Kirkpatrick Nominated For
Third Term As Stated Clerk

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1996, has been renominated for a third four-year term.

The Rev. Sandra Peirce, of Placerville, CA, the moderator of the Assembly's Stated Clerk Review/Nomination Committee, said: "Through our process of evaluation, reflection and prayer, we have concluded that the Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick has served Christ well, ministering to the whole church. Looking to the future, we believe the PC(USA) will be well-served by his continuing leadership."

The committee's unanimous vote came on Jan. 28 during a meeting in Berkeley, CA.

Commissioners to the 216th General Assembly, which begins on June 26 in Richmond, VA, will elect a stated clerk, the top ecclesiastical officer in the denomination.

Kirkpatrick will be opposed by at least one other candidate. The Rev. Bob Davis, of Escondido, CA, the executive director of the Presbyterian Forum, a PC(USA) renewal group, announced his candidacy earlier this month. The Rev. Linn "Rus" Howard, of Venetia, PA, reportedly has told friends that he intends to run, but has not formally announced.

Both have criticized Kirkpatrick for what they characterize as unwillingness to "uphold" and "defend" the PC(USA) constitution, particularly its ban on the ordination of sexually active gay and lesbian Presbyterians.

The nomination committee said Kirkpatrick has acted "with competence, with much pastoral sensitivity, with appropriate firmness and with tact, with a large measure of common sense and uncommon wisdom, with obvious Christian faith and conviction."

Kirkpatrick, who directed the PC(USA)'s Global Mission office for 15 years before becoming stated clerk in 1996, accepted the renomination.

"It continues to be a great honor to serve this church as its stated clerk," he said, "and to work closely with so many other faithful Presbyterians in seeking to build up our church as the body of Christ in accord with the wonderful core values of our Constitution."

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