Historical Society task force: No decision made on merger
By Sharon K. Youngs, Office of the General Assembly,Presbyterian Church (USA), April 20, 2004
MONTREAT, N.C. – “There’s a deep passion here for problem solving. Harness this energy, wisdom, and passion to let us help you.”
Those were the remarks of George Barber III, president of the Montreat Conference Center, at a public consultation April 16 in Montreat.
Barber’s remarks were made to the task force charged with helping the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) implement its strategic vision for the future. He was the first of forty-one individuals, out of a crowd of more than 130, who spoke to the task force during the three-hour event.
The task force was formed by the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) to look at two specific recommendations from a 2001consulting team that studied the future of PHS in the 21st century; namely, to assess the technology needs for PHS in an ever-increasing electronic age and to explore consolidation of PHS operations.
Those who spoke at the consultation ranged from retired pastors, elders, educators and former missionaries who reside in or near Montreat, to pastors and representatives from neighboring presbyteries, to historians and archivists in the southeast region.
The vast majority tailored their remarks in response to their fear that the task force’s charge to “consolidate PHS operations” means that the society’s office in Montreat will be closed and the materials in Montreat will be moved to the PHS office in Philadelphia, which was designated by the General Assembly as the archives center for the PCUSA’s national work, as well as the synods, presbyteries, and congregations in 36 western and northern states.
What the participants learned from the task force is that no decisions have been made in this area. The task force is holding consultations to gather information on the best direction to take to answer their mandate.
The speakers’ comments ranged from the deep-rooted family, congregational and missionary heritages that are preserved in the Montreat facility, to educational opportunities, mild winter weather, and free parking. Nearly all of them told stories of connections to the place.
In his remarks, Sam Hill, a religion professor, said, “This place is supersaturated with history.”
Nick Willborn of Taylor, SC, told the task force, “There’s nothing else like Montreat in the Southeast for Presbyterians. It needs to be used for the region from which the documents come.”
Montreat resident “Chick” Dimmock let the task force know about the array of records and artifacts given to the society that detail her family’s missionary work in China. In keeping with an international theme, Paul Crane, a former medical missionary, said, “I have spoken to people from Korea, Africa, and other places who come to America wanting to know about their Presbyterian roots, and here is where they come to find out.”
Philip Arnold, who attended the consultation from Atlanta, told the task force that closing the Montreat facility would be “like closing a branch library and forcing everyone to go to the main library [in Philadelphia].”
A lone voice from the North, Bruce Gillette, a pastor in Pitman, N.J., said he “drove more than 600 miles to be here today. I want to tell you that Philadelphia is only a day’s drive away, and the parking is free in Philadelphia, too. We are one church. I love history and I love Montreat, but I love Jesus Christ and the church most of all.”
Task force member Catherine Ulrich, a co-pastor in Fort Smith, Ark., and stated clerk for Arkansas Presbytery, moderated the consultation, which was framed within the context of worship. Ulrich read Psalm 121, which she introduced as the psalm that was read to her during her first trip to Montreat some 30 years earlier.
Several speakers suggested that the task force consider forming a consortium or partnership with regional educational institutions as a way to ease the financial strain that PHS is facing. Near the end of the afternoon, Erskine Clarke, professor of church history at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Ga., said Columbia Seminary is “serious about working in partnership with the task force and finding a way to have a happy ending” to this situation.
After all who had signed up to speak had done so, task force member Burnett Kelly offered a summation of what had been shared by the participants. The themes he identified were: the pride and sense of ownership that the Montreat community and surrounding region have for the society’s presence in Montreat; the importance of location of the facility; that use of the collection of materials for research and education is as important as the collection itself; the emphasis on accessibility of the materials; and the concern that consolidating materials into one location increases the risk of greater loss in the event of a fire or other mishap, as well as the challenge of maintaining historical materials in an advancing technological world. Kelly also mentioned that two specific proposals had been shared by participants as possible ways to move forward: partnerships with educational institutions in the region, and the establishment of an endowment fund by churches in the region.
Added to the list by a participant were the fiduciary and moral responsibilities that PHS has to donors of historical materials.
After the consultation had ended, task force members reflected on the event during the remainder of their two-day meeting. Unanimous appreciation was voiced for the opportunity that was afforded them to hear the witness of the positive impact that PHS has had on so many lives locally in Montreat, across the PCUSA, and internationally. They also expressed gratitude for the willingness of participants to share deeply held emotions and convictions.
Many of the participants who attended the consultation told of their hope that the task force will “find a way through,” as Leslie Jenkins, elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, said on behalf of that congregation’s session.
Near the end of the afternoon, John Craven, a longtime Montreat resident, said to the task force, “I want to assure you of our prayers for your work.”
The task force anticipates making a preliminary report to COGA this fall, with a final report anticipated in the spring of 2005.
Co-moderators of the task force are Anne Bond, an elder from Denver, Col., who is the current moderator of the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society, and the Rev. Katherine Cunningham (Ridgewood, N.J.), who is current moderator of COGA.
Ulrich represents COGA on the task force. Burnett Kellyof Midland, Mich., represents the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society. Elder Walter Baker of Mound, Minn., is the General Assembly Council representative. Members-at-large include elder Jim Henderson of Montreat, the Rev. Richard Ray of Bristol, Tenn., and the Rev. Cliff Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly. Fred Heuser, director of the historical society, and Margery Sly, deputy director, serve as staff to the task force.
The Presbyterian Historical Society is the national archives and research center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of the American Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. It maintains its headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa., a regional office in Montreat, and a records management program in Louisville, KY. The society serves all levels of the denomination. Additionally, scholars, genealogists, and the general public use the society’s holdings to study various aspects of American culture and history. The collection demonstrates how the story of American Presbyterianism is woven into the life, culture, politics, and history of our nation.