In a significant move that marks a drastic shift in its approach to international mission work, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leadership recently shared plans with World Mission staff to reduce the number of mission co-workers serving abroad by at least 50%, from 60 to no more than 30. Fifteen years ago, the PC(USA) had more than 200 mission co-workers serving globally.
No specifics were offered during PC(USA) leadership’s January 17 Zoom meeting about PC(USA) World Mission’s new structure. However, mission co-workers said they were told to expect either a redeployment offer or a severance package during the week of January 27th, although this is now expected during the first week of February 3, according to a report given to the Unification Commission at its January 23 meeting The severance package will include six months of continued salary and medical benefits, plus additional weeks of salary depending on one’s years of service, according to reports from those who attended the meeting.
Fifteen years ago, the PC(USA) had more than 200 mission co-workers serving globally.
Budget realities or visionary deficit?
The PC(USA)’s financial challenges are not new. Declining membership, reduced giving and increasing operational costs have forced the denomination to make difficult choices. The decision to cut the mission co-worker staff comes during a time of a pre-mandated unification of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA), which includes World Mission, and the Office of the General Assembly (OGA), a restructuring effort aimed at streamlining operations and addressing persistent budgetary challenges. In November, the former PMA’s Peacemaking Program was dissolved, and 12 national staff members were cut as part of an effort to decrease the budget by $5 million successfully.
In a written statement, Jihyun Oh, stated clerk of the PC(USA) General Assembly and director of the Interim Unified PMA/OGA Office, emphasized that the decision to cut mission co-workers was not made lightly.
“We deeply value the work and witness of our PC(USA) global mission engagement and those who enact it,” Oh said. “We remain committed to our international mission and global partners. Staffing decisions are being made with deep care and prayerful discernment. More information will be shared as we walk through this challenging time together.”
“We remain committed to our international mission and global partners. Staffing decisions are being made with deep care and prayerful discernment.” — Jihyun Oh
Some mission co-workers questioned whether financial constraints were the only factor. Mission co-workers are funded through direct giving to a General Sending and Support fund, which is outside the OGA/PMA general budget, including per-capita and general mission giving.
“This feels like a retreat, not a response,” said a mission co-worker who asked to remain anonymous. “Yes, budgets matter, but where’s the vision for what comes next? How do we continue to live out the gospel globally if we’re shrinking our presence?”
The announcement was quickly shared on Facebook, with many commenters, including some co-workers, feeling blindsided and uncertain about the future of PC(USA)’s global ministry.
“We have no idea if they are letting half of us go, all of us, or reconfiguring into something else entirely,” Dori Hjalmarson, PC(USA) mission co-worker serving in Honduras, told the Outlook. “The lack of communication has eroded trust.”
A legacy of mission
For decades, the PC(USA) has prioritized a collaborative model of international mission, sending co-workers at the invitation of global partners to serve under their leadership. This approach attempted to move away from what was perceived as a paternalistic colonial style of mission work and toward more authentic partnerships.
“We’re witnessing the slow dismantling of one of our church’s most defining ministries,” said Karla Ann Koll, PC(USA) mission co-worker serving in Costa Rica with the Latin American Biblical University (UBL). “At a time when the world needs solidarity, this decision sends the opposite signal.”
“We’re witnessing the slow dismantling of one of our church’s most defining ministries. … At a time when the world needs solidarity, this decision sends the opposite signal.” — Karla Ann Koll, PC(USA) mission co-worker
Transparency and trust under scrutiny
While restructuring efforts are never easy or painless, news of possible staff reductions was anticipated following the PMA/OGA unified budget approval by the 226th General Assembly held last summer in Salt Lake City. However, mission co-workers and their partners expressed frustration over the scale of the cuts, the lack of involvement of mission partners, and the implications for continued global ministry.
Joel Esala, pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio, whose congregation has supported several mission co-workers over the years, echoed some of the same frustration.
“Changes in philosophy are coming from the top down, and we are not a top-down denomination,” he said. “We’re a connectional church.”
“Changes in philosophy are coming from the top down, and we are not a top-down denomination,” he said. “We’re a connectional church.” — Joel Esala, pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio
After last week’s meeting, mission co-workers shared the news with their partners over the weekend. Partner organizational leadership expressed shock that they may be losing their co-worker and partnership with the PC(USA).
“It’s one thing to talk about partnership, but true partnership requires mutual discernment,” said another mission co-worker who asked to remain anonymous out of fear that public comments may negatively impact their position.
Impact on congregations and communities
The decision to cut mission co-workers will have far-reaching implications for those directly affected and the U.S. congregations and communities that support them. For many churches, mission co-workers are the face of PC(USA)’s global outreach, providing a tangible in-person and on-the-ground connection to international ministry partners.
Kim Wadlington, minister member of Muskingum Valley Presbytery in Ohio and co-founding member of the Honduras Mission Network, highlighted the impact on domestic partnerships.
“This isn’t just about co-workers; it’s about congregations and their connection to global mission,” said Wadlington, who also helped hire Hjalmarson. “These partnerships have been transformative for both sides. I lament that we are in this place.”
“This isn’t just about co-workers; it’s about congregations and their connection to global mission. … These partnerships have been transformative for both sides.” — Kim Wadlington, minister member of Muskingum Valley Presbytery in Ohio
Global partners who rely on co-workers for critical support in education, healthcare, and community development will also feel the ripple effects. Cindy Corell, a mission co-worker serving alongside the people of Haiti, underscored the importance of these relationships. “We’ve built trust over decades, and now it feels like all of that is being dismantled without a plan for what comes next,” she said.
The way forward
Among the broader questions posed by co-workers and partners contacted is whether the PC(USA) can reimagine its global mission in a way that reflects its values and current realities. Some have called for increased collaboration with congregations and mid councils to support mission work independently. Others have urged the denomination to clarify its priorities and communicate them more effectively and transparently.
As PC(USA) grapples with these challenges, hope remains among some co-workers and partners that the denomination will find a path forward that honors its legacy while adapting to new realities. Whether these cuts are perceived as a necessary adjustment or a failure of vision will, in some minds, depend on how the church chooses to live out its mission in the years to come.