Reflections from Commissioner Cleve Dixon on General Assembly
My GA Experience
by Cleve Dixon
I was honored to be selected to represent Denver Presbytery as one of our Ruling Elder Commissioners (REC) at GA227 in Milwaukee, WI. Thinking back, three things stand out to me as the most significant experiences running through our two weeks together: Connections, the Work, and Daily Worship.
Connections
We’ve all heard it said that the PCUSA is a connectional church. From its basic structures—Congregation, Session, Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly—to the personal bonds we develop in our shared ministry, there is nowhere quite like a General Assembly to remind you of that truth.
From the moment our three days of Zoom committee work began, I felt those threads pulling together:
Our committee parliamentarian, Bill Wildhack, had actually chaired the committee I served on back in 2018 at GA223 in St. Louis.
Out for a stroll on the Friday evening before we began in-person work, I ran into a pastor from Michigan, Jennifer Saperstein, looking for registration. In our brief chat, we realized she grew up in Greeley and served as Clerk of Session at Family of Christ Presbyterian Church—the very church where my wife Nancy and I were married, and where Nancy’s mother and sister were members! To make the world even smaller, she and my current pastor at St. Paul, Jim DeMent, had been seminary study partners.
Not a day went by without connecting with someone I knew through Denver Presbytery, or folks who worked alongside my pastor daughter.
I was also truly blessed to form deep new friendships with the rest of our Denver commission: Raafat, Kiersten, Beth, and Grace.
The Work
The actual work of GA is long, challenging, and incredibly fulfilling. I was assigned to the Theological Education and Ordination Committee (ORD).
After an initial orientation, we convened over Zoom to address sixteen overtures and reports. Days were long—often 10 to 12 hours. Several routine items moved quickly to the Consent Agenda, such as approving seminary board minutes, authorizing seminaries to administer the Lord’s Supper, and confirming newly elected seminary presidents.
The heaviest lift for our committee was reviewing the comprehensive report from the Task Force to Explore the Theology and Practice of Ordination. The Task Force brought forward wide-ranging recommendations to align our ordination, commissioning, and membership practices with the realities of a changing church. Their work focused on identifying structural barriers in traditional systems and opening pathways for broader inclusion—ranging from updated readiness assessments and ordination examination options to expanding voice and vote for commissioned pastors and new worshiping communities.
Navigating all of this required patience, careful discernment, and a steady reliance on Robert’s Rules of Order. At times it was tedious, but seeing the whole Assembly deliberate and ultimately adopt these measures in plenary was a powerful blessing.
Daily Worship
On Sunday, we dispersed across the Milwaukee area. I visited Calvary Presbyterian (known locally as the "Big Red Church")—a landmark inner-city congregation led entirely by Ruling Elders. With limited resources, they do remarkable ministry: hosting community spaces, feeding neighbors, and supporting unhoused youth. (And true to Wisconsin hospitality, they treated us to brats, cheese curds, and root beer for lunch!)
Beyond Sunday, every single committee meeting and plenary session was anchored in worship and song. There was so much singing, and it kept us grounded in the Gospel as we tackled tough decisions. The closing worship on Thursday was anchored by an incredible, prophetic sermon by the Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz—I highly recommend looking it up on YouTube.
I return home deeply grateful for the experience, inspired by the work of the broader church, and thankful for the privilege of serving the Denver Presbytery.