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Louisville — A team of presbytery leaders from Southern California will stand for Co-Moderators of the 227th General Assembly, being held online and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 22-July 2.
The Rev. Dr. Frances Lin, the presbytery leader of Riverside Presbytery, and the Rev. Dr. Sean Chow, executive director of the Presbytery of San Diego, have been endorsed by their respective presbyteries for the positions they seek.
In a news release announcing their candidacy, the two said their shared theme, “God’s Abundance,” “grows out of the conviction that even in seasons of anxiety, change and loss, God has given and continues to give the church what it needs.”
“This abundance is seen in the grace that sustains us through hardship, the hope that emerges when all seems lost, and the renewal that springs forth in times of transition,” they said in the release. “It is present in the laughter of children, the wisdom of elders and the daily acts of care, generosity and hospitality that bind us together. Abundance is experienced when resources are shared, gifts are recognized and every person is valued for who they are.”
Chow is a fourth-generation Chinese American, while Lin is a 1.5-generation Taiwanese American. They’ve known one another for years, as Lin previously served as Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of San Diego.
“Our stories are deeply rooted in the experiences of our families and communities, shaped by journeys of migration, hope and perseverance,” they said in their release. “We are profoundly grateful to God for loving us unconditionally and to a church that has welcomed and valued us along the way.”
“At the same time, we recognize that there remain mountains to climb and barriers to overcome in the ongoing pursuit of God’s justice and true belonging for all. It is with humility, gratitude and a sense of responsibility that we offer ourselves to this work, trusting that God will continue to guide and strengthen us and the church as we move forward together with our siblings in Christ.”
“We have always thought the same way about the church and about abundance,” Chow said. “God is an abundant God. How do we use the blessings God has given us?”
Before coming to the Presbytery of San Diego, Chow was Associate for Training with 1001 New Worshiping Communities. He developed and led training platforms and workshops for presbyteries to better support worshiping communities.
Lin said she treasures her identity and service as a ruling elder, which she has held even longer than her role as a minister of Word and Sacrament. As a member of the Unification Commission, she’s served on the Relationship Coordination Committee. “I came to appreciate that people want what’s best for this denomination,” she said. “Pivoting is something that’s uncomfortable, yet people have a sense of openness to give it a try. That’s encouraging for me and I would like to continue to be that bridge.”
Related reading: “Two pastors will stand for election as co-moderators of the 227th General Assembly” by Mike Ferguson
San Diego Presbytery has spent the last 3½ years restructuring, Chow noted. “We are in a great place, and we are happy things are settled,” he said.
If they’re elected Co-Moderators, the two said they hope to model collaboration, trust and mutual accountability, drawing on “the abundance present within the church’s diverse body.”
“We are standing not because we believe we have the answers,” they said. “Instead, we are compelled by a deep trust in God’s unwavering faithfulness to the church — a faithfulness that has carried generations before us and continues to sustain us today.”
“We do not presume to possess every solution or insight, nor do we stand apart from the challenges and questions facing our denomination,” they said. “Rather, our conviction is rooted in the assurance that God’s abundance is already present among us — evident in acts of compassion, the resilience and creativity of our communities, and the quiet, persistent work of the Holy Spirit.”
Last month, the Rev. Dr. Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer and the Rev. Marta Pumroy-Cordero announced they would stand as Co-Moderators. The election of the Co-Moderators will occur on July 2, the final day of the Assembly. The proposed docket for the 227th General Assembly is here.
