2024 Clerks of Session Workshop

The Presbytery of the Highlands of New Jersey was pleased to welcome Ruling Elder Kate Trigger Duffert to its annual Clerks of Session Workshop. Kate is an Associate Stated Clerk for the General Assembly, and the Director of General Assembly Planning for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She is also well-acquainted with New Jersey and what is now Highlands Presbytery, with longstanding ties to the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway.

The morning began with a devotion led by Stated Clerk Steve Shussett, with attention paid to the wisdom of Solomon. While the King’s wisdom is often connected with his unexpected recommendation to divide a child in half, Steve suggested that his first real demonstration of wisdom came in an early prayer found in 1 Kings 3, when Solomon honestly expressed, “I do not know.” The clerks were reminded that no one knows everything, and so have to rely on people around us – even as they sometimes have to rely on us. “Some of us know bricks, some of us know mortar, and together we build a strong wall.” Being able to say, “I don’t know” can tell us why something should or shouldn’t happen, and for whom we are doing it.

Kate began her presentation speaking of how the General Assembly affects people at the congregational level, admitting that not everyone realizes that it does. But the truth is, nothing discussed at these biannual national gatherings comes from the top down; overtures come from sessions and congregations that have an idea, and that make their way into the denominational conversation. Wisdom come from congregations.

Moreover, the decisions reached impact what happens in every congregation, even if some seem more or less important to any one congregation. But even that, Kate suggested, is a sign of strength: the church is responsive to the different needs of congregations and the world.

Reflecting on the devotion, that some do bricks, others do mortar, and together we build a strong wall, Kate said, in words as applicable to the Presbytery as they are to the General Assembly,

“Our process with different ideas is our process and reflects our theology.she went on to say, “The way we do church matters, that the way we’ve gathered this body of people together with their different ideas, that those are the people who make the decisions, that is reflective of our theology. So we don’t have a General Assembly because we like meetings, we don’t have a General Assembly because it feels like a good time to get together for a big event. We have it because it is a way for the whole of the church to come together and be in conversation about the needs of the whole of the church, and try to discern where God is calling us to go.”

The 2024 General Assembly was unique in several important ways. The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II retired midway through his last term, making the Rev. Bronwyn Boswell the Acting Stated Clerk, and first woman to hold that position. At the Assembly, the Rev. Jihyun Oh was elected to be the Stated Clerk, the first woman installed as Clerk,  as well the first woman of color and the first person born outside of the United Stated.

Kate shared the common perception that this Assembly was not as tense as some have been in the past, and that those gathered were quite intentional and discerning in their decision making. This, at least in part, can be attributed to the new moderators, the Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson, of whom she spoke quite highly. Kate also shared some data from a post-GA surveyp showing that people are excited about the church. Rather than focusing on declining numbers, they are seeing the changes as reformation, and with excitement.

She touched on a number of the twelve amendments to the Constitution under consideration, and to the proposed change in our ecumenical relationship with the Episcopal Church. More information on these amendments will be coming as the Presbytery votes on them in 2025, but is available now through denominational sources.

After responding to a series of questions about actions taken, she concluded by reminding all in attendance that the General Assembly is not an agency, but a collection of members from congregations and presbyteries. There are many opportunities for Presbyterians to serve, including Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAAD).

Following Kate’s presentation, Steve Shussett shared with the clerks information that they will in turn be sharing with sessions and congregations. There was a lot of interest in policies that have been required of congregations since 2022, but whose implementation has been slowed in Highlands Presbytery because of insurance and other changes. This included updates and Q&A on boundary training, anti-harassment, and anti-racism policies, and Presbytery recommendations on background checks for volunteers and for backing up computers on a regular basis.

Mark your calendars now for the next Clerks of Session Workshop, on October 4, 2025 at 9AM!