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COGA task force holds Philly consultation PHS location sits at “crossroads” of history Presbyterian history, and how best to preserve and promote it, was the main topic at a public consultation at the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) in Philadelphia, August 17th. The gathering was the first item on the agenda of a three-day meeting of the Warner Yakel Task Force. 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. Four months ago, in Montreat, NC, where PHS has a regional office, the task force held a similar consultation with those in the Montreat community and surrounding area. While the turnout in Montreat was over six times greater than this gathering at the end of a busy workday in Philadelphia, the passion for the historical society was markedly similar in both locales. All but three of the twenty who attended the Philadelphia consultation spoke to task force members. The speakers included pastors, elders, clerks of sessions, presbytery stated clerks, historians, archivists, professors, a retired missionary, the chairperson of a private foundation, and the president of a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) agency. All of them presented their case for why PHS should maintain a presence in Philadelphia. “It's unthinkable for PHS not to be here because of its location and connection to the history of our nation and to the history of our church,” said Frank Baldwin, stated clerk of Philadelphia Presbytery. “It's appropriately symbolic.” James Crutchfield, member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, made a connection that more than one speaker echoed. “Here, we're at the crossroads of American history and the history of our church. If we're to share, serve, and connect our history with the wider world, we have to be visible, in the market.” Other speakers had very practical concerns. Virginia Rainey, stated clerk of Huntingdon Presbytery said, “I need to know records are being preserved in a good place, that they're retrievable and accessible.” James Moorhead, professor of American church history at Princeton Theological Seminary pointed out the complementary relationship between the seminary and PHS, strong in large part because of the proximity between the two. Task force moderator Catherine Ulrich, a co-pastor in Fort Smith, AR, and stated clerk for Arkansas Presbytery, moderated the consultation, the last one the task force will hold to gather information on the best direction to take to answer their mandate. In attendance were four representatives from the Third, Scots and Mariners Presbyterian Church, still popularly called “Old Pine” by the congregation in reference to the church's former name, Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church. They have a particular interest in PHS remaining in Philadelphia because of how close the congregation is to PHS - literally. “I live right across the parking lot from here, in the church manse,” said Deborah McKinley, pastor of Third, Scots and Mariners. “The Friends of Old Pine purchased this land for $100,000 in 1960 and gave it to the Presbyterian Church for this purpose. We see the vision and future of PHS; always have, always will.” Janet Haas, chairperson of the William Penn Foundation, shared the criteria on which grants to PHS have been awarded, namely, the mission, history and effectiveness of the organization; connection to own institution and location; and leadership in governance and finances. “We treasure this institution,” said Haas. “It's a part of our fabric.” Rob Maggs, president of the Board of Pensions, added that PHS is “an attractive opportunity for investors” because of its package of location, facility, management, and staff. Maggs said that moving PHS from its current location would make it much less attractive. After all who had signed up to speak had done so, task force member Burnett Kelly offered a general summary of the comments that had been shared by participants: PHS is about sharing, collecting, serving, and witnessing to our faith; Philadelphia is an advantageous location (serves the community, symbol of American and church history, geographical crossroads, and a central location for a large percentage of the population); PHS is a well-managed facility (difficult to replicate) with a competent staff and a place in which items are easily retrievable; it is important to keep in mind both researchers and general users; technology has to be an essential focus for the 21st century; and keep in mind the area of growth as the vision of PHS is shaped. Members of the task force have now witnessed firsthand the two distinct contexts, if not cultures, in which PHS has a presence. One, Montreat, is peaceful, set apart in a retreat community; the other, Philadelphia, is “at the crossroads,” in a large metropolitan city. The task force spent the remainder of its three-day meeting considering numerous options for answering their mandate. To date, no decisions have been made. Of particular interest to the group is the possibility in Montreat of a partnership between PHS, Columbia Theological Seminary, and the Montreat Conference Center. The task force will embark on a study to determine the feasibility of raising funds with Columbia for a possible partnership endeavor. While much work is yet to be done, the group expressed confidence that it will meet its goal of having a final report ready for the March 2005 meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA), the committee to whom responsibility for the task force's work has been assigned. People in Philadelphia and Montreat will be eagerly awaiting the fruits of their labor. As David Gelzer, retired professor of church history and former missionary, said to the task force at the recent consultation, “Discern and distill the vision of PHS, then insert the key. We'll be listening for the click and will open the door.” Serving on the task force with the Rev. Catherine Ulrich, who represents COGA, are Burnett Kelly (Midland, MI), vice-moderator and representative from the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society; elder Walter Baker (Mound, MN), the General Assembly Council representative; and elder Steve Grace (Midland, MI), who is the current moderator of COGA. Members-at-large include elder Jim Henderson (Montreat, NC), the Rev. Richard Ray (Montreat, NC), 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, NC, 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. Visit the society's Web site at www.history.pcusa.org or call 215-627-1852. 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.

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