Presbyterians?

The two major Presbyterian denominations are the PCUSA and the PCA.

The PCUSA is the largest Presbyterian denomination. It was formed in a merger between the southern & northern Presbyterian denominations in the 1970's. It is the more liberal of the Presby demoninations in the US, though some individual churches will be more conservative than others.

The PCA is smaller than the PCUSA and is much more conservative and evangelical. It broke away from the larger denomination in the 1970's. Known PCA pastors/teachers include D. James Kennedy, RC Sproul and Steve Brown of Key Life.

There are two other smaller Presby denominations - EPC (Evangelical Presbytian Church) and the OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church). The EPC, stands between the PCA and the PCUSA in the liberal to conservative continuum and the OPC is more conservative than the PCA.

Historically, the PCA, EPC and OPC are more closely aligned to the PCUSA. However, my guess (and experience) is that if a PCA member left his church, he would be more likely to join an SBC church rather than a PCUSA church.

Hope this helps. Note -- I grew up Baptist, but have been a Presbyterian (PCA) for the past 20+ years.

 

My post may be more anecdotal than anything else, but in my state (Alabama), there are many more PCA churches than USA.

I don't know of any churches in our area that are from the other two groups of the alphabet...

 

Glad to hear that :laugh: !!

Doesn't surprise me though, since the PCA was founded by the southern Presbyterians (formed in Alabama, no less, in Birmingham). From the web site ... "It separated from the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern) in opposition to the long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. Additionally, the PCA held to the traditional position on the role of women in church offices."