Good question! First, a little history. Both the PCA and the PCUSA derive from a common theological heritage -- the Protestant Reformed faith. This expression of Christianity was championed by such men as John Calvin and John Knox (to name a few) in Reformation times, and Presbyterianism came to fullest expression in Scotland in the 1600s. Our theology essentially places the sovereign, triune God at the center of all things. Fast-forward a few hundred years. The Presbyterian church in the United States had been divided into Northern and Southern denominations, due mostly to disagreements stemming from the Civil War. In the late 1800s theological liberalism, which denied that the Bible is the Word of God, and therefore without error and the sole authority for the church, infected the Northern Presbyterian church (known then as the UPCUSA). As the 20th century wore on, that same liberalism crept into the Southern Presbyterian church (the PCUS). Eventually the two denominations began talking about a merger. Conservatives throughout the US, but especially in the American South, held to the inspiration and to the authority of Scripture and thus disdained any possible merger with the Northern liberal church. Yet even in the South the conservative Presbyterians sensed their best method of preserving a Reformed church was to pull out from the PCUS and form the National Presbyterian Church (later the Presbyterian Church in America, or PCA), which they did in 1973. The UPCUSA and the PCUS later merged to form the PCUSA. There are many fine, Bible-believing, Gospel-preaching PCUSA churches and ministers today. We rejoice in their stand for Christ and delight in our fellowship with them. But to answer your question (finally!), we in the PCA officially hold to the traditional, biblical teaching about Scripture: that it is God's Word, given of His Spirit, perfect and infallible and therefore the rule of faith and practice for individual Christians and for the church (cf. II Tim. 3:16-17). By comparison, the PCUSA generally takes a lighter view of Scripture and consequently has introduced such practices as the ordination of women to the diaconate and to the presbuterate. Although we basically differ from the PCUSA along the typical liberal-conservative divide, there are exceptions to the rule in the PCUSA; not every PCA church necessarily preaches the truth of Scripture always; and no denomination is perfect or has a total grasp of all God's truth. We in the PCA base our "conservatism" on the plain, prayerful and clear reading of God's Word, and we welcome fellowship with all like-minded believers. Thanks for your question! |