“Our denomination is that paralyzed man,” she said. “We are paralyzed with fatigue over our battles, with fear over how to share the gospel in the 21st century.”

Ruling Elder Cynthia Bolbach has been elected moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on the fourth ballot cast by commissioners.

Candidates must receive over 50 percent of the votes cast to be elected. She received 30 percent of the vote on the first ballot, 40 percent on the second, 43 percent on the third, and on the last tally received 325 votes or 51 percent of the votes. She was the only Ruling Elder among the six candidates for moderator.

She is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia, and was endorsed by National Capital Presbytery.

She selected Rev. Landon Whitsitt, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, MO (Heartland Presbytery), as her vice moderator.

“I love being a Presbyterian elder,” she said. “I love the equality that Presbyterians give to elders and preachers alike in our church.”

“I think elder commissioners have a slight advantage over minister commissioners – elders rule” she said.

She spoke of the Biblical story of the men who lowered their paralyzed friend through a hole cut in the roof so he could see Jesus.

“Our denomination is that paralyzed man,” she said. “We are paralyzed with fatigue over our battles, with fear over how to share the gospel in the 21st century.”

This week, Bolbach said, “we are more than just elected commissioners. We are the friend that can help our paralyzed friends see Jesus… We know Jesus is here, so how do we break through the roof?”

“Let’s start by thinking creatively and working cooperatively … let’s accept that we may not always agree. We may even argue about it,” she said. “Unless we keep talking to one another, we will never, ever break through this roof.”

Bolbach said that breaking holes through roofs can be difficult, dirty work, but “it must be done for people to see Jesus … Our challenge, our calling is to get our paralyzed denomination to Jesus, so that Jesus can start the healing.”

Some of the questions from commissioners, and Bolbach’s answers included:

What do you think about civil unions and same sex marriages?
“Who poses the greatest threat to the institution of marriage: Larry King who has been married 8 times” or a couple whom she knows in Washington, DC who have been together for many years and just got married this year?

“How do the different parts of our constitution relate to each other and influence our decision making: The Bible, The Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order?”
“We live our lives together under a constitution made up of the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. The confessions tell us of times in history when the church has witnessed to the Lord in a certain way. The Book of Order is the more practical, down to earth tool that we use in doing our work as Presbyterians. But the Book of Order has been revised more than 300 times since reunion and has become a regulatory manual.” Bolbach said the denomination needs to get the form of its government back to foundational principles. “We need to lift up our constitution so we can live and work together.”

Explain the relationship between the Great Commandment and the Great Commission
“When you are doing evangelism you are doing mission. When you are doing mission, you are doing evangelism. Our mission field has shifted from over there to here on our doorstep.”

Other candidates and their vote totals on the fourth and final ballot included

• Rev. James A. Belle, 51 votes (8 percent)
• Rev Jin S. Kim, 25 votes (4 percent)
• Rev. Maggie Palmer Lauterer, 49 votes (8 percent)
• Rev. Julia Leeth, 148 votes (23 percent)
• Rev. Eric G. Nielson, 37 votes (6 percent)