Statement of Vision

Smyrna Presbyterian Church exists to worship and glorify God by:

• Living our faith as authentic believers
• Growing and maturing together as the body of Christ
• Equipping God’s people for ministry and mission
• Making and being disciples to serve Jesus.

--Adopted by Session on June 2, 2003

Beliefs

• Scripture is authoritative and trustworthy.
• Almighty God is forever holy, unchanging, and triune.
• Jesus was born without a human father.
• He died on the Cross for our sins.
• He rose bodily from the dead.
• He is the only way of salvation.
• He will return, physically and visibly.
• There exist angels, demons, Heaven and Hell.
• Prayer works!  

 As a Confessing Church, we affirm and believe:

• That Jesus Christ alone is Lord of all and the way of salvation.
• That "the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the church universal; and that 'the authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof, and therefore is to be received, because it is the Word of God.'
• That in reliance on the continual work of the Holy Spirit, God's people are called to holiness in all aspects of life.  This includes honoring the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the only relationship within which sexual activity is appropriate.

Practices

• Baptism of Believers and their children
• "Open" Communion
• Anointing the sick with oil
• Government by elders
• The ordination of women
• The ministry of the laity
• Confidential giving
• Fellowship and ministry with other churches

About Being A Presbyterian

• What is a Presbyterian?
  In the New Testament, Presbuteros means "elder", and refers to the custom of choosing leaders and advisors from among the wisest members of the church.



• What is Required to Be A Presbyterian?
  Confess the Christian Faith, Trust in Christ as our forgiving Savior, Promise to follow Christ and Christ's example of living, and commit oneself to attend church and to become involved in its work.



• What is the Presbyterian Church?
  The overall church structure consists of 4 Governing Bodies: Session (all elected by the congregation; Presbytery (Elders and ministers from congregations who oversee the local churches); Synod (Representatives elected from each Presbytery to over see several Presbyteries); General Assembly (The national governing body made of of equal numbers of lay people and clergy chosen by the Presbyteries.)



• What do Presbyterian Believe?
  Like other Christians Presbyterian Believe: God, the Creator of the universe; Christ, the incarnation of God on Earth; Holy Spirit, the presence of God in the world and in the believer; The Church, a universal company of Christ's followers; Forgiveness of Sin, made possible by the crucifixion of Jesus; Live Everlasting, show by the resurrection of Jesus; Bible, the inspired word of God.



• What Sacraments do Presbyterian Recognize?
  The Presbyterian recognize two sacraments as described in the Bible: Baptism, this sacrament unites us with Jesus Christ and makes us member of God's family, the Church; Communion, also called The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion or The Eucharist is the time to renew faith and strengthen participants for the duties and privileges of Christian Service. In Communion, the Bread and Wine represent the sacrificial body and blood of Christ and recall the last meal shared with the Apostles. Together they symbolize the New Covenant between God and all people.

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