The Rev. Mirjam Haas-Melchior, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Utah, joins Fred Tangeman on GA Daily on July 1, 2024. Photo by Kristen Gaydos
The wonder and joy of the connectional church was the overarching theme of Fred Tangeman’s conversation with the Rev. Mirjam Haas-Melchior on Monday’s edition of GA Daily. Haas-Melchior serves as executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Utah, which is hosting this year’s General Assembly in Salt Lake City.
While Haas-Melchior believes that the presbytery has known they would be hosting General Assembly for seven years (well before she arrived in her role about three years ago), she said that planning with the Office of the General Assembly began in earnest two years ago. In fact, she told Tangeman, Milwaukee leadership should expect OGA to be reaching out to them this fall to begin the work of organizing the 227th General Assembly planned for 2026.
When Tangeman asked Haas-Melchior what some of the presbytery’s first steps were in planning for the 226th GA, she emphasized the need for flexibility and innovation given GA’s ever-evolving format in the years since Covid.
“Since this is … the third or fourth new version of General Assembly, we worked with the Office of the General Assembly understanding what the need really was from us for them to have the General Assembly here in Salt Lake City… what kind of volunteer work is needed.”
The presbytery’s impressive troupe of volunteers has been lifted up as one of the major and especially appreciated contributions to the success of this year’s Assembly. Volunteers from the Presbytery of Utah have shown up in bright, Presbyterian-blue vests and nametags everywhere from the airport to the Salt Palace Convention Center to local congregations to make sure that the hundreds of Presbyterians from across the country feel fully welcome and embraced. This commitment to hospitality embodies the sense of connection with which Haas-Melchior wanted to permeate this year’s gathering.
Including opportunities for worship in local congregations was an essential component of the presbytery’s vision for hosting this year’s assembly, Haas-Melchior said.
“We asked the Office of the General Assembly to consider having the General Assembly over a Sunday … because one reason we wanted to host was to have the wider body of Christ… not just in our city but in our pews.”
The Assembly was, indeed, organized to fall over a Sunday, and as a result many commissioners, corresponding members, and other Assembly attendees visited area churches ranging in size from 400 members to 17. What all these churches share, Haas-Melchior emphasized, is joy, excitement, worship, and the Spirit at work. She noted that she has been thrilled to hear how many visitors left worship feeling Spirit-filled. That sense of connection and shared ministry has been missed by the presbytery in recent years.
“This is the beauty … I learn so much from others’ ministries,” Haas-Melchior shared. “I hope [these visitors] go back inspired as we are left behind inspired.”
Another key aspect of planning for Haas-Melchior was finding innovative ways to show visiting Presbyterians all the amazing ministry happening in Utah. She said she hoped that they could dispel some of the prejudices and misconceptions they experience in Utah and in Salt Lake City specifically.
“We are thriving in all sorts of ways,” she told Tangeman, listing arts, music, the environment, and even other traditions as being vibrant parts of Utah and Salt Lake City life. So far, she has enjoyed hearing remarks from visiting Presbyterians about how amazing the state is.
More specific to the presbytery’s life, Tangeman made a point to ask Haas-Melchior about a special new ministry the presbytery is excited about. Lifting up the work of her presbytery colleague, the Rev. Monica Hall, Haas-Melchior shared about an initiative called PreachBnB. Developed in response to the particular struggles of the geographically vast presbytery and its many small churches located in beautiful but remote areas, PreachBnb invites visitors to come relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy the beauty in exchange for preaching one Sunday. Both the small remote church and the preacher stand to benefit from the creative arrangement. While the ministry has its origins in Utah, they hope that it might spread throughout the country.
As their conversation concluded, Tangeman asked Haas-Melchior to reflect on her experience and share what wisdom she would offer to Milwaukee and other future host cities. She reiterated the changing format of General Assembly and encouraged them to be both hopeful and creative.
“Don’t think ‘there’s no room for us’ when OGA starts scheduling … It will work out. Find those little niches to show off those ministries you’re doing and showcase who you are.” She added, “I know you’re doing wonderful ministry that’s worth being seen.”
GA Daily airs every day via the General Assembly livestream. Previous episodes are posted and can be viewed here.