Anyone who’s ever reached for a PCA Directory, Book of Church Order (BCO), General Assembly Commissioner Handbook, Rules of Assembly Operation (RAO), Operating Manual of the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), or the Minutes of the General Assembly has Priscilla Lowrey to thank. As documents manager for the Administrative Committee (AC), Lowrey sees to it that the PCA’s essential publications are not only properly formatted, but easily available to anyone who needs them. It’s not glamorous, but it helps the PCA run smoothly.
Lowrey had enjoyed life as an English teacher, but when this position opened in 2002 she thought it would be fun to try. Nearly two decades later, as her 80th birthday approaches, she’s still at it.
The work, she says, mostly takes place in three stages: before, during, and after General Assembly (GA).
Before GA, Lowrey receives reports from the PCA permanent committees, assembles them into the Commissioner Handbook, and loads them into the digital ShareFile. She also formats the overtures and loads them onto the Administrative Committee website.
Lowrey has been a part of the PCA since its founding and plans to work just as long as she can.
During the Assembly, Lowrey makes sure the Committee of Commissioners for each PCA agency responds to the recommendations the permanent committee has made. She then ensures the reports are properly formatted before sending them to a local printer. She also coordinates with the recording clerks to make sure all proceedings make it into the official minutes.
After the Assembly, there are four more assignments: She prepares amendments to the BCO, RAO, and SJC manual. If amendments are approved by two-thirds of the presbyteries and the next year’s Assembly, she adds them to the BCO. She also works with the GA floor clerks to compile the Assembly’s proceedings, which she formats for printing. Finally, throughout the year, Lowrey edits the PCA Yearbook and Directory.
Probably the biggest change in Lowrey’s work during the past few years has been the transition from a print-only mindset, to a combination print/digital. “I now have to be aware of digital aesthetics, rather than just print aesthetics,” Lowrey said.
On the lighter side, the job also allows her to collaborate with others in the AC office. “I enjoy working on a team that enables the church to function well,” she said.
Lowrey has been a part of the PCA since its founding. Her husband, Mark, founded Reformed University Fellowship in the 1970s and is now interim executive director of Great Commission Publications. She loves the PCA, and plans to work as
long as she can.