What we Believe

Introduction to the Presbyterian Church (leaflet published by PCV)

We believe the Bible

We believe the whole Bible is the Word of God in written form; that it is not mistaken in anything that it says; that it is the final authority for our Church’s beliefs and practices and the ultimate guide for all mankind. Therefore we believe that hearing God’s word carries with it a responsibility to obey His will. To help us understand the Bible, we Presbyterians accept and use the Westminster Confession of Faith (with its Larger and Shorter Catechisms) as a reasonable summary of the Bible’s teaching.

We Proclaim God’s Promises

God brought mankind a message of good news through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; a message that demands a response from all men and women.

We seek to proclaim the good news that, when people put their trust in Jesus Christ and obey His commands, their sins are forgiven, they are blessed in their daily lives and they are given the assurance of eternal life.

We are Practical

We aim to provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn how to respond to this good news, and then to become effective disciples of Jesus Christ.

As they do this they progress in the faith through Bible study, prayer, fellowship and service to others.

We are Relevant

We believe the Bible’s message provides answers for every modern problem and issue. As we worship God, we seek to maintain a simple format with emphasis on the participation of our members and the teaching and the application of God’s word to the needs of our world.

We are Australian

Since 1823, the Presbyterian Church has taken an active part in Australian society.
Subsequently, Australia has become a home to people of many cultural backgrounds: so also has our Church. Although many different nations are represented within our membership, we join together in Christian Fellowship as we worship and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are Presbyterian

The term “Presbyterian” describes the means by which the members of our local congregations elect from their own number, people whom they believe are spiritually qualified to direct and care for them. These spiritual leaders are called “elders” (or “presbyters”) and together with the minister/pastor, they exercise leadership and oversight of the congregation.