Presbyterianism
What is a Presbyterian?
Presbyterians are a group of Protestants whose church is founded on the concept of democratic rule under the Word of God. All that is required to be a Presbyterian is to confess the Christian faith; trust in Christ as our forgiving Savior; promise to follow Christ and Christ’s example for living; and commit to attend church and become involved in its work.
What do Presbyterians believe?
Presbyterians believe in:
- God – Creator of the Universe
- Christ – The incarnation of God on earth
- The Holy Spirit – The presence of God in the world and in the believer
- The Church – A universal company of God’s followers
- Forgiveness of Sin – Made possible by the crucifixion of Jesus
- Life Everlasting – Shown by the resurrection of Jesus
- The Bible – The inspired record of the revelation of God to all
We affirm that:
- God comes to us with grace and love in the person of Jesus Christ who lived, died, and rose for us that we might have eternal life.
- As Christ’s disciples, we seek to continue his mission of teaching the truth, feeding the hungry, healing the broken, and welcoming strangers.
- God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us energy, intelligence, imagination, and love to be Christ’s presence in the world.
- Following Jesus, Presbyterians engage in the world and seek thoughtful solutions to the challenges of our time.
How is RPC governed?
At Rockledge Presbyterian Church, authority over the operation of the church resides with the Session and its members – they include our pastor (who also serves as moderator), Clerk of Session, Head of Trustees, Church Treasurer, and nine ruling elders who chair major committees essential to the operation of the church. One ruling elder serves as liaison to RPS, our church preschool. These leadership positions are elected by the congregation. Our session committees are the primary way we organize the work of the church. They are:
- Faith Formation
- Communications
- Corporate Administration
- Mission
- Evangelism/Membership
- Fellowship
- Worship
- Finance
Three standing committees also report to Session: Care Ministry, Memorial, and Nominating, as well as the Board of Deacons. Our pastor and leaders work together to guide the church, deal with difficult issues, make decisions for the running of the church, and serves as spiritual leaders. They work together to ensure that RPC fulfills its practical and spiritual goals.
What is the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a mainline Protestant denomination that RPC is affiliated with. A part of the reformed tradition, PC(USA) is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States. The overall structure of the Presbyterian Church consists of four governing bodies:
- Session – Our local church governing body, consists of an ordained minister and elders – all elected by the congregation. Along with overseeing the day-to-day work of the church, the Session supervises the Deacons and Trustees. Deacons are elected to greet visitors and members on Sundays, to care for the families of the church, and to conduct its charitable ministry. Trustees are elected to manage the property affairs of the church.
- Presbytery – Consists of elders and ministers from congregations who oversee a group of local churches. Ours is the Central Florida Presbytery.
- Synod – Consists of representatives elected from each Presbytery to oversee several Presbyteries. We have ties to the Synod of South Atlantic.
- General Assembly – The national governing body for the denomination, consists of an equal number of lay people and clergy chosen by the Presbyteries.