The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is pleased to announce that the Reverend Brian Ellison will serve as its new Executive Director.  Rev. Ellison is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), currently serving as Pastor/Head of Staff of Parkville Presbyterian Church in Parkville, Missouri, near Kansas City.  He will begin work for the Covenant Network on August 1, 2012.

The board of directors initiated a nationwide search and reviewed many outstanding candidates.  “We felt that Brian was uniquely qualified to lead the Covenant Network in the next chapter of our work.  He has demonstrated a commitment to working for the well-being of the PC(USA) on a national and local level.  He is a gifted preacher, insightful strategist, and committed leader,” offered Covenant Network Co-Moderator David Van Dyke, who also served on the search committee.

In addition to his service to Parkville Presbyterian Church, Brian has served in a variety of leadership roles in Heartland Presbytery, including as stated clerk and as moderator of several committees. He has also held a variety of General Assembly roles, including serving on the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly and (currently) the Board of Pensions and the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment. He has had a volunteer or elected role at fifteen General Assemblies. Brian is also a host and contributor at KCUR, the NPR affiliate in Kansas City, and adjunct instructor in preaching at Saint Paul School of Theology.

“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to offer leadership as executive director in the years ahead,” said Brian.  “Having given all of my vocational life to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I joined with others in celebrating last year’s constitutional changes permitting sessions and presbyteries to ordain all those whom God calls. Now, I believe that the Covenant Network is uniquely poised to help the church live into this new day that has dawned. There is still much work to do, and I look forward to joining in the good work Covenant Network is doing as it continues to seek a church as generous and just as God’s grace.”

Brian plans to work from the Kansas City area, where he lives with his partner, Troy Lillebo.