Of all the presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (USA), our own has been selected by the PCUSA to participate in a new global assessment of its ministry of diversity.

Toward that end, NCCP (North Central California Presbytery, formerly Sacramento Presbytery) recently elected seven presbytery leaders to serve this task force. Among those elected was Rev. Janice Kamikawa, who attends Bethany. The team will receive support from The Reverend Samuel Son, director of the PCUSA’s Office of Diversity and Reconciliation, which falls under PC(USA)’s Mission Agency.

Included in the assessment will be areas of diversity: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, abilities, and theological and political spectrums within the Presbyterian Church community.

Mary Westfall, NCCP’s current leader, reports that “the program is grounded in our Gospels—the life and ministry of Jesus.” Westfall says that the task force will help “create an environment where there is space at the table for all; where all voices are heard.”