Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.
Calvin did much of his writing from Geneva, Switzerland. From there, the Reformed movement spread to other part of Europe and the British Isles. Many of the early Presbyterians in America came from England, Scotland and Ireland. The first American Presbytery was organized at Philadelphia in 1706. The first General Assembly was held in the same city in 1789. The first Assembly was convened by the Rev. John Witherspoon, the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has approximately 2.5 million members, 11,200 congregations and 21,000 ordained ministers.
Click here to learn more about the history and theology of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
General Assembly
The General Assembly consists of commissioners elected by presbyteries. Half of the commissioners will be Ministers of Word and Sacrament, half will be elders. Few will ever have been commissioners to the General Assembly before, but most will have served in one of the other governing bodies of our church: the session, which provides care and oversight of a local congregation; the presbytery, which provides care and oversight of a group of congregations; or the synod which provides care and oversight of several presbyteries.
It reviews the work of synods, resolves controversies in the church, is responsible for matters of common concern for the whole church, and serves as a symbol of unity for the church.
Synod
The Synod of Mid-America is a middle governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Within its boundaries there are three large urban areas, smaller, cities, and medium sized towns, but primarily the Synod encompasses an agricultural region which stretches from the fertile farm lands, lakes and hills of Illinois and Missouri and flows into the ranch lands and then the wheat and oil fields of Western Kansas. Shifting population patterns provide particular challenges and opportunities for mission, ministry and pastoral care.
Presbytery
John Calvin Presbytery has nearly 10,000 members of the body of Christ serving 27 counties in SW Missouri and 6 counties of SE Kansas through 62 congregations. The John Calvin Presbytery extends from Rolla and West Plains, Missouri to Iola and Parsons, Kansas, with offices in Springfield, Missouri.
PC(USA) Constitution
The Constitution of the PC(USA) consists of several parts. The first volume is the Book of Confessions, the second is called the Book of Order.
The Book of Confessions contains historical statements of what we as a church believe.
Part II of the Constitution of the PC(USA), the Book of Order, contains the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, Rules of Discipline, and the Formula of Agreement.
Click here to view the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order.
Sacraments
Denominations often differ over what they recognize as sacraments. Some recognize as many as seven sacraments, others have no sacraments in the life of the church. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
“The Reformed tradition understands Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be Sacraments, instituted by God and commended by Christ. Sacraments are signs of the real presence and power of Christ in the Church, symbols of God’s action. Through the Sacraments, God seals believers in redemption, renews their identity as the people of God, and marks them for service.” (Book of Order W-1.3033.2)
“The early Church, following Jesus, took three primary material elements of life–water, bread, and wine–to become basic symbols of offering life to God as Jesus had offered his life. Being washed with the water of Baptism, Christians received new life in Christ and presented their bodies to be living sacrifices to God. Eating bread and drinking wine they received the sustaining presence of Christ, remembered God’s covenant promise, and pledged their obedience anew.” (Book of Order W-1.3033.1)
The Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg 