The 227th General Assembly opens with prayers, votes and even a few friendly quips
The Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson, Co-Moderators of the 226th GA, are in Milwaukee for a return engagement
MILWAUKEE — The 227th General Assembly (2026) launched Monday with an online plenary of commissioners and advisory delegates helmed by the Rev. Tony Larson and the Rev. CeCe Armstrong, Co-Moderators of the 226th General Assembly who are, for the time being, filling the same role for the 227th General Assembly until their successors are elected on July 2.
Monday’s 53-minute plenary also saw leadership by the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness, and the Rev. Tricia Dykers Koenig, GA parliamentarian, who gathered at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee along with a production team for the Assembly’s first plenary. Afterward, commissioners and advisory delegates went to their respective committees, also online, to begin committee work scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.
Committee livestreams are available here.
“You’re not here by accident,” Larson told commissioners and advisory delegates. “Your presbytery saw the special gifts given to you,” Armstrong added. “We trust you will begin to recognize and celebrate the gifts of the Spirit in one another.”
“We are scattered across screens and time zones,” Larson prayed, “and yet we are, through your grace, one body in Christ.”
“We ask for wisdom to hear you, courage to speak truthfully, and the sustaining grace to stay in the room when the work gets hard,” Larson asked the Almighty.
“Knit us together, even across the distances,” Armstrong petitioned, “as an expression of the body of Christ, so we can do hard work and still worship and break bread together.”
Oh and the Moderators then led a commissioning service “that empowers each of you to do the work together,” as Armstrong put it. “This is both a call and a commitment. This is not a bureaucratic commission but a theological one. You are called to be ambassadors.”
“We are gathered in spirit, and soon we will be gathered in person,” Oh said. “Wherever we are gathered, we know we will face challenges. By God’s grace we are formed and reformed to continue growing in the faith.”
Oh led a charge for the nearly 200 people watching the livestream who aren’t advisory delegates or commissioners: “Do we, as members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), accept these commissioners as chosen by God, through the voice of the church, to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ and accept the unique call placed on advisory delegates to serve in the deliberations of this church council?” The answer was “We do.”
Oh prayed that the 227th General Assembly “will bring serious conversations and joyful laughter.”
“You are now commissioners to serve as the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),” Oh told commissioners. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Commissioners and delegates were asked to participate in a few mock votes to test the voting technology.
Don Adams, a ruling elder and Moderator of the Committee on Business Referrals, moved on behalf of the committee REF-03, the proposed docket for GA227. Commissioners approved the proposed docket by a vote of 408-0.
On behalf of the committee, its Vice Moderator, the Rev. Lindley DeGarmo, moved REF-01, Business Referrals to Committee. Commissioners approved that by a 410-2 vote.
The Rev. Satoe Soga, Moderator of the General Assembly Nominations Committee, presented on PLEN-01, General Assembly Nominating Committee Slates, and PLEN-02, 226th General Assembly Co-Moderators’ Slate of Nominations to the General Assembly Nominating Committee. No votes were held on those items.
Oh concluded Monday’s plenary with a few announcements. Commissioner resolutions are due by 8 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, she said. The consent agenda will be published on MyGA by 2 p.m. Central Time on Saturday.
“Make your way to your Zoom meetings now,” Oh told commissioners and advisory delegates. “We look forward to seeing all of you in Milwaukee soon.”
“O Lord, we are underway,” Armstrong prayed, thanking God for the patience and courage “already seen in this space. Now we virtually disperse to committees and into long conversations with people we are just beginning to know.”
“Remind us again and again that this is discipleship, God,” Larson prayed. “Knit us together, even across these distances. Sustain us and align us and bring us all safely to Milwaukee.”
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