Presbyterian & Reformed

SCRIPTURE · CONFESSIONS

The church remains under God’s Word

Reformed churches recognize Scripture as the authoritative written witness to God’s revelation, centered on Jesus Christ. They differ in language such as inspired, inerrant, infallible, and unique authoritative witness.

Confessions and catechisms teach and guard the faith but remain subordinate to Scripture. Westminster, Heidelberg, Belgic, Dort, and other standards are received in different combinations and with different requirements for officeholders.

ELDERS · COUNCILS · APPEALS

Authority is shared and reviewable

Christ alone is head of the church. Local sessions or consistories, regional presbyteries or classes, and broader assemblies or synods exercise delegated authority together.

Teaching elders or ministers ordinarily govern alongside ruling elders. Decisions can be reviewed or appealed through constitutional procedures so that no single pastor is the final court.

WORD · BAPTISM · SUPPER

A covenant community at worship

Reformed worship gathers around Scripture read and preached, prayer, confession, song, and the sacraments. Most baptize believers and their children as a sign and seal of covenant grace.

The Lord’s Supper is more than a mental reminder: many confess that believers truly receive Christ by the Holy Spirit through faith, while the bread and wine remain bread and wine.

ORDERED DISCERNMENT

Councils may act—and councils may err

Overtures, petitions, complaints, appeals, committees, and assemblies provide ordered paths for disagreement. Wider ratification is often required for constitutional change.

‘Always being reformed’ historically means remaining open to correction by God’s Word, not changing with every cultural current. Yet churches differ sharply about biblical authority, ordination, sexuality, and the reach of assembly power.

A congregation’s word ‘Presbyterian’ or ‘Reformed’ does not reveal every conviction; its communion, constitution, confessions, and local commitments matter.