Presbyterian Churches are a Protestant worship tradition that has its origins in early 16th century Scotland. The name "Presbyterian" comes from the Greek word meaning, "Elder."

Basic beliefs

Presbyterians are a reformed tradition church which means that we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, and the Bible as the primary guide to faith and practice. We believe that every Christian can and does have a personal relationship with God and that God is actively speaking to us. Our worship communities gather to praise God, experience his presence, and receive his guidance.

Governance
Presbyterianism is named for its system of governance. Each church is governed by a group of officers elected from the congregation. This group is known as the Session; Session members are called, "Elders." Each church also belongs to a greater organization called a Presbytery which is an organization of churches. Presbyteries belong to Synods and Synods to the General Assembly. Both Pastors and individuals elected from each congregation attend the Presbytery meetings and may therefore be elected to the Synod or the General Assembly. The governance of the church is, therefore, representative, and organized from the grassroots upward. Cripple Creek Church is part of the Synod of Living Waters. www.synodoflivingwaters.org/

The role of the Pastor
Pastors are called (selected) by the individual congregation and function as a learned teacher in the worship community. The Pastor administers Sacraments such as Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; he or she also chairs the Session.

 

The parent organization in the United States is Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA): www.pcusa.org