The Rev. Randy Branson of Palo Duro Presbytery, candidate for moderator of the upcoming 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has selected the Rev. Shamaine Chambers King, a pastor in Des Moines Presbytery, as his running mate for vice-moderator of the Assembly.
Branson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Graham, Texas, has emphasized his role as peacemaker as churches in his presbytery mull over their continued presence in the PC(USA). King fits that campaign strategy: as pastor of Windsor Presbyterian Church in Windsor Heights, Iowa since 2007, she has led the healing of the congregation, which was split nearly in two in 2006 by what the church’s Web site calls “a minister-led movement to leave the PC(USA).”
General Assembly records show the Windsor Church’s membership at 73.
Branson is last of the five declared candidates for GA moderator to announce his running mate. All ten candidates standing for election are Teaching Elders. In addition to Branson and King, they are:
- The Rev. Robert Austell Jr., Charlotte Presbytery and the Rev. Hope Italiano Lee, Peace River Presbytery
- The Rev. Janet Edwards, Pittsburgh Presbytery (not endorsed) and the Rev. Jeffrey Krehbiel, National Capital Presbytery
- The Rev. Sue Krummel, Great Rivers Presbytery and the Sanghyuan James Lee, Trinity Presbytery
- The Rev. Neal Presa, Elizabeth Presbytery and the Rev. Tara Spuhler McCabe, National Capital Presbytery
The moderator and vice-moderator will be elected June 30, the opening day of the Assembly in Pittsburgh.