A conservative Reformed denomination that holds to the Westminster Standards and traditional Presbyterian governance.
The Presbyterian Church in America was founded in 1973 by congregations that separated from the Presbyterian Church US (the southern Presbyterian body) over concerns about theological liberalism and the ordination of women. It holds firmly to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as its doctrinal standards and maintains that ordination is reserved for men. The PCA is one of the fastest-growing Presbyterian denominations in the United States, with particular strength in the South and among younger Reformed evangelicals.
The PCA shares the PCUSA's Reformed theological heritage — the sovereignty of God, election, covenant theology, and the authority of Scripture — but differs on social and ecclesiastical questions. It does not ordain women to the offices of elder or deacon, and it has maintained a more conservative position on cultural and ethical issues. Theologically, the PCA tends toward a more confessional approach, placing high value on the Westminster Standards as a precise summary of biblical teaching.
Fayetteville has 2 PCA congregations in the directory. Worship in PCA churches is typically ordered and Word-centered, with a strong emphasis on expository preaching and the regular administration of the Lord's Supper.
The PCA is distinguished from the PCUSA by its conservative stance on the ordination of women, its stricter confessionalism, and its theological conservatism. It differs from independent Reformed churches by maintaining a connectional Presbyterian polity.
Ordered and Word-centered, with expository preaching as the centerpiece. The Lord's Supper is observed regularly. Worship styles range from traditional to contemporary depending on the congregation.
Birmingham, Alabama, 1973.
Rapid growth among younger Reformed evangelicals and a strong emphasis on church planting.