Young adult leaders have questions; a Presbyterian leader listens
Young adult delegates to the UN Commission on the Status of Women meet one of the PC(USA)'s top ministers for a conversation
On Tuesday, a group of Presbyterian young adult delegates at the 70th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women sat down for lunch with the Rev. CeCe Armstrong. Meeting in Tudor City Greens, a park a block from the Church Center for the United Nations, it was the chance to ask Rev. CeCe some questions.
Rev. CeCe began by telling the story of how she came into ministry, speaking to the ways God guided her from math teacher to Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Our young adult group includes college students, interns for the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and Office of Public Witness, Young Adult Volunteers, and seminarians. As a group of 20-somethings, it is fair to say we all have big questions about our futures and careers. After Rev. CeCe made multiple references to God “calling,” “guiding,” or “telling” her to move into full-time ministry work, we asked her how we are to know and hear how God is speaking to us and what God is calling us to. Rev. CeCe advised us to make an agreement with God about how we will hear and then commit space and time to listen regularly.
As many in the young adult group are women, many of whom are interested in ministry, we also asked Rev. CeCe questions about positionality; more specifically her experiences in life and ministry as a Black woman. Rev. CeCe advised us to be the kind of women leaders who will stand up even when being encouraged to sit down, telling us that our boldness will crucially inspire the boldness of others.
Her passion and care for young adults were evident in the time and pastoral advice she gave us, including a heartfelt offer to contact her with anything at any time.
For me, the opportunity to speak with such an influential leader in the denomination, and especially a leader of my gender, provided me with a feeling of care, empowerment and solidarity.
Elinor Hiller is a young adult intern working with the Office of Public Witness and Peacemaking Representative Dr. Andrew Peterson for the 2025–26 academic year.
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