It is much more than a denomination! There are several Presbyterian groups in the world, and many in the United States itself. We have been around this country since 1775, when the first Presbytery meeting was held in Philadelphia. Through many inevitable church splits and mergers, some happy, some political, and some, due to the imperfection of humanity, filled with hard feelings and even moral convictions, we are still here.

A Presbyterian church is distinctive because of its government. An interesting fact of note: in many circles, the American Revolution was called the Presbyterian Rebellion, due to the fact that it was well known that the new country was intent on founding its government upon the same principles by which a Presbyterian Church is governed. Did you know that the ONLY clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence was the Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian Pastor from New Jersey?

Presbyterian Churches are governed on four levels by what are called governing bodies. A board of elders called a SESSION governs the local church. The Session makes all spiritual and financial decisions for a local congregation. The Pastor, who is called and elected by the people of the church, moderates it.

Local Churches form Presbyteries. They are made up of all member clergy in that area, plus one elder for each minister, each church-having delegates elected by its Session. The primary tasks of a Presbytery are the preparation, examination, and ordination of pastors, as well as overseeing the mission work of a particular geographic area. We are a member congregation of the San Diego Presbytery.

Presbyteries form Synods. They are larger units of mission awareness that take several Presbyteries working together. We are a part of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii.

Of course, the one that makes the news is our national governing body, the General Assembly. All Presbyteries send commissioners. This is the place where our ruling constitution, The Book of Order, can be changed.

Confusing? Not really.... think of it as City, County, State, and Federal governments and you have pretty good picture of our democratic way of governance.

An ordained officer who rules on the church board, for a term of three years.

An ordained officer, on a separate board, whose ministry reaches beyond the church to the lives of people, in acts of compassion, kindness, and relief in times of bereavement.

The governing body of a local Presbyterian Church

from the Greek word, meaning "elder." It is a church that is run on a representative, elected body comprised of elders.

A minister of the Word and Sacrament, whose ministry is over a local congregation. He or she serves as spiritual head, moderator of the Session, and program person for a local congregation. There can be more than one in a congregation.

A rite in the worship of the church by which we celebrate God's love and grace, and claim His promises. In the Presbyterian Church, we observe two: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.