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The Presbyterian Church's
Foundational
Principles for Governance
Chapter 3 - The Church: Its Unity and Relationships
The Unity of the Church In Mission
The unity of the church is a gift of its Lord and finds expression in its
faithfulness to the mission to which Christ calls it. The church is a fellowship
of believers which seeks the enlargement of the circle of faith to include all
people and is never content to enjoy the benefits of Christian community for
itself alone.
Oneness
There is one church. As the Bible speaks of the one body which is the church
living under the one Spirit of God known through Christ, it reminds us that we
have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all" (Eph.
4:5–6).
Visible Oneness
Visible oneness, by which a diversity of persons, gifts, and understandings is
brought together, is an important sign of the unity of God’s people. It is also
a means by which that unity is achieved. Further, while divisions into different
denominations do not destroy this unity, they do obscure it for both the church
and the world. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), affirming its historical
continuity with the whole church of Jesus Christ, is committed to the reduction
of that obscurity.
The Church: Its Diversity
The church in its witness to the uniqueness of the Christian faith responds to
diversity in both the church and the world. The fellowship of Christians, as it
gathers in worship and in the ordering of all aspects of its life, is to display
a rich variety of form, practice, language, program, nurture and service.
Openness to Others
Our unity in Christ enables and requires the church to be open to all persons
and the variety of their talents and gifts, implementing policies and procedures
that guarantee full participation and access to representation in the decision
making of the church. Thus, the church is called to affirm itself as a community
of diversity in fact as well as in faith. The inclusion of all ages, races, and
conditions provides a visible sign of the new humanity.
Full Participation
In its call to witness to the richness and benevolence of God’s creation, the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and all its governing bodies shall give life to
policies and procedures that enhance the church’s commitment to diversity and
inclusiveness in all aspects of its life. Persons of all racial ethnic groups,
different ages, both sexes, various disabilities, diverse geographical areas,
different theological positions consistent with the Reformed tradition, as well
as different marital conditions (married, single, widowed, or divorced) shall be
guaranteed full participation and access to representation in the decision
making of the church.
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