2006-06-10 14:45:17 · 5 answers · asked by redglory 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are, as far as I know, three different denominations of Presbyterians. There is PCUSA (Presbyterian Church USA), PCA (Presbyterial Church of America), and EPC (Evangelical Presbyterial Church). It is said that PCA is more conservative, PCUSA is more liberal, and EPC is more moderate. I am a member of PCUSA, so my thoughts come from there. I do not speak for the church, but as a member of the church.
Presbyterians trace their roots to Calvinism, and though they do believe in predestination, it's important to note that predestination is often misunderstood. The church understands predestination to mean that only you and God know if you are saved. Predestination doesn't mean that you are saved or not at birth and that can't change. It doesn't mean that God picked a few people to be saved and a few people not to be. It means that God is all-knowing and knows what your choices will be now and in the future. It means that each individual knows whether he or she has been saved, and the church or individual people do not have the right to bestow salvation or remove it. Only God does that. The Presbyterians believe that God's hope is for all people to be saved. Also, there are no deeds that can save a person. Only God can do that. We can choose God only because God first chose us. We believe that God has provided us a salvation in Christ, available to every person (this is how he chose us), and that it is a person's choice whether to accept that salvation.
"For the preaching of the Gospel is to be heard, and it is to be believed; and it is to be held as beyond doubt that if you believe and are in Christ, you are elected. (Second Helvetic Confession, 5.059) "
The Presbyterian church is different from other churches in its Reformed faith and its form of government. We believe we are called for service as well as salvation. The government is by the laypeople and the leadership, with the leadership of the church being elected by the congregation. The elders and deacons work with the ministers to lead the church. Local church decisions are made in the session, with the session seeking the will of God and trying to make decisions that align with God's will. Regular congregational meetings are required to get congregational approval of church decisions.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) believes that all believers in Christ in all denominations are part of one body of believers, and aknowledges baptims done in other churches and invites all who have been baptized to the table for the Lord's Supper, regardless of whether they are Presbyterians.
There is a lot more information than this out there. I have included websites of the three major Presbyterian denominations in the sources section. I encourage you to check out these links as doing so will provide much more information than I can give you. You will also find the church's stances on important political issues of today on the sites.
2006-06-11 06:16:28 · answer #1 · answered by cucumberlarry1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well I cant answer that question the right way but I do know that in my town we have a Presbyterian school and the kids live there. I don't thank its by choice more like they are without parents or they are in trouble.
2006-06-10 21:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by ngmfb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most are Calvanistic and believe in predestination, some a little more-some a little less. Other than that they are pretty much baptistic in doctrine.
2006-06-10 21:57:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its in the Westminster confession of faith and catechism
2006-06-10 22:09:58 · answer #4 · answered by beek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything they want to...
2006-06-10 21:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by kimberly k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋