Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the
Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we
believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose
writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before
him.
Some of the principles articulated by John
Calvin remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs. Among these
are:
- The sovereignty of God
- The authority of the Scripture
- Justification by grace through faith
- The priesthood of all believers
What these beliefs mean is that God is the
Supreme Authority throughout the Universe. Our knowledge of God
and God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what
is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus
Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's
generous gift to us and not the result of our own
accomplishments. It is everyone's job - ministers and lay people
alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. That is
also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a
combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike.
