Providence Presbyterian Church is a Word-centered, worship-oriented, world-reaching church where Jesus Christ is glorified in transformed lives, loving relationships and joyful service.
Providence is part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), one of the fastest growing denominations in North America, with over 1450 churches and missions throughout the USA and Canada. The PCA denomination holds a high view of Scripture and a strong commitment to the message of Jesus Christ.
The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America is subject to and subordinate to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the inerrant Word Of God, consisting of its doctrinal standards set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order.
The Presbyterian Church in America is different from other denominations and Christian groups in several distinct ways.
Church Government
‘Presbyterian’ describes churches ruled by elders (the Greek word presbuteros means elder) who are elected by the congregation. This concept is found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-20, and Numbers 11. There are two kinds of elders: (a.) teaching elders who are pastors, and (b.) ruling elders who are ordained laymen. This is the type of government best demonstrated in the New Testament Church (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5-7). We also have deacons who serve the church (see 1 Timothy 3). Furthermore, the elders (both ruling and teaching) of the church gather on a regional and national basis periodically to make decisions for the denomination as a whole (see Acts 15) and to ensure that the church is organized and governed as Scripture suggests.
Covenant Theology
The relationship that God has with his people is the central theme of the Bible. The Bible calls this relationship a covenant, and it is expressed throughout Scripture in the covenant motto: "I will be their God, and they will be my people." Believers from the New Testament era and the Old Testament era are part of the same covenant of grace:...just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness..." Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith (Galatians 3:6-9).
Because of this understanding, there is great continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Although, many of the symbolic rituals and laws are no longer needed since Christ has appeared, the relationship of God to His people by grace continues.
Baptism
“Children are messages that we send to a time we will not see…” - John Whitehead
The covenant promise of salvation has always been for believers and their children. Baptism is the sign or symbol of the covenant of grace. All who profess faith in Christ receive baptism, as do the children of believing Christians. In the Old Testament, God gave the covenant sign of circumcision to be given to males eight days old. Romans 4 says that circumcision was the sign and seal of salvation by faith, yet it was given to eight day old children who obviously did not yet profess faith. This did not mean that they were saved, but it meant that they were included in all the promises, privileges, and obligations that God gave to Israel. The New Testament confirms that the promise of God is for believers and their children (Acts 2:37-39). In the Old Testament the sign and seal of God's covenant was circumcision, but in the New Testament it is baptism (Colossians 2:11). Also, there are many New Testament accounts of entire households including children, who were baptized (Acts 16:14-15; Acts 16:31-34; 1 Corinthians 1:16).