What Presbyterian Means
“In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, ‘Come, Lord Jesus,” – from A Brief Statement of Faith
Presbyterians… people claimed by Christ and caring about Christ’s mission! It is a church of an inspiring past that is pointed towards God’s great future.
Where Did We Get This Name?
Presbuteros, the Greek word meaning elder, is used 92 times in the New Testament. It provided the name for the Presbyterian family of churches, which includes the Reformed churches of the world. Both Presbyterian and Reformed are synonymous with churches that have grown out of the Calvinist Protestant tradition.
Who are We Presbyterians?
In America, the first presbytery (our gathering of churches) was organized in 1706. Through the years there has been an interesting history of growth, change and development. Today’s Presbyterian Church (USA) was created by the 1983 reunion of the two main branches of Presbyterians in America, separated since the Civil War: The Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is distinctly a confessional and a connectional church, distinguished by the representation of elders (presbuteros) – laymen and laywomen – in its government. The church today has a membership of over two million in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with some 20,000 ordained ministers and over 100,000 elders.
What Do Presbyterians Believe?
We are Christians who place our hope and trust in the Triune God: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. The Bible is the source of our church’s faith. We also have the guidance of historic Christian confessions such as the Apostle’s Creed and the Westminster Confession. The Presbyterian Church affirms the ancient truths of Christianity and seeks to apply those foundations to daily living and the difficult issues of the contemporary world. While our church government is representative and democratic, we cherish and uphold the belief in the “priesthood of all believers.” Though our church has an orderly and well-balanced constitution, the government of our entire church looks to “the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Head of the Church.”
Presbyterians are Believers And Doers!
Stated clearly in our Book of Order (constitution) are the Great Ends of the Church: “… the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.” As seen in this statement, we are proud of our fine theological and biblical heritage of beliefs. Beyond mere faith, however, we are called to action and to live out our beliefs. We do mission and pursue these great ends of the church in all sorts of ways: through prayer, gifts and a lot of personal effort so that the gospel of Jesus Christ is carried throughout the whole earth. In “good Presbyterian order,” we strive to plan well for ministries and programs that serve and address the real needs of society, that bring healing to those who are wounded, and that bring justice to the oppressed.
The Seal of the Presbyterian Church (USA) contains the following symbolic components:
The cross,
The Bible,
The descending dove (symbolizing God’s Holy Spirit),
The pulpit,
Flames in a triangular configuration (symbolizing the Spirit’s power and the Trinity),
A fish (an early symbol of the Christian church),
And a baptismal font or a communion chalice.
