WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PRESBYTERIAN?
Presbyterians are unique among the Christian denominations in at least four areas:

1. Doctrine
2. Relationship of Clergy and Laity
3. Church Structure
4. Local Expression

DOCTRINE
As Presbyterians, we express our faith through written confessions.  We affirm ancient statements of the early church, such as the Apostles’ Creed, along with other creeds, confessions and catechisms contained in The Book of Confessions. These confessions are subordinate standards in the church, subject to the authority of Jesus Christ as He is proclaimed and revealed in the Scriptures. As times and needs change, we continue to clarify our faith and apply it in today’s society.

Becoming a Presbyterian brings us into fellowship with part of God’s family, but it does not remove our personal responsibility to confess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Our confessions affirm that:

• God is personal and has revealed Himself as the Trinity of  Father, Son  and Holy Spirit. God is Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of all that is. God redeems us in Christ and moves in our heart by the Holy Spirit.
• Humanity needs a Savior: Jesus Christ. Humanity was created in God’s image and for fellowship with God and one another.  However, all humanity has fallen because of sin and is unable to experience the fellowship in and for which it was created. On the cross Jesus bore our sin, making atonement by His blood. In Christ we are forgiven and raised to a new life.
• Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human. He existed from eternity as the Second Person of the Trinity and was revealed to us in Jesus Christ. He died on a cross, was buried and rose again and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He will come back to judge the world.
• The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired, authoritative and infallible Word of God, revealing all we need to know about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls humanity to an obedient response to the Gospel and is the supreme authority and indispensable guide to Christian faith and life. The preaching and teaching of the Word of God, together with the Sacraments are the focal points of the Christian life and worship.
• Humanity cannot earn or deserve God’s salvation, but receives it by faith and in the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
• God has an eternal, inclusive purpose for the world, which embraces the free and responsible choices of humanity and everything which occurs in all creation.  This purpose will surely be accomplished.  God chooses, by grace, men and women in Christ; and in His sovereign purpose, God executes judgment upon sinful humanity.
• The church is the fellowship of all believers around the world, expressed locally in our Church family. As the Body of Christ, the Church on earth is God’s instrument, first, for proclaiming and applying the benefits of God’s redemptive work; and second, to establish God’s Kingdom.
• The Sacraments of Baptism and Communion are visible signs and assurances of the Gospel.

THE CLERGY AND LAITY 
Presbyterians affirm the concept of "The Priesthood of All Believers," recognizing that Christ is the Head of the Church and all persons—clergy and lay persons—stand together in submission to Him.  The impact on the Church is as follows:

• The ordination of minister (clergy) and of elder/deacon (laity) is identical. The difference in roles is purely functional, since all are called to ministry.
• There is no hierarchy of clergy, no bishops or presidents who have authority over individual ministers or local churches. (See Church Structure for a visual picture of church organization.)
• The concept of servant leadership is upheld by church structure: the minister is under the authority of the laity, administered by the group of elders called the "Session." It is the Session, not the congregation or pastors, which has authority in the local church.

CHURCH STRUCTURE 
Christian denominations have different forms of government: 

• Hierarchy (e.g. Roman Catholics, whose authority comes from bishops and the Pope).
• Democracy (e.g. Baptists, where the entire congregation has authority in all matters).

In contrast, the Presbyterian form of government is a Representative Democracy. Representatives from the congregation are elected to serve on the Session as elders.  Each level of government (Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly) is comprised of representatives from the preceding level.

General Assembly is comprised of delegates elected annually by each Presbytery.  It meets yearly to decide matters of doctrine, to interpret the constitution of the church and to mediate disputes referred by Presbyteries and Synods.

Synods consider matters referred to it by Presbyteries and hear appeals on all issues except doctrine.

Presbytery meets regularly to decide on matters of personnel, ordination of ministers, church discipline and whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under its care.

Session is the ruling body of the local church.  First Presbyterian Church currently elects 36 elders (9 of whom are trustees) who serve three-year terms on Session. Over the next two years, the First Presbyterian Church Session will be reduced to just 21 members.  Elders are members and chairpersons of Session committees in which staff and volunteers work together to enhance the ministries of the church.

LOCAL EXPRESSION
These Presbyterian distinctives of Doctrine, Clergy and Laity, and Church Structure work themselves out uniquely in each particular church. No two Presbyterian churches will express these distinctives alike. First Presbyterian Church expresses itself in its own unique Mission Statement through Worship, Instruction, Fellowship and Outreach.

WORSHIP:  First Presbyterian Church is committed to being and becoming a worshipping community where the word of God is preached without apology and where we can respond to that Word by worshipping God, both at designated times and all the time in the way we live.

INSTRUCTION: First Presbyterian Church is committed to teaching the Word of God to all people of all ages with the goal of helping every Christian to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are committed to providing ample opportunity to grow in our understanding of God’s Word through all forms of Christian education and ministry.

FELLOWSHIP: First Presbyterian Church is committed to being and becoming a fellowshipping community where God’s people can give themselves deeply to one another with the goal that our Church will truly be the family of God. We place a priority on developing meaningful and supportive relationships in everything we do.

OUTREACH: First Presbyterian Church is committed to reaching the world for Jesus Christ. In all that we do, we seek in words and actions to share the Good News of Jesus Christ beginning here at the heart of Colorado Springs and extending to the remotest parts of the earth. We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change individual lives and impact societies to become all that God intends them to be. The ministries of First Presbyterian Church are designed to reach out to meet the needs of a hurting world through Christ’s love.