Presbyterian Foundation: Presbyterian Foundation Board Names The Reverend Thomas F. Taylor as President
JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, November 9, 2009 – Reverend Tom Taylor has been called to serve as president and chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Foundation effective January 15, 2009 announced Marcia Porter, chair of the Presbyterian Foundation Board of Trustees. Taylor will succeed Robert E.Leech who served as the Foundation's president for nine years, retiring in June 2009.
Elinor Hite, chair of the Search Committee and former chair of the Board of Trustees said, "The CEO Search Committee and I feel that Tom Taylor has that unusual combination of informed and energetic leadership ability wrapped in a pastor's heart. His commitment to mission guides his decision making and management direction and we look forward to his wise leadership as CEO of the Presbyterian Foundation."
During the interim period the Foundation has been blessed with the leadership of attorney Richard H.C.Clay, a former trustee of the Board and a partner with Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP. Porter stated, "In recent years, the Presbyterian Foundation benefitted from the integrity and leadership of Robert E. Leech. Since his retirement, Dick Clay has been a wonderful and diligent steward of the Foundation as Interim CEO. Dick has brought his intelligence, eloquence, and wise counsel to address challenges; he has dedicated much of his time to successfully enhancing Foundation relationships with other agencies of the Church." She added, "The Board of the Presbyterian Foundation is grateful for the dedicated work of the CEO Search Committee, under the capable leadership of Elinor Hite, which has brought to the Foundation both Dick Clay and now our new CEO, Thomas F. Taylor."
Taylor has most recently served as the Deputy Executive Director for Mission at the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC), a position newly created in 2007 as part of a restructuring of the General Assembly Mission Council staff. Prior to joining the GAMC, he served as senior pastor at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church, a 1450 member congregation in Glendora, California and senior pastor at Church of the Valley, a 900 member congregation in Apple Valley, California. He has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Salt Lake Seminary and was a visiting lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Taylor practiced law with Snell,Wilmer & Snow, and Christensen & Martineau, both in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"In a challenging time of changing demographics and visions of mission in the Church, the Presbyterian Foundation has called Tom Taylor to be CEO to provide leadership for the future," said Porter. "Because of his experience with the General Assembly Mission Council, Tom is in a unique position to appreciate the long-term stewardship of donors' gifts and make the case between investment and return, because he has seen how gifts of previous donors have supported mission for generations. Tom has a broad perspective on the mission work of the PC (USA) and an understanding that the Presbyterian Foundation has a central role in working in partnership with the whole Church to identify, secure, and manage resources to fund their respective missions. He brings many gifts to the position that will allow him to provide effective leadership within the Foundation and also to communicate to individuals and institutions on how the Presbyterian Foundation can support them in their mission initiatives."
Commenting on the appointment, Dick Clay said, "This is a blockbuster selection. Tom Taylor has a strong mind, a great spirit, and a complete understanding of the Church. I think he is the right person for the job at this stage in the Foundation's 200-plus year history. I look forward to working with him over the years, and I hope that my service as interim President may have been useful in paving the way."
Linda B. Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council, stated, "Tom Taylor is an outstanding choice as President and CEO of the Foundation. Tom has a deep love of Christ and commitment to the Church. He has tremendous gifts of intelligence, communication, vision and integrity which he has demonstrated in his leadership in the General Assembly Mission Council. I have been blessed to have Tom as partner in ministry, as have my staff and elected colleagues in the GAMC. We will miss Tom greatly in our midst but are encouraged that he will continue as colleague in our sister agency, the Presbyterian Foundation, where we will continue to collaborate as partners in God's mission and in building up the body of Christ."
Taylor was ordained in 1995 and is a member in good standing – Presbytery of San Gabriel. He earned his Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Intercultural Studies; a law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law; M.Div. from Yale University Divinity School; and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.
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I'm happy for the Foundation. I'm delighted for Tom. I am happy about what this means for the future work of the GAMC and the Foundation. I'm sad to lose Tom's leadership at the GAMC.
Best wishes and God's grace in this new call Tom!
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