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The Presbyterian Church (USA) has closed its mission agency, laying off nearly all missionaries and ending a centuries-old tradition of global gospel outreach. Find out what’s behind the sweeping change.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has shuttered its international mission arm and terminated 54 of its 60 remaining missionaries, effectively bringing to an end a 200-year-old missionary legacy that sent hundreds of Christian workers across the globe with the gospel.

Late last month, the Presbyterian Mission Agency officially merged with the Office of the General Assembly into a newly formed Interim Unified Agency, leading to the closure of Presbyterian World Mission and the layoff of most remaining mission “co-workers.”

“We’re witnessing the slow dismantling of one of our church’s most defining ministries,” said Karla Ann Koll, a former missionary to Costa Rica who now continues serving there in a seminary role.

Koll’s sentiment has been echoed across PCUSA circles, as both missionaries and regional leaders reflect on what they see as a sobering and regrettable moment in the church’s history.

Mission funding dropped from $16 million in 2000 to $6 million in 2023, paralleling a steady decline in PCUSA membership, according to denominational reports.

“The economics of it were just not sustainable,” said Rev Jay Wilkins, stated clerk of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley in Alabama. He added that ongoing security and financial risks — especially in areas like the Congo — made maintaining overseas staff increasingly difficult.

Over recent decades, the PCUSA has become increasingly progressive, beginning with the inclusion of openly LGBT clergy in 2011 and the recognition of same-sex marriage in 2015. The denomination has also embraced progressive social justice causes and adopted controversial anti-Israel stances, such as labelling Israel an apartheid state.

The denomination has seen its membership drop from 3.1 million in 1983 to 1.09 million in 2023 — a 65% decline — driven by doctrinal compromise, an aging demographic, and congregations opting out to join more biblically faithful denominations.

A Lost Legacy of Mission

At their height in the mid-20th century, the predecessor denominations of the PCUSA were a powerhouse of American religious, educational, political, and cultural life. With over 4.2 million members in 1965, they played a leading role in mainline Protestantism, founded prestigious universities like Princeton, trained generations of theologians, and had an influence that extended from the White House to mission fields across the globe.

PCUSA church officials have attempted to frame the transition as a shift from sending missionaries to building “equal partnerships” with churches abroad.

“This approach continues our commitment to partnership,” said Jihyun Oh, Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency. “We are taking another significant step this year… to foster deeper and broader relationships with faith communities worldwide.”

Some of the missionaries may be reassigned as “global ecumenical advisors,” though names have yet to be released.

While this new language of “partnership” and “contextual ministry” reflects decades-long trends within mainline American Protestantism, critics warn it may downplay the urgency of the gospel message.

The National Hispanic Presbyterian Caucus released an open letter protesting the changes, calling the dismissal of missionaries in Latin America “deeply concerning” and “profoundly sad”.

For many, this change cuts to the heart of the church’s calling. The Great Commission — Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) — has historically driven the church’s global outreach.

While the PCUSA cites cultural sensitivity and decentralisation as strengths of its new model, many observers view this moment as a wake-up call — not just for Presbyterians, but for all believers.

As the church in the West declines, countries once considered “mission fields” are now sending missionaries back to the United States. This reversal challenges Christians to re-examine their own spiritual health and commitment to the gospel.

In a world desperate for truth, the mission of the church remains: to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ boldly and without compromise.

As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Luke 10:2). For those committed to His call, the urgency remains unchanged.

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Image courtesy of The Presbyterian Outlook.