28 people with a total of 348 years of service to the church

by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE -- May 10, 2004 -- The 28 Presbyterian Center employees whose jobs were eliminated in the General Assembly Council's budget-reduction plan have worked for the Presbyterian Church USA for a total of 348 years.

They received formal notice of termination this morning. The GAC's executive committee signed off on the two-year plan during a weekend meeting here.

The plan permanently reduces the General Assembly 2005-'06 mission budget by $4.6 million, to $114.4 million. Commissioners to the upcoming 216th General Assembly in Richmond will be asked to endorse the GAC plan.

One of the employees will continue working, at least temporarily. Catherine Cottingham, whose name is on the "Reduction in Force" list, will continue as managing editor of Presbyterians Today magazine. That position was eliminated, not as part of the downsizing, but because of a reorganization that will add three new jobs to the PT staff. Cottingham is eligible for one of the new jobs.

The departed employees, their titles, and years of service to the PCUSA:

Richard Brier, Senior System Analyst, Office of Information Services, Executive Director's Office, EDO -- 14 years

Andrew Buckley, Program Assistant, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Congregational Ministries Division, CMD -- 3 years

Carolina Callender-Mora, Bi-lingual Secretary, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, National Ministries Division, NMD -- 18 years

Catherine Cottingham, Presbyterians Today Managing Editor, Office of Communication, EDO -- 47 years

The Rev. Jaime Delgado, Associate for Hispanic Curriculum Development, CMD -- 10 years

Bettie J. Durrah, Associate, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 9 years

Charles Engleman, Maintenance Helper, Mission Support Services, MSS -- 4 years

Rebecca Farnham, Research Assistant for Evaluation, Research Services EDO -- 3 years

Cynthia Harris, Administrative Assistant, CMD -- 3 years

C.J. Haysley, Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Services, EDO -- 2 years

Yolanda Hernandez, Associate, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 45 years

The Rev. Carl E. Horton, Coordinator for Church Leader Support, CMD -- 14 years

Janie H. Ice, Accounts Receivable Clerk, MSS -- 15 years

Bonnie Jenkins, Associate for Budget and Personnel Administration, Evangelism and

Church Development, NMD -- 16 years

Janice Johnson, Secretary, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 3 years

Anne M. Jones, Associate, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 12 years

Connie H. Jones, Administrative Assistant, NMD -- 8 years

Carol Lyons, Assistant Manager for Purchasing, MSS -- 6 years

Sylvia A. Malone, Senior Administrative Assistant, NMD -- 12 years

Polly Marcum, Senior Administrative Assistant, CMD -- 6 years

The Rev. Elinor Mosser, Associate for PresbyNet, Office of Communication, EDO -- 22 years

Virginia Nyhuis, Senior Administrative Assistant, CMD -- 1 year

Steven Pittman, Secretary, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 3 years

Norma Sayago, Copy Editor for Spanish Resources, CMD -- 9 years

Ares Scott, Administrative Assistant, NMD -- 4 years

The Rev. Frances Unsell, Associate, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 21 years

The Rev. Judith Wrought, Associate, Women's Ministries National Staff in the Synods, NMD -- 35 years

Robin Yeary, Administrative Assistant, NMD -- 3 years