This year, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day has a special significance for the future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): December 28 is the deadline for applications for Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.
With less than three weeks left in the application window, the Rev. Dr. Sallie Watson and other members of the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee (SCNC) are eager to encourage anyone giving thoughtful and prayerful consideration to the position not to miss the deadline.
Committee moderator Watson emphasized that although the deadline is fixed to December 28, candidates who submit their application materials late in the window will have until January 10 to complete supplemental questions.
Watson described the initial application as “the equivalent of a PDP [personal discernment profile]: a resume or CV with references, a statement of faith and a cover letter,” none of which should take long for applicants to update. “And there is plenty of time before and after the new year to work on the supplemental questions.”
“We just need applicants to get their name in the hat by December 28,” Watson added.
The process of receiving applications and providing applicants with supplemental questions has gone well so far, Watson said. “We’ve come up with a grid system to help each of us evaluate individual candidates.” Beginning with the committee’s first meeting of the new year, on January 5, “We’ll get our grids together.”
“From there we have a timeline for Zoom interviews, with in-person interviews after that.” Read more about the interviewing timeline at the end of this earlier article about the SCNC process.
Stated Clerk Nominating Committee timeline, per SCNC web page.
Stated Clerk Nominating Committee timeline, per SCNC web page.
Watson said the committee is eager to answer questions any applicants have about the position, including the ongoing work of the Unification Commission, which will impact the future Stated Clerk’s role, as well as other ministry leadership positions with the national church. Another person who could provide insights is the Acting Stated Clerk, the Rev. Bronwen Boswell.
The email address to ask questions of the committee is the same one to submit application materials: scnc226@gmail.com. To ask questions directly of Boswell, send an email here.
“This is a big job,” Watson said. “But what we need most is someone who understands our Reformed theology and polity, someone who knows the Book of Order”— which requires there to be a Stated Clerk of the General Assembly —“and someone who is comfortable with transition. We need someone who can hold the rudder steady and ride the wave.”
Anyone on the fence/nautical railing who applies would be seizing an opportunity to reflect on personal ministry goals and to help the whole church.
“Even if you’re not 100% sure this is right for you, going through the application process could help clarify what you’re looking for in your next call and what the committee is looking for in the next Stated Clerk,” Watson said.
“Be open to the leaning of the Spirit,” she said, adding that sharing information about the position with any person you know well who might be a good fit for the job is encouraged.
“We are looking forward to meeting and talking with applicants. And finding out what God has in mind.”
Learn more about the position of Stated Clerk and the application process: https://oga.pcusa.org/section/committees/stated-clerk-nominating-committee/