[AMA Series] Presbyterian Church (USA)
Welcome to the next installment in the r/Christianity Denominational AMAs!
Today's Topic
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Panelists
u/B0BtheDestroyer
u/illiberalism
u/mtalleyrand
u/Gilgalads_Horse
u/iamjackshandle
u/GoMustard
u/TurretOpera
AN INTRODUCTION
from u/B0BtheDestroyer
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is the largest Presbyterian denomination, which is why it fits in the "mainline" category. Like a few other Presbyterian denominations, it has a very long history that predates the U.S. as a country and has involvement in its formation. Some Presbyterians even remember the American Revolution as the "Presbyterian Revolution" because of the involvement of Presbyterians in the rebellion of the colonies.
Theologically (like other Presbyterians), the denomination falls in the reformed tradition, which means that it builds on the theology of John Calvin and reformed confessions. Our reliance on Calvin is looser than some other traditions, so you might not find many Presbyterians who are focused on the five points of Calvinism.
In my opinion, the most defining characteristic of the denomination is Presbyterian polity (government structure). It is a representative system that served as partial inspiration for the government structure of the U.S. Someone here once described Presbyterian polity as a balance between Episcopacy (top-down) and Congregational (bottom-up) government structures. I think that is fairly accurate. The chief ruling body of a church is not the pastor, but the "Session," which is a committee of elders voted in by the congregation. The pastor of a church is merely a "teaching elder." Churches are regionally gathered in "Presbyteries," which function a bit like states or counties in the U.S. Likewise, the largest governing body of the denomination is the "General Assembly," which is a national committee which meets every two years, the next being this summer.
The denomination has fractured recently and lost a lot of churches after the General Assembly voted to remove from the ordination standards that each person must be in the chastity of singleness or the fidelity of marriage between a man and a woman. This effectively allowed each Presbytery to decide if it wants to ordain openly gay ministers. More conservative churches have been gradually leaving the denomination after that decision.
tl;dr - here is a funny video of some of our quirks.
My story:
I grew up in a conservative PC(USA) church in California. My experience in the church was good, but I was not committed to being Presbyterian. I went to an evangelical university for undergrad (where I studied Theology) and attended several other kinds of churches, most steadily a Quaker church. After I graduated, I began to consider pursuing ordination, and looked for a Presbyterian Church to see if I could imagine working in this denomination. I found a small, wonderful Prebyterian Church that was extremely active and working to transform their community. This inspired me with hope for this denomination and my potential ministry. I started the ordination process in the PC(USA) and looking into M.Div programs.
I am now working on an M.Div at Princeton Theological Seminary (one of the many fantastic PC(USA) schools in the U.S.). My immediate goals are ordained pastoral or chaplaincy ministry, but I am also interested in doctoral theological studies. I would love to be a pastor-professor, but it takes a good bit of luck to make that work, so I will wait (actively) and see if it is something God will make possible for me. I am also the moderator of r/PCUSA, which is a simple sub for the discussion of topics that are particularly relevant to the PC(USA).
from u/illiberalism
Hello all,
I am u/illiberalism (connotation explained later) and have converted from Catholicism to Presbyterian denomination couple years ago. I have graduated from Catholic middle school and high school (and loved its community!).
I'm currently a member of a small Presbyterian church located in New Jersey. It was founded in 2008 (I was one of the founding members), and although we have only 20 registered members in our church, we are surely expanding every moment through evangelical missions and charity works.
My church focuses heavily on faith and faith alone. Salvation is believed to be a personal journey, not a communal one - only faith can set one free. This was one of the reasons why that distanced me from Catholicism, although I love my brothers and sisters of the same faith! We have communion only 4 times a year, on a quarterly basis including Easter. The reasoning behind this is to let the worshippers know the true significance over the ritual because constant practice loses its meaning over the course of time (at least for the worshippers).
I consider myself a saved man, and that my name is on the Book of Life. I have dedicated my life to God and to do whatever He wills me to do. To acknowledge His presence in every moment is indeed challenging, but I strive to do what is right. My username - illiberalism - does not have anything to do with politics of today. Rather, it serves as a personal reminder not to conform with the evil world today (Romans 12:2).
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The important caveat is that although I am representing the Presbyterian faith, I believe that Christian faith is wholly sacred - Jesus would not have wanted different sects of Christian faith opposing each other just like Apostle Paul condemned the Corinthians of their divided faith.
I believe that it is our duties as Christians to expand His everlasting Christendom, and to save the souls not familiar or rejecting Christ. (Acts 13:47)
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
from u/mtalleyrand
I am a PC(USA) minister, older than the general reddit population. I’ve been a pastor and a seminary professor and administrator for 23 years. I was born and raised in the UPCUSA (the old “northern” church), but have served mostly in the south. My theological education was at what is now called Union Presbyterian Seminary (M.Div.), Yale Divinity School (S.T.M.), and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). After a living in this denomination my entire life, and with no plans to leave, I often find myself in the “loyal opposition.” I see the PC(USA) as Churchill allegedly said about democracy: it is the worst presbyterian denomination, except for all the others. However ambivalent I feel about the institution, though, I identify deeply with the history and especially with the people of the Presbyterian Church.
from u/Gilgalads_Horse
Hi guys! I am a college student, religion major, and all-purpose church nerd. I grew up in the PCUSA as the child of a PCUSA minister, and while I'm slightly denominationally confused at the moment, my basic instincts and understandings are still pretty Reformed. Fair warning - I lean to the right within the denominational context, although I think that still leaves me fairly liberal within the Presbyterian tradition as a whole.
Also, energizers are the best things ever!
from u/iamjackshandle
I grew up in the PCUSA, and had thought many times about seminary, and then largely walked away from the church during college and for my early 20's. When I came back, at a particular moment of existential what-am-I-doing-with-my-life angst, I rediscovered a call to seminary and the pastorate. I now pastor a small-town PCUSA church; the church is probably a bit to the right of where the denomination is headed, but I try not to work within those polarities too much. I'm probably a bit conservative (re: Barthian, surprise surprise) in my christology but very progressive on questions of social justice, inclusivity, and the mission of the church.
from u/GoMustard
I'm a pastor, serving as a campus minister working with UKirk our PC(USA) campus ministry network (stands for University Church--- Kirk is an old Scottish word for Church), at large state school.
I went to Union Presbyterian Seminary. My wife is also a PC(USA) pastor currently serving a congregation, so we've got that clergy couple thing going on. I'm very orthodox with my Christology and Theology, a bit more progressive on some social issues. I've got a passion for evangelism, outreach and mission. I've done a lot of work with college ministry and youth ministry in the southeast, particularly involving Montreat.
Thanks to the panelists for volunteering their time and knowledge!
As a reminder, the nature of these AMAs is to learn and discuss. While debates are inevitable, please keep the nature of your questions civil and polite.
Join us tomorrow when u/filthyinglishkniget, u/key_lime_pie, u/rabbit-heartedgirl takes your questions on non-denominational churches!
Posted Feb 14, 2014, 2:49 PM UTC · edited