John Bise enjoys getting to know people. A conversation with him might extend beyond its allotted time because he is so curious to learn more about others. This curiosity serves him well as he has jumped into his role as the PCA’s provisional stated clerk. 

Bise, a ruling elder from Huntsville, Alabama, became provisional stated clerk on June 6 after the Administrative Committee accepted Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell’s retirement. In 2022, Bise was the moderator of the 49th General Assembly. He was also nominated to serve as General Assembly moderator in 2017 and 2019, but lost those elections to Alexander Jun and Howie Donahoe, respectively.

Despite losing the moderator election twice, Bise was given the opportunity to exhibit leadership at both Assemblies. Jun invited Bise to moderate the Assembly’s debate on the recommendations presented by the Ad Interim Committee on the Role of Women in the PCA. In 2019, Dunahoe asked for Bise’s input on which elders Dunahoe should appoint to the Ad Interim Committee on Human Sexuality.

“If you value that AIC Report – as it seems nearly all of us do – then a great measure of thanks is due to John for his discernment and judgment,” Donahoe said when he nominated Bise for moderator in 2022.

Bise is clerk of the session for Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and has also served as moderator of Providence Presbytery. He describes himself as a “son of the PCA,” having grown up in First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi, where three generations of his family had been members and served.

In addition to his work as moderator, Bise has served the General Assembly as a member of the committee of commissioners for Mission to North America and Reformed University Fellowship. He has also been a member of the Overtures Committee, the Committee on Constitutional Business, and the Standing Judicial Commission.

Bise graduated from Vanderbilt University with an economics degree and later earned a degree from Harvard Business School. For years, he worked in business management consulting, sometimes coming in to help parties when a business was in distress. At times, Bise functioned as a peacemaker, amicably resolving disputes to help parties avoid litigation.

“I feel that I am helping bear witness to the peace of Christ to my clients,” he said of his work in 2022.

He had been winding down his consulting and recently gave up his commercial office space in favor of a smaller home office. Then the AC came calling, and his ideas of quiet retirement were put on hold. 

“I have failed in retirement, at least thus far,” he joked.

Bise has been clear from the outset that he has no ambition to serve as the next stated clerk. But that doesn’t mean he plans to simply be a placeholder until the AC brings a candidate to the 2026 Assembly. He wants to help the AC move forward on several fronts, particularly fence-mending, fundraising, and leading the staff.  

Bise says conversations moved at a “breathtaking” pace between when he learned of Chapell’s retirement and was asked to step into the AC. He was deeply saddened about the circumstances leading to Chapell’s retirement.

But those events also created some stress on the PCA’s relationships with other Reformed denominations. Bise wants to continue restoring those relationships, a work Chapell initiated with his personal apologies and apology at the General Assembly. 

“Although the harm was unintended, I want to be sure we mend the fences where necessary. We want to make sure these denominations know we value them and their work for the gospel,” he said. Bise attended the Interchurch Relations Committee luncheon at General Assembly and plans to attend NAPARC’s annual gathering. 

He also sees a need to strengthen ties between the AC and PCA churches and presbyteries. He wants more churches and presbyteries to understand how the AC helps the entire denomination function, and he would like to spend time visiting churches and presbyteries to explain the AC’s work.

“I think that many people in the denomination do not know or appreciate the work of the AC. It is vital but not always visible and not necessarily headline-grabbing,” he said. “The AC works to assist the whole church in its functioning.”

That work is almost always out of the spotlight: hosting a presbytery clerk’s conference, facilitating the work of the Standing Judicial Commission and Committee for the Review of Presbytery Records, funding the PCA Historical Center and byFaith, receiving and distributing the PCA’s voluntary askings, and providing advice to presbyteries and churches. The most public aspect of the AC’s work might be the PCA General Assembly.  

Because most people do not understand the AC’s work, they do not financially support the AC through annual askings. 

“A near-shocking number of churches do not contribute to the work of the AC, roughly half of our churches,” he said. “I have to believe a good portion of that failure to participate is not understanding the role of the AC, and I want to correct that.” 

This is where Bise’s delight in getting to know people comes in handy. He hopes that by getting out to visit churches and presbyteries, he can explain the AC’s role and make the case for financially supporting its work. He believes that if people see and understand the need for the AC, more churches would gladly contribute to that work. 

Bise is also learning his role leading the AC staff. The nearly 20 people who work for the AC, some remotely but many coming to the Atlanta-area office, “see their work as being Kingdom-building work, even though some aspects of what they do are very mundane,” Bise said. 

As he helps to advance AC priorities, he also recognizes that the circumstances that led to his taking the job have taken a toll on the AC staff. He said he’s trying to strike a balance between moving ahead and helping the staff process their feelings about what happened. 

In his first few weeks on the job, preparing for the General Assembly consumed much of Bise’s time. But now that the Assembly is over and post-GA work is complete, he looks forward to getting to know the denomination’s presbyteries and churches better and help them to better know the work and needs of the Administrative Committee.

And he hopes to get to know some folks along the way. 

“I hope to glorify God in this provisional stated clerk position,” he said. “I hope to enhance relationships with sister denominations, enhance financial wellbeing, and enhance the vitality of the staff. And I plan to get out of the office and visit presbyteries and churches.”