Update from the General Assembly Unification Commission

Under the leadership of the Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, the IUA has been discerning the shape of its new organization, one that will soon bear a permanent name. Its vision remains clear:

“To convene, connect, equip, and empower the whole church as disciples journeying toward God’s wholeness — in the PC(USA) and beyond.”

This is not simply a restatement of what the two previous agencies did separately. It is a reframing of purpose around shared discipleship and partnership. The IUA’s core values — Nimble, Trustworthy, Learning and Courageous — are becoming the way the new organization lives its calling.

In September, the Unification Commission approved the high-level organizational structure that will carry this vision forward. The new design centers on five key priorities:

1. Thriving of mid councils

2. Disciple formation and leader development

3. Life of the denomination

4. Restorative justice and witness

5. Unifying

Thriving mid councils: a core commitment

Recognizing the interconnected nature of our church, the list begins with thriving mid councils.

The new structure affirms that mid councils are not a separate audience or a single department’s responsibility; they are woven into the fabric of every ministry area. Whether in disciple formation, justice, or service, the new organization aims to connect its work to the realities mid councils navigate daily: congregational vitality, leadership transitions and community witness.

Mid councils and congregations are essential partners in our ministry at every level.

Strengthening the foundation for change

To help the organization live into this new structure, the commission asked the Interim Unified Agency to create the Unification Management Office, a team that brings expertise in program management, change management and organizational development.

The UMO’s role is to help the unified agency to coordinate implementation across teams, provide tools and training, and build the capacity needed for long-term success. In a denomination that has often been slow to adapt, this is a major shift. It signals that we are learning from past transitions and investing in the systems and people that make change sustainable.

What we’re hearing from mid council leaders

Over the past several months, I’ve been in conversation with colleagues from across the country. These mid council leaders consistently remind us of both the hope and the challenge of this moment.

• Mid council leaders live “in the middle,” balancing the needs of their congregations and the partnership with the General Assembly.

• They want clear points of contact, timely responses and a sense that national offices understand their ministry context.

• They value transparency and steady communication, to stay informed and to help others interpret what’s happening.

• And they offer grace, knowing that adaptive change in the Presbyterian Church takes time, trust and patience.

We hear that, deeply.

When World Mission transitioned to the Global Ecumenical Partnerships, mid councils wished we had communicated more with them and had offered more help interpreting the changes to local congregations. They shared theological and pragmatic questions, knowing that this complex system needed our attention as a church. They were right: we could have done more outreach to them, added more layers of communication, made a deeper effort to explain and interpret how this really complex process had been years in the making. And even then, these leaders may have still agreed or disagreed with those decisions.

Rebuilding trust — one conversation at a time

Trust is built through relationship. That is why face-to-face engagement continues to be essential. When staff of the Unified Agency gather at events like the Mid Council Leaders Gathering or in regional meetings, it’s with a desire to listen and to partner.

We know the history we carry. We know that for some, the Unified Agency feels distant. Yet we also know that trust can be rebuilt by showing up consistently and staying in conversation even when things are hard.

That is our commitment to you.

A season of learning and adaptation

If I’ve learned anything in these past three years, it is that organizational change in the church is never just structural — it is spiritual. We are leaning into leading with curiosity, humility and courage.

We are learning what it means to be nimble while staying grounded in our Reformed identity. We are learning how to retool in light of changing contexts, honoring what has gotten us this far, and how God is always reforming the church.

The road ahead

Between now and the 227^th General Assembly in 2026, the work will continue — refining structures, strengthening culture and preparing to hand governance to the newly elected body. There will be moments of progress and moments of tension. That is part of faithful change.

But we trust that God is guiding us through it all.

So as we walk together into what comes next, may we do so with the courage to ask hard questions, the humility to keep learning, and the faith to see unification as a structural and spiritual step.

I can’t imagine what God has in store for us. But I trust the Spirit is leading us. I am counting on you to be part of this our common ministry, so the love for our denomination can deepen as we work together to share the love of Jesus and the justice of our God.

This reflection concludes a two-part series. Part I, “What God has been doing among us,” explored the Unification Commission’s journey and guiding principles. Together, these essays invite all of us to stay engaged, prayerful and hopeful as we build the next chapter of our shared ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Felipe N. Martínez is Co-Moderator of the Unification Commission.