The Presbyterian Church owes its life to Jesus Christ, who is Head of the Church, which is his body. It is related to the Church of Scotland which was founded in the sixteenth century under the influence of John Calvin, by John Knox. When the Puritan colonists came to what is now the United States, they brought the theology and governance of the Presbyterian Church with them.

Presbyterians are guided in worship by apostolic practice dating back to the first century, and by the Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth and subsequent centuries. At the heart of Presbyterian belief is the priesthood of all believers; that is, we believe that everyone is called to share in the ministry of Christ's Church.

The three basic sources of Presbyterian beliefs are:

• The Holy Bible, the primary source of our faith
• The Book of Order, which includes our Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline
• The Book of Confessions, a collection of the creeds and confessions of The Presbyterian Church, which states the church's faith and bears witness to God's grace in Jesus Christ.

For further information about The Presbyterian Church (USA), please feel free to contact us or The Presbyterian Church (USA) directly.