Young adults share why they love being Presbyterian
Plan and Promote College and Young Adult Sunday is around the corner
“As we have developed as a denomination, being Presbyterian means to me never having boundaries on who we love,” said Lilly, a young adult involved in the Presbyterian Campus Ministry of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. “The door is always open on baptism, confirmation and communion.”
This summer, Presbyterians are reminded to keep an open-door policy for young adult participation in two specific events: the 227th General Assembly, which convenes June 22-July 2, and in their congregations through the special emphasis Sunday known as College and Young Adult Sunday.
At the end of this month, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly will open its doors to 96 Young Adult Advisory Delegates who will participate in committees and plenary sessions, advising the denomination on which overtures are important to their generation of leaders. The role of the Young Adult Advisory Delegate was created in 1970 after recognizing that young people were less likely to be elected as commissioners and seeking a way for younger voices to be heard throughout the Assembly.
On Aug. 2, congregations and worshiping communities will celebrate College and Young Adult Sunday. The Office of Christian Formation and UKirk Collegiate Ministries have created numerous resources to help celebrate the gifts and wisdom young adults bring to our collective faith journeys.
In January 2026, the communications team of Presbyterian Life & Witness interviewed several young adults at the Montreat College Conference to hear firsthand what this generation loves about being Presbyterian and why they remain so engaged in faithful witness. The team and the Office of Christian Formation are sharing these short video clips on Vimeo, Instagram and TikTok, as well as through the resource links of the Office of Christian Formation, in hopes congregations might share them on social media or in worship as you celebrate Presbyterian young adults this summer.
If their testimonies inspire you, please feel free to make your own video and tag @presbyterianchurch and #beingpcusa.
Hunter of Wilmington, North Carolina, enjoys serving at a soup kitchen every third Wednesday, interpreting stories every Friday at Bible study and discussing the Presbyterian faith with others who seek understanding or come from other denominations. “I love how open and accepting being Presbyterian is."
Rain from The Grove Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, loves how intentional Presbyterians are. “Everything is well-thought out,” she said. “It’s just a genuine experience, and you can tell the love of God in everything that is done in being a Presbyterian.”
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