Stated Clerk
Stated Clerk
The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II serves as Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the largest Reformed denomination in the United States. He was elected at the 222nd General Assembly (2016) in Portland, Oregon.
The son, grandson, and nephew of Presbyterian pastors, Nelson is the first African American to lead the denomination, which has a 300-year history in the U.S. As Stated Clerk his duties include interpreting assembly actions, representing the church on various denominational and ecumenical councils, witnessing on behalf of the church to social justice issues, and making statements as directed by an assembly. Read more.
Listen to the Cringe podcast interview
Marc Van Bulck of Cringe interviewed J Herbert Nelson, Denise Anderson, Charles Wiley, and Amy Snow about the adoption of the Confession of Belhar to the Book of Confessions.
J Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in the fall issue of the Presbyterian Heritage newsletter. He discusses the work his parents did after the Orangeburg Massacre in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr., political division, and more. Download the newsletter (PDF)(5.7mb)
News & Statements
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PC(USA) leaders issue statement on church burnings
Jul 1, 2015
A hate-inspired tragedy like the murder of nine worshipers at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, causes people of good conscience not only to grieve, but to reassess ...
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PC(USA) Stated Clerk issues statement on Supreme Court’s action on marriage
Jun 26, 2015
<한국의> <Espaňol> The 221st General Assembly (2014) and the presbyteries ratified the following definition of marriage: Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire ...
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The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) welcomes the release of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical Laudato Sii
Jun 18, 2015
We celebrate the faithful witness and words of Pope Francis today as he encourages responsible, loving care for God’s creation in the release of his papal encyclical Laudato Sii. We ...
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Stated Clerk Nomination Committee begins work
Jun 3, 2015
[한국의] [Español] The General Assembly committee tasked with nominating a Stated Clerk for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has begun its work, developing a timeline as one of its initial tasks. ...
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Stated Clerk applauds those fighting family detention
May 27, 2015
[한국의] [Espaňol] During 2014, thousands of families from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador arrived in the United States seeking protection. In response, the government made the tragic decision to open family detention ...
About the Stated Clerk
The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly is the Chief Executive of the Office of the General Assembly. This department manages Stated Clerk's correspondence and travel schedule, provides staff services to the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, provides personnel management for the Office of the General Assembly and manages the budget for the Office of the General Assembly.
Featured Resources
- Stated Clerk Statement Regarding 2018 Summit Between United States and Korea
- Narrative of the Proposed Per Capita Budget 2019-2020
- Remembering a biblical narrative that shapes our interfaith commitments
- Sign-ons and letters from Gradye Parsons
- Misrepresentations about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)