The General Assembly (GA) of the PCUSA met last week in Salt Lake City, Utah after a week’s worth of committee work online. The GA meets every other year as commissioners from presbyteries all over the USA gather to debate, take action, and provide guidance on a wide variety of issues (Shenandoah Presbytery had four commissioners present). It is amazing to see the diversity of the larger church at work in these gatherings! Among the actions of the GA this year are:
Election of Rev. CeCe Armstrong and Rev. Tony Larson, both from South Carolina, as co-moderators. They will serve a two-year term until the next GA meets in Louisville, KY in 2026.
- Election of Rev. Jihyun Oh, born in South Korea and reared in Kansas, as stated clerk, the highest ecclesial office in the PCUSA (Bronwen Boswell, Shenandoah Presbytery’s General Presbyter, has been serving as Interim Stated Clerk for the PCUSA for the past year). Rev. Oh will serve a four-year term.
- Adoption of a budget for 2025 of $94.9 million and for 2026, $95 million.
- Approval of changes to the Book of Order to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the list of the “rich diversity” reflected in the church’s membership, and to include the commitment to fulfill all requirements in the principles of participation, representation, and non-discrimination to the examination of candidates for ordination and installation. (These changes, like all changes to the Book of Order, must be approved by a majority of the presbyteries to become effective.)
- Directed further engagement with greenhouse gas emitters and the fossil fuel industry to address concerns around climate change.
- Unanimously approved a resolution encouraging ratification of a U.S. Constitutional amendment abolishing the exception clause in the 13th Amendment that allows a person convicted of any crime to be enslaved.
- Unanimously approved an overture calling for action so that children can live free from gun violence.
- Reduced the number of PCUSA special offerings from four to three (One Great Hour of Sharing, Peacemaking, and Christmas Joy offerings).
- Adopted a resolution updating and expanding a 2004 resolution to reject Christian Zionism in all its forms.
The work of the assembly is a combination of necessary administrative actions, work for social justice, and biblical/theological reflection. As is our heritage, not all these actions were unanimous (though some were), but all were the result of prayerful consideration, respectful debate, and democratic action that sought to follow God’s will for us as Christ’s church. We are grateful for the work of the Assembly and trust that the same Spirit who guided their work will continue to work in and through us as Presbyterians committed to follow faithfully our risen Lord! (If you have questions on these actions, please speak with me or Rachel.)
– John Peterson
