implementation to a fully unified organization.” It serves under the direction of the Rev. Jihyun Oh, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, and in partnership with leadership and staff.

The UMO manages the unified implementation plan, inspires engagement and commitment, provides project tools and processes, facilitates collaboration and provides project leadership and oversight.

A Corp Board Co-Moderators the Rev. Jason Micheli and Ruling Elder Carol Winkler noted that the Presbyterian Church, A Corporation dates back to 1799. It’s the principal corporation of the General Assembly and interacts with the secular realm.

The A Corp Board has three committees: Nomination, Governance and Personnel; Finance, Operations and Budget; and Audit, Legal and Risk Management. The A Corporation employs more than 360 people in 30 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as 10 countries. The Administrative Services Group, the workforce of the A Corporation, is about 100 employees strong.

After lunch Thursday, the UC met alone. The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, said senior staff have been discussing increasing youth and young adult engagement and leadership development.

“Presbyterians have a long and strong history of youth and young adult development,” said the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, the PC(USA)’s advocacy director. The Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations will welcome 10 fellows this summer. “They find us. We don’t have to recruit them,” Hawkins said. “Through the encounter, they have a whole new perspective of the church.”

Oh said young people often name three transformative PC(USA) experiences: the Young Adult Volunteer program, Presbyterian Youth Triennium and service as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate at General Assembly. “Those are the moments where they saw the church in a brand new way and said, ‘I want to be a part of that,’” Oh said.

The Rev. Tony Larson, Co-Moderator of the 226^th General Assembly (2024), said he and Co-Moderator the Rev. CeCe Armstrong have, during their first 11 months in office, been to 52 of 166 presbyteries and 15 of 16 synods.

What they’re hearing includes feedback on the amendments, all of which presbyteries have approved. “We received celebration in many places and also anxiety around 24-A and 24-C,” Larson said, “and concern about how those will be implemented.”

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Vivian Blade, program manager for the Unification Management Office, introduced the rest of the team, which has recently been hired: Omar Chan, the program manager; Dr. Cynthia Ganote, change management manager, and Jim Quiggins, strategic communications manager.

“I hope you are as excited as I am about the people who are in front of you, who are here to serve,” Blade said. “Each has incredible interests and skills and a heart for being here. In the midst of a lot of things to do, it’s the excitement that brings us here every day. We are here as partners, as designers.”

To date, the UMO has 82 projects to work on, with 31 designated as high priority.

Commissioners took two actions Thursday, approving Hawkins as an assistant stated clerk for a four-year term and supporting the recommendations presented by Mission Responsibility Through Investment in its proxy voting report.