Jack Carlson retired from Highland Presbyterian Church is Jan. 2016, after 13 years of service there. He was ordained by Washington (PA) Presbytery, and in addition to his ministry at Highland, also served churches in Lockport, NY, and Hyattsville, MD. Before coming to this Presbytery in 2003, he worked as a pastoral counselor for two pastoral counseling services and then in private practice. In the Presbytery, Jack served on the Committee on Ministry, including a term as Chair; as a member of the Commission on Spiritual Leader Development, and most recently, as Moderator of the Presbytery.

Mary Gaut recently retired after serving the  Presbytery as Interim General Presbyter from June 2015 through Sept. 2016.  Prior to that she was pastor of Maryland Presbyterian Church in Towson for nearly 20 years. She also served as Interim pastor for five congregations in the Presbytery.  She was ordained in 1981 by the Louisville (Union) Presbytery and served as associate pastor of a congregation there.  Prior to seminary studies she worked in the fields of journalism and public relations & advertising.  She has served on the Committee on Ministry;  the Commission on Thriving Congregations; and, she chaired the Personnel and Representation committees and the Presbytery Trustees.

Mary and Jack intend to work closely together, collegically carrying out the duties of the office of the Stated Clerk. Jack will carry the title of Stated Clerk for official communications and documents, but both are available to answer questions and research information for the Presbytery.  Here is a breakdown of the responsibilities of the Stated Clerk, and which of us will be generally responsible for fulfilling them. 

Jack will be responsible for maintaining the minutes of Presbytery and preparing them for Synod Review, and will serve as the conduit for official communications among governing bodies; he will receive any written allegations of wrongdoing, and will train and staff Investigating Committees and Administrative Commissions as needed. In addition, Jack will staff the Gathering Team, preparing necessary documents and arranging for space for Gatherings; serve ex-officio on the Steering Cabinet and serve as secretary to Cabinet meetings; staff the Permanent Judicial Commission; provide ecclesiastical advice and counsel to the Moderator and other agencies of the Presbytery, our congregations and individual members. As directed by the Presbytery, he will be available to advocate on behalf of the Presbytery in the higher governing bodies of the church, in ecumenical settings, and in civil courts.

Mary's duties will include maintaining the Rolls of the Presbytery, preparing statistical reports for higher governing bodies, and overseeing the submission of the Annual Statistical Report of each congregation. She is also available to offer counsel and advice to congregations and individual members of Presbytery, and to work with Gathering Team to arrange meetings, as needed. Mary will staff the Property and Loan Commission, serve as secretary to the Administration Committee and to Property and Loan, and will serve as Parliamentarian for Presbytery Gatherings. In partnership with the Administration Committee she will manage bills and overtures that originate in the Presbytery of Baltimore or in other Presbyteries or the General Assembly, referring them to the appropriate committee or commission for their advice.

Together, Jack and Mary will share the responsibility for review of Session Records and training for Stated Clerks, mainly working geographically. They will share duties and responsibilities for planning and carrying out Presbytery Gatherings.  Both the Stated Clerk and the Deputy Stated Clerk will share the email address of [email protected] .  Jack can also be contacted via email at  [email protected] ; and, Mary can be contacted at  [email protected] .

We want to encourage you to contact us at the Presbytery office, 410.433.2012; or, feel free to call Jack at 410.978.1017, and Mary at 410.404.2161. We're happy to answer routine questions, clarify nuances in our polity, and research tougher questions, using the resources available to us in Louisville. Together, we have combined total of 74 years of ministry; Mary has been in Baltimore Presbytery since 1989, and Jack since 2003.  We love Baltimore Presbytery and look forward to serving you in the office of the Stated Clerk.