The Presbyterian News Service has just broke the news that of the fourteen applicants for the job of Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the choice of the nominating committee is current Associate Stated Clerk Rev. Gradye Parsons.

While we did not know the list of applicants, I think that most GA Junkies would figure Rev. Parsons to be the odds-on favorite if he wanted the job.  He has been in the Stated Clerk’s office for eight years and is presently the director of operations.  If you apply “kremlinology” to this choice, he is frequently seen seated close to outgoing Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and at several events I have been to he has been the Stated Clerk’s representative to the event or meeting.  (Want to try it yourself?  Zoom in on this very high resolution image or note that Gradye is in the Stated Clerk’s seat in this picture.  Both are from the 217th General Assembly.)

To his credit, he has a great deal of experience in the office which will be helpful.  Some may view that experience and the hiring from within as a negative as well as Rev. Parsons’ participation with the governing board of the National Council of Churches of Christ.  I am encouraged that the article mentions one of Gradye’s goals is to do more to develop the ministry of elders and in my time with him I have found him very knowledgeable, friendly, and good natured.

But this is only the choice of the nominating committee and it is now time to wait and see if any of the other 13 applicants will chose to also run for election making this contested.  They have until May 7 to announce.  The election will be held on the Friday of General Assembly, June 27.

One interesting thing is that this was a coordinated web roll-out from the PC(USA) headquarters.  Within a short period of time this announcement appeared on the main PC(USA) web page, the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee web page, and the PC News service site as the highlighted article.  One has to wonder if it would have found as much penetration if the choice was an outside nominee.