Meet our 227th General Assembly Commissioners
The General Assembly is the PC(USA)’s highest council—a gathering for discernment, decision-making, and worship. Commissioners from every presbytery—equal numbers of ruling elders and teaching elders—serve alongside advisory delegates representing young adults, theological students, global partners, and interfaith voices.
Meeting every two years, the Assembly gathers for committee work, plenary sessions, education, shared meals, and connection. It is also a vibrant worshiping community, celebrating God’s work in and through the whole church.
The 227th General Assembly (2026) begins with online committee meetings June 22–24. Attendees travel to Milwaukee June 25–26 and take part in a Community Day on June 27, including public witness events and a Town Square of ministry resources. Plenary sessions will follow in Milwaukee from June 28–July 2, 2026.
This year Denver Presbytery was able to elect 2 teaching elders and 2 ruling elders, 2 alternates and a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD). The Servant Leadership Development Committee reviewed several applications, did interviews and selected Commissioners that were elected at our December 2nd Special Called Assembly on Zoom. Learn more about them below.
Alternates are Rev. Whit Dempsey from Community of Grace PC and Pamela Jones, Ruling Elder from St. Paul PC.
CLEVE DIXON
Cleve Dixon (he/him) is honored to be selected by the Presbytery of Denver to serve as a Ruling Elder commissioner to the General Assembly next summer in Milwaukee.
In addition to serving St. Paul as Chair of Mission and Outreach, participating on the Worship Planning Team, singing in the choir, and serving on the Presbytery’s Ministry Preparation Committee, he enjoys many activities outside of church life. He loves feeding the people he cares about and spends much of his time planning meals and cooking for family and friends. He is an avid reader—especially of history, historical fiction, and science fiction/fantasy. A native Coloradan, he also loves spending time outdoors gardening, hiking, camping, and hunting.
Cleve looks forward to General Assembly—to experiencing the energy of God’s people in work and worship. And since he has never been to Milwaukee, he hopes to find time to explore the city and, of course, enjoy some beer and brats!
KIERSTEN HILL
The Rev. Kiersten Hill (she/her) is the Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults at Wellshire Presbyterian Church. She has never been to the state of Wisconsin, and looks forward to enjoying some cheese curds while there! Kiersten is a founding member of a monthly Karaoke Club, a mom of two toddlers, and a lover of all things pink. She is excited to witness the movement of the Spirit at General Assembly and feels grateful for the opportunity to serve the Church as a commissioner.
RAAFAT GIRGIS
Rev. Raafat (he/him) Girgis is an Incubator Leader, Founder, All People Intercultural Community (APIC). Raafat has served the church in both Egypt and the United States since his 1982 ordination in the Synod of the Nile. He holds degrees in social sciences, history, and theology from institutions in Cairo, Alexandria, and Chicago. He is the founding pastor of All People Intercultural Community (APIC), a ministry of Denver Presbytery in partnership with Grace Presbyterian Church in Highlands Ranch.
Raafat previously served congregations in California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and spent 15 years on the national staff of the PC(USA) directing Multicultural/Intercultural Ministries. His passion is creating safe, welcoming spaces where differences can meet, building bridges that help all people encounter the good news in ways they recognize.
He is excited to serve as a commissioner to the 227th General Assembly—his first time as a commissioner after attending more than 15 Assemblies as Presbyterian Mission Agency staff.
And for fun: one of his hobbies is fishing (though not fishing expeditions!).
BETH CARLISLE
Beth Carlisle (she/her) has served as the Communications Manager for the Presbytery of Denver for the past ten years. A lifelong Presbyterian who later married a Presbyterian minister, she has been part of several congregations across Indiana, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Colorado. Beth is the proud mom of two amazing young women—Grace (who will also be attending GA) and Ava.
Beth also enjoys watching Ava compete or simply ride her horse, Buck. An outdoor enthusiast, she spends as much time as she can hiking in the mountains or walking her adopted dogs, Riv and Roo. Her decade of work as mid-council staff has given her a deep understanding of the denomination’s inner workings, and she is excited to experience General Assembly for the first time as a Commissioner. It will be extra special to have this shared experience with her daughter, Grace.
Beth has family in Milwaukee and a special connection to Wisconsin—it’s where she met her husband, the Rev. Steve Blackstock, during his first call.
GRACE BLACKSTOCK
Grace Blackstock (she/her) is a freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Political Science. Last summer, she interned with the Presbyterian Mission Agency and spent several days in Washington, D.C. with the Office of Public Witness, where she saw firsthand how her passion for social justice connects with faith and public ministry.
Grace is eager to experience the polity side of the denomination at General Assembly and hopes that she can help develop more opportunities and spaces in the Presbyterian church for youth voices and communities.
In her free time, Grace is active in her campus reproductive rights club, enthusiastically cheers on Colorado’s sports teams, and never tires of soaking in the beauty of the mountains she loves.