Who We Are And What We Believe
WHO WE ARE
The Presbyterian Church in America ("PCA") was formed to be a denomination that is "Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission."
The PCA is an Evangelical and Reformed Presbyterian denomination. By Evangelical, we mean that we emphasize the gospel (good news of salvation) through faith in Jesus Christ, as well as affirming other orthodox Christian doctrines and holding to the inerrancy of Scripture.
By Reformed, we mean that we are connected to the teachings of the historic church and the doctrinal beliefs recovered by the Reformation. These doctrinal beliefs are expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. All officers of the Presbyterian Church in American must personally subscribe to and uphold the teachings of the Wesminster Confession of Faith.
By Presbyterian, we describe our representative form of church government. Local churches are governed by a "Session of Presbyters" (elders), elected by the members of the congregation. Representatives of local churches within a geographical area compose a "presbytery." Prepresentatives of presbyteries meet annually at "General Assembly." Thus, through the combined efforts and resources of all of the churches, we are enabled to advance God's Kingdom much more effectively. The Committees and Agencies of the PCA help lead this Kingdom work.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God's truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God's displeasure, except by His mercy.
We believe that salvation is by God alone, as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in sucessive generations according to His Covenant promises.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God's people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visiibly, to judege all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Weatherford Presbyterian Church, PCA
The ministry of the church exists to all who are spiritually weary, to all who long for
comfort, to all who struggle and desire victory, to all who sin and need a Savior, to who
are strangers and seek fellowship, to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness and to
whomsoever will come, this church is open and offers welcome in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
The central ministry of the local church is the continuous imparting of the Scriptures to
the people of God so they may know God and serve Him in worship and in ministry. This
church upholds the strong convictions regarding the truths of the Bible. Listed below are
the major truths in a simple and concise form.
WORSHIP
At Weatherford Presbyterian Church we enthusiastically declare that we have a passion
for God in our worship. We pursue God's glory. Our desire is to magnify and exalt the
name of Jesus Christ. The Lord is our creator, and the One who continues to powerfully
affect our daily lives. He is holy. He is full of mercy. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. He
is love. He alone is worthy of our worship. God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the object
of our worship.
"For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.
Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are His sanctuary." Psalm 96:4
DISCIPLES
We seek to be followers and learners of Jesus Christ. We confess Jesus Christ as the
eternal God, the Son, the only Savior of the World. We submit to Him as the Lord and
living head of His Church, which He purchased with his own blood. We seek the fullness of
joy that He intends to give us now, and the indescribable future pleasures that will be
ours in Him throughout eternity. We know that only intimate and sweet communion with
our Lord Jesus Christ can fully satisfy the deep longings of our hearts.
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and
the truth shall make you free. Without Me you can do nothing,." John 8:31,32, 15:5.
BIBLE
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, to be the
inerrant Word of God. The Word of God in its entirety is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the children of God may be equipped for
every good work. We believe that the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with the Word of
God to make it "Living" and "powerful". By knowing God's Word, we better understand
how to follow Jesus Christ and be his disciples.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training
in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
FAMILY
The church is the Covenant Family of God. Every "born again" member has a unique and
intimate place in the family of the Father. We understand that the church has a
responsibility to equip its members. We desire to minister to all age groups. We see our
children as a gift from God, to be treasured and loved, and so it is a special privilege to
serve them. We take the education of our children seriously. We seek to come alongside
parents who have the primary responsibility to "bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord," Eph. 6:4. Growing in the knowledge and grace of the Lord is a
high priority. Therefore, we strive to disciple and equip each person. It is our
sincere hope that each time God leads someone to our church that he or she will see a
family who is living a life of faith and repentance, and who loves with the love of Christ.
Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one
another," John 13:35.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named," Ephesians 3:14-15.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
We believe that every Christian has been given a unique set of spiritual gifts. Each
believer is to use those gifts given him or her at conversion to serve the church family to
build up the body. We teach our members how to discern their giftedness. We encourage
everyone to use his or her gifts. We believe that a healthy church body is one in which all
its members are ministering to one another. Weatherford Presbyterian Church is not a
place where you sit on the sidelines.
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering God?s grace in its various forms." Romans 12:4, 1 Peter 4:10
GOSPEL
The pure gospel is given to us in God?s word. "Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures," 1Cor. 15:3-4. We believe that the gospel should be preached to the church
and that the Holy Spirit in concert with God?s word works within the church to deepen and
mature us. We are commanded to preach the gospel to the world, Mt. 28:19-20. We
understand that God has called us to share our lives with others such that we may build
trusting relationships wherever we are seeking God's opportunities to share the truth. Our
outreach in our community is aimed at being an ambassador of Christ, 2Cor. 5:20.
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear,"
1 Peter 3:15.
PCA FACTS
- Bible-believing Presbyterians began the PCA in 1973, with 260 congregations and 41,000 members.
- We now have over 1,600 churches and more than 335,000 members in the United States and Canada with at least 75 Prebyteries.
- The PCA is one of the fastest-growing Presbyterian denominations in North America, and is among the fastest growing of all Christian denominations.
- The PCA has over 590 long-term missionaries, 430 short-term workers and 6,800 two week workers serving worldwide.
- The PCA has over 166 chaplains in all braches of the armed services.
- The PCA has placed campus ministers on more than 116 college and university campuses all across America.
- The PCA maintains a 902 acre camp and conference center in the mountains of North Carolina.
- The PCA provides college and seminary educations through its college and theological seminary.
