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Presbyterianism

branch of Protestant Christianity using presbyterian church government and originating in the British Isles

Presbyterianism is a kind of Protestant Christianity. It was started in Scotland by John Knox during the 16th century. It became powerful in England during the Civil War. Today there are Presbyterian churches across the world. There are 2 major mainline Presbyterian denominations in the USA. The two mainline denominations are the PCUSA and the PCA.. To say that both denominations adhere to TULIP is not correct. There are many PCUSA churches that do not. Also take into consideration how many offshoot Presbyterian denominations there are. Presbyterians are a confessional church and adhere mostly to the Nicene and Apostles Creed, some add the Athanasian Creed just as the branches of the Reformed Church. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church took out of their Westminster Confession the predestination section and replaced it. They would be more of a Arminianism thought very similar to the United Methodist Church.

Presbyterians (followers of Presbyterianism) are Calvinists and believe The five points of Calvinism, also known as the "Five Points of Calvinistic Doctrine" or simply "TULIP', a theological summary that represents the key points of the Calvinist doctrine. Each letter in the acronym TULIP stands for a different point:

1. Total depravity (also known as Total Inability): This point asserts that as a result of the Fall, humanity is completely touched by sin and, therefore, unable to choose to follow God or contribute to their own salvation. This means that, without divine intervention, humans are incapable of responding to God.

2. Unconditional election: This point emphasizes the belief that God chooses individuals for salvation based on his will alone, and not based on anything that a person does or believes. It is the idea that God's choice of who will be saved is not contingent on any foreseen response or characteristic of the individual.

3. Limited atonement (also known as Particular Atonement): This point affirms the belief that Jesus's atonement was intended to save the elect only, and not every single individual. It is the belief that Jesus's death was specifically designed to save those whom God has chosen for salvation.

4. Irresistible grace: This point asserts that the grace of God is so powerful that those whom God has chosen for salvation cannot resist it. In other words, when God calls an individual to salvation, that person will inevitably come to faith.

5. Perseverance of the saints (also known as "Once saved, always saved" or "Eternal Security"): This point emphasizes the belief that those who are chosen by God, called, and regenerated will continue in faith and ultimately be saved. This means that once a person is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation. Some presbyterians do not agree with the 3rd point (Limited atonement) and are therefore called 4 point calvinists.

Presbyterian churches may be led by men called Ministers, Rectors or Elders. Some Presbyterian churches have women as elders. "Presbyter" means "elder" and they rule in committees.

The Presbyterian Church has a hierarchical structure based on councils of elders, or presbyters, that govern the church from the local level to the highest level.

  • Session The lowest level of governance, consisting of the active elders and pastors of a local church. The session is also known as the consistory or church board.
  • Presbytery A higher level of governance, consisting of elders from multiple congregations.
  • Synod A regional coordinating council that consists of several presbyteries.
  • General Assembly The highest governing body of the denomination, consisting of members from the various presbyteries. The General Assembly meets every two years, and its decisions must be approved by a majority of presbyteries to take effect.

The Presbyterian Church is governed by a constitution that includes the Book of Confessions, which covers doctrine, and the Book of Order, which covers church organization, membership, and government. The church's leadership is based on the belief that the church is healthiest when overseen by a group of godly leaders who work together to follow God's word.

The Presbyterian church governance would lay somewhere between congregational and episcopal in polity, lying somewhere in the middle.

The Hungarian Reformed Church has bishops with a superintending role. The Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church (USA) also use the term "bishop" in different ways:

  • The Church of Scotland Uses the term "bishop" to refer to a minister who oversees a trainee minister. This is usually a normal parish minister who is temporarily in charge of a student.
  • The Presbyterian Church (USA) Uses the term "bishop" to describe a Minister of Word and Sacrament who oversees a congregation. The term originated in the 1789 Form of Government of the PC (USA).

Presbyterian churches are governed by elders, not bishops, and are run from the bottom up. Elders are elected to govern the church, and these assemblies are called presbyteries.Around the worldThere are Presbyterian churches on every continent except Antarctica, but they do not always agree with each other. There have been many splits ("schisms") caused by various disagreements: some about what they believe, some about how they should be organised. In some cases these splits have been healed but many have not.

In Scotland, where Presbyterianism started, there are at least seven different groups ("denominations"); there are three main groups in England, one in Wales and five in Northern Ireland.

There are dozens of different groups in North America, almost all in the USA. They arrived during the 17th century, mostly from Scotland and already disagreeing with each other. Most countries in South America have had Presbyterian churches since the 19th century.

At least 23 countries in Africa have Presbyterian churches, also since the 19th century.

In Asia, the Korea Presbyterian Church was started through the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA). After Korean independence, the division was formed afresh as 'Presbyterian Church in Korea (KoRyuPa)' advocating the views of Dutch Reformed churches. In 2012 a new General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Korea declared authentic historical succession of John Knox.

The Worship in Presbyterian denominations can vary. From the most liturgical would be the PCUSA and the PCA which are both mainline denominations. The PCUSA is a much more liberal denomination than the PCA. Among Reformed churches in America, Reformed Church in America (RCA) is generally considered the most liturgical, as it maintains a relatively fixed liturgy, particularly regarding the sacraments, while still allowing local congregations some flexibility in worship practices based on their "Directory for Worship.".

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The Order of Worship — F.A.Qs

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What is the order of worship, and what are the primary actions?

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The Presbyterian Book of Common Worship describes a four-fold shape of worship, consisting of:

  1. Gathering
  2. The Word
  3. The Eucharist
  4. Sending

Within these four primary movements are secondary parts of worship, such as:

  1. Gathering: Call to Worship, Hymns of Praise, Confession and Pardon, and the Peace.
  2. The Word: Prayer for Illumination, Scripture Readings, the Sermon, an Invitation to Discipleship, the Affirmation of Faith, Baptism, and Prayers of the People.
  3. The Eucharist: Offering, Invitation to the Table, Great Thanksgiving, Lord’s Prayer, Communion of the People.
  4. Sending: Songs or Acts of Commitment, the Charge, and Blessing. There is broad historical ecumenical consensus on this liturgical pattern.

The PC(USA)’s Directory for Worship offers a slight variation on this structure, describing five actions centered on the Word of God:

  1. Gathering Around the Word
  2. Proclaiming the Word
  3. Responding to the Word
  4. The Sealing of the Word in the Sacraments
  5. Bearing or Following the Word into the World.

This characteristically Reformed view of worship emphasizes the centrality of the Word. It frames human actions in worship as a response to God’s initiative. Although the framework is somewhat different, this order of worship is essentially consistent with the ecumenical pattern described above.

https://pcusa.org/order-worship-faqs


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