PRESBYTERIANISM:
a GROUP of PROTESTANT CHURCHES arising out of the CALVINIST
REFORMATION distinguished by their form of CHURCH GOVERNMENT based on PRESBYTERS or ELDERS
and a series of Church courts. The lowest court is that of the local Congregation. Above
it are district and eventually National courts known as Presbyteries. Above these is the
SYNOD. Finally there is the General Assembly or National Synod. Each court consists of
Elders and Ministers who appoint new Ministers and determine the policy of both local
CONGREGATIONS and the Church as a whole. The two other major methods of Church government
are CONGREGATIONAL and EPISCOPAL. Presbyterianism first appeared in Scotland in the late
sixteenth century and spread throughout the world. Today there are over 120 independent
Presbyterian Churches loosely united in the WORLD ALLIANCE OF REFORMED CHURCHES. Apart
from their distinct method of Church Government, they accept CALVINIST CREEDS the most
important of which are the WESTMINSTER CONFESSION, the HELVETIC CONFESSION and the
HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.
