vendredi 3 juin 2016

When In Need Of Attending A Presbyterian Church NJ Should Be Prioritized

By Jeffrey Kelly


The Presbyterian Church (USA) often shortened as PCUSA is a US-based mainline Protestant Christian denomination. It is widely popular for its progressive stance regarding doctrine. PCUSA was formed in 1983 when UPCUSA and PCUS merged. When one needs to locate a good Presbyterian Church NJ offers one of the best options to choose from. One can attend service in any of the many PC churches located in different locations of the state of New Jersey.

The long history of the PCUSA church goes as far back as the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. John Calvin, a Swiss/French theologian started the Presbyterian theology including the heritage. Calvin lived between 1509 and 1564 and was a lawyer by profession too. Calvin solidified the Reformed thinking in the denomination which he inherited from prior theologians. Geneva, Switzerland was the headquarters where Calvin worked.

PCUSA has undergone some major mergers that have defined the church that it is today. The first major merger occurred in 1906, following the merger between the PCUSA and Cumberland PC. Cumberland PC had a majority of its congregation originating from the border and Southern States. PCUSA later absorbed the Welsh Calvinist Methodist Church in 1920. The United PC of North America merged with the United PC in the USA (UPCUSA) in 1958.

The history of PCUSA is not characterized by mergers only, it also has some major breakaways. The first split occurred in 1936 that led to the formation of the Orthodox PC. In 1973, PC in America (PCA) split from the main PC because of disagreements about service by ordained female clergies. In recent history, breakaways have posed a major threat to the existence of the PC denomination in the country.

The PCUSA constitution consists of two separate portions called the Book of Order and the Book of Confessions. The two portions are called part II and part I respectively. Beliefs of the church and guidelines for leaders are written in part II of the constitution. On the other hand, part I acts as a complementary book for the Book of Confessions. It also outlines functions at various levels of the denomination.

The PCUSA is governed by the Presbyterian polity, which takes the form of representative government. The four levels of government and administration in the polity are outlined in part II of the church. Four main governing bodies make up the government. The four are synod, session, general assembly, and the presbytery.

The General assembly represents the highest governing body in the denomination. The general assembly used to convene every year until the 216th assembly that occurred in 2004. The assembly changed the order of meeting and general assembly has since convened biennially. Commissioners that make up the assembly are elected by presbyteries and they have many responsibilities in the affairs of the entire church worldwide.

Back 1983, when PCUSA was being formed, the number of its members totaled to 3, 131, 228. The steady decline in this figure has led to a lot of worry since that time. Membership statistics is maintained extensively in PCUSA. Thus, any changes in membership is usually noticed within the same year.




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