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Presbyterian 101
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Presbyterian
101: A general guide to facts about the
Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.)
Presbyterians trace their
history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our
heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer
John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the
Reformed thinking that came before him.
Calvin did much of his writing
from Geneva, Switzerland. From there, the Reformed movement spread to
other parts of Europe and the British Isles. Many of the early
Presbyterians in America came from England, Scotland and Ireland. The
first American Presbytery was organized at Philadelphia in 1706. The
first General Assembly was held in the same city in 1789. The first
Assembly was convened by the Rev. John Witherspoon, the only minister
to sign the Declaration of Independence.
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What
is distinctive about Presbyterian Church?
Presbyterians are distinctive in
two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as
Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses the active,
representational leadership of both ministers and church members. [Learn more]
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A
little Presbyterian history
Portions of the
Presbyterian church in the United States have separated from the main
body, and some parts have reunited, several times. The greatest
division occurred in 1861 during the American Civil War. The two
branches created by that division were reunited in 1983 to form the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), currently the largest Presbyterian group
in this country. [Learn
more]
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Presbyterian
theological beliefs
Some of the principles
articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs.
Among these are the sovereignty of God, the authority of the scripture,
justification by grace through faith and the priesthood of all
believers. What they mean is that God is the supreme authority
throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and God's purpose for
humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New
Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation
(justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the
result of our own accomplishments. It is everyone's job - ministers and
lay people alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. That
is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a
combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike. [Learn more]
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Our
position on social issues
In the 1958 Statement
of the PCUA, p. 537: The General Assembly:
- Affirms its conviction that
neither the Church as the body of Christ, nor Christians as
individuals, can be neutral or indifferent toward evil in the world;
- Affirms its responsibility to
speak on social and moral issues for the encouragement and instruction
of the Church and its members, seeking earnestly both to know the mind
of Christ and to speak always in humility and love;
- Reminds the churches that
their duty is not only to encourage and train their members in daily
obedience to God's will, but corporately to reveal God's grace in
places of suffering and need, to resist the forces that tyrannize, and
to support the forces that restore the dignity of all men as the
children of God, for only so is the gospel most fully proclaimed.
[Learn more]
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Who
are we Presbyterians?
As far back as 1837 the General
Assembly declared that the church, by its very nature, is a missionary
society whose purpose is to share the love of God in Jesus Christ in
word and deed and with all the world. Witnessing to the good news of
Jesus Christ throughout the world, Presbyterians engage in mission
activities, seek to alleviate hunger, foster self-development, respond
to disasters, support mission works, preach the gospel, heal the sick,
and educate new generations for the future. In partnership with more
than 150 churches and Christian organizations around the world, the
missionary efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) involve
approximately 1,000 volunteers and compensated personnel. [Learn more]
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