THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA IS. . .
A New Denomination
The birth date of the
Presbyterian Church in America is December 4, 1973. (But our
spiritual roots are in the Protestant Reformation.) We came into existence
because we felt strongly the need for a scriptural, evangelical and Reformed
witness for Christ. We wanted to be a part of a denomination which honors
God and His Word. We desired a believing fellowship which is committed to
evangelism, Christian education and training as top priorities in the Church.
We felt that ministers and church officers should affirm without compromise
the great biblical beliefs of Christianity.
Many of our churches separated from their denomination because of the
compromise of our basic Christian doctrines. Though we earnestly desired
close fellowship with Christians of like mind, we wanted no part of the
National or World Councils of Churches because of their pluralistic theology.
(We are members of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Churches and
the National Association of Evangelicals.) After years of sincere efforts to
call our former denomination to revival and renewal we were led by God to
withdraw and form a new body. The new denomination began with 250
congregations and 50,000 members.
Within a few years it grew to include more than 500 churches with nearly
80,000 members. In 1982 the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod
joined with us, bringing almost 25,000 new members into the P.C.A. fold. As
of December 1985, we counted more than 888 churches, with over 151,000
members throughout the United States and Canada. As of December 1996 we had
1338 churches and 277,899 members. Of the nine Presbyterian denominations in
North America, the P.C.A. is the fastest growing. Together we are lifting
high a banner of love and testimony to Jesus Christ the Lord, locally and
globally.
A Scriptural Denomination
Our Church seeks to be scriptural in both its government and its doctrine.
The form of church government we believe is most biblical is call
"Presbyterian." This means the local churches are governed by "presbyters,"
or elders, who are elected by the people. There are two kinds of elders.
Teaching elders are pastors. Ruling elders are ordained laymen. This was
the kind of government the New Testament Church enjoyed (for instance, see
Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5-7). It has been the form followed by the great
Reformed and Presbyterian branches of Christendom since the days of John
Calvin in Europe and John Knox in England and Scotland.
The elders sit in a "session." This session has the oversight of the
faith and life of the local church congregation.
Representatives from the session along with the ordained ministers of the
churches compose the "presbytery." The presbytery has oversight of the
ministries of the churches in a given geographical area. Through the
presbytery the work of many churches is coordinated and their combined
efforts enable them to extend the Kingdom of Christ much farther than would
otherwise be possible.
The local churches also send commissioners - elders and ministers - to the
highest court of the church, the "General Assembly." The assembly meets
annually and enables all the churches to have a voice in guiding the
spiritual and practical affairs of the entire denomination.
In the Presbyterian Church in America the local church owns and controls
its property. A church's relationship with the denomination is based on
mutual love and commitment to the Bible, the Reformed faith, and the Great
Commission of Jesus Christ. Though a congregation may withdraw from the
denomination at any time by a simple majority vote of its members, we agree
that the Bible teaches that congregations should be yoked in faith and
practice and should bind themselves together for the edification of the whole
body of Christ.
Our form of doctrine is also scriptural. As "Presbyterian" refers to our
form of government so "Reformed" denotes our doctrinal beliefs. We stand in
the ancient heritage of true-to-the-Bible theology. We earnestly strive to
follow Christ and His Apostles. We believe that the purest expressions of
scriptural doctrine are found in the Calvinistic creeds particularly the
Westminster Confession of Faith with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
This means that we believe in the Trinity. There is one God who exists
eternally in three Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These
three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy
Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is our
infallible and divine authority in all matters of faith and life.
We believe that all men are sinners and are totally unable to save
themselves or even to cooperate with God in efforts to earn their salvation.
We believe that salvation is by God's action alone, who sovereignly
chooses out of the fallen race of mankind those whom He will save. God alone
saves the people whom He draws to Jesus by His Holy Spirit. He convinces
them of their sin and enlightens them so that they repent of their sins and
trust in Jesus Christ as He is offered in the Gospel. Because God alone
knows who are His, we call on people everywhere to repent and to trust in
Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who became man and
lived and died and rose again to atone for the sins of those who trust Him
alone for their salvation. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and
man.
We believe that God's Holy Spirit gives Christians the daily strength and
wisdom they need to walk according to His will and to grow in holiness.
We believe that Jesus Christ shall return personally, visibly, and bodily
to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
A Progressive Denomination
We sincerely desire to spread the Gospel to every land, to make disciples
and teach them the faith once for all delivered by God to His Church. And we
happily serve men in need, resisting man's inhumanity to man, working for
peace, honor, and dignity among all men without discrimination.
We are "conservative," but not old fashioned! We hold to the faith of the
Bible and of our fathers, but we strive to proclaim God's Truth as
imaginatively and creatively as possible.
We are busy. Busy about God's work. Starting new churches in the United
States and Canada; supporting small congregations who want a full ministry in
their communities; teaching and training workers and leaders how to study,
apply, obey and share the Scriptures; sending missionaries to many countries
throughout the world; publishing literature and curricula for individuals,
groups, schools, and churches; caring for retired ministers and their
families; sponsoring youth and children's ministries; guiding men and women
and families to a closer walk with the living God.
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