A Corp Board approves renovation plan that will consolidate Administrative Services Group staff

LOUISVILLE — On Friday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation Board authorized a plan to renovate the third floor of the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky, to enable 90 Administrative Services Group employees to collaborate in the same workspace.

Currently, ASG employees are spread across five floors. The plan “strategically positions ministry areas to provide the right level of proximity for collaboration while maintaining the confidentiality required by certain functions,” according to a report presented to the Board. “The consolidation will allow portions of the building to be taken offline, reducing operating costs, while creating dedicated floors that can be marketed to prospective tenants.”

The $685,300 cost of the renovation is more than covered by reallocating available capital from four previously approved projects “that have been completed economically, cancelled or deferred,” according to the report. The renovation will use a combination of qualified contractors and in-house Building Services team members, where appropriate. The smaller ASG footprint will support a cost-effective Wi-Fi 6 upgrade by the end of 2027.

Board members also approved a 2027 Strategic Plan for the ASG, which provides a variety of services to other agencies of the PC(USA). The plan has four areas of focus, each with an intended result:

• Connectional partnerships will result in trusted relationships and services aligned with partner needs.
• Strategic insight and responsive services will result in professional support that helps partners make informed decisions and steward resources.
• Compliance risk and faithful stewardship will result in strong governance, accountability, risk management and sustainable stewardship.
• Infrastructure for mission and ministry will result in reliable facilities, technology and resources that support ministry.

Each area of focus has three objectives, with deliverables and performance indicators accompanying each objective. A Corporation President Ian Hall said the plan is to report quarterly to the Board “on our advancement.”

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“We will show which are on track, which need attention, and what’s at risk,” Hall told the Board. “Some of this is aggressive. I think we need to challenge ourselves.”

The Board received a 2026 financial report through Sept. 30 for ASG and Presbyterian Life & Witness from Denise Hampton, Vice President and Controller for the ASG. Hampton noted the “strong financial position” continues, driven “for the most part by long-term investments increasing.”

For the first nine months of 2026, total assets were about $849 million, up $55 million from the previous year.

Total income exceeded the budget by $24.7 million, but income dropped by $10.6 million from the prior year, mainly due to a decline in special giving, lower Special Offerings contributions and unrealized gains.

Investment returns were $25.4 million above budget, primarily because realized and unrealized gains exceeded the budget by $18.7 million. Hampton reminded the Board that unrealized activity is not budgeted. The investment return was $4.3 million lower than it was during the same period last year because of net realized and unrealized investment activity.

Expenses were $52.9 million, $9.2 million below budget and $1.3 million less than they were for the same period last year. Salaries and benefits were $3.1 million under budget because of position vacancies and $3.6 million lower than in the same period last year for the same reason.

Board members heard reports from their colleagues on the boards and committees on which they sit. They also set these Board meetings for 2027: Feb. 11-12 via Zoom, April 13-14 in person with the PL&W Board, Aug. 19-20 via Zoom and Nov. 4-5 in person.

Andrew Yeager-Buckley, project manager and digital/logistics leader, had a report on Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard compliance. The A Corporation’s consultant, nGuard, gave the A Corp a 100% rating for the fourth straight year.

“PC(USA) has implemented all applicable PCI DSS controls,” the consultant reported, “and demonstrated that they are being maintained consistently as part of normal business operations rather than a point-in-time effort.”

PCI compliance refers to rules designed to protect credit card and debit card information.

“A strong assessment does not eliminate risk or mean the work is finished,” Yeager-Buckley said. “We continue training, testing, monitoring and oversight.”

The Board discussed litigation and security matters in closed session, then rose from closed session to announce it had rescinded an action taken during its Sept. 5, 2018 meeting and had adopted a resolution authorizing the Vice President and General Counsel or the attorney designee employed by the A Corporation to:

• Represent the A Corporation and the General Assembly in discussions and negotiations to resolved disputes and demands and/or settle lawsuits in both secular and ecclesiastical matters.
• Resolve disputes and demands and/or settle lawsuits in which the Corporation and/or General Assembly are parties with settlement authority of up to $100,000, without additional approval required.
• For maters exceeding $100,000, the Vice President and General Counsel or the attorney must secure approval from the A Corporation’s President. The matter will then be reported in privileged, closed session at the next meeting of the A Corp Board.
• The Vice President and General Counsel or the attorney must advise the President and Chief Financial Officer when it’s likely a dispute, demand or lawsuit “has a likelihood of a material financial implication to the Corporation.”
• The Vice President and General Counsel or the attorney must provide litigation updates in privileged, closed sessions of the A Corp Board regarding General Assembly entities named as parties in litigation and/or on whose behalf the Corporation is defending.