What's a Presbyterian?

Most people can hardly spell it, let alone define it! But it really isn't all that complicated. The word "presbyter" means elder, and a Presbyterian church is a church which is governed by elders, who are elected by their fellow members to "rule over them in the Lord." That's why they are called ruling elders.

To be a Presbyterian, then, is to belong to a church that has a representative form of government. At the same time, we Presbyterians do have a system of doctrine, which has its own distinct emphasis, stemming from the teachings of John Calvin, the founder of the Reformed branch of Christendom. Calvinistic theology is rooted and grounded in the scriptures and appeals to both the mind and the heart. It is logical, comprehensive and intellectually sound, with a strong emphasis on education.

Appealing as it does to the individual conscience, Calvinism has produced vigorous champions of social justice, while dealing at the same time with the most profound questions of personal faith. It places great emphasis on the sovereignty of God, who is Lord of all dimensions of life.

There are certain beliefs that Presbyterians hold in common with most Christians, most importantly a common faith in and allegiance to Jesus Christ, whom we accept as our personal Lord and Savior. With other Protestants we believe in justification by faith, which means that we are justified before God not by our good works, but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, which means that all Christians, whatever their vocations, are called to be ministers of Christ to their fellow human beings.

We believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of the church, and where he is, there is the true church, the signs of which are seen whenever the word of God is truly preached and the sacraments are rightly administered. We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that the only infallible guide for our faith and life is the Holy Spirit speaking through the scriptures.

Our Constitution (see below) declares that God alone is Lord of the conscience and acknowledges that good folks may differ in their opinions. But our beliefs must always be guided by the truth of God, as it is revealed in the Bible. To be a Presbyterian, therefore, demands a commitment of the mind, as well as the heart. Presbyterianism is for thinking persons. It challenges us to know why we believe, as well as what we believe, so we can say that we believe with integrity.

Why Should I Become a Member?

No one needs to be a member in order to participate in the life, fellowship and ministry of this congregation. In fact, there are several people who are quite active who have never taken advantage of formal membership. However, if you want to vote in congregational meetings or hold an elected office, you must be a formal member. These and other privileges are available only to members, and we strongly encourage anyone who wants to share in the life of our church family to consider formal membership.

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How Do I Become a Member?

Our only requirements for membership are the confession of Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life and submission to the sacrament of baptism. If you are currently a member of another Christian church, we will transfer your membership, and if you have been previously baptized, you will not be re-baptized. Periodically, the pastor leads a series of classes for those desiring more information about the church and/or considering church membership. While attendance is not required for membership, it is strongly encouraged. The class is basically a time for you to get to know the pastor on a more intimate basis, and for him to share with you some of our basic beliefs, understandings and expectations.

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