A Thought from This Year's General Assembly
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
written by Rev. Erik Khoobyarian
Every two years, commissioners from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gather for our General Assembly. Hundreds of actions are taken over the course of the week. Most involve the ordinary work of the church: budgets, mission, worship, governance, constitutional matters, and the many decisions that help shape the life of our denomination. While few of these actions receive much public attention, they influence the ministry and witness of the church for years to come.
From time to time, I'd like to share one or two actions that I think are worth knowing about. Whether or not you closely follow denominational news, some decisions raise broader theological questions that are worth our reflection. One of those came before this year's Assembly, and because it has received attention both inside and outside the church, I thought it might be helpful to explain what the Assembly actually did—and just as importantly, what it did not do.
By an overwhelming vote of 458-18, the General Assembly approved a proposed amendment to our Constitution declaring that ideologies which seek “to establish Christianity as a privileged or dominant force through the power of the state, or that conflate religious identity with national, racial, or ethnic supremacy” are incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ and constitute “a theological error” (Minutes of the 227th General Assembly, RUS-01). The Assembly also adopted a companion social witness policy encouraging the church to study and respond to the realities of white Christian nationalism (Presbyterian Outlook, July 2026).
Because this action proposes a constitutional amendment, it is not yet part of our Book of Order. The amendment must now be approved by a majority of the denomination's 164 presbyteries before it becomes part of our Constitution. That process will unfold over the coming year.
The vote itself is worth noticing. Presbyterians are not known for unanimous agreement, and General Assembly brings together commissioners from every corner of the church with a wide range of theological convictions. A vote of 458-18 indicates remarkably broad support across the Assembly.
As I have reflected on this action, I have found it helpful to think not only about what the Assembly said, but also about what it did not say. It did not suggest that Christians should not love their country. Christians have every reason to be grateful for the places where God has planted them. We can appreciate the freedoms we enjoy, pray for those who serve in public office, honor those who have served in the military, and work for the flourishing of our communities. Scripture encourages us to seek the welfare of the places where we live.
Instead, the Assembly addressed a different concern: the temptation to confuse our allegiance to Christ with our allegiance to any nation or political movement. Christians have wrestled with that question throughout the history of the church. Whenever the church becomes too closely identified with the purposes of any nation, political party, or ideology, it risks losing the freedom to proclaim the gospel with clarity, humility, and integrity.
This conversation is not unique to the PC(USA). Earlier this year, the much more conservative Presbyterian Church in America also took action addressing Christian nationalism. Although the two denominations approached the issue differently, both recognized the importance of keeping our primary allegiance fixed on Christ and of distinguishing the kingdom of God from the ambitions of earthly nations.
As I reflected on the Assembly's action, I also found myself thinking about Pinnacle. One of the things I value most about our congregation is that we do not all think alike. We have Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and many who would rather not discuss politics at all. We have veterans and immigrants, lifelong Arizonans and those who have made Arizona their home. We bring different experiences, different convictions, and different perspectives. Yet we gather every Sunday to confess the same Lord.
That has always been the church's deepest identity. Long before Christians shared political convictions, they shared baptism. Long before they agreed on public policy, they gathered around the Lord's Table. The church has never been held together by ideology. It has been held together by Jesus Christ.
For me, that is the lasting significance of the Assembly's action. It reminds us to keep our loves properly ordered. We are free to love our country, to participate in civic life, and to work for the common good. Those are worthy callings. At the same time, our deepest loyalty belongs to Christ. Every nation is temporary. Every political system is imperfect. Every culture stands under both the judgment and the grace of God.
Holding those truths together is not always easy, but it is part of Christian discipleship. Our faith invites us to participate in public life with humility rather than triumphalism, conviction rather than fear, and hope rather than despair. It reminds us that our confidence ultimately rests not in any government or movement, but in the One whose kingdom transcends every earthly nation.
In a season when it is easy to define ourselves by politics or ideology, the church has an opportunity to bear a different kind of witness. Our deepest identity is not found in a political party, a national identity, or even a denomination. It is found in Jesus Christ, who calls people from every nation, tribe, and language into one body.
That is a reminder I believe the church always needs to hear. Whether this constitutional amendment is ultimately ratified by the presbyteries remains to be seen. Whatever the outcome, I hope we will continue to reflect on the larger theological question it raises. How do we love our country faithfully while remembering that our first allegiance belongs to Christ? Christians have been asking that question for centuries. It is one worth asking still.
If you are interested in reading the Assembly’s action for yourself, I encourage you to do so. The proposed constitutional amendment (RUS-01) and its companion social witness policy (RUS-07) are both publicly available through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Reading the original documents is often the best way to move beyond headlines and understand what was actually debated and approved.