Our Beliefs at United Presbyterian

Since the word “Presbyterian” come from the Greek word, “presbyteros,” which means “elder,” being a Presbyterian has as much to do with the way we govern ourselves as it does with what we believe. Presb yterians come in all sizes, shapes, and colors; but every Presbyterian church is governed and overseen by an elected body of elders, which we call the “Session.” Our Session, or ruling elders, represent the community, work with the pastors, and make decisions that affect the church as a whole.

Presbyterians, then, are governed by elected leaders, and since we believe that God alone is Lord of the conscience, there is considerable diversity within the PCUSA. Indeed, we see healthy debate as a sign of strength and we are aware that our God is often “doing a new thing,” as the prophet Isaiah said long ago. However, we do not take our historical roots lightly, and we are united - as Presbyterians - around a unifying core of beliefs, including:

• Our trust in the one triune God, whom alone we worship and serve;
• Our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died for our sins in accordance with prophecy, and that He was raised from the dead, thereby breaking the power of sin and delivering us to life eternal;
• Our commitment to God’s call in our lives (our vocations), our individual gifts in Christ, and the fact that we are saved to serve;
• Our reliance on the Holy Spirit for direction, grace, and for the courage to pray without ceasing, witness to Christ as Lord and Saviour, unmask idolatries wherever they exist, and to serve Christ in all that we do;
• Our conviction that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God;
• Our insistence that every member is a “minister,” and that our pastors are uniquely called to equip the laity for ministry;
• Our assurance in God’s Sovereignty and our need to honor God’s ownership in our stewardship and giving patterns;
• Our belief that there are two sacraments, specifically set aside by Christ Himself, those being the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Communion (the Lord’s Supper).

These beliefs and others captured in our Creeds give us a sense of identity as Christians and as Presbyterians, and they are central to our ministry at United Presbyterian Church. All that we do is Christ-centered and Biblically-based, and we are determined to welcome and include all people whom God sends our way.