Janet Edwards has informed stated clerk, Gradye Parsons, that she has stepped down from standing for the office of moderator of the 220th General Assembly. Edwards, a teaching elder and member of Pittsburgh Presbytery, was standing with vice-moderator candidate Jeffrey Krehbiel of Washington, D.C.
She refers to her husband’s sudden and serious health problems as the reason for her decision. In a personal blog post dated May 22, 2012, Edwards discussed her husband’s recent diagnosis, surgery, and ongoing treatment needs.
She told the Outlook, “his treatment and recovery are my first priority and it is clear to me that standing for moderator and serving in the office would be impossible for me at this time.”
Edwards, a member of More Light Presbyterians, had said she felt called to stand for moderator to serve using her experience encouraging dialogue between conflicting parties.
