25 March 2015 A.D. Difference Between the PCA and PCUSA
25 March 2015 A.D. Difference Between the PCA and PCUSA
History
Size
Doctrinal Standards
Seminaries
Inerrancy
Church Property
Social Issues
Carter, Joe. “How to Tell
the Difference Between the PCA and PCUSA.” Gospel
Coalition. 23 Jun 2014. http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-the-pca-and-pcusa. Accessed 24 Mar 2015.
How to Tell the Difference Between the PCA and
PCUSA
Last week NBC news reported that the
“top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church in America” voted to recognize
same-sex marriage as Christian in their church constitution. The news report,
which was quickly corrected, was confusing the Presbyterian Church of the
USA—whose general assembly was meeting
in Detroit, Michigan—for the Presbyterian Church in America—whose general assembly was meeting in Houston, Texas.
With two Presbyterian denominations with similar names
meeting on the same dates it’s easy to understand how a reporter could get them
mixed up. So what exactly are the differences between the two? Here are several
key differences between these two distinctive Presbyterian denominations.
History
Throughout the twentieth century, various Presbyterian
denominations arose, merged, and split into various break-away groups.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (often abbreviated as PCUSA) was established by the 1983 merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, whose churches were located mainly in the South and in border states, with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, whose congregations could be found in every state.
In 1973, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) separated from the Presbyterian Church in the United States in “opposition to the long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture.” In 1982, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, joined the Presbyterian Church in America.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (often abbreviated as PCUSA) was established by the 1983 merger of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, whose churches were located mainly in the South and in border states, with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, whose congregations could be found in every state.
In 1973, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) separated from the Presbyterian Church in the United States in “opposition to the long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture.” In 1982, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, joined the Presbyterian Church in America.
Size
The PCUSA is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the
U.S. PCUSA has approximately 10,038
congregations, 1,760,200 members, and 20,562 ministers. The denomination has
been steadily losing members and churches since 1983, and has lost 37 percent of its
membership since 1992.
The PCA is the second largest Presbyterian denomination
in the U.S. The PCA has approximately 1,808
congregations, 367,033 members, and 4,416 ministers. The denomination has been
one of the faster growing denominations in the United States, growing tenfold
since 1983.
Doctrinal Standards
PCUSA: The Bible and the Book of Confessions, which
includes the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, the Scots Confession, the
Heidelberg Catechism, the Second Helvetic Confession, the Westminster
Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism, the
Theological Declaration of Barmen, the Confession of 1967, and the Brief
Statement of Faith.
PCA: The Bible, the Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms, and the Book of
Church Order.
Seminaries
The PCUSA maintains affiliations with ten seminaries in
the United States: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Columbia
Theological Seminary, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary at the
Interdenominational Theological Center, Louisville Presbyterian Theological
Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary,
Princeton Theological Seminary, San Francisco Theological Seminary,
Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina, and
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.
The PCA maintains affiliations with one seminary in the
United States: Covenant Theological Seminary.
Ordination
PCA: Only ordains men in “obedience to the New Testament
standard for those who rule the church and teach doctrine.”
Inerrancy
PCUSA: Does not teach that Scripture is inerrant.
PCA: Teaches that Scripture is inerrant.
Church Property
PCUSA: Church property belongs to the denomination.
PCA: Church property belongs to the local congregation
without any right of reversion whatsoever to any Presbytery or General
Assembly.
Social Issues
Abortion
PCUSA: Teaches that abortion can be “morally
acceptable” though it “ought to be an option of last resort.”
PCA: Teaches that all abortions are wrong. (e.g.,
“Abortion would terminate the life of an individual, a bearer of God's image,
who is being divinely formed and prepared for a God-given role in the world.”)
Divorce
PCUSA: In 1952 the PCUSA General Assembly moved to amend sections of the
Westminster Confession, eliminating “innocent parties” language,
broadening the grounds to include no-fault divorce.
PCA: Teaches that divorce is a sin except in cases of
adultery or desertion.
Homosexuality
PCUSA: In 2010, the General Assembly expressed that “The
PCUSA has no consensus in the interpretation of Scripture on issues of same-sex
practice.” Currently, homosexuals (both celibate and non-celibate) can serve as
ministers and the churches endorses same-sex “blessing” ceremonies. Recently,
the General Assembly amended the Book of Order to redefine marriage as
between “two people” rather than between a man and a woman and
allows ministers to perform any legal marriage between two people. That
amendment will require the approval of a majority of the presbyteries before it
will take effect.
Joe Carter is an editor for The Gospel
Coalition and the co-author of How to Argue Like Jesus:
Learning Persuasion from History’s Greatest Communicator. You can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Post a Comment