We are a Presbyterian church that belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America (P.C.A.). To be presbyterian means three things:
First is to confess and submit to Jesus as the head of the Church. Second is to trust and follow God's word as a guide for the Church, which we believe is best understood within Westminster Confessions of Faith. Third is that the responsibility of leadership within the church is equally shared by men from the congregation, on behalf of the congregation. These men submit themselves to God, His word, to each other, and to other presbyterian churches.
You can find out more about the Presbyterian Church in America (P.C.A.) here: https://pcanet.org/
Our system of doctrine, while being from the beginning of scripture, we believe was best organized in the Westminster Confessions of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. You can find out more about the Westminster Confessions of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms here: https://westminsterstandards.org/
First is to confess and submit to Jesus as the head of the Church. Second is to trust and follow God's word as a guide for the Church, which we believe is best understood within Westminster Confessions of Faith. Third is that the responsibility of leadership within the church is equally shared by men from the congregation, on behalf of the congregation. These men submit themselves to God, His word, to each other, and to other presbyterian churches.
You can find out more about the Presbyterian Church in America (P.C.A.) here: https://pcanet.org/
Our system of doctrine, while being from the beginning of scripture, we believe was best organized in the Westminster Confessions of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. You can find out more about the Westminster Confessions of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms here: https://westminsterstandards.org/
Brief Summary of Our Beliefs
BIBLE
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is authoritative to be the only rule of faith and practice.
GOD
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
CREATION
We believe God created all things in the span of six days. We believe God created man and woman in His image to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Since God created, it is man's duty to preserve and better creation. We believe that every person is valuable and worthy to be loved and cared for.
SIN
All people were created to glorify and enjoy God but instead sought to live for their own glory at the expense of others. This is called sin and resulted in alienated from God, creation, and each other. This alienation, results in God’s just displeasure and wrath and can only be remedied by God’s merciful sending of His only Son.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Through his perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension, he restored the relationship between God and for all who trust his work on their behalf.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit enables people to understand the things of God, renews their wills, and draws them to Christ so they profess faith. The Spirit indwells God’s people as a guarantee of eternal life and creates new desires and the ability to serve the Lord.
COVENANT
We believe God voluntarily establishes a relationship with his creatures through a covenant. Just as their are vows in a marriage which act as a covenant, God has vowed to show unending favor towards His people and their children. The fellowship within a church and among Christians is to model God's covenant love and faithfulness.
SALVATION
We believe salvation is the work of God. Every person is invited to believe in Christ and God chooses to show saving mercy to some that leads them to faith in Jesus. His choice is based only on His grace and not on any person’s individual merit or foreseen faith.
THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
We believe Jesus will one day return bodily and visibly to judge the living and the dead. Those who trust in Christ will be raised to eternal live to enjoy new creation forever and those who by their unbelief remain alienated from God will be raised to everlasting judgement.
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is authoritative to be the only rule of faith and practice.
GOD
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
CREATION
We believe God created all things in the span of six days. We believe God created man and woman in His image to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Since God created, it is man's duty to preserve and better creation. We believe that every person is valuable and worthy to be loved and cared for.
SIN
All people were created to glorify and enjoy God but instead sought to live for their own glory at the expense of others. This is called sin and resulted in alienated from God, creation, and each other. This alienation, results in God’s just displeasure and wrath and can only be remedied by God’s merciful sending of His only Son.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Through his perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension, he restored the relationship between God and for all who trust his work on their behalf.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit enables people to understand the things of God, renews their wills, and draws them to Christ so they profess faith. The Spirit indwells God’s people as a guarantee of eternal life and creates new desires and the ability to serve the Lord.
COVENANT
We believe God voluntarily establishes a relationship with his creatures through a covenant. Just as their are vows in a marriage which act as a covenant, God has vowed to show unending favor towards His people and their children. The fellowship within a church and among Christians is to model God's covenant love and faithfulness.
SALVATION
We believe salvation is the work of God. Every person is invited to believe in Christ and God chooses to show saving mercy to some that leads them to faith in Jesus. His choice is based only on His grace and not on any person’s individual merit or foreseen faith.
THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
We believe Jesus will one day return bodily and visibly to judge the living and the dead. Those who trust in Christ will be raised to eternal live to enjoy new creation forever and those who by their unbelief remain alienated from God will be raised to everlasting judgement.
How Does Leadership Work In A Presbyterian Church?
Presbyterianism is a form of church government that is based on the example found in Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council. The Judean churches were dealing with teaching contrary to the Gospel so all the churches sent representatives to meet in Jerusalem to consider the matter. A decision was made (Gentiles don't have to keep the ceremonial law or get circumcised to be accepted in the church), and the decision was binding upon all the churches (Acts 15:30 & 16:4).
Here are the 6 Biblical principles that underlie our form of church government:
1. Christ is the Head of the church, as opposed to some human head of the church. (Ephesians 1:20-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18).
2. Office (elders and deacons) bearers are chosen by the congregation. (Acts 1:13-26; 14:23).
3. Office of bishop/elder are identical in Scripture (that is no special place for authoritative individuals) (Titus 1:5, 7, 2 John 1:1- contrast 3 John 9)
4. Each congregation has more than one elder. (Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1)
5. Ordination of pastors is done by Sessions (all the elders of a given church) and/or Presbyteries (all the PCA churches in a designated area) (Acts 6:5-6, 1 Timothy 4:14)
6. There is a Biblical privilege of appeal through a hierarchy of courts (Acts 15:1-16:4)
It is a blessing and a protection for the church! In order for a church to call (hire) a pastor, the Presbytery must examine the man in Biblical knowledge, theological and doctrinal soundness, knowledge of church government, understanding of the sacraments, church history and the history of our denomination. This means that a church is protected from calling an unqualified man as a pastor and conversely, that a church can be confident that the pastor they call has been thoroughly vetted in his understanding and character! It also gives churches a process of appeal if a pastor goes theologically or Biblically rogue and starts preaching and teaching contrary to the Bible and our system of doctrine, and the Presbytery can admonish him, suspend him, or remove him.