Editing Presbyterian Church (USA) (section)

====General Assembly====
The ''General Assembly'' is the highest governing body of the PC(USA). Until the 216th assembly met in [[Richmond, Virginia]] in 2004, the General Assembly met annually; since 2004, the General Assembly has met biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries (not synods), and its voting membership is proportioned with parity between elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. There are many important responsibilities of the General Assembly. Among them, ''The Book of Order'' lists these four:
# to set priorities for the work of the church in keeping with the church's mission under Christ
# to develop overall objectives for mission and a comprehensive strategy to guide the church at every level of its life
# to provide the essential program functions that are appropriate for overall balance and diversity within the mission of the church, and
# to establish and administer national and worldwide ministries of witness, service, growth, and development.

=====Elected officials=====
{{Main|List of moderators of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)}}

[[File:Ft Wash Hts Presb Wadsworth Av 174 jeh.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Fort Washington Presbyterian Church]]]]
[[File:First Presbyterian Church of Plattsburgh, New York.JPG|thumb|upright|[[First Presbyterian Church (Plattsburgh, New York)]]]]

The General Assembly elects a [[Moderator of the General Assembly|moderator]] at each assembly who moderates the rest of the sessions of that assembly meeting and continues to serve until the next assembly convenes (two years later) to elect a new moderator or co-moderator. Currently, the denomination is served by Co-Moderators Cecelia Armstrong and Anthony Larson, who were elected at the 226th General Assembly (2024). They followed Ruth Santana-Grace and Shavon Starling-Louis, elected in 2022. They followed Elona Street-Stewart and Gregory Bentley, elected in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=224th General Assembly (2020)|url=https://oga.pcusa.org/section/ga/224th-general-assembly-2020/|access-date=August 5, 2021|website=PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805171252/https://oga.pcusa.org/section/ga/224th-general-assembly-2020/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the 223rd Assembly in St Louis, MO, Co-Moderators Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohmann were elected. See a [[List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)|complete listing of past moderators]] at another Wikipedia Article.

A [[Stated Clerk]] of the General Assembly is elected to one or more four-year terms and is responsible for the Office of the General Assembly which conducts the ecclesiastical work of the church. The Office of the General Assembly carries out most of the ecumenical functions and all of the constitutional functions at the Assembly. The Stated Clerks since reunion are: [[James Andrews (clergyman)|James E. Andrews]] (1984–1996), [[Clifton Kirkpatrick]] (1996–2008), [[Gradye Parsons]] (2008–2016), J. Herbert Nelson (2016–2023), Bronwen Boswell (2023–2024) (interim), and Jihyun Oh (2024–).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2016/05/decently-not-always-good-order-historical-overview-choosing-pcusa-stated-clerk|title=Decently But Not Always in Good Order: An Historical Overview of Choosing the PC(USA) Stated Clerk|date=May 13, 2016|website=history.pcusa.org|access-date=April 26, 2023|archive-date=April 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426222314/https://www.history.pcusa.org/blog/2016/05/decently-not-always-good-order-historical-overview-choosing-pcusa-stated-clerk|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bronwen Boswell was appointed Acting Stated Clerk in June 2023 to serve the remaining year of Nelson's term. She was ineligible to apply for the stated clerk position in 2024, and has limited responsibilities focused primarily on completing plans for the 2024 GA and [[restructuring|unification]] of the OGA and PMA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pres-outlook.org/2023/06/stated-clerk-ends-historic-term-in-historic-fashion/|title=Stated clerk ends historic term in historic fashion|date=June 30, 2023|work=The Presbyterian Outlook |access-date=October 16, 2023|archive-date=October 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016060244/https://pres-outlook.org/2023/06/stated-clerk-ends-historic-term-in-historic-fashion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her partial characterization of the [[Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|attempted assassination of Donald Trump]] as "two lives lost at a Pennsylvania rally" blurs the distinction between perpetrator and victim, unlike definitions of [[mass shooting]]s that often do not include the shooter in the [[body count]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/7/15/acting-stated-clerk-condemns-violence-at-trump-ral/|title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Acting Stated Clerk condemns violence at Trump rally|date=July 15, 2024|website=pcusa.org|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716234232/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/7/15/acting-stated-clerk-condemns-violence-at-trump-ral/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{third-party inline|date=July 2024}} Bronwen's political perspective on the shooting has been contrasted with purely nonpolitical perspectives from other denominations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://juicyecumenism.com/2024/07/17/church-prayers-trump/|title=Church Officials' Prayers Follow Trump Shooting|first=Quinn|last=Novick|date=July 17, 2024|website=Juicy Ecumenism}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalmethodist.org/a-family-and-a-global-methodist-local-church-lose-a-faithful-member-in-assassination-attempt/|title=A Family and a Global Methodist Local Church Lose a Faithful Member in Assassination Attempt - Making Disciples of Jesus |date=July 16, 2024 |publisher=The Global Methodist Church|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716200408/https://globalmethodist.org/a-family-and-a-global-methodist-local-church-lose-a-faithful-member-in-assassination-attempt/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jihyun Oh was installed in July 2024 as the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/7/1/the-rev-jihyun-oh-is-elected-then-installed-as-sta/ | title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - the Rev. Jihyun Oh is elected, then installed, as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) | date=July 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/4/26/rev-jihyun-oh-nominee-stated-clerk-general-assembl/|title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – The Rev. Jihyun Oh is the nominee to be the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly|date=April 26, 2024|website=pcusa.org|access-date=April 26, 2024|archive-date=April 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426160433/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/4/26/rev-jihyun-oh-nominee-stated-clerk-general-assembl/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/1/22/stated-clerk-of-the-general-assembly-candidate-int/|title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – Stated Clerk of the General Assembly candidate interviews|date=January 22, 2024|website=pcusa.org|access-date=January 22, 2024|archive-date=January 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122225805/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/1/22/stated-clerk-of-the-general-assembly-candidate-int/|url-status=live}}</ref> and promoted by the Unification Commission (UC) in October 2024 to lead the interim unified agency.<ref name=Jihyun/> The UC is overseeing unification of OGA and PMA, currently planned for summer of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/the-pcusas-unification-commission-takes-in-reports-including-efforts-to-join-communications-ministries/|title=The PC(USA)'s Unification Commission takes in reports, including efforts to join communications ministries|date=January 19, 2024|website=Presbyterian Mission Agency|access-date=January 22, 2024|archive-date=January 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122225806/https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/the-pcusas-unification-commission-takes-in-reports-including-efforts-to-join-communications-ministries/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) had oversight over the Stated Clerk and OGA, but COGA and PMAB were dissolved on December 31, 2024, with UC taking over their responsibilities.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/8/16/unification-commission-votes-to-sunset-governing-b/ |title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Unification Commission votes to sunset governing boards for PMA and OGA on Dec. 31 | date=August 16, 2024 }}</ref> A new Unification Management Office is planned to manage the [[Post-merger integration|integration]] of PMA and OGA.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/unification-commission-votes-to-establish-a-unification-management-office/ | title=Unification Commission votes to establish a Unification Management Office | date=August 9, 2024 }}</ref> In March 2024, the former OGA Communications Director was named PCUSA Communications Director<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/3/7/rick-jones-named-director-pcusa-unifying-comm-min/|title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – Rick Jones named director of the PC(USA)'s unifying communications ministries|date=March 7, 2024|website=pcusa.org|access-date=April 25, 2024|archive-date=April 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425174335/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/3/7/rick-jones-named-director-pcusa-unifying-comm-min/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the former PMA Communications Director was named PMA Vision Integration & Constituent Service Manager.

Nelson is the first African American to be elected to the office, and is a third-generation Presbyterian pastor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2016/6/25/world-church-leaders-hail-j-herbert-nelsons-electi/|title=World church leaders hail J. Herbert Nelson's election as Stated Clerk of the PC(USA)|date=June 25, 2016|website=Pcusa.org|access-date=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011201027/http://www.pcusa.org/news/2016/6/25/world-church-leaders-hail-j-herbert-nelsons-electi/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nelson announced he would not seek re-election to a third term,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/4/20/j-herbert-nelson-will-not-seek-a-third-term-as-sta/|title=J. Herbert Nelson will not seek a third term as Stated Clerk|date=April 20, 2023|website=Pcusa.org|access-date=April 20, 2023|archive-date=April 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420173222/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/4/20/j-herbert-nelson-will-not-seek-a-third-term-as-sta/|url-status=live}}</ref> and stepped down as Stated Clerk in June 2023, a year before his second term ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/4/25/j-herbert-nelson-to-step-down-as-stated-clerk-of-t/|title=J. Herbert Nelson to step down as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA)|date=April 25, 2023|website=Pcusa.org|access-date=April 25, 2023|archive-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427015556/https://www.pcusa.org/news/2023/4/25/j-herbert-nelson-to-step-down-as-stated-clerk-of-t/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reported tensions that likely influenced the decision to resign include struggling efforts since 2016 to unify the OGA and PMA agencies, and struggling efforts to return to normal following the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pres-outlook.org/2022/09/remagining-change-in-the-pcusa-and-the-world-we-get-to-do-this/|title=Reimagining change in the PC(USA) and the world: We get to do this|date=March 14, 2023|work=The Presbyterian Outlook |access-date=April 25, 2023|archive-date=April 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426033318/https://pres-outlook.org/2022/09/remagining-change-in-the-pcusa-and-the-world-we-get-to-do-this/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Stated Clerk is also responsible for the records of the denomination, a function formalized in 1925 when the General Assembly created the "Department of Historical Research and Conservation" as part of the Office of the General Assembly. The current "Department of History" is also known as the [[Presbyterian Historical Society]].<ref name="ga1925">"Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A." Philadelphia, Pa.: Office of the General Assembly, 1925.</ref>

=====Structure=====
Six (now five) agencies carry out the work of the General Assembly, two of which (OGA and PMA) are being unified, with a new staff reporting structure that seems to imply that OGA and PMA have been dissolved.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=PC(USA) national offices unification: What's next? |url=https://pres-outlook.org/2024/07/pcusa-national-offices-unification-whats-next/ |website=The Presbyterian Outlook |date=July 2024 |access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref> These are the Office of the General Assembly (OGA), the [[Presbyterian Publishing Corporation]], the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, the Board of Pensions, the Presbyterian Foundation, and the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) (formerly known as the General Assembly Mission Council).

The Board of Pensions is the oldest and largest of the PCUSA agencies, originally founded in 1717 as the Fund for Pious Uses. The Board provides those who work for congregations and affiliated ministries with healthcare, retirement, and income protection benefits. With over $12 billion in assets, the Board of Pensions is one of the largest Church Plans in the United States. The General Assembly directly elects the Board of Directors and the President. The current President is Frank Clark Spencer. In addition to its benefits program, the Board's education department runs CREDO conferences, the PCUSA's largest in service education program for ministers. The Board's Assistance Program provides financial assistance in the form of income and housing supplements, emergency grants, and debt reduction to current and retired members based on need.

The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (PMAB) (formerly General Assembly Mission Council) was dissolved on December 31, 2024, by a motion approved at a specially called Unification Commission meeting on August 16, two days ahead of the planned PMAB annual retreat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/who-we-are/agency-board/ |title=Presbyterian Mission Agency Board }}</ref> The timing of this motion allowed PMAB to celebrate their work in person, as their only remaining meeting, scheduled for October 29–30, 2024, was not in-person.<ref>https://vimeo.com/999688443 at 8:19</ref> The PMAB had 30 members (20 voting; 10 non-voting).<ref>{{cite web |author=Presbyterian Mission Agency Board |date=October 2023 |title=Manual of Operations |url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/wp-content/uploads/PMA-Manual-of-Operations-October-2023-1.pdf |access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref> The role of PMA President and Executive Director was phased out, effective October 10–31, 2024, with both PMA and OGA staff now reporting to the Rev. Jihyun Oh, who has been named as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency (IUA).<ref name=Jihyun>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcusa.org/news/2024/10/10/the-rev-jihyun-oh-named-leader-of-the-presbyterian/ |title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – The Rev. Jihyun Oh named leader of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s interim unified organization |date=October 10, 2024 |website=pcusa.org |access-date=October 10, 2024 }}</ref> The announcement did not include any comment from the PMA President and Executive Director, or even any indication that she had been notified of the changes and agreed with the terms. Details of the IUA leadership selection process have not been disclosed. The constitution requires maintaining an office of the Stated Clerk (Book of Order G–3.0501c), but not an office of the PMA Executive Director. The 2025 and 2026 budgets (page 18), approved by GA in July 2024, fund the office of the PMA Executive Director at $4,524,347 and $4,613,383, respectively.<ref name=Budget/> 

The budget (page 26) anticipated proposing a $5 million reduction over 2 years at the Unification Commission's October 2024 meeting in order to balance. At this meeting, the UC announced informally that the budget had been scrubbed resulting in a planned small [[layoff | reduction in force]]. On November 5, Jihyun Oh announced various program reconfigurations that would balance the 2025 and 2026 budgets, including the planned $5 million reduction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/new-interim-unified-agency-pcusa-takes-next-step-reimagining-work-going-forward|title=New Interim Unified Agency of the PC(USA) takes next step in reimagining work going forward}}</ref> Further details were announced on November 13, including 12 layoffs, and two vacant OGA positions to remain unfilled.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/saying-goodbye-and-thank-you-12-departed-colleagues|title=Saying goodbye and thank you to 12 departed colleagues}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pres-outlook.org/2024/11/unification-commission-consolidates-pcusa-agencies-resulting-in-program-changes-and-staff-reduction/|title=Unification Commission consolidates PC(USA) agencies, resulting in program changes and staff reduction|date=November 21, 2024|work=The Presbyterian Outlook |access-date=November 23, 2024|archive-date=November 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123205807/https://pres-outlook.org/2024/11/unification-commission-consolidates-pcusa-agencies-resulting-in-program-changes-and-staff-reduction/|url-status=live}}</ref> The November 5 announcement had also warned of further layoffs anticipated in 2025 related to restructuring. On February 5, 2024, Jihyun Oh announced 35 additional layoffs, where "all World Mission staff positions will be revised, and some will be concluded," reducing staff from 79 to 44 in new roles as Global Ecumenical Liaisons,<ref>{{cite web |url=
https://pres-outlook.org/2025/01/presbyterian-church-u-s-a-announces-major-cuts-to-mission-co-workers-amid-restructuring/|title=PC(USA) announces major cuts to mission co-workers amid restructuring|date=January 23, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/1039294406|title=January 23, 2025 (Part 1) - Unification Commission Meeting, 29:39–39:02|date=December 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/interim-unified-agency-pcusa-announces-shift-approach-global-ministry-engagement|title=Interim Unified Agency of the PC(USA) announces shift in approach to global ministry engagement|author=Rick Jones}}</ref> by the end of March 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2025/3/17/world-mission-leader-addresses-questions-regarding-shift-global-ministry-approach | title=World Mission leader addresses questions regarding shift in global ministry approach}}</ref>

These layoffs were intended to "help us be more nimble in responding to the ongoing shifts in the world and in the church while continuing to foster deeper and broader relationships with faith communities worldwide," based on "forecasting with the help of actuarial consultants for five years" to prevent "a bigger crisis in the near future". PC(USA) faces a backlash over the layoffs from critics who note that the 2024 General Assembly called for retaining mission co-workers and funded their budget at 60.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pres-outlook.org/2025/02/pcusa-faces-backlash-over-mission-co-worker-layoffs/|title=PC(USA) faces backlash over mission co-worker layoffs|date=February 6, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pc-biz.org/search/3001384|title=
[GAEC-32] CR-10 On Reaffirming the Role of Mission Co-Workers in the Global Ecumenical Witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pc-biz.org/search/3001379| title=[GAEC-31] CR-08 On Maintaining the International Presence of Global Mission Personnel to Embody Our Christian Witness}}</ref> On February 7, the Rev. Mienda Uriarte, director of World Mission, explained that "the redesign aims to harmonize compensation and eliminate perceived inequity, thereby enhancing our organizational coherence and employee morale."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/shifting-patterns-ecumenical-global-engagement|title=The shifting patterns of ecumenical global engagement}}</ref>

Previously, the General Assembly had elected the executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, as the top administrator overseeing the mission work of the PC(USA). Past Executive Director of the PMA is Ruling Elder Linda Bryant Valentine(2006–2015), and Interim RE Tony De La Rosa. Elected in 2018 is Teaching Elder Diane Givens Moffett (2018–2024).

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) is the highest Church court of the denomination. It is composed of one member elected by the General Assembly from each of its constituent synods (16). It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all Synod Permanent Judicial Commission cases involving issues of Church Constitution, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission issues Authoritative Interpretations of The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) through its decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcusa.org/ko/node/26891 |title=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) News |publisher=Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref>