book of confessions

Minute for Mission: Reformation Sunday

Forty years ago, the Dutch Reformed Mission Church (DRMC) in South Africa adopted Belydenis van Belhar — the Confession of Belhar — in its first reading. Belhar was an outgrowth of the DRMC’s effort to grapple with the church’s participation in and defense of apartheid and touches prominently on themes of unity, reconciliation and justice. The DRMC adopted Belhar in its final form in 1986.

A declaration regarding the current situation of the Cuban people

As a Hispanic/Latin community in the United States, we are profoundly concerned about the events that have occurred in the Caribbean country of Cuba. We feel and share the pain of the Cuban people in light of the shortage. of food and medicines and health conditions worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengthening the connections between the Matthew 25 vision, Scripture and theology

New resources from the Office of Theology and Worship will help those engaged in the work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Matthew 25 invitation make a stronger connection between the three foci of the vision and the biblical passage — particularly in Matthew 25:31–46, which is known as the “Judgment of the Nations” passage.

What, then, is the church?

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Special Committee on Racism, Truth, and Reconciliation continued its work Thursday by hearing from a Columbia Theological Seminary faculty member who’s studied the work of James Henley Thornwell, a Columbia Seminary professor during the mid-1800s who defended slavery in his essay, “What, then, is the church?”

No justice, no breath

“Can you breathe?” asked Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer of worshipers at the Just Worship conference at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 

Did Jesus really descend into hell?

Of the 12 entries in our Book of Confessions, odds are you’re most familiar with the Apostles’ Creed. And, since it’s only 110 words long, if you have any creed memorized, this is probably the one. But of those 110 words, four have tripped up Christians for centuries: He descended into hell.

Did Jesus really descend into hell?

Of the 12 entries in our Book of Confessions, odds are you’re most familiar with the Apostles’ Creed. Every branch of Christianity’s family tree accepts it. It’s often recited at baptisms. But of its 110 words, four have tripped up Christians for centuries: He descended into hell.

미국장로교 헌법

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 미국장로교 헌법은 두 부분으로 구성되어 있다: 제1부는 신앙고백서이며, 제2부 규례서는 장로교 정치제도의 기초, 정치 형태, 예배 모범 및 권징 조례이다. 제1부 신앙고백서    … Read more »

Facing up to our racism

In a few weeks, many of us will make our way to a place we call home in observance of Thanksgiving, our most religiously secular and secularly religious holiday. Gathered around a table of plenty, we will partake and share, acknowledging God’s gracious bounty to all and giving thanks for it.