PITTSBURGH, July 4, 2012 – The evening plenary session on Wednesday convened with a vote to confirm Tom Trinidad as vice moderator, replacing Tara Spuhler McCabe who resigned the position at the afternoon plenary session of the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Addressing the assembly, Trinidad said he and already-elected Moderator Neal Presa share the same vision for “seeking and praying for the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.” Regarding Presa’s invitation to stand as vice moderator, Trinidad expressed gratitude to the assembly, saying, “I thank you for the joy that it is to serve with you and I thank you, Mr. Moderator, for inviting me into this trust.”
In response to a concern from a commissioner, Presa stated, “Tom and I have different perspectives on those same realities that Tara and I disagreed on.”
Bill Davnie, teaching elder commissioner of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, asked for a motion to adjust the docket to allow for a 20-minute discussion addressing McCabe’s decision to step down from moderator. This motion failed by a single vote (322-323-17). Voting to confirm Trinidad as vice moderator passed 530-78-55.
