General Assembly

The General Assembly is a council of the church, a discernment event, and a worshiping body.

As a council, the General Assembly is made up of commissioners from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s presbyteries, with teaching elders (ministers of the Word and Sacrament) and ruling elders represented in equal numbers. Young adult advisory delegates, ecumenical advisory delegates, theological student advisory delegates, and mission co-worker advisory delegates also constitute the assembly. These individuals gather for committees and plenary sessions to discern the direction of the church and make decisions that are implemented throughout the life of the PC(USA).

As a discernment event, the General Assembly occurs every two years. It includes committee meetings, plenary sessions, meals, educational opportunities, and other planned and impromptu gatherings.

As a worshiping body, the General Assembly is a time when people from across the PC(USA) and beyond gather to celebrate God’s work in the world.

The General Assembly is not an agency of the PC(USA) made up of national staff. It is not a council that makes decisions apart from the rest of the church, as it is made of members from the whole PC(USA). It is not a meeting set apart from the work and worship of the PC(USA), but it is fundamentally connected to the identity of the church and seeks to reflect the ways we honor God.

The assembly is primarily supported by the per capita dollars each member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gives toward the work of the national church. Per capita makes it possible for commissioners, advisory delegates, and committee support to participate in the assembly without taking on the financial burden of travel and accommodations. Per capita also supports a dependent care policy that offsets the costs caretakers incur when giving their time and energy to the assembly.