To be Presbyterian is to be part of a Reformed heritage that goes back to the 16th century and a number of Swiss Reformers. The two most notable were Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) of Zurich and John Calvin (1509-1564) of Geneva. The latter greatly influenced Presbyterian thought through his writings, especially his Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Perhaps the most significant characteristic of our church is our emphasis on "always being reformed" according to the Word of God, or stated differently, the church must constantly seek renewal. The church is a living organism, subject to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is commonly referred to as our "Reformed tradition."
While the historic development of the Reformed tradition is indebted to the Swiss Reformers, especially to Calvin, there is no consensus on a single definition of Reformed faith. This is due in part to the tradition's reforming stance, which is reflected in our history of confession making as set forth in the Presbyterian Book of Confessions. The "confessions" of our church start with the "Nicene Creed" written in the fourth century to "The Confession of 1967." There are a total of ten confessions that constitute an extensive body of interpretations of our faith. The serious reader should obtain from our library The Book of Confessions to obtain a better understanding of our beliefs.
The common ground for all followers in the Reformed tradition, however, is the centrality of Christ - his life, death, and resurrection offering salvation from our alienation from God and neighbor. This is the message behind the symbols of baptism and Communion. Our participation in these sacraments expresses our acceptance of God's healing power on our behalf.
Presbyterians take their work ethic seriously. Whatever our means of livelihood, our jobs and professions are viewed as a calling, a vocation that demands our best efforts. This attitude is at the center of the Reformed understanding of stewardship. Influenced by Calvin's teaching, we are expected to view life as a process of holy living, exhibiting self-denial and seeking God's will. We are encouraged to live a life of simplicity, to be savers and conservers of personal and natural resources. Responsible stewardship leads us to a life of gratitude and generosity. Through a spirit of thanksgiving and sharing we give glory to God, grateful that there is a Divine purpose for each of us.
The word presbyterian refers to the practice of church governance consisting of clergy and laity elected by the church and organized at the local, regional, and national levels to enforce church order and discipline. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. follows its forebears in Scotland and England in the practice of representative governance.
The above has been adapted from an article by Carnegie Samuel Calian, president and professor of theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in the April, 1996 issue of Presbyterian Today.