PC(USA) Elects New Moderator

Late Saturday evening, after four rounds of voting that have reportedly come with several technical difficulties, the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has elected Elder Cindy Bolbach Moderator, and Rev. Landon Whitsitt Vice-Moderator.

Moderator Bolbach, who is from National Capital Presbytery where she has served as Moderator and a member at First Church of Arlington, VA. where she has served as clerk of Session. She is also the co-moderator of the PC(USA)’s Form of Government Task Force and supports the adoption of the nFOG. She is a lawyer and the only elder in a six-person field of candidates. Throughout several interviews leading up to the election in Minneapolis last night, Bolbach steadily maintained one key position that seems to indicate what her Moderatorial philosophy might be:

If our church doesn’t change, it won’t be relevant to future generations.

In an interview with the Presbyterian Outlook, Bolbach previously identified the most significant issue coming before this assembly as, “how we as a denomination can effectively help our congregations go out and make disciples.”  She sees the proposed nFOG as a necessary first step in that process.

Vice Moderator Rev. Landon Whitsitt, Pastor of First Church in Liberty, MO and minister member of the Heartland Presbytery, is currently in the process of writing a book titled “Open Source Church” and has been the man behind the scenes as the producer for God Complex Radio which features now former-Moderator Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow and Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, author of Tribal Church.

For more information on the election, candidates, and differing opinions and analysis, check out any and all of these links:

I will try to keep this list updated as I hear of new articles, opinions, editorials, and analysis.

• PCUSA Blog Article – Advice to New Moderator Cynthia Bolbach, July 4, 2010
• The Layman Article – Bolbach Elected GA Moderator, July 4, 2010
• Presbyterians for Renewal Article on Election of Cindy Bolbach, July 4, 2010
• Presbyterian Outlook Article – Bolbach Elected Moderator, July 4, 2010
• Presbyterian News Service Article – Bolbach Elected Moderator on 4th Ballot, July 4, 2010
• New Capital Presbytery Article – Bolbach Elected Moderator, July 4, 2010
• General Assembly News Article – Bolbach Elected Moderator, July 4, 2010
• Winnebago Presbytery G.A. Commissioner Rev. Susan Zencka on Bolbach’s election, July 4, 2010.
• Shuck & Jive Blog Article – Bolbach Elected Moderator, July 3, 2010
• The GA Junkie Blog Article – The 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — Election Of The Moderator, July 3, 2010
• More Light Presbyterians Article – Pro-LGBT Equality Cynthia Bolbach Elected Moderator, July 3, 2010
• Presbyterian Outlook – Interview with Cindy Bolbach, November 2009
• The Layman – Interview with Cindy Bolbach, December 2009
• Food For Thought > Cindy Bolbach’s Blog
• Facebook Page > Cindy Bolbach for Moderator