Faithful Steward Award

Cliff Kirkpatrick – Faithful Steward Award Winner (posthumous)

The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, a leader in the global ecumenical movement, served as the seminary’s Professor of World Christianity and Ecumenical Studies and the William A. Benfield Jr. Professor of Evangelism and Global Missions from 2009 - 2021.

Throughout his time at Louisville Seminary, Kirkpatrick has taught courses on the ecumenical movement, world mission and evangelism, and Presbyterian and Reformed theology and polity. He also serves as advisor to Presbyterian students and was co-chair of "Doors to Dialogue," a seminary-wide effort to ensure that all graduates are equipped to minister in a world of religious difference.

An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), he served as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) from 1996-2008. At the conclusion of his term of service, he was elected by the General Assembly as Stated Clerk Emeritus. As Stated Clerk, Kirkpatrick served as the Chief Ecclesiastical Officer of the denomination and its primary spokesperson and leader in the ecumenical movement. Among other leadership roles in the Presbyterian Church, he serves as Co-moderator of the General Assembly Special Committee on the Belhar Confession and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.

His service as Stated Clerk was preceded by fifteen years of service as the Director of the PC (USA) Worldwide Ministries Division, guiding the Presbyterian Church’s ministry in partnership with churches in more than 80 nations.

When asked about the future of the Church upon his retirement, Kirkpatrick said, “I wish we would have a new passion for the ecumenical movement, for interfaith relations, for reaching out to build a community together. We have tremendous gifts to share, but we can also be in a deeply troubled place if we don’t exhibit the ecumenical and interfaith movement in the way we live.”

Kirkpatrick emphasizes the Church’s theological vision, anti-racism work, and work around climate change as the most pressing issues of our time, globally and at the congregational level.

“It’s absolutely crucial,” said Kirkpatrick, “for the church to put its voice, its life, and its people out front and to say that we are committed, and committed deeply, to a church that is called to unity, reconciliation, and peacemaking in our time.”

Cliff Kirkpatrick passed away in January of this year. He is being honored at the event by his daughter Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick ’15.