With just a few months left before a new organizational structure for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is to be in place, the Unification Commission on Thursday approved five priorities for the yet-to-be-named mission agency as well as four primary work areas.
In case you missed it: The final report in the PC(USA)’s mission-ecclesial merger is due in February 2026, prior to GA 227.
“I believe this will help us to be nimble and responsive,” said Jihyun Oh, stated clerk of the denomination’s General Assembly and executive director of the Interim Unified Agency.
“This new approach will better position us to address the church’s present and future needs,” she said in an email to denominational leaders. “A lot of work lies ahead as we move toward this new normal.”
The denomination decided in 2022 to combine its two separate agencies: The Presbyterian Mission Agency, which oversaw the work and mission of the church; and the Office of the General Assembly, which was responsible for the governance and ecclesiastical duties, each with its own board of directors.
Since then, the denomination has been working on bringing the new, unified agencies together under one umbrella. The Interim Unified Agency was created in 2024 as a bridge between the two structures.
The decisions on priorities and work areas were made during a lengthy closed session and reported in open session once it concluded.
The new unified agency will be “relationship-centered,” Oh said in her email, with four primary areas of work. They are:
- Denominational Life & Witness, covering “who we are together as Presbyterians. It holds our connectional identity and keeps us grounded in faith, giving us a shared voice as a communion.”
- Partnerships Within the PC(USA), focusing on synods and presbyteries and how they are governing the church in their geographic area, leading and guiding the witness of its congregations and new worshiping communities, and nurturing the covenant community of disciples of Christ, with a goal is of “walking alongside them as partners in ministry for the strengthening of their life and witness.”
- Partnerships Beyond the PC(USA), connecting the denomination with the broader world to “live out companionship, advocacy, and mutual mission alongside global, ecumenical, and interreligious partners.”
- Organizational Planning & Operations, supporting ministries with resources. “This area makes sure every ministry has the resources and support it needs.”
The priorities will be:
- Thriving synods and presbyteries.
- Disciple formation and leader development.
- Life of the denomination.
- Restorative justice and witness.
- Unifying.
Some commission members expressed concerns about the tight timeline for implementation of the new structure. Cynthia Ganote, change manager in the Unification Management Office, acknowledged there is “very profound change fatigue on the part of staff,” but said the timeline was an important signal that the changes are going to happen, and it’s not going to be “business as usual.”
“We are paying very close attention to the personnel piece,” she said.
During the closed session, the commission also approved leadership and managerial employment levels for the unified agency. Additional employment classifications for individual contributor and administrative support roles will be reported at the commission’s December 2025 meeting.
On Friday (Sept. 26), the Unification Commission will meet in committees, all in closed sessions.
