Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. The PC(USA) was established by the 1983 merger of the former Presbyterian Church in the United States, whose churches were located in the Southern and border states, with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, whose congregations could be found in every state. With 2,140,165 members and
13,462 ordained ministers in 10,751 congregations in 2008, the reunited denomination is the most visible and influential Presbyterian denomination in North America.[1] The denomination reported a loss of 63,027 members in 2009 and had a membership of 2,077,138 at the end of 2009.[2] Denominational offices are located in Louisville, Kentucky. The PC(USA) is a member of the National Council of Churches, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches, and Christian Churches Together. Presbyterians are also guided by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which consists of two parts, The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. The Book of Confessions contains the following confessions and statements of belief:
„h The Nicene Creed
„h The Apostles' Creed
„h The Scots Confession
„h The Heidelberg Catechism
„h The Second Helvetic Confession
„h The Westminster Confession of Faith
„h The Larger Catechism
„h The Shorter Catechism
„h The Theological Declaration of Barmen
„h The Confession of 1967
„h A Brief Statement of Faith¡XPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.) The Book of Order has three sections: the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline. In its Constitution, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) sets out for its members and the world to see what it believes and how it organizes itself, its officers, and its members for ministry. In its confessions, the Church expresses the faith of the Reformed tradition, a tradition rooted in key events in 16th and 17th century Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, Hungary, England, Scotland and other European countries.
