About the General Assembly Council

What are the responsibilities of the GAC?

Learn about the General Assembly Council at a glance.

The Book of Order G.13.0201 states the GAC is:

• to cultivate and promote the spiritual welfare of the whole church;
• to provide resources to support equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for members of racial ethnic groups, for women, for various age groups, for persons;
• regardless of marital condition (married, single, widowed, or divorced), and for persons with disabilities;
• to develop and propose, for General Assembly approval, the mission directions, goals, objectives, and priorities of the General Assembly Council, doing so by taking into account the mission work being done by sessions, presbyteries, and synods, and to propose for General Assembly approval an accompanying budget that will implement the mission work plan of the General Assembly Council;
• to act in those specific matters assigned to the General Assembly Council by the General Assembly or this Constitution, acting always according to previously enacted General Assembly policies, reporting fully to each subsequent General Assembly its actions;
• to perform such additional responsibilities and duties as may be assigned by the General Assembly.

GAC Overview:
Offering the World a Visible Witness of Jesus Christ

This 19-minute program features stories from the seven ministry areas of the General Assembly Council. Learn how the PC(USA) is involved in evangelism and church growth, leadership training, vocation discernment, world mission, racial ethnic ministries, peace and justice, relief and development and theology, worship and education. These stories show how we as Presbyterians are disciples of Jesus Christ — locally and globally.

Free • PDS #1010007001

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How is the staff structured?

The GAC is organized as follows:

• Mission
  • Compassion, Peace and Justice
  • Evangelism and Church Growth
  • Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women
  • Theology Worship and Education
  • Vocation
  • World Mission
• Communications and Funds Development
  • News Service
  • Executive Office Communications
  • Creative Services
  • Mission Communication
  • Mission Interpretation
  • Development Services
  • Funds Development
• Shared Services
  • Information Technology
  • Distribution
  • Human Resources
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Facilities

Each area is led by a Deputy Executive Director.

Download the organizational chart.

Read the Mission Work Plan

The Mission Work Plan guides the work of the General Assembly Council as it implements the mission directives of the PC(USA) General Assembly.

• 2007–2008 Mission Work Plan was adopted in April 2006 and endorsed by the 217th General Assembly.
• 2009-2012 Mission Work Plan was approved by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Council (GAC) Feb. 15, 2008, and is pending the approval of the 218th General Assembly (2008).

Get the 2007 Annual Report

The mission and ministry of the General Assembly Council comes alive in a new comprehensive report for 2007. Describing the outcomes of activities designed to meet the objectives of the Mission Work Plan, the report presents highlights of the GAC's ministry areas, communications and funds development, shared services and policy development and enhancement. Download the 2007 Annual Report of the General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

An open letter to the PC(USA)

Presbyteries celebrate commitment, patience and trust shown by the GAC

The five presbyteries that received assistance from the 2005 hurricanes share their gratitude to the General Assembly Council for the generous gifts and love shown by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in an open letter of letter of thanks to PC(USA). Read the letter from New Covenant Presbytery, Presbytery of Mississippi, Peace River Presbytery, Presbytery of South Louisiana and Presbytery of Tropical Florida.

Alphabet Soup? Acronym list provides definitions

Our committees and ministries all have them. More are spawned every day. They are those very helpful (and sometimes confusing) acronyms. To help you learn the PC(USA) lingo, we’ve published this list of frequently used acronyms. [Learn more]