The Rev. Neal D. Presa, a candidate for moderator of the upcoming 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has announced that his running mate for vice-moderator is the Rev. Tara Spuhler McCabe of National Capital Presbytery.
McCabe, an alumna of PC(USA)-related Agnes Scott College and McCormick Theological Seminary, has served as associate pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, since 2006. She and her husband Kendrick and their two children live in Arlington, Va.
Presa, who has been endorsed by Elizabeth Presbytery, is the second moderatorial candidate to name a running mate. Last month the Rev. Sue Krummel of Great Rivers Presbytery introduced The Rev. Sanghyuan James Lee of Columbia, S.C., in Trinity Presbytery as her vice-moderatorial pick.
Three other announced moderatorial candidates ― the Rev. Randy Branson of Palo Duro Presbyery, the Rev. Robert Austell Jr. of Charlotte Presbytery, and the Rev. Janet Edwards of Pittsburgh Presbytery (though not endorsed by that presbytery) ― have yet to announce their vice-moderator running mates.
Presa and McCabe met 11 years ago at a PC(USA) young pastors conference “and have been reflecting on the Church, mission, and ministry together for more than a decade,” Presa said in a press release announcing his pick.
McCabe has served National Capital Presbytery in a variety of capacities and on the planning teams for Montreat Youth Conference, Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference, and the 7% Young Clergy Conference. She was she was a PC(USA) delegate to the World Council of Churches 8th Assembly in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1998.