About the logo designs for the 220th General Assembly (2012)….
A standard logo image and two alternate use images have been designed for the 220th General Assembly (2012) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The theme for the assembly is “Walking, running, soaring into hope.”
The logo is a simple, circular image designed to be functional and traditional. It will be the main image associated with the assembly and can be used in a variety of applications, from the Web to email signatures to advertising banners to book bags and flashlights. It is designed to be easily recognizable and attractive, and to reflect Pittsburgh, the host city for the assembly, in a way that lifts up the Presbyterian presence and influence in the city.
The second and third images are more elaborate than the circular logo:
- Because Pittsburgh church buildings are well known for their beautiful collections of Tiffany stained glass (see below), the inspiration for the character image comes from a Tiffany window called “Guiding Angel.”
- In the image, the angel is leading the woman into a peach orchard as they are walking together. Peaches, in particular, were used by 15th-century painter Carlo Crivelli to symbolize a virtuous heart and language. Peaches are included in this image as an inspiration to GA commissioners and advisory delegates as they work to discern the mind of Christ for the PC(USA).
- The woman carries a book embossed with Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
- The angel character is a combination of human and eagle. The additional creatures in the image are designed to signify the other two of the four living creatures depicted in Rev. 4:6b-10. The pose of the creatures is purposely submissive.
- The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh was chosen for the architectural image because of its breathtaking beauty and the fact that it is the oldest Presbyterian congregation in the city. This choice is a testament to the longevity of our denomination and the strength of our foundation.
- The circle logo at the base is a nod to a vintage Tiffany logo – the towel shape that holds the PC(USA) seal replaces a decorative floral design that hung from the bottom of the original. The inclusion of the towel is symbolic of a servant who might drape it over an arm.
Six crosses are included in both larger images, one for each of the six agencies of the PC(USA). The Roman numerals at the top are 173 (for 173 presbyteries) and 2012 (for the year). They are contained within 16 circles (for 16 synods).
Three circles for the Trinity are placed in the center at the top to show that the Triune God — Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer — is always at the center of the work and witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Read more about Tiffany stained glass in Pittsburgh Presbyterian churches: