It is exciting to see today’s announcement/press release from the PC(USA) news service about the hiring of Rev. Tom Taylor to be the new General Assembly Council Deputy Executive Director for Mission.  Tom is a Louisville outsider who will come from the “tall-ish” steeple Glenkirk Presbyterian Church (1400 members) in Glendora, CA, San Gabriel Presbytery.

This hiring of a pastor from a large, prominent, generally “conservative” congregation to a major visible role in the national administration is comparable to the hiring of Gary Demarest to head up the General Assembly office of Evangelism in 1988.  Interestingly, Gary is quoted in the press release promoting Tom’s talents.

No one says that this will be an easy task.  Tom is quoted as saying:

“Anyone would be either crazy or arrogant to assume that this will be
an easy task,” Taylor noted. “This can only be done with God’s
direction and a Holy Spirit-driven energy and creativity, but I am
still more excited than daunted by the challenge,” he said. “I see it
as an opportunity for hope, growth and healing in our denomination.”

I look forward to Tom’s leadership in this position.