Reply to How would you compare the a Episcopalian Church with Presbyterian in terms of beliefs?

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[quote=Anonymous]
I was raised as a Presbyterian. It's a fairly austere Calvinist denomination that arose as a reaction to excesses in the Church of England. Churches tend to be less ornamented or done in Danish modern style. The services have less liturgy than a Catholic or Episcopalian church. A standard Sunday service might consist of a prayer done by a member of the congregation, a hymn or two, time for silent prayer, reciting the Lord's Prayer, and some congregational announcements. The minister giving the sermon selects two passages: one from the Old Testament, and one from the New. These are read, and then a 20-30 minute sermon ensues. Communion is not taken at most services, but it is done a few times per year (the PCUSA requires 5 times, I think). As a PP noted, Protestants generally do not believe in transubstantiation. Presbyterians do technically believe in predestination, but I suspect few harbor that belief today

It's a fairly liberal denomination, with a belief in a right to choose for women. They go back and forth on gay participation in congregational life, but at last have recently agreed to allow gay marriage.

It's a democratic denomination, with no hierarchy (no bishops etc.). Instead, there are representative bodies. Each church belongs to a presbytery, and each presbytery belongs to a synod. The presbyteries and synods send representatives to the General Assembly, which meets annually to discuss matters of policy. In practice, the GA can't agree on most resolutions, so they table them. This gives individual congregations a lot of freedom, so you can generally find a Presbyterian Church you like. When kids are confirmed, they become voting members of the Church, and can vote for the Elders and Deacons who are the governing bodies of the individual churches. As in most churches, the wealthy donors tend to have outsized influence behind the scenes.
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INTERESTING. Many things above seems to be off a bit. How long ago were you raised Presbyterian, and in what denomination?? First of all The Presbyterian Church was not born out of a break off the Episcopal or Anglican Church, it was a break of the Roman Catholic Church. It formed in what is now the umbrella of the Reformed Faith.

I would agree that some Churches are less ornate than Roman Catholic or Episcopal, however, some Presbyterian Churches (PCUSA, PCA) and some others may be very close to as ornate or more so. Generally, no statues but they may have many ornate stained glass or even ICONS. One Presbyterian Church that I attend here has over 193 stained glass windows in the church depicting stations of the cross, the life of Christ, Crucifixion, Resurrection and more.

This is the Order of Service or for Lord's Day or Divine Worship that is suggested in the PCUSA. This is laid out in our worship books in the suggested liturgy.

http://www.mapc.com/worship/order-of-worship/

You also mention that Protestants do not believe in transubstantiation, which is true but then you compare it to predestination? They are 2 different things. Presbyterians believe in the Spiritual presence of Christ in the elements. They do not believe in transubstantiation nor con. And regarding predestination, that is a whole other topic.

Presbyterians generally service Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month. And many churches are now serving every Lords Day or during the week.

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