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Press Releases » Montreat Conference Center’s President Passes the Leadership Baton - Board Keeps Its Eye to the Future
Montreat Conference Center’s President Passes the Leadership Baton - Board Keeps Its Eye to the Future
Press Release
From the President
From the Chairman
| Press Release |
January 7, 2008
“After much deliberation and prayer,” said Montreat Conference Center President, George Barber, “Wanda and I have concluded God is calling us to explore new ministry opportunities away from the conference center.” Barber will remain in office in Montreat through February 15 and serve on a consulting basis as needed through April.
Called in the fall of 2003 to serve as president of the conference center, Barber “has provided leadership for us as we restored financial accountability, achieved unprecedented success in the establishment of an endowment, completed a long range planning process, and revitalized conferences across the entire age spectrum,” said Frank Spencer, Chairman of the Board for the conference center.
Stabilizing the organization’s financial condition, business infrastructure and re-establishing public trust for the conference center were the major challenges handed Barber. “We have achieved those goals and believe it is time for someone else to lead the next chapter of the conference center’s bright future,” said Barber. “I’m proud of what our staff, volunteers, and board have accomplished during our tenure here which include four consecutive fiscal years resulting in surpluses, repaying endowment loans, establishing an Audit Committee and an Investment Committee, restructure of the board, significant facility improvements, unprecedented endowment growth, protecting 2,500 acres of wilderness in perpetuity through conservation easement, acquiring the Presbyterian Historical Foundation building, and more.”
Poised for the future, a search committee will begin immediately. “During the transition time,” said Chairman Spencer, “the Executive Committee members will work one-on-one with the Senior Leadership Team. The day-to-day activities of Montreat Conference Center will be handled by Vice Presidents Bob Tuttle, John Richardson, Merri Bass, Mike Morse, and Richard Sills.”
Implementation of the long-range plan will not be delayed. “The Spirit of God is moving among us,” said Spencer, “new conferences have met with huge success. Last summer’s women’s conference drew over 200 participants and our January college conference saw 800 college students gathered for a mid-winter conference. As one of the most important ministries in the PCUSA, Montreat will remain faithful to our call to prepare one another for Christ’s ministry in the world.”
| From the President |
After much deliberation and prayer, Wanda and I believe God is calling us to explore new ministry opportunities away from the conference center . We feel we have completed the chapter of leadership God intended us to bring here and are confident that it is time for us to move on. We are excited about the new phase and potential for our lives.
We are very proud of what the organization has accomplished during our time here. We believe we leave Montreat Conference Center a much stronger institution than when we started here four years ago. When we arrived, we had four primary goals:
1. Provide focus for the organization
2. Stabilize and improve the organization’s financial condition and business infrastructure
3. Reestablish public trust in the organization
4. Create an environment where the organization’s various constituencies feel valued and respected.
We have achieved those goals and believe it is time for someone else to lead the next chapter of the conference center’s bright future.
I’m proud of what our staff, volunteers and board have accomplished during our tenure, some of which are listed below:
• The staff is energized and trusts management.
• Public trust has returned. The following issues serve to protect that trust:
- Four consecutive fiscal years have resulted in surpluses using the budgetary method of accounting.
- Endowment “errors” were corrected.
- Endowment loans were repaid using the proceeds from the sale of lots.
- The Audit Committee was established.
- Trust in endowment oversight was restored by the implementation of the Audit Committee and by having the Development Foundation manage the investments (providing the members with full knowledge of endowment activities).
- The Investment Committee was established to intelligently manage the money.
- Quarterly financial statements are provided to the public in our quarterly reports and on our web-site.
- The board has been restructured to provide for six at-large members.
• Significant facility improvements and repairs have been completed.
• Operating debt has been reduced by $400,000 plus interest and we have still had an operating surplus for four consecutive years. If we had not inherited the $1 million operating debt, we would have had more than an additional $600,000 to invest in the future, grow reserves and satisfy capital needs.
• We have an effective and competent Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in place.
• Conference attendance and retreat utilization have stabilized and we have a more active marketing presence outside the gate.
• Endowment assets including pledges exceed $12 million and, when deferred gifts are included, endowment approximate $22 million.
• A Long-Range Planning process was completed and implementation progress is being made.
• Pricing of the Clubs and Child Care program has been restructured to be fair and equitable for all participants and to allow the program to operate at a break-even level.
• Over 2,400 acres of wilderness have been perpetually protected from development.
• Retail management has engineered a major improvement in retail operations and revitalized the related volunteer program.
• We have built a core of year-round hospitality staff to ensure consistency of service and also to provide benefits and a living wage to the core employees.
• The culture of the organization is changing to be more customer-focused
• We were able to add a staff member to protect and enhance our largest single revenue source, youth conferencing.
• The Memorial Garden was completed, funded, generously endowed and is operating.
• Entertainment at the President’s home has been acknowledged to enhance the experience of volunteers (by feeling appreciated) and as a method of enhancing the sense of community between the Conference Center and Montreat residents, permanent and seasonal.
• We have expanded our maintenance and grounds staff and we are regularly receiving compliments on the condition and appearance of the grounds.
• The board has been restructured to further the implementation of the Long-Range Plan.
• The Conference Center acquired the Presbyterian Historical Foundation building at a bargain purchase price and very attractive financing terms and secured funding of related operating expenses from the PCUSA.
• We seamlessly hosted Ruth Graham’s funeral in front of the nation on a Saturday between two 1,000 plus-attendance conferences.
• We were active participants in the Town of Montreat Comprehensive Planning process.
The next phase of the conference center’s ministry started in September. Our SLT met off-site for four days and fleshed out a plan to break the cycle of financial failure the conference center has experienced from its inception. The plan is aggressive and will require faith and very hard work. I think bold changes will be necessary. Implementing those changes will require an extended effort over a long period and a common vision and understanding of mission fully shared by all of our constituencies. The organization is poised to move boldly into a bright future.
It has been a privilege and an honor for us to serve the Presbyterian Church (USA) in this role. We have loved the ministry of Montreat Conference Center since our first experience in 1990. We will continue to love and support this critical ministry of the PCUSA and encourage you to do the same.
Sincerely,
George F. Barber, III
President
| From the Chairman |
George and Wanda have truly been a blessing for Montreat. George has provided leadership for us as we have restored financial accountability, achieved unprecedented success in the establishment of the endowment, completed a long range planning process and revitalized conferences across the entire age spectrum. Wanda’s warmth and graciousness have created an atmosphere of hospitality, whether in the Galax Dining Room or on the Barbers’ own front porch. I know I speak on behalf of all Montreaters when I say “Thank you for your ministry among us. We wish you God’s blessing in the next chapter of your lives and expect to see you back in Montreat soon and often.”
There will be a necessary time of transition as we seek the person who will lead us into the future. The Board has already taken several specific actions.
1. Recognizing that the position of MRA President is critical to constituencies both national and local, a search committee will be appointed in the very near future.
2. During the search process, the day to day activities of Montreat Conference Center will be handled by our excellent senior leadership team: Richard Sills; Merri Bass; Bob Tuttle; Mike Morse; John Richardson.
3. As Board Chairman, I will meet with the senior leadership team bi-weekly and will be supported by members of the Executive Committee who have agreed to partner with each of the vice presidents to provide ongoing support and guidance.
4. While George’s last day of fulltime duties will be February 15, 2008, he will remain available to us on an advisory basis through the end of April. During the transition certain duties of the President will be fulfilled by the Chairman.
We will not let the important implementation of our long-range plan be delayed. As George wrote last quarter, his vision is to see Montreat flourishing for generations to come. I know the Mountain Retreat Association Board of Directors shares that same vision with each one of you who is reading this. It is a time of challenge and great opportunity. Montreat Conference Center is no longer financially supported by PCUSA. We have faced major transitions within the valley in just the last year. Growth within the community has put pressure on infrastructure. Many of our facilities are still in need of updating and repair.
And yet, the Spirit of God is moving among us. Montreat Presbyterian Church has been revitalized as an active and vibrant congregation of PCUSA. The Presbyterian Heritage Center (former Historical Society) has re-envisioned the mission of that organization and are developing exciting plans around interactive and on-line access to key elements of our Presbyterian Heritage. New conferences have met with huge success. Last summer’s women’s conference drew over 200 registrants and just this month, 850 college students gathered for a mid-winter conference. Montreat is one of the most important ministries of PCUSA. We must fulfill our calling as we prepare one another for Christ’s ministry in the world.
Sincerely,
Frank C. Spencer
Chairman