The General Assembly (GA), which meets biennially in even-numbered years, consists of commissioners and advisory delegates elected by each of its presbyteries. The GA acts on hundreds of items of business received through reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries.
Before 2020, Assemblies were held in person, usually at convention centers, over a 10 day period. Because of the global pandemic, the 2020 Assembly was greatly reduced in length and accomplished virtually via Zoom.
In 2022, the Assembly will transition to a blend of in-person Assembly committee meetings held at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville and online plenary meetings convened via Zoom.
Lehigh Presbytery has elected Rev. Beth Utley (First Presbyterian Church of Stroudsburg) and Elder Lynn Ingram (Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus) as Commissioners to this assembly.
The Committee on Shared Gifts is still seeking a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD).
Expectations of commissioners and advisory delegates to the 225th General Assembly (2022)
What is it and What does it do?
The General Assembly consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries. Half of the commissioners will be ruling elders, half will be teaching elders. Few will ever have been commissioners to the General Assembly before, but most will have served in one of the other governing bodies of our church: the session, which provides care and oversight of a local congregation; the presbytery, which provides care and oversight of a group of congregations; or the synod which provides care and oversight of several presbyteries.
The General Assembly reviews the work of synods, resolves controversies in the church, is responsible for matters of common concern for the whole church, and serves as a symbol of unity for the church.
The General Assembly has several specific responsibilities outlined in Chapter 3 of the Book of Order. The assembly seeks to protect our church from errors in faith and practice, is responsible for assuring that the expression of our theology remains true to the biblical standards in our historic confessions. The General Assembly presents a witness for truth and justice in our community and in the world community. It set priorities for the church and establishes relationships with other churches or ecumenical bodies.
Book of Order 2019-2021 – Korean
Book of Order 2019-2021 – Spanish
225th General Assembly (2022) – June 17-July 9, 2020
in Louisville, KY
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by each of its presbyteries. The assembly acts on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries.
The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) is knee-deep into working on how to combine in-person committee meetings with online plenaries and how to conduct those at the Church’s Louisville office. More information to come.
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Important Dates
- Saturday, June 18, 2022 – On line – Plenary 1, 2, 3
- Sunday, June 19, 2022 – Worship – Juneteenth Service
- June 20-July 2, 2022 – Louisville, KY – Committee Meetings
- July 5-9, 2022 – On line – Plenary 4-17
Other information can be found at these links:
Office of the General Assembly statements & news
PC-Biz —
PC-biz is the web program that has been designed to display and follow the business of a General Assembly meeting. This site contains the history of the business of all assemblies since 2006.
The site was redesigned to be able to read the documents on computers, tablets and even smart phones.
PC-Biz includes the most current text of the overtures and other recommendations that have been forwarded to the assembly. Track each items of business as it moves through the assembly meeting, and see whether the recommendation was amended, approved, or voted down.
PC-biz site: https://www.pc-biz.org/#/
Office of the General Assembly homepage https://oga.pcusa.org/section/ga/ga/
Assembly Website: https://ga-pcusa.org/
Office of the General Assembly News & Statements – http://oga.pcusa.org/statements-news/
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — www.pcusa.org
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) news – https://www.pcusa.org/news/
Upcoming General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
225th General Assembly (2022) – June 17 – July 9, 2022 in person & online – Louisville, KY
226th General Assembly (2024) – June 29 – July 6, 2024 to be determined
224th General Assembly (2020) – held via Zoom due to the Pandemic.
Lehigh Presbytery was represented by Teaching Elder Stephen Emick (First Allentown), Ruling Elder Phyllis Walker (First Bethlehem), and YAAD Mckenzie Lazar.
For the first time in the history of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the denomination’s General Assembly was held online only. It was a reduced assembly gathering that required everyone involved –commissioners, advisory delegates, corresponding members and staff–to participate digitally. The historic Assembly took place over four days (June 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2020).
Summary of the 224th General Assembly (2020)
Hands & Feet – find out about the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA)’s Initiative and opportunities leading up to and during the 224th General Assembly – https://handsandfeet.pcusa.org/
223nd General Assembly (2018) – June 16-23, 2018 St. Louis, Missouri
https://ga-pcusa.org/
Lehigh Presbytery sent one Teaching Elder Commissioner, one Ruling Elder Commissioner, and one Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD).
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- Teaching Elder Sue Marie Baskette
- Ruling Elder Nicole Vogel
- YAAD Britney Daniel
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