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About PC(USA)

Presbyteries' Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates

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Image of Dori Kay Hjalmarson with the commission that approved and oversaw her ordination to the ministry.
Image of Dori Kay Hjalmarson with the commission that approved and oversaw her ordination to the ministry. | Credit: Photo Provided

About the Committee

The Presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates (PCC) is a permanent committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The committee is responsible for:

  • composing the five standard examinations for ordination;
  • establishing the process for administering the exams;
  • training and overseeing readers who evaluate the exams;
  • releasing exam results to test takers, presbyteries, and seminaries.

The PCC meets at least once annually to develop and review the forthcoming examinations and to transact such other business as may be necessary. The members of the PCC are divided into task groups. Each task group is responsible for the development of questions and resources to assist readers for one or more of the standard ordination examinations. Members are assigned to a Task Group by the Executive Committee based upon the personal interest and expertise of each member as well as upon the comparative needs of each task group.

Membership

Teaching Elder Joshua Andrzejewski
Worship & Sacraments Task Group

Teaching Elder Richard Culp

Teaching Elder Kimberly Briggs
Executive Committee, Secretary
Polity Task group

Teaching Elder David Bush
Executive Committee
Worship & Sacraments Task Group, Chair

Ruling Elder Christianne Chase
Polity Task Group

Teaching Elder Peter de Vries
Bible Task Group

Ruling Elder Tom Fox
Polity Task Group

Teaching Elder David Cortes Fuentes
Bible Task Group

Ruling Elder Claire Gillaspey
Worship & Sacraments Task Group

Ruling Elder Rae Jean Goodman
Theology Task Group

Teaching Elder R. Ward Holder
Theology Task Group

Ruling Elder Robin Jennings
Worship & Sacraments Task Group

Teaching Elder Martha Jordan
Polity Task Group

Ruling Elder Sarah Juntune
Worship & Sacraments Task Group

Teaching Elder Lisa Kenkeremath
Executive Committee
Theology Task Group, Chair 

Teaching Elder Robert Lowry
Executive Committee, Chair
Worship & Sacraments Task Group

Ruling Elder Julie MacLemore Wells
Executive Committee
Polity Task Group, Chair

Teaching Elder Bob Phelps
Bible Task Group

Teaching Elder Steve Ranney
Executive Committee
Bible Task Group, Chair

Teaching Elder Joseph Scrivener
Bible Task Group

Teaching Elder Steve Shussett
Theology Task Group

Ruling Elder Linda Steele        
Bible Task Group

Teaching Elder Jeff Welch
Theology Task Group

Teaching Elder Bryan Wyatt
Theology Task Group


STAFF RESOURCE

Alex Rodgers, ex officio
Manager for Preparation for Ministry & Exams

Serve on the PCC

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Abstract Art - Group of People

Feel called to serve on the PCC? You may either be elected as an exam reader from a regional reading group or through the General Assembly nominations process. For more information, please contact the Rev. Alex Rodgers, manager for Preparation for Ministry and Exams.

Contact Alex Rodgers

More About the PCC

Membership Composition

The Presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates (PCC) is composed of 24 members who are ruling or teaching elders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

  • No more than half and no less than one-third of the members are elected by the General Assembly to four-year terms on a staggered schedule. These members are eligible to be re-elected for an additional term. Candidates for these positions are nominated through the General Assembly Nominating Committee with consideration being given to areas of needed expertise, to the overall composition of the PCC with regard to gender and racial/ethnic representation, to an approximate balance of ruling and teaching elders, and to various sub-cultures within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
  • The remaining members of the PCC are elected from among and by examination readers designated by the presbyteries. To facilitate representation from across the church, the PCC has grouped presbyteries into regions. The reader representatives are nominated from and voted on by readers from their respective regional groupings of presbyteries following procedures determined by the PCC. These members are elected and serve on a staggered schedule in four-year terms and are eligible to be re-elected for an additional term. 

Contact Us

For more information, or to address or observe the meeting, 

Alex Rodgers
Manager for Preparation for Ministry and Exams
[email protected] 


Open Meeting Policy

As approved by the 209th General Assembly (1997) and amended by the 218th General Assembly (2008), the Open Meeting Policy applies to the General Assembly and its related entities and work groups.

Review the Policy