Ruling Elder David Parker, a member of First Presbyterian Church in Statesville, North Carolina, has announced that he will be standing for moderator of the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 2016.
Parker adds his name to the list of those vying for the position along with co-moderator candidates Jan Edmiston, associate executive presbyter for ministry of Chicago Presbytery, and Denise Anderson, pastor of Unity Presbyterian Church in Temple Hills, Maryland. The official standing of the Edmiston/Anderson ticket is, according to Anderson, pending the anticipated endorsement by the National Capital Presbytery at its January 26, 2016 meeting.
Jan Edmiston (left) and Denise Anderson (right.) —Photos via Presbyterian Outlook
An action by the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA) in 2014 opened the door for the possibility of a duo running as co-moderators. Members of the Committee to Review Biennial Assemblies say moderators already rely on their vice moderators for assistance; a co-moderator team could divide up tasks and speaking engagements more equally. The change to the standing rules eliminates the vice moderator position if co-moderators are elected.
A statement from Parker, including biographical information, has been posted to the Salem (N.C.) Presbytery site.