Midweek Musing 6/10/2026

Hi! Sydney here. For the second time this month, the Midweek Musing is not being written by my dad, Clay. Two weeks ago, you heard from my sister, Brittany, about the Middle School Montreat Conference this summer and what it means to be Crafted by God. Being the equal opportunist that my dad is, he told—I mean asked—me to write this week’s musing on the PC(USA)’s General Assembly. As a self-proclaimed “Presby-nerd,” I have had the opportunity to serve our denomination in a few different roles during General Assembly and am serving again this summer. I am excited to see how Spirit will move through the Assembly's work.

For those who may be unfamiliar, the Presbyterian Church (USA) holds an assembly every two years to discuss and discern the future of the Presbyterian Church. This summer is the 227^th General Assembly. General Assembly is held at different locations throughout the United States and is a collaboration among all levels of the Presbyterian Church, from the denomination to the synods to the presbyteries to individual churches. Each presbytery sends a certain number of Commissioners and Young Adult Advisory Delegates to the General Assembly. Commissioners are both Teaching Elders (TE), people who are ordained in Word and Sacrament, and Ruling Elders (RE), who are ordained elders in their individual churches. Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAAD) are faithful church members aged 18 to 23. The General Assembly also has Theological Seminary Advisory Delegates (TSAD) and Partner Advisory Delegates (PAD). TSADs are individuals who are actively in seminary, and PADs are individuals from the larger church network—whether international denominational churches, mission groups, or other ecumenical partners. The General Assembly consists of two parts: the committee and the plenary. The first part, committee, divides the commissioners, YAADs, TSADs, and PADs into smaller groups to discuss the submitted items of business, called overtures, by topic. While each assembly has different committees, there are always committees on Finances, Ordination, Constitutional Interpretation, and General Assembly needs. Each committee works together to recommend what decision should be made for each overture at plenary. Plenary, the second part, is when the entire General Assembly comes together to consider the overtures, assess their impact on the church's future, and make the final decision on each overture's passage or failure, using the committee’s recommendation as the base.

The work of the General Assembly, in both committee and plenary, is long and tedious. It also allows lots of practice with Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure. It is, in a lot of ways, a full-on geek-fest. I mean, where else are you going to find people excited to see a Substitute Motion? Not very many places, that’s for sure. While the work can become taxing, it is necessary work to ensure that the spirit is moving through the Presbyterian Church in the way God wants. It is an unforgettable experience to know that you were part of decisions that will help move the church to better serve and represent Christ. I think that is why I keep finding a way to be involved with it year after year. In 2022, I had the opportunity to serve our denomination as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate and use my voice to help shape the future of the church. I have continued to be involved in the General Assembly in 2024 as a volunteer, and I am doing so again this summer for GA227. While being a volunteer and “behind the scenes" is very different from being a commissioner or advisory delegate, it has the same effect in knowing you are actively a part of something bigger than yourself. You know that your talents, gifts, and actions are helping move the denomination forward. I am excited to use my gifts this summer once again and see how the Spirit moves as we do the work of the church. While the General Assembly happens every two years, the work of the church continues day by day. Doing the work of the church includes everyone—Commissioners, YAADs, TSADs, PADs, General Assembly Staff, volunteers, and the larger church body—and I am grateful to be a small part of it.

To find out more information about the 227^th General Assembly, visit https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/church-structure/general-assembly/general-assembly-gathering

To learn more about the overtures to be discussed (including one from our very own Dr. Lem Arnold!), visit https://myga.pc-biz.org/home.