At its fall meeting on September 8, 2011, the PCA’s Christian Education and Publications Committee received Dr. Charles Dunahoo announcement that he would not seek another term as head CE&P. Dunahoo has served as CE&P’s Coordinator since 1977.

Two years ago, the CE&P Committee set up a Leadership Transition Committee (LTC) to consider the process of the eventual transition to a new Coordinator for CE&P. Teaching Elder Will Hesterberg served as chairman of this Committee and presented the LTC’s report with recommendations to the full CE&P on Thursday night.

CE&P Chairman, Teaching Elder Scott Barber, was authorized to appoint a five-member Search Committee. According to the motion, the Search Committee members must be active CE&P members whose terms will not expire prior to the 2013 General Assembly. CE&P also determined that no member of the Search Committee will be eligible for consideration as Coordinator. Once appointed, the Search Committee can begin its work immediately. Names of committee members have not been made public.

Also appointed at this meeting was a three-man committee to begin to consider the feasibility and priorities for the future vision and general goals for CE&P during the transition and to provide guidance for the Search Committee as it considers candidates. The Committee is comprised of Ruling Elder Charles Gibson, chairman, along with Teaching Elders Don Clements and David Stewart.

The committee is charged with examining the feasibility of changes to CE&P’s operation, which could include such items as changing the committee’s name, revising the organizational structure of CE&P, setting priorities for what CE&P can do within the limits of its funding, and identifying unfunded mandates in order to inform the General Assembly of what CE&P can feasibly fulfill. Their work will also aid the Search Committee in interviews with potential candidates to describe the scope and challenges of the task that will face the new Coordinator.

After 34 years of faithful service to the PCA as CE&P Coordinator, Charles Dunahoo’s impact on the PCA is significant. He has set a pace and pattern that will serve the PCA as it provides discipleship services in the future. Dunahoo made it clear he is not retiring and will seek a new ministry call after he leaves CE&P