The word "Presbyterian" comes from a Greek word for elder, "presbuteros." When John Calvin founded our denomination in the early 1500's, he envisioned a non-hierarchical form of government. Not wishing to place the authority for decision-making in the hands of individuals, he rather envisioned a church governed by elder or elected representatives. This principle of representation became the basis for our American democracy. The American Revolution, in fact, nick-named "the Presbyterian Revolution" because it concerned "no taxation without representation." Our commitment to representation means that we have no bishops or formal hierarchy. Rather elected representatives from each church together form a "corporate bishop" which makes decisions.

Presbyterians are a constitutional church, that is, we are governed by a Book of Order or church constitution that helps us do things "decently and in order." We are a confessional church. Our specific beliefs, all Scripturally-based, are defined in 11 historic confessions or statements of faith. The most familiar are The Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed, and The Westminster Confession of Faith. And we are a connectional church, joined with other Presbyterian Churches in ministry and mission.

When John Calvin, Martin Luther and other great Reformers of the 16th century broke away from the existing church, they emphasized several deep theological convictions. These included:

1. The centrality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
2. The authority of holy Scripture as the Word of God.
3. The importance of grace and faith. We are saved or put right with God, not by our good works, but by entering into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ, trusting in God's grace, His free, unmerited love.

These continue to be the central convictions of the Presbyterian Church. The time of Martin Luther, John Calvin and others was called "The Reformation." Those "protesters" who joined this movement were called "Protestants."

Calvin believed deeply in the sovereignty or overarching rule of God. For Calvin, God's sovereignty means that there is nothing outside His concern. So Calvin was concerned not only for "spiritual" matters, but for secular and practical matters as well. His deacons established in Geneva, Switzerland one of the first hospitals. Refugees to Geneva received food, shelter, and warm clothing. Calvin even ordered landlords to install banisters, lest children fall and be injured. Presbyterians have continued such practical ministries - actively serving God by establishing hospitals, digging wells in third world countries to provide clean drinking water, and by feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and visiting the prisoner. We are a people who put our faith into practice.

More specifically:

• We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• We believe that the Bible is the unique and authoritative word of God.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit imparts gifts for ministry and helps us bear fruit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control-the marks of Christ-like character.
• We believe that the church is the Body of Christ, called to continue our Lord's ministry.
• We believe that every Christian is called to be a disciple, to serve Christ as Lord, seeking to be holy, compassionate and faithful, Honoring Christ by both word and deed.
• We believe that the purpose of life is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
• We believe that worship, prayer, meditation on God's word, and fellowship are essential to spiritual growth, to the end that we more and more become "conformed to the image of Christ."

For a more detailed, description of our beliefs, please request a copy of The Book of Confessions.