THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA): Who Are We?

"In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth praying, ‘Come Lord Jesus.’" —From a Brief Statement of Faith

Presbuteros, the Greek word meaning elder, is used 72 times in the New Testament. It provided the name for the Presbyterian family of churches, which includes the Reformed churches of the world. Both Presbyterian and Reformed are synonymous with churches of the Calvinist tradition.

In America, the first presbytery was organized in 1706, the first synod in 1717; the first General Assembly was held in 1789. Today’s Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was created by the 1983 reunion of the two main branches of Presbyterians in America, separated since the Civil War: the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. The latter had been created by the union of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America in 1958.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is distinctly a confessional and a connectional church, distinguished by the representation of elders—laymen and laywomen—in its government. The church has a membership of 2,587,674 in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Presently there are 11,260 congregations, 20,940 ordained ministers, 1,255 candidates for ministry, and 108,532 elders.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Who Are We?

In 1839, the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomington, now Muscatine, was organized. Construction of our current Gothic-style building began in 1855. A classroom wing was added in 1915 and a major renovation was completed in 1986. In 1976 the building was listed as an American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site and in 1977 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

First Presbyterian Church is a place where all are welcome to gather to worship, study, work, and fellowship together - experiencing God's active presence so that we may reach out into the community, and the world, to meet the needs of God's people. We hope you will join us!