Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Committee on the Office of the General Assembly recommends Milwaukee as site for 227th General Assembly

Members of COGA and Office of the General Assembly staff met via Zoom February 15-16, 2024.

The Presbytery of Milwaukee is being recommended as the host of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 2026. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) voted in favor of the recommendation during its virtual two-day meeting last week. Kate Trigger Duffert, OGA’s director of General Assembly planning, said the city can meet all the needs for hosting an assembly.

“The planning team works with the Stated Clerk to identify cities which are within the region of the country assigned for the upcoming assembly year. We look into the capacity of each location to host an event of this size in a way that is accessible to all Presbyterians,” she said. “From there, we connect with presbyteries to identify if they are interested in collaborating on hosting the assembly. After a site visit to get a sense of the city and its facilities, staff evaluate each location and make a recommendation to COGA.”

The planning team recently visited Milwaukee and came away impressed.

“During our site visit we were able to see how Milwaukee has transformed in recent years. Downtown is filled with local businesses, opportunities to see art and architecture and a clear investment from the community to build a vibrant city center,” Trigger Duffert said. “It was clear that bringing the General Assembly to Milwaukee would be an outstanding chance to support this development and, in turn, share the city with the PC(USA).”

Trigger Duffert said the Presbytery of Milwaukee is excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity to host the 227th General Assembly. “We are grateful for their commitment and joy and look forward to collaborating with them as we plan for 2026.”

The 226th General Assembly will vote on the recommendation during its gathering in Salt Lake City this summer. Trigger Duffert said the format of the 227th General Assembly will basically be the same as this year’s gathering, with committees meeting online and plenary sessions in person.

“This will allow the planning team to learn from our fourth iteration of assembly formats in recent years and use those learnings to better the implementation of the assembly,” she said. “In 2026, commissioners in Milwaukee will have the chance to recommend formats for future assemblies, but we are looking forward to a bit of consistency in planning between Salt Lake City and Milwaukee.”

Trigger Duffert also presented the committee structure for this year’s assembly. The list includes:

Bills and Overtures — assists in monitoring the work of other committees as well as reviews plenary minutes and participates in plenary discussions.
Mid Councils — receives items of business related to the operation and function of mid councils.
Financial Resources — receives all items of business dealing primarily with finance and budgeting.
General Assembly Entity Coordination — receives all items related to the operation and functions of assembly entities, including amendments to the Organization for Mission, reports from the Unification Commission, and approval of workplans.
Ecumenical and Interfaith Partnerships — receives all business related to the development of and engagement with ecumenical and interfaith partnering institutions.
Polity — receives items recommending constitutional changes to the Book of Order and Book of Confessions.
Ordination — receives all items of business related to the role and process of ordination including exams, accommodations, and other ordination concerns.
General Assembly Procedures — receives items of business related to the operation and function of General Assembly reports as well as overtures related to assembly operations, amendments to the Standing Rules, and recommendations for future assemblies.
Christian Formation — receives items related to Christian education (including colleges and seminaries), worship, and other types of Christian formation.
International Engagement — receives items of business related to events, concerns, and opportunities in international contexts.
Domestic Engagement — receives items of business related to events, concerns and opportunities around issues such as gun violence, political rhetoric, and economic concerns.
Race, Sexuality, and Gender Justice — receives items of business-related to justice actions focused on race, sexuality, and gender identity. This also includes items related to reproductive justice, anti-racism, and anti-trans legislation.
Environmental and Climate Justice — receives items related to environmental and climate justice issues such as divestment, environmental sustainability, and international climate agreements.
Assembly Committee on Business Referral — comprised of the moderators and vice moderators of committees of the 226th General Assembly.

Committees for the 226th General Assembly will meet online June 25–27. Plenaries will be held on site at the Salt Palace Convention Center June 29–July 4.