By Leslie Scanlon. The Presbyterian Outlook.
For those following the saga of the 1001 New Worshipping Communities inquiry and Presbyterian Church (USA) governance issues, here are some of the twists and turns.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board executive committee met in closed session by conference call on Thursday, June 4, and, according to minutes of the meeting, voted to:
- Add a third day to the board’s September 2015 meeting, anticipating there would be more work than could be done in two days. The new meeting dates are set for Sept. 23-25 in Louisville.
- Take action regarding a possible performance evaluation of Linda Valentine, executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. The committee voted to direct the board’s personnel subcommittee to prepare for the executive committee by July 22 “a recommendation for performance goals, evaluation process, and other important metrics for the Executive Director.”
The July 22 date likely is tied to the executive committee’s annual summer retreat, scheduled for Philadelphia July 22-24. The retreat is a public meeting, although the executive committee could vote to close all or part of it.
The minutes provide no other details. Asked to explain some context – to say how this action fits in with the processes already in place for evaluating Valentine – board chair Marilyn Gamm declined to comment.
Kathy Francis, director of communications for the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an email response to an inquiry from the Outlook that the executive director’s review typically is conducted at the summer retreat and is reported to the full board in September. “Everything is consistent with the standard review policy, with the exception of who conducts the review prior to the Executive Committee retreat,” Francis wrote. “The motion directs the Personnel Subcommittee to conduct the review,” rather than the executive committee or a subcommittee of the executive committee. “The remainder of the process remains the same.”
Related articles:
4 employees ‘no longer with’ PMA following 1001 investigation; Defamation lawsuit filed
Dermody files lawsuit: PCUSA’s statements were false and defamatory
Read the complaint: Roger Dermody v. Presbyterian Church (USA), A Corporation
Why wasn’t Linda Valentine’s resolution good enough in the 1001 debacle?
Presbyterian Mission Agency Board directory of members (revised 1/5/15)
4 Comments. Leave new
Drip, drip, drip drip…………WOW
Exactly who is on the PMAB executive committee?
These people wield a lot of power in decision making in
this denomination. What areas do they over see, titles do they have, and qualifications for administration. Maybe some light needs to shine on this committee. They hired the law firm, agreed to pay huge amounts for a report, and now refuse to share the results even with those fired.
There seems to be confusion about vision and dysfunction in leadership.
Who holds them accountable?
The directory of Presbyterian Mission Agency Board members is no longer available on the PMA’s web site (http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/about/). A copy of the directory that was revised 1/5/15 can be found here: http://layman.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/pma_memberdirectory_1-5-15_revision.pdf
It looks like there are 36 people on this board and they are making important decisions for this denomination that affect individual churches
and the mission.
I only know about the executor of my Presbytery and the few who ran for or were moderators. That is sad…..
There seems to be an effort to promote one line coming from the top, this board, down to the Presbyteries. I hear the same justification and verbage from the Moderator as from the executive and so on down. They are being educated to speak with one voice, so where is the decenting voice that might hold them accountable?
In light of the fact that all information was taken down from their web site and the refusal of this board to be transparent how can we the people trust these leaders?
We don’t know them, we don’t trust them, and now we are losing respect for the leadership. There is nothing left for us to do in seeking righteousness for these four fired or in even holding anyone accountable.
I wouldn’t even know where to start to affect who is on this board or How to influence them toward transparency. I suspect most people in the churches, even pastors, do not even know 1/4 of these people.
Speaking for myself, the frustration with this denomination continues to mount. They spent $60,000 to create a new logo for their letter head when their board title changed ……..only God knows the rest of the story.