Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was founded in 1973 as a conservative alternative to the Presbyterian Church in the United States, from which it separated over issues of biblical inerrancy, women's ordination, and social liberalism. It adheres strictly to the Westminster Confession of Faith and catechisms, holding to Reformed soteriology (TULIP), male-only ordination, and verbal inerrancy of Scripture. It is the second-largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States.
Theology
Trinity
Affirms
Three persons, one substance; Nicene orthodoxy; filioque clause affirmed explicitly
Nature of God
Affirms
God infinite, eternal, immutable, omniscient, omnipotent; divine simplicity explicitly affirmed
Holy Spirit
Affirms
Personal divine third person; regeneration and sanctification; cessationist on gifts
Christology
Nature of Jesus
Affirms
Chalcedonian; eternal Son; two natures in one person; forever God-man
Virgin Birth
Affirms
Christ born of virgin Mary; conceived by Holy Spirit; literal biological event
Pre-existence of Christ
Affirms
Eternal divine existence; Logos; active agent in creation; Old Testament Christophany
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
Reformed soteriology; TULIP doctrine; monergistic regeneration; justification by faith alone
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Penal substitution; satisfaction of divine justice; limited atonement for elect
Predestination
Affirms
Unconditional election and double predestination both affirmed; supralapsarian-infralapsarian internal debate
Original Sin
Affirms
Federal headship; total depravity; inherited guilt and corruption; radical fallenness
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Affirms
Immortal soul; conscious intermediate state; general bodily resurrection at Christ return
Hell
Affirms
Eternal, conscious torment; conscious separation from God; divine justice vindicated
Heaven
Affirms
Bodily resurrection; new heaven and new earth; eternal communion with God; glorification
Second Coming
Affirms
Literal, visible, bodily return of Christ; inaugurated eschatology; final judgment
Millennium
Nuanced
Amillennialism predominates; some postmillennialism exists; small premillennial minority permitted denominationally
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Nuanced
Presbyterian polity; session, presbytery, general assembly; sola scriptura as ultimate
Clergy & Priesthood
Affirms
Ordained male-only elders and deacons; universal priesthood; no sacerdotal priesthood
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
Two sacraments; baptism by sprinkling; spiritual presence in Lord's Supper; closed table
Scripture
Biblical Canon
Affirms
Sixty-six-book Protestant canon affirmed; Old Testament, New Testament; apocrypha excluded
Biblical Inerrancy
Affirms
Verbal, plenary inerrancy; Chicago Statement affirmed; original autographs without error
Extra-biblical Revelation
Denies
Sola scriptura; no new prophecy; cessationist; Scripture alone is authoritative
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Affirms
John 1:1 affirms Christ's eternal deity; Logos is God
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Affirms
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Jesus' virgin birth; 'almah' fulfilled in Matthew 1:23
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Rock is Christ; Peter's faith/confession affirmed; no papal primacy
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Affirms
God's sovereignty and election affirmed; Romans 9 teaches predestination
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Nuanced
Works show justification; James and Paul compatible; faith produces obedience
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Affirms
Trinitarian baptismal formula; baptism in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Affirms
Son addressed as God; Hebrews affirms Christ's eternal deity and throne
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Amillennial view; thousand years is symbolic reign of Christ; not literal future
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Nuanced
God created all things; doctrine affirmed; allows diverse views on age of earth
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Textually uncertain but sometimes included; not all PCA churches use it
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Textually uncertain; theologically sound; pastoral inclusion in some PCA contexts
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Nuanced
Late textual addition; Trinitarian content affirmed but not relied upon as proof
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not part of Protestant canon; apocryphal
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical Scripture; early Christian but apocryphal
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Affirms
Christian Sabbath is Sunday; Fourth Commandment binding; strict observance encouraged
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
Permitted; no biblical prohibition against transfusions; medical treatment allowed freely
Military Service
Affirms
Permitted and honorable; just war theory affirmed; civil duty recognized
Holidays
Nuanced
Christmas and Easter observed; regulative principle caution; no liturgical mandate