Our Confessional Commitments
Westminster Presbyterian Church belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The PCA was started in 1973 in order to remain faithful to the Scriptures in the face of widespread theological liberalism in the mainline Presbyterian denominations. The motto of the PCA is: "Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission". Our doctrinal standards consist of The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Learn more about our denomination, our denominational agencies, and how we are seeking to take the Gospel of Christ to our nation and to the world.
The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) was developed and written over a period of five years (1642-1648) by 151 leading theologians in England. Many Presbyterian denominations have adopted it as their doctrinal standard. The Westminster Confession is based upon and subordinate to the Holy Scriptures.
The Larger Catechism was drafted alongside the Westminster Confession. It was written in question and answer format to go into more fine into detail some of the topics covered in the Confession. For instance, Q&A 91-151 give a detailed and very beneficial explanation of the Ten Commandments. Q&A 178-196 lays out in meticulous detail the teaching of the Lord's Prayer.
The Shorter Catechism differs from the Larger Catechism primarily in its length. It is much "shorter". There are less questions and the answers are more abbreviated. The Shorter Catechism was written to educate individuals and families.
Our Core Beliefs
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 successive 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 visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.