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During the first of their two days of meetings at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky, members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation Board got a look at a proposed 2026 Strategic Plan for the Administrative Services Group, which performs a number of back-office services for Presbyterian Life & Witness (PL&W) as well as for mid councils and congregations across the country.
During the morning session, A Corporation President Ian Hall took the board through four areas of focus identified in the strategic plan. In the afternoon, board members discussed the proposed plan in small groups.
Those four areas of focus, along with selected objectives and deliverables for 2026:
Connectional Partnership — 2026 objectives include supporting alignment and governance, supporting partners for the 227th General Assembly through such deliverables as making the MyGA platform and helpdesk operable throughout the Assembly, and strengthening partner collaboration and service delivery.
Strategic Insight and Responsive Services — Objectives include strengthening financial and administrative services, enhancing Human Resources support and workforce infrastructure, and enhancing language accessibility by assessing the mission of Global Language Resources by Oct. 31, resulting in a strategic plan for GLR to be implemented in 2027.
Compliance, Risk and Faithful Stewardship — Objectives include strengthening enterprise risk management and governance oversight by collaborating with PL&W to create a PL&W-focused risk management, maintaining strong financial accountability and audit oversight, and advancing stewardship opportunities in part by meeting a 2026 revenue goal of $25 million.
Infrastructure for Mission and Ministry — Objectives include modernizing technology infrastructure, advancing Constituent Relationship Management and digital ministry platforms, and maintaining and improving facilities and operational infrastructure, including by assessing the building usage at the Presbyterian Center and developing strategies for increased use.
Hall said that each ministry area within ASG will create a document explaining how it will help complete the work that’s outlined in the plan.
An update from the Stated Clerk/Executive Director
The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA) and Executive
Director of PL&W, took the board through some of the work that’s been accomplished in recent months — some of it in collaboration with ASG — and the work ahead. Much of that work centers on preparing for the 227th General Assembly, set for June 22 through July 2 online and in person at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Oh also reported on some of the letters she’s signed on behalf of the General Assembly in recent weeks, including a call to stand with the people of Cuba and an amicus brief in support of respondents to an asylum case. “This has been especially busy given the state of the world,” Oh said. All the recent actions “are in line with General Assembly policies discerned and decided over many years.”
GA227 plans
Kate Trigger Duffert, the lead for General Assembly Planning, reminded board members of the theme for the 227th General Assembly, “Persevering Toward Wholeness,” and of Rev. 22:2, the key verse for the upcoming Assembly.
Among the important Assembly dates will be June 27, Community Day. “We heard loud and clear the need for space for the General Assembly body to be together, and not just in times of discernment,” Duffert told the board. The day will begin with the “Healing Not Harm” public action organized by the Committee on Local Arrangements from the Presbytery of Milwaukee. An indoor action is also planned.
That afternoon a Town Square, which Duffert called “the next generation of what it means to exhibit at General Assembly, will be offered. “It’s a time for any attendee to connect with folks around the church,” she said. That evening, a reception will help attendees visit with one another.
The next day, Sunday, June 28, attendees will pick a local church service to attend. “We asked [faith communities] not to do anything special, but give folks the chance to see what it’s like to be Presbyterian in that place,” she said. Plenaries begin that afternoon and continue through July 2, when the Moderator or Co-Moderators will be elected and installed, followed by closing worship.
She recommended signing up for the “On the Road to GA” newsletter here to keep up with General Assembly news and announcements. “Now’s the time,” Duffert said. “We’re ramping up our communication.”
Research Services
Dr. Sean Payne, manager of Research Services, discussed the wide-ranging work he and two colleagues perform for congregations, mid councils, PL&W, ASG and other agencies.
Examples of the work done to benefit congregations includes statistical reports, vitality surveys and mission surveys. For mid councils, Research Services also does statistical reports and vitality surveys as well as original research and data analysis.
In addition to its agency partners, Research Services does research and data evaluations for General Assembly commissions and committees. One example, Payne noted, is that some of the work Research Services did led to the Community Day being added to the upcoming assembly.
Research Services also contributed to the changes made in Special Offerings during the 226th General Assembly.
“We worked closely with Research Services during the last year,” said the Rev. Dr. John Wilkinson, director of Stewardship and Funds Development, which includes Special Offerings. “The work they do informs our decisions and our processes.”
Wilkinson called Research Services “a gem in our ecosystem. What they do and what they offer to all of us really serves this ministry in an important way.”
The A Corporation Board spent Thursday afternoon working in small groups and in closed session. Look for further reporting from Presbyterian News Service on Friday on the board’s continuing work.
By Mike Ferguson, Presbyterian News Service
