Three governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) made history meeting jointly online and at the Salt Palace Convention Center on Tuesday, unanimously approving a proposed unified budget for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, the Office of the General Assembly and the Administrative Services Group.
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Holy Spirit gives them. There are varieties of services, but the same Jesus Christ who is followed in service. There are varieties of activities, but the same God activates all of them in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, paraphrased)
On Saturday the Unification Commission took its first major step toward unifying the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency, combining communications ministries in the two entities as well as the Administrative Services Group. Their senior leadership has until the commission’s next meeting Nov. 12 to determine who will run the combined efforts and to whom that leader will report.
Meeting online Saturday, the Unification Commission heard from three human resources experts in the Administrative Services Group — Ruth Gardner, Anisha Hackney and Rick Purdy — on how a consultant might be brought on to strengthen the work of the commission as it merges the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Monday morning saw conference rooms 1A and 1B at the Presbyterian Center transformed into a movie location. About 16 young people gathered to work on creating videos as part of the Trailblazers Program.
On Saturday the Unification Commission, which is working to unify the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency, unanimously approved a 2025-26 Unified Budget Process that features the development of key unified priorities to help lead development, beginning in 2025, of a unified budget among the PMA, OGA and the Administrative Services Group.
In what he describes as “a welcome convergence of my vocational journey as well as my personal and family journey,” the Rev. Dr. John Wilkinson will begin work as the director of the Ministry Engagement and Support team on May 8.
During its monthly meeting, the Unification Commission went to school Saturday, receiving lessons on the histories of the Office of the General Assembly, the Presbyterian Mission Agency and, more recently, the Administrative Services Group. Members also took in a statistical overview of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and other communities of faith.
