Northwood Presbyterian Church

What's a Presbyterian?

So glad you asked!  The word "Presbyterian" comes from the Greek word found in the New Testament of the Bible that refers to the presbyters, or elders, who helped lead the early church.  Presbyterian Churches are governed by a group of elders, elected from among the congregation, who together form a council called the Session.  Partnering with the Session are teaching elders, also known as pastors.

Presbyterians believe that all of humanity has "missed the mark" in terms in relationship to what God hopes for us to do and to be; this is what the Bible calls sin.  The consequence of sin is separation:  a broken relationship with God, one another, and our true selves.  We are unable to "fix" this condition on our own, but God, acting out of a loving desire to see us restored to wholeness, sent Jesus Christ to enact and embody his teachings as "God with us."

Jesus suffered the consequence of our sinfulness when he was crucified on the cross, but showed the victory of God's mercy over sin and death when he was raised to life again.  Presbyterians believe that we, too, receive the gift of new life by trusting what Jesus' life, death, and resurrection reveals about God's character and love for us.

This gift we call "salvation" is not something we earn or deserve by being or doing good, but it comes to us because it is in God's nature to forgive, and God longs for us to enjoy a close relationship with God for all eternity.  We believe that the Holy Spirit is God's continuing presence with us, helping us to understand and embrace God's truth, and guiding us to lives of growth, gratitude and faithful service that reflect God's kindness and grace toward us.