Presbyterian Church in America [PCA]

Presbyterian Church in America [PCA]

1700 N. Brown Rd.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8122
United States

Attesting Officer
Ms. Susan Cullen
Administrative Assistant/Stats


33.9923517, -84.0766122


The Presbyterian Church in America is an Evangelical, Reformed covenant community of churches in the United States and Canada committed to a common doctrinal standard (The Westminster Standards), mutual accountability (representative church government), and cooperative ministry. The PCA traces its historical roots to the First General Assembly of the Church of Scotland of 1560, the establishment of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1789, and the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church, Augusta in 1861. Organized in 1973 by conservative churches formerly associated with the Presbyterian Church in the United States, the Church was first known as the National Presbyterian Church but changed its name in 1974 to the Presbyterian Church in America. The PCA seeks to be "Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission." In 1982 the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod joined the PCA bringing with it a rich tradition that had antecedents in colonial America.

The PCA holds to the ancient creeds of the Church such as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed and has a firm commitment to its doctrinal standards, The Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, that have been significant in Presbyterianism since 1645, These doctrinal standards reflect the distinctives of the Reformed tradition, Calvinism, and Covenant Theology. Ministers, ruling elders, and deacons are required to subscribe to the Westminster Standards in good faith. Individuals are received by a Session as communing members of the Church upon their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, their promise to live a Christian lifestyle, and their commitment to worship and service in the Church.

The PCA is a connectional Church, led by ruling elders (lay leaders) and teaching elders (ministers). The Session governs a local congregation; the Diaconate carries out mercy ministries. The Presbytery is responsible for regional matters and the General Assembly is responsible for national matters in the USA and Canada. Cooperative ministry is carried out through over seventy Presbyteries and ten General Assembly Ministries.

The educational institutions of the Church are Covenant College of Lookout Mountain,GA and Covenant Theological Seminary of St. Louis, MO. The PCA and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church participate in a joint publication venture, Great Commission Publications, for the publication of Christian Education materials.

In its ecumenical relations the PCA is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the World Reformed Fellowship.

The General Assembly approved a statement of purpose, "It is the purpose of the PCA to bring glory to God as a worshipping and serving community until the nations in which we live are filled with churches that make Jesus Christ and His word their chief joy, and the nations of the world, hearing the Word, are discipled in obedience to the Great Commission."

The Church has grown beyond its origin in the southeastern states to have congregations in forty-nine states in the USA and in several provinces of Canada. Growth is due to the PCA's ministry in evangelism, discipleship, church planting, church renewal, and campus ministry. Indicative of her concern for cross-cultural ministry, the PCA has the largest international missionary force in Presbyterian Church history.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2010
271,633
0
69,849
341,482
1,737
2009
272,323
235,285
68,887
341,210
1,719
2008
266,988
238,948
68,862
335,850
1,672
2007
270,605
239,166
70,131
340,736
1,645
2006
266,166
227,192
67,985
334,151
1,621
2003
260,919
227,192
64,872
325,791
1,534
2001
250,638
226,175
56,146
306,784
1,498
1999
236,361
59,821
299,055
1,206
1997
224,154
279,549
1,340
1995
210,758
267,764
1,299
1994
204,605
257,556
1,263
1992
194,825
239,500
1,212
1991
0
233,770
0
1990
185,526
223,935
1,167
1989
174,134
217,374
1,100
1988
169,846
208,394
1,067
1987
160,827
190,960
924
1986
158,645
188,083
913
1985
151,027
177,917
878
1984
143,343
168,239
843
1983
137,097
155,988
825
1982
129,699
149,548
797
1981
117,643
136,582
698
1980
80,211
90,991
487
1979
77,102
86,885
460
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2010
3,760
0
0
3,760
2009
3,645
0
0
3,645
2008
3,562
0
0
3,562
2007
3,508
0
0
3,508
2006
3,430
0
0
3,430
2003
3,287
0
0
3,287
2001
0
0
0
3,082
1999
2,873
1997
1,642
2,665
1995
1,522
2,476
1994
1,465
2,397
1992
1,364
2,217
1990
1,204
2,073
1989
1,193
1,949
1988
1,139
1,905
1987
1,062
1,722
1986
0
1,702
1985
0
1,639
1984
0
1,562
1983
0
1,451
1982
0
1,415
1981
0
1,264
1980
0
728
1979
435
668
1978
419
584
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2010
0
0
103,611
103,611
2009
0
0
105,186
105,186
2008
0
0
110,322
110,322
2007
0
0
111,512
111,512
2006
0
0
113,380
113,380
2003
0
0
120,486
120,468
2001
1,227
0
116,402
116,402
1999
121,325
1997
116,720
1995
0
112,745
1994
0
110,650
1992
0
112,285
1990
0
112,282
1989
0
109,216
1988
0
101,543
1987
924
90,986
1986
913
90,710
1985
878
84,663
1984
0
81,744
1983
825
66,012
1982
797
74,508
1981
698
64,662
1980
728
44,484
1979
460
43,613
1978
440
40,595
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2010
$122,000,000
$704,000,000
$581,000,000
2009
$119,000,000
$697,000,000
$578,000,000
2008
$127,000,000
$714,000,000
$587,000,000
2007
$125,000,000
$686,000,000
$562,000,000
2006
$117,000,000
$650,000,000
$533,000,000
2004
$102,000,000
$545,000,000
$443,000,000
2003
$100,000,000
$529,000,000
$429,000,000
2001
$93,618,231
$499,000,000
$405,000,000
1999
$96,415,462
$457,136,376
1997
$70,013,194
$374,861,599
$304,848,405
1995
1994
$77,146,451
$298,318,983
$221,172,532
1992
$69,022,650
$261,178,991
$192,156,341
1990
$62,268,549
$227,082,419
$164,813,870
1989
$61,113,882
$207,636,318
$146,522,436
1988
$49,649,614
$185,489,902
$135,840,288
1987
$37,698,514
$144,450,429
$106,751,915
1986
$37,608,843
$143,842,638
$106,233,795
1982
$20,748,349
$82,492,076
$61,743,727
1980
$11,659,388
$43,509,182
$31,849,794
1979
$10,136,067
$38,254,466
$28,118,399
1978
$8,186,970
$32,633,691
$24,446,721
1977
$6,335,648
$25,793,621
$19,457,973
1976
$5,173,438
$20,322,406
$15,148,968
1975
$5,029,218
$16,584,650
$11,555,432