Study for proposed history center at Montreat says funding unlikely
By Sharon Young, Submitted to The Layman Online, June 21, 2005
LOUISVILLE – Plans for a proposed Center for the Study of Presbyterian and Reformed History and Theology will require revision after the results of a feasibility study were presented recently.
A meeting was held at Columbia Theological Seminary on June 7 to receive and review the final report on the feasibility of a $10-million endowment campaign for the proposed center.
Attending the meeting were representatives from the three entities that are seeking a way to make the center a reality: Columbia Theological Seminary, Montreat Conference Center, and the Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), where the Presbyterian Historical Society is lodged within the PCUSA structure.
David Ross, president of Ross, Johnston, & Kersting Inc., presented the findings of the report.
After reviewing the report, the representatives concluded that the endowment campaign would be very challenging, requiring an eight- to ten-year period to complete. Even then, the result would still fall short of the $10 million required to meet the projected costs of the center and ensure its future.
The representatives decided that a fund-raising campaign for the proposed center could not proceed as originally planned.
Upon learning of the report’s findings with members of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) via a conference call, COGA moderator Steve Grace said, “COGA is deeply disappointed that the original plan we worked on is not feasible. However, we voted unanimously to continue exploring the concept of a center, which will enhance the availability and educational use of the church’s archives.”
The conversation between the three entities developed as a result of a task force report earlier this year on the future of the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS). The task force was formed by COGA to look at two specific recommendations from a 2001consulting team; namely, to assess the technology needs for PHS in an ever-increasing electronic age, and to explore consolidation of PHS operations.
The possibility of a Center for the Study of Presbyterian and Reformed History and Theology was one of the key ideas to emerge from the task force’s report.
The feasibility study was commissioned by the three entities as one of the first steps in the discussions.
Cliff Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly, attended the meeting at Columbia Seminary. At its conclusion, Kirkpatrick said, “I very much appreciated the good spirit among us and the common commitment to do what is best for the church.”
Laura Mendenhall, president of Columbia Seminary, was also present for the meeting. “We’re disappointed that we cannot move forward with the proposed center,” she remarked, “but we remain supportive of the General Assembly’s efforts to find the right answer for the church. We are open to further conversations with the Stated Clerk’s Office and the Montreat Conference Center and hopeful that a positive solution will be found.”
George Barber, president of the Montreat Conference Center, said, “We’re sorry this project won’t move forward, but the Montreat Conference Center is committed to expanding our work with Columbia Seminary, which we believe holds great promise for meeting future needs of the church.”
Others attending the meeting were Richard DuBose, Cam Murchison and Erskine Clarke from the seminary; George Barber and Bill Straughan from the Montreat Conference Center; and Fred Heuser from the Presbyterian Historical Society.
For more information, contact Sharon K. Youngs, communications coordinator, Office of the General Assembly, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396; phone (888) 728-7228, ext. 5750; email syoungs@ctr.pcusa.org.