GA226 for Observers
General Assembly Fundamentals
“Every two years the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gathers. It is an event where profound and prophetic things can happen . . . For some, the assembly may not seem relevant to the daily work of their congregation. For others, it may feel like a familiar friend who has always been there.”
-Kate Trigger Duffert
In the article “Rooted and grounded in God,” Ruling Elder Kate Trigger Duffert, Director of General Assembly Planning, introduces the theological roots of the PC(USA) General Assembly and shares preparations for GA226. This work, this theology, is for the whole church.
The following additional resources have been gathered to help in-person and online observers learn more about the PC(USA)’s polity and processes that ground the church in relationships with God and each other.
Being Presbyterian
Presbyterian Identity
Whether a relatively new Presbyterian or born and raised in the denomination, this podcast episode with PC(USA) Acting Stated Clerk Bronwen Boswell helps us understand who we are as Presbyterians.
Presbyterian Identity
Whether a relatively new Presbyterian or born and raised in the denomination, this podcast episode with PC(USA) Acting Stated Clerk Bronwen Boswell helps us understand who we are as Presbyterians.
How the Assembly Works
From Idea to Overture
The majority of business at the General Assembly comes through presbyteries and is drafted by ruling elders, teaching elders, and other church leaders. Learn about the process of overture creation in this podcast recording through the experiences shared by Rev. Susan DeGeorge and Rev. Gregory Simpson of Hudson River Presbytery.
Voting Your Conscience
Commissioners to the General Assembly vote on overtures, reports, and other matters of business. In this “Along the Road” episode, Rev. Joyce Lieberman helps navigate the call to vote—in churches and assemblies but also in the church’s general elections—and how faith connects Presbyterians as they consider choices.
The Motion of an Overture on the Way to GA
Hello Church people! Director for General Assembly Planning, Kate Trigger Duffert, and Manager for General Assembly Business, Ken Tolley, share the ins and outs of this year’s processes for Overtures, PC-Biz, and some great pointers for Commissioners, Mid Councils, and church leaders to get involved in the democratic process that GA provides.
GA226 – Unique Format for Committees
The 226th General Assembly (2024) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will conduct committee meetings online, where commissioners and delegates can discuss and vote on business items. These meetings offer a platform for in-depth conversations before making recommendations to the full Assembly. Participants are urged to familiarize themselves with the business items beforehand. Pre-meetings are held to build community and practice committee work. The committees play a crucial role in strengthening overtures and streamlining business before it is considered by the entire body.
Parliamentary Procedure
The PC(USA) General Assembly is conducted by parliamentary procedure—usually Robert’s Rules of Order. This webinar, led by Assistant Stated Clerk the Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig as a part of the Year of Leader Formation series, focuses on the theological connections between parliamentary procedure and the PC(USA) Book of Order.
Presentation slides in English, Spanish, and Korean are also available for study and use.
Read more about parliamentary procedure here in English, Spanish, and Korean.
Equity & Inclusion
The Diversity Advantage:
Voices of TSADs & YAADs
In addition to Ruling Elder Commissioners and Teaching Elder Commissioners, the General Assembly also includes delegates who provide important advice to voting bodies. These delegates include Ecumenical Advisory Delegates, Missionary Advisory Delegates, Theological Student Advisory Delegates, and Young Adult Advisory Delegates.
In this podcast episode, two former YAADs and a former TSAD share how they became aware of the opportunity to serve and how being an advisory delegate lastingly impacted their lives. Not only do Young Adult Advisory Delegates and Theological Student Advisory Delegates bring a special perspective to the General Assembly, their service fosters stronger connections and cultivates future leaders for the church.
The Theology of Representation and the Distinctiveness of Representation Work
This is not your ordinary conversation about representation!
Join Anna Kendig Flores and Eric Thomas, co-moderators of the GA Committee on Representation, and Jihyun Oh, Director of Mid Council Ministries and Associate Stated Clerk in the Office of the General Assembly as we continue delving into the nuances of F-1.0403 from the Foundations of Presbyterian polity focusing on the GA Committee on Representation’s Theology of Representation and gain a better understanding of the unique nature of representation work in comparison to advocacy and anti-racism work.
We invite you to read and study the Theology of Representation and put it into practice by studying and praying together with the scriptural references and sharing your testimonies and stories with us.
THEOLOGY OF REPRESENTATION
Dr. Raj Nadella and Rev. Dr Eric A. Thomas on behalf of the
GA Committee on Representation
Can Equitable Representation and Participation Be Achieved Despite our Demographics?
Join Jessica Vazquez Torres and Tricia Dykers-Koenig as they engage in an open dialogue about the impacts of our commitment to diversity, participation, and representation.
Participation and Representation | Belonging Together in a Covenantal Community of Faith
Join Jihyun Oh in the first of two insightful episodes, as she delves deep into the Foundations of Presbyterian Polity F-1.0403 and challenges us to deepen our understanding of our call to live together in a covenantal community of faith.
Practicing Inclusion
Diversity. Participation. Inclusion. These are not just socially of-the-moment words, but foundational values related to our openness to the work of the Holy Spirit within the PC(USA). Creating spaces where we can listen to all who are seeking God’s will together can help us discern where God is calling and leading us in mission and ministry—but how do we create and foster those spaces? What are some things that can get in the way.
This webinar, led by Associate Stated Clerk the Rev. Jihyun Oh, focuses on the impact of implicit bias, why it’s important to consider and reduce implicit bias as Christians in the PC(USA), and some tools you can use to create spaces that invite and welcome full participation of a diverse group of people in the discernment processes and governance of the church.
Resources referenced in the webinar and used for ministry:
About the Along the Road Podcast
The podcast episodes featured on this page are from, “Along the Road: A Podcast for PC(USA) leaders.” Additional episodes are available for streaming, including others connected to the General Assembly:
Be inspired, hear the stories of others, and practice the tools of faith and leadership through conversations that nourish, enrich, and aid in the formation of leaders in the church. Mid Council leaders will integrate foundational values with the practice of faith and ministry. Congregational leaders, particularly ruling elders and deacons, will experience practices to connect faith to everyday life. Nourish: Short episodes for ruling elders and deacons. Encounter: Longer episodes for church and mid council leaders.
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