About the PC(USA) and How to Join St. Andrews
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About PC(USA)
“In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth praying, ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’”
— From “A Brief Statement of Faith”
Presbuteros, the Greek word meaning “elder,” is used 72 times in the New Testament. It provided the name for the Presbyterian family of churches, which includes the Reformed churches of the world. Both Presbyterian and Reformed are synonymous with churches of the Calvinist tradition.
In America the first presbytery was organized in 1706, the first synod in 1717; the first General Assembly was held in 1789. Today’s Presbyterian Church (USA.) was created by the 1983 reunion of the two main branches of Presbyterians in America separated since the Civil War — the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the USA. The latter had been created by the union of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America in 1958.
What we are
The Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church (USA.) is distinctly a confessional and a connectional church, distinguished by the representation of elders — laymen and laywomen — in its government. The church has a membership of 2.3 million in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Currently there are nearly 11 thousand congregations, more than 21,000 ordained ministers, 1,100 candidates for ministry and more than 94,000 elders.
How to Join
New members are received by Session, St. Andrews’ governing body, in one of the four ways:
- By Profession of Faith in Jesus Christ before Session and then the congregation. If you were previously baptized, but never made a public profession.
- By Profession of Faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism. If you have not been baptized, you may join by making a public profession of faith before Session and the congregation and then being baptized in a Sunday morning worship service.
- By Reaffirmation of Faith. If you have been a member of a Christian church, but have not been active in recent years, you may join by re-affirming your need of, and dependence on, the grace and love of God.
- By Certificate of Transfer. If you have made a profession of faith and are a member of another church, you may join by transferring your certificate of membership from the church that you are leaving to join St. Andrews