Ted Hickman, Commissioned Ruling Elder and Moderator of New York City Presbytery, dies unexpectedly at age 51 Posted September 14th, 2016 Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) Theodore “Ted” Hickman, moderator of the Presbytery of New York City, died unexpectedly in his sleep at the age of 51 at his home in Brooklyn, New York, overnight on September 9.