Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Institute on Religion and Democracy will be sending a team of staff and volunteers to the 2012 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has 1.9 million members in the United States. The General Assembly, which meets every two years, is the denomination's top governing body. The denomination recently dropped below two million members for the first time in recent memory, reporting a decline of 63,804 members and the loss of 96 congregations in 2011. Presbyterians are currently facing a split, as a large number of conservative churches have sought to re-affiliate with more traditionalist Presbyterian bodies.

The denomination is divided over hot-button issues, such as same-sex unions, immigration and Israel-Palestine. IRD/Presbyterian Action supports a conservative perspective that affirms traditional church teachings.

What: 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Who: 752 Commissioners (Ministers and Lay Persons) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When: Saturday, June 30 through Saturday, July 7

Available for Interviews:

Mark Tooley -- President, Institute on Religion & Democracy.

Gary Green -- Chariman, Presbyterian Action Committee of the Institute on Religion & Democracy.

Barton Gingerich -- Researcher at the Institute on Religion & Democracy.