The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was formed in 1973 to be a denomination that is “Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith & Obedient to the Great Commission.” The PCA is an evangelical denomination. The word “evangelical” comes from the Greek word meaning “good news.” The PCA proclaims the good news, or gospel, of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The PCA desires all people to trust in the saving work of Jesus & enjoy eternal life in Him.
The PCA is a reformed denomination in that it believes in the biblical truth proclaimed during the Protestant Reformation. The Word of God (the Bible), rather than tradition, is the only guide for the Church. God is sovereign (in control of all). Only God can save & He does this through His vast mercy & sovereign plan. The PCA believes that the system of doctrine taught in the Bible is summarized well in the Westminster Confession of Faith with its Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism. The PCA is a Presbyterian denomination, in that it has a representative form of church government. A local church is governed by a “Session” comprised of elders (i.e., “presbyters”) elected by the members of the congregation. Pastors and representatives of local churches in a region form a “Presbytery”. Representatives of Presbyteries and local churches meet annually at a “General Assembly”. The General Assembly Committees & Agencies help local churches combine their efforts & resources to proclaim the gospel more effectively.