A sixth candidate has announced her intention to stand for moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which meets in Minneapolis July 3-10.

The Rev. Julia Leeth is pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lompoc, CA.

The Presbytery of Santa Barbara has called a special meeting June 9, at which it will vote on her endorsement.

Leeth joins five other candidates standing for moderator: elder Cynthia Bolbach (National Capital Presbytery), the Rev. Jin S. Kim (Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area), the Rev. Maggie Lauterer (Presbytery of Western North Carolina) and the Rev. Eric G. Nielsen (Northern Waters Presbytery) and the Rev. James A. Belle (Presbytery of Philadelphia).

PNS will update with more information on Leeth as it becomes available.