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Looking Forward to Preserving the Past Task force holds organizational meeting The Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) has begun the new year by putting plans into motion to increase its visibility and effectiveness in the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The plans are the latest action steps being taken in response to recommendations contained in a 2001 report from a consulting team that studied the future of PHS in the 21st century. The Warner-Yakel report was accepted by the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) and reviewed by the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society in late 2001. Many of the report's recommendations are well on their way to being implemented. They include significant changes in the historical society's funds development structure, realignment of staff responsibilities, and the development of a new governance model. A task force has been formed to look at two specific recommendations from the Warner-Yakel report: to assess the technology needs for PHS in an ever-increasing electronic age; and to explore consolidation of PHS operations. The task force is scheduled to make a report on both recommendations to COGA and to the new governing board of PHS this coming fall. At their first meeting in Louisville, KY on January 7, task force members got acquainted with one another and organized themselves for their work. They identified several ways to gather information as they proceed. One way will be to gather input from public conversations to be held at the sites where PHS is currently located. The first of these conversations will take place during the task force's next meeting, scheduled for April 16-17 in Montreat, NC. Subsequent conversations will be scheduled for Philadelphia, PA and this year's General Assembly in Richmond, VA. “We're looking forward to meeting with a variety of constituencies and discerning how PHS can best serve the denomination in the 21st century,” said Anne Bond, an elder from Denver, CO, who is the current moderator of the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society and co-moderator of the task force. The other task force co-moderator is the Reverend Katherine Cunningham (Ridgewood, NJ), who is current moderator of COGA. The Reverend Catherine Ulrich (Fort Smith, AR) also represents COGA on the task force. Burnett Kelly (Midland, MI) represents the Committee on the Presbyterian Historical Society. Elder Walter Baker (Mound, MN) is the General Assembly Council representative. Members-at-large include elder Jim Henderson (Montreat, NC), the Reverend Richard Ray (Bristol, TN), and the Reverend Cliff Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. Fred Heuser, director of the historical society, and Margery Sly, deputy director, serve as staff to the task force. The Presbyterian Historical Society is the national archives and research center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of the American Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. It maintains its headquarters in Philadelphia, PA, a regional office in Montreat, NC, and a records management program in Louisville, KY. The society serves all levels of the denomination. Additionally, scholars, genealogists, and the general public use the society's holdings to study various aspects of American culture and history. The collection demonstrates how the story of American Presbyterianism is woven into the life, culture, politics, and history of our nation. Visit the society's Web site at www.history.pcusa.org or call 215-627-1852. For more information, contact Sharon K. Youngs, Communications Coordinator, Office of the General Assembly, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396; phone (888) 728-7228, ext. 5750; email syoungs@ctr.pcusa.org.

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