Who are we as Presbyterians?
The Presbyterian Church grew from the Protestant reformation in the 16th century and the writings of John Calvin. The Reformed movement spread throughout Europe and the British Isles and was brought to America from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Presbyterians today adhere to the Reformed tradition and representative governance.
To read more about who we are, www.pcusa.org/101/101-whoare.htm.
The Personality of Presbyterianism
(Adapted from Harry Hassall's book, Presbyterianism's Unique Gift)
- A Biblical/Evangelical people: reformed Protestants have a high view of the place of Scripture. Worship is "Word" centered. Our reason, tradition and experience inform our reading of God's Word, but the Word itself is where we encounter the "Word made flesh" through the power of God's Spirit. Richard Foster identifies Presbyterians as falling into the "evangelical" tradition, because of our emphasis on preaching and teaching.
- A Reasonable/Moderate people: Calvinists have often been portrayed as the people as the people of the "middle way" (via media), rather than the tendency to orient toward polar extremes. The tendency is to seek a balanced response to issues.
- An Ecumenical/Inclusive people: Because of our own sinfulness, the one thing of which we are certain is that we are "wrong" in some of our theological perspectives, therefore we are always open to the insights of others even those with whom we disagree, because they may be right and we may be wrong.
- A Compassionate/Caring people: Reformed Protestants have always emphasized the concept of both "covenant community" and "elected for service as well as salvation." The former demands that we care for others in our own community of faith and the later demands our compassionate service in the world.
- A Negotiating/Process people: Among the concepts central to the Reformed Protestant faith is the idea that "God alone is Lord of the conscience." The urgency of defending God's power to speak to individual human hearts is key to our concept of how officers govern by deliberating issues and voting their conscience. We further state that "people of good conscience may differ" and simultaneously urge "mutual forbearance." We are folks who value the latitude to debate and disagree in order to discern God's will.
- A Studying/Thinking people: A people who are urged in Scripture to love the Lord with all of our "heart and mind and strength" are also appropriately to worship and glorify God in all those full dimensions of the human self. The central Protestant emphasis on "Scripture alone" implies we are to read, study and inquire of God's Word. God can stand the scrutiny!
- An Orthodox/Confessional people: The Presbyterian and Reformed tradition is a mainstream faith. Because of the central emphasis on Scripture it is important that the basic understandings of the interpretation of God's Word be articulated by the community in ways that prevent error and division. Confessional documents (creeds, catechisms, confessions, and statements) have been produced across the centuries in response to particular circumstances. Those documents form the foundational part of the denomination's constitution in order to insure that a common theology informs our polity.
