PCUSA Co-Moderators of the General Assembly

PCUSA Co-Moderators of the General Assembly We're the Rev. Marta Pumroy-Cordero and the Rev. Dr. Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer, Co-Moderators of the 227th General Assembly (2026).

Follow us as we share what God continues to do in our church & the world. More about the Co-Moderators:

The Rev. CeCe Armstrong, associate pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church on James Island in Charleston, part of Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery, and the Rev. Tony Larson, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside Beach, which is in the Presbytery of New Harmony, were elected to be Co-M

oderators by a vote of 249 to 171 during an evening plenary in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Utah. Both Armstrong and Larson are deeply moved by the opportunity to serve the greater church in this way. It is evident in the way they each take the time to center themselves with a feeling of humility and a contrite spirit, which shows up as they not only moderate the business of the church, but also serve as a pastoral voice in this hard, discerning work. The overall theme for this Co-Moderator pairing is to be collaborative. It is the spirit of being a part of God’s great community. In symbolism for the stoles that were created for this journey, neither Armstrong’s nor Larson’s stoles are a full PC(USA) logo without both of them together. “This call into ministry is with the church,” Armstrong said.

Kris and I had orientation in Louisville a few weeks ago- a lot to take in and wonderful people to get to know or get to...
08/28/2026

Kris and I had orientation in Louisville a few weeks ago- a lot to take in and wonderful people to get to know or get to know better. The best part was asking our colleagues in ministry “How can we pray for you?” The Spirit is moving among us all.

07/28/2026

Here's a brief glimpse of the music our choir shared this weekend at Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City.

I am continually grateful for the extraordinary ministry of all our choirs at First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, IA and for the gifted leadership of Matt Bishop, our Director of Music and Arts. Week after week, they don't simply perform beautiful music...they lead people into worship.

This clip is just a small taste of a weekend filled with grace, hospitality, and the joy of praising God together with siblings in other congregations.

-Kris

One of the great joys of serving as Co-Moderator is the opportunity to experience the incredible breadth and beauty of C...
07/28/2026

One of the great joys of serving as Co-Moderator is the opportunity to experience the incredible breadth and beauty of Christ's Church.

This weekend, I had the privilege of bringing greetings from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to two remarkable congregations.

On Saturday evening, our choir from First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, IA shared a concert at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas as a benefit for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. It was a joy to greet the congregation, both on behalf of my congregation, and on behalf of the wider church.

Then on Sunday morning, our choir helped lead worship at Second Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, where I again had the honor of bringing greetings. I was humbled to witness their generous hospitality. I was especially grateful to meet Rev. Sarah Speed, whose sermon on compassion reminded us that, in a world full of competing priorities and distractions, Jesus remains the center of it all. Her message was both beautiful and deeply needed.

I also left inspired by the way Second Presbyterian welcomes young families. Their commitment to creating a place where children belong and parents are supported is a witness to the whole church.

It was also a pleasure to meet one of their elders, Josephine Njoroge, former Moderator of Heartland Presbytery, whose faithful leadership continues to bless the church.

Weekends like this remind me that the Church is far bigger than any one congregation. Across our denomination, faithful disciples are proclaiming the gospel, extending compassion, nurturing the next generation, and bearing witness to what it means to "Be the Leaves."

-Kris

Last week, Marta and I had the blessing of spending time on Zoom with several former Moderators and Co-Moderators of the...
07/28/2026

Last week, Marta and I had the blessing of spending time on Zoom with several former Moderators and Co-Moderators of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

What struck me most wasn't just their wisdom...it was their love for the Church.

They spoke honestly about the challenges facing the church. They didn't minimize the hard conversations, the disappointments, or the weight of leadership. But they also reminded us that every generation has faced moments when the future felt uncertain, and every generation has discovered that God's Spirit was already at work, leading the church into something new.

I came away grateful for their encouragement, their stories, and their prayers. They reminded us that this ministry isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening well, loving deeply, trusting Christ, and helping the church discern where the River of Life is flowing next.

Thank you to those who have gone before us for walking alongside those of us who now carry this calling. Your wisdom is a gift. Your hope is contagious. And your faithfulness is an example for us all of what it means to "Be the Leaves," to be a healing and hope-filled presence in God's world.

-Kris

Happy Birthday to our Stated Clerk, the Rev. Jihyun Oh. Today we are celebrating you and give thanks to God for your ser...
07/15/2026

Happy Birthday to our Stated Clerk, the Rev. Jihyun Oh. Today we are celebrating you and give thanks to God for your service among us!

Nobody who knows me would accuse me of not working hard. Ministry is a calling that rarely fits neatly into a schedule, ...
07/15/2026

Nobody who knows me would accuse me of not working hard. Ministry is a calling that rarely fits neatly into a schedule, and most days are filled from early morning until late at night.

But every now and then, faith reminds me that productivity is not the same thing as faithfulness.

Jesus never seemed too busy to stop for children. In fact, when the disciples tried to protect his schedule, Jesus welcomed the interruption.

So today, in the middle of the workday, I stepped away from my desk and headed to the local children's museum with these awesome kids.

The emails will still be there tomorrow. The meetings will continue. The business travel will happen. But these moments of wonder, laughter, curiosity, and joy remind me to drink deeply from the water of life. And with these amazing kids...my cup runneth over.

So here's my question for you:

Who in your life needs more of your presence than your productivity?

Who has been waiting for "when things slow down" in order to have some of your time?

Maybe faithfulness today isn't getting one more thing checked off the list. Maybe it's choosing to be fully present with someone you love.

Because the work of the church isn't only found in offices, boardrooms, sanctuaries, or meetings. Being the leaves of the tree of life sometimes looks like playing, laughing, allowing yourself to be silly, and remembering that every child...and every relationship...is a gift from God.

Go be the leaves. But don't forget to spend time beside the river of life. Even leaves need the water of life if they are to bring healing and hope to this beautiful world.

Be the Leaves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

One of my favorite moments from General Assembly happened before Marta and I ever reached the stage.As we walked into th...
07/07/2026

One of my favorite moments from General Assembly happened before Marta and I ever reached the stage.

As we walked into the plenary hall after the election, Marta’s daughter proudly carried the Puerto Rican flag, representing her family’s heritage. Standing beside me, my daughter, Karrick, wore a kilt made from the Heritage of Scotland tartan, representing mine.

Karrick’s name was my grandmother’s maiden name. In Scotland it took on different spellings (Carrick, Carryk, etc.). It is a name of traditional Scottish origin that reaches back to Marjorie de Carrick, mother of King Robert the Bruce. Giving our daughter that name was one small way of honoring my Grandma Ruby and the generations of Scottish ancestors who came before me.

I picked up that kilt in Edinburgh after spending time at St Giles' Cathedral with members of First Presbyterian Church of Davenport on a trip I led to Scotland. As my members know, St. Giles is one of the places where I felt most deeply connected to our Reformed heritage...a sanctuary I hope to worship at again someday. I remember wondering what future stories that little kilt might someday become part of. I never imagined it would be worn by my daughter as we walked into the General Assembly after the election. God has a beautiful way of weaving our stories together.

Seeing our daughters together...one carrying the Puerto Rican flag and the other wearing a Scottish tartan...was a beautiful reminder of the church we are called to be. Distinct histories. Distinct cultures. One body in Christ.

That image captured something I love about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)...we do not erase our differences. We bring them together, allowing them to enrich one another as we worship and serve the same Lord.

It was a quiet, powerful picture of the beautiful diversity of our church, and one I will never forget.

-Kris

Be the Leaves

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