ABOUT US
Mission ¦ Vision ¦ Meet the Staff ¦ Common Questions
About Redeemer and the PCA (our denomination):
The Presbyterian Church in America or “The PCA” is a distinctly evangelical denomination in the Reformed tradition. The PCA has made a firm commitment on the doctrinal standards which had been significant in Presbyterianism (churches governed by elders or “presbyters”) since 1645, namely the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. These doctrinal standards express the distinctives of the Reformed tradition. Among the distinctive doctrines of the Westminster Standards and of Reformed tradition is the unique authority of the Bible. The reformers based all of their claims on “sola scriptura,” the Scriptures alone. This included the doctrine of their inspiration which is a special act of the Holy Spirit by which He guided the writers of the books of Scriptures (in their original autographs) so that their words should convey the thoughts He wished conveyed, bear a proper relation to the thoughts of other inspired books, and be kept free from error of fact, of doctrine, and of judgment -- all of which were to be an infallible rule of faith and life. Historically, the concept of infallibility has included the idea of inerrancy.
What does Reformed mean?
"Reformed" generally refers to those churches that sought to recover a biblical understanding of theology and broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Specifically the title refers to those churches following in the footsteps of Augustine and Calvin. The Reformers of the 16th century recognized that what they sought to do was not to invent new theology, but rather to return to right theology. With this in mind, there are five key tenets, among others, that we hold to:
Sola Scriptura: "By Scripture Alone"
The Bible is the only measure and ultimate authority for all matters of faith and life.
Solus Christus: "By Christ Alone"
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
Sola Gratia: "By Grace Alone"
Grace is the only method of divine salvation--we cannot save ourselves.
Sola Fide: "By Faith Alone"
Faith is the only means by which the righteousness of Christ is imputed.
Soli Deo Gloria: "To God Alone be the Glory"
God's glory is the chief end of man and the motivation for living.
Redeemer's Mission and Vision (Click here for a Bigger View)
Him (Christ) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. ~Colossians 1:28-29