What's the Difference?
The PCA and the PCUSA
There is some confusion between the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), of which Goshen Presbyterian Church is a part, and The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA). This page hopes to clear up some of the differences. It is hoped that new visitors to our site and congregation will find this information helpful.
As a denomination the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) remains committed to Scripture as the inspired word of God, inerrant in the originals and fully trustworthy in our modern editions that are faithful to the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. We affirm the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement for our sins on the Cross, His bodily resurrection on the third day, His personal and physical return to judge the living and the dead, and the reality of both eternal life and eternal judgment. We affirm Scripture above all as coming from God, and under Scripture we are governed by our Constitution (The Book of Church Order, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Shorter Catechism, and The Westminster Larger Catechism). The Constitution presents an understanding of Scripture in the Reformed tradition and seeks to apply God's word to personal, congregational, and denominational life in a thorough and consistent manner. Scripture cannot be altered, but the Constitution is comprised of human documents subject to revision as we seek to conduct ourselves in accord with the word of God and in good order. Those who wish to join our congregations need not hold to all of our specifically Reformed doctrines, but must believe the gospel of Jesus Christ as he is offered in the Bible as our only hope of salvation. Officers of the congregation (elders and deacons) must hold to our Constitution, submitting any exceptions for approval before they are ordained.
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was founded in the 1980's. The PCUSA has congregations that still hold to biblical truth, but most of its leadership have abandoned the ideas of Scripture as inerrant, the bodily resurrection and deity of Jesus Christ, salvation in Christ alone, and the other core tenants of the Christian faith. Although they claim to be bound by Reformed confessions and catechisms, their doctrines and ethics no longer match those documents nor Scripture. This is apparent in recent decisions giving their blessing to LGBT practice as well as their previous blessing of abortion and the ordination of women to the office of elder.
It is hoped that this clarifies our congregation's stance, as well as the stance of our denomination as a whole for those interested in worshiping and serving with us.
May God bless his people in Christ our Lord,
Rev. James Almond
Goshen Presbyterian Church
As a denomination the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) remains committed to Scripture as the inspired word of God, inerrant in the originals and fully trustworthy in our modern editions that are faithful to the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. We affirm the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement for our sins on the Cross, His bodily resurrection on the third day, His personal and physical return to judge the living and the dead, and the reality of both eternal life and eternal judgment. We affirm Scripture above all as coming from God, and under Scripture we are governed by our Constitution (The Book of Church Order, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Shorter Catechism, and The Westminster Larger Catechism). The Constitution presents an understanding of Scripture in the Reformed tradition and seeks to apply God's word to personal, congregational, and denominational life in a thorough and consistent manner. Scripture cannot be altered, but the Constitution is comprised of human documents subject to revision as we seek to conduct ourselves in accord with the word of God and in good order. Those who wish to join our congregations need not hold to all of our specifically Reformed doctrines, but must believe the gospel of Jesus Christ as he is offered in the Bible as our only hope of salvation. Officers of the congregation (elders and deacons) must hold to our Constitution, submitting any exceptions for approval before they are ordained.
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) was founded in the 1980's. The PCUSA has congregations that still hold to biblical truth, but most of its leadership have abandoned the ideas of Scripture as inerrant, the bodily resurrection and deity of Jesus Christ, salvation in Christ alone, and the other core tenants of the Christian faith. Although they claim to be bound by Reformed confessions and catechisms, their doctrines and ethics no longer match those documents nor Scripture. This is apparent in recent decisions giving their blessing to LGBT practice as well as their previous blessing of abortion and the ordination of women to the office of elder.
It is hoped that this clarifies our congregation's stance, as well as the stance of our denomination as a whole for those interested in worshiping and serving with us.
May God bless his people in Christ our Lord,
Rev. James Almond
Goshen Presbyterian Church