Letter to the Editor

In October 2003 COGA appointed a Task Force with the responsibility of exploring the future direction for the PC(USA) Department of History, which administratively had become identified with the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) based in Philadelphia. However, the direction for the Task Force had already been determined by a study done in 2001 by two independent consultants, which resulted in the Warner-Yakel Report. The study had been carried out with very limited consideration of the distinctive and unique ministry of the Montreat Historical Foundation, and without consultation with the churches, institutions and individuals who would be most seriously affected. The report recommended consolidation of all PC(USA) historical records in one location, assuming that that place would be the PHS facility in Philadelphia. This plan began to be implemented without the knowledge of or consultation with those most seriously affected by the decision. Programs in Montreat were phased out, functions were transferred to Philadelphia, Montreat staff members were transferred to Philadelphia or dismissed. The Task Force was given the rather distasteful task of determining how this consolidation could be finalized as smoothly as possible.

However, in April 2004, the Task Force held a hearing in Montreat. Attended by over 200 people, the hearing gave evidence of strong opposition to consolidation and a commitment to preserving and developing the Historical Foundation. Task Force members gave assurance that they would do everything possible to enable the Historical Foundation to continue its ministry. Overtures from several presbyteries were presented to the 2004 General Assembly, proposing a plan for the continuing ministry of the Historical Foundation. The General Assembly referred these overtures to the COGATask Force, with instruction for the Task Force to report to the 2006 General Assembly.

When Columbia Seminary (CTS) expressed an interest in taking responsibility for the Historical Foundation, maintaining its location in Montreat, conversations began between the Task Force and the seminary. A feasibility study was undertaken to determine potential support for the Columbia Seminary proposal. In May 2005, in light of a preliminary report on the feasibility study, the Task Force brought its recommendation to COGA that Columbia Seminary take responsibility for the Historical Foundation, keeping it at Montreat and developing it as a Center for the Study of Presbyterian History and Theology. COGAapproved the proposal, and the Task Force was dismissed.

However, in June 2005, the final feasibility study report was presented at a closed meeting of COGA, PHS, CTS and Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) representatives. It was only after considerable inquiry that it was learned that CTS had declined the proposal and that other plans were under consideration. Subsequently, a committee of three persons (the PHS director, the COGA chairperson, and the Task Force chairperson), without any Montreat representation, drew up the report and recommendation for the next COGAmeeting in September 2005, at which COGA approved the report of the committee of three, including the closing of the Montreat Historical Foundation and the transfer of its holdings to the PHS facility in Philadelphia and to Columbia Seminary.

It was in light of all these developments that Friends of the Historical Foundation a Montreat was formed as a non-profit tax-exempt organization, to seek in whatever way possible to enable the Historical Foundation to continue and develop its ministry. Our attorneys have verified that the ownership of the Historical Foundation is not legally under COGA, but is still under the corporation that was formed in 1927, The Historical Foundation of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, Inc. Since the General Assembly has never exercised its authority to do away with that corporation, or transfer its assets to any other entity, COGA has no legal authority to close it. Therefore, we are asking the forthcoming General Assembly to exercise its authority to reverse the COGA decision and enable the Historical Foundation to have its own board for future development.

Even the report approved by COGA recognizes that most of the assets of the Historical Foundation ˆ land, buildings, endowment, and holdings ˆ have been contributed directly to the Historical Foundation rather than to the Presbyterian Historical Society. This further emphasizes that the closing of the Historical Foundation would be a breach of trust to those churches and individuals who through the years have contributed toward the ministry of the Historical Foundation and entrusted their records to it.

The Historical Foundation is too precious an institution to have its ministry abruptly brought to an end and its holdings dispersed to various other places. There is so much potential for its service that would not be possible at any other location. Indeed, this time of crisis may offer a new beginning for its service to the total Presbyterian Church (USA) and to our partner churches around the world.

— James A. Cogswell, chair, Friends of the Historical Foundation at Montreat, Inc.