ga commissioners report on their experience at general assembly

​The 224th General Assembly, meeting at a unique moment in history, united around the theme of Lament and Hope. Meeting for the first time in an electronic format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assembly focused throughout on the issues of racial injustice and systemic racism laid bare in the murder of George Floyd, which has awakened our nation so dramatically to the need for social justice.
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• ​The Assembly voted overwhelmingly to affirm that Black Lives Matter, confess our complicity in the system as a denomination, and call on our nation to end structural racism. ​​You can read more about the resolution here:  pres-outlook.org/2020/06/pcusa-general-assembly-affirms-that-black-lives-matter-pledges-to-work-against-systemic-racism/


• A moment of great hope and joy was the election of Elona Street-Stewart, executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, and the Rev. Gregory Bentley, pastor of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama, as co-moderators. Street-Stewart and Bentley brought thoughtful and Spirit-led leadership to the Assembly even as they challenged the church to live out its commitment to Christ in the world.
  To learn more about the co-moderators: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/224th-general-assembly-elects-street-stewart-bentley-co-moderators/


• The Presbytery of Detroit was well represented at the General Assembly by our Commissioners, Mark Phillips, Barbara Russell, Stefanie Lewis, Jasmine Smart, Julie Delezenne, and Dave Bunch, and our Young Adult Advisory Delegate Tyler Linnis. We were also well represented in nominees to denominational committees; our own Lindsey Anderson served as Chair of the Nominating Committee, and Phyllis Edwards was elected to the Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People, Kevin Johnson was elected to the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, Sarang Kang was elected to the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee, and Charon Barconey was elected to the General Assembly Nominating Committee. Harold Ellis served on the Stated Clerk Nominating Committee which nominated J. Herbert Nelson to a second term.
  
  
• ​Also the last official act of the Assembly was 8:46 minutes of silence, the length of time that a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on the neck of George Floyd, to mark and observe his death and the systemic injustice and racism it reflected. 
  
  
• What happened during the 224th General Assembly? Click here: https://ga-pcusa.org/
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• ​We look forward to sharing more reflections and insights from the General Assembly as we seek to live out the commitments the Assembly has made in the days and months ahead.