Although all Presbyterians share a common theological heritage that is traceable back to the Swiss Reformation of the 16th Century, we are not named for what we believe.  Our name is derived, rather, from the way in which we are governed – by democratically elected representatives known as Presbyters or Elders. 

However, our common theological and governmental organization notwithstanding, Presbyterian congregations are not uniformly the same.  Each one is shaped by its own distinctive history and marked by the insights and emphases of its Elders. For example, at Mountain View Church, we tend to stress the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior of the world, the authority of the Scriptures, God’s call to live a holy life in response to the grace he has shown us in Jesus Christ, and the responsibility of God’s people to be involved actively and sacrificially in mission both here at home and around the world. 

For a more detailed description about what we believe, please view our Doctrine and Theological Statements of Faith.

1The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with denominational offices in Louisville, Kentucky, has approximately 2.4 million members, 11,100 congregations and 14,000 ordained and active ministers.  Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.  (Click here for more information: http://www.pcusa.org/navigation/whoweare.htm )

2In the Greek New Testament, the word for Elder is presbuteros.  It has come over into the English language to describe a common malady among aging adults – presbyopia, or “old eyes.”