PC(USA) Co-Moderators reflect at the halfway point of their term
The Rev. Tony Larson and the Rev. CeCe Armstrong are traveling the nation and the world to learn from and inspire Presbyterians
CHARLESTON, South Carolina — On June 30, the Co-Moderators of the 226th General Assembly, the Rev. CeCe Armstrong and the Rev. Tony Larson, met with Presbyterian News Service in Charleston, South Carolina, to reflect on their journey so far and look to the road ahead for themselves and for the church at large. The date marked the one-year anniversary of the pair being elected Co-Moderators by the Assembly, held online and in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Moderators of the General Assembly serve two-year terms and, alongside the Stated Clerk and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, fill the highest offices in the denomination. According to the Standing Rules for Meetings of the General Assembly, moderators "serve as ambassadors of unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, telling the story of the church's life and upholding the people of God through prayer."
In addition to moderating the biennial national meeting of the denomination, the moderators travel throughout the country and beyond, visiting with mid councils, congregations, church leaders and partners to provide support, guidance and witness.
The current Co-Moderators’ term has been uniquely influenced by the unification of the former Presbyterian Mission Agency and Office of the General Assembly into the Interim Unified Agency, an ongoing process that has involved significant changes at the denominational level. Larson and Armstrong recognize that they are serving a church “in transition.”
“Although we were elected as moderators, we serve as chaplains,” Armstrong said, noting that they are walking alongside those grieving loss, celebrating new life and learning to live into a new reality.
Still, Larson points out that unification wasn’t actually the business of the 226th General Assembly, which they moderated. The decision to unify was made by the 225th General Assembly — two years prior to their election — and will be concluded by the 227th General Assembly (2026).
One common item the Co-Moderators have encountered is conversation and questions about the major shifts in how the PC(USA) handles global engagement. In February of this year, IUA leaders announced a move away from the existing paradigm of mission co-workers and the introduction of Global Ecumenical Liaisons. While some existing staff are shifting into these new roles, others’ roles were concluded.
Larson said that even though there is understanding that these changes in global engagement are an ongoing process, the desire for answers and clarity around that process is what the Co-Moderators can “most palpably feel” as they circulate throughout the church. The two acknowledge that pastorally tending to such concerns is yet another part of serving a church living through change.
Although their term of service is now halfway through, both Armstrong and Larson were quick to note that the journey of a moderator is longer than two years. Prior to their election at last year’s assembly, the pair worked together for several months to prepare. And even after their term is over, the two will serve as corresponding members for life. They are already in close contact with a close community of moderators of assemblies past. The two acknowledge that the lifelong participation in that legacy is part of what they felt called to.
Armstrong and Larson serve neighboring presbyteries at churches only a few hours apart — Larson at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and Armstrong as associate pastor at St. James Presbyterian Church in Charleston. Surprisingly, they had never met before joining to stand as co-moderators. Armstrong said one of the gifts of this experience has been the close friendship they’ve developed.
“The bonus that came out of [this] is I developed a really good friend,” Armstrong said. “To have never known him before and now feel like, if there’s anything I ever need across the spectrum of life, I could depend on him.”
Larson agreed, calling working alongside Armstrong a “singular honor.” Larson said another gift of their experience has been witnessing the church in action in so many different ways and contexts.
“It is a unique joy to this office that we get to go to a lot of presbytery meetings,” Larson said with a laugh. “And I say that unironically. It is a joy. I tend to walk away from every presbytery meeting with some signs of hope.”
Larson went on to describe how many of the presbyteries they’ve visited are working to address systemic issues of racism and poverty in their contexts, and how that engagement is simultaneously bringing strengthened vitality to congregations and deepening their connection with the community around them.
It’s a faithful engagement that inspires others as congregations share their efforts with their presbyteries and beyond, Larson said.
“The storytelling that happens — the Spirit works through those stories, and elders go home and say, ‘well, we could do something like that here,’” he said.
If there were any concerns that co-moderators from the same state would have a limited reach, Armstrong and Larson have shown their commitment to the whole church with visits that span the nation and beyond. Armstrong emphasized that their travels are determined by invitations that come in and their availability. However, she said that they are proud and grateful that, so far, they haven’t had to say no to anyone who has asked for a visit.
They’ve made a point to give attention to the Midwest and the West Coast, and especially to presbyteries that haven’t had a visit from leadership in recent years.
In fact, Armstrong said they had visited some places that hadn’t met with a moderator since the introduction of the co-moderator model in 2016. The Rev. Denise Anderson and the Rev. Dr. Jan Edmiston were the first in the PC(USA) to be elected as co-moderators instead of moderator and vice moderator.
Armstrong and Larson are the fifth pair of co-moderators to serve, but they will be the first — and likely only — set of leaders to moderate two consecutive general assemblies. The 226th General Assembly voted to elect new moderators at the end of assemblies going forward instead of at the beginning, so future moderators will moderate the assembly that comes at the end of their two-year term of service rather than immediately upon being elected.
To institute this change, Larson and Armstrong will moderate the 227th General Assembly next year in Milwaukee in addition to having moderated last year’s assembly in Salt Lake City. The two said they are grateful for the opportunity to meet and develop relational trust with incoming commissioners before leading them through an assembly.
As they approach their second opportunity to moderate an assembly, Armstrong and Larson are full of hope for the church. For Armstrong, who recently served as preacher at the Montreat Youth Conference, hope is most evident in the youth and young adults she encounters.
“The curiosity of young folks is not lost,” Armstrong said. “When given permission to ask questions, they have really good questions. When given space to seek answers, they have really unique ways of seeking.”
Larson also sees hope in churches that are finding new ways of living out their call to serve God and their neighbors, whether that’s creatively reimagining their physical spaces or being attentive to the evolving needs of the surrounding community.
“Sometimes the story that we tell about ourselves as the PC(USA) is only about how we used to be. … But the vow we take is that we will serve with energy, intelligence, imagination and love, and when all we talk about is what used to be, there’s a lack of imagination,” Larson observed. “And so I’m always excited when I see congregations and presbyteries reawakening that imagination and dreaming with God what can be, what might be.”
For now, Armstrong and Larson will continue to do what they’ve done since their journey started: pray.
“We ended every single day at the last assembly in prayer — collecting the prayers of commissioners and others who were there,” Larson said. “And we pray regularly for the church and for those we meet on this journey.”
Follow the Co-Moderators of the 226th General Assembly here.
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