The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a confessional body. Christians are called to bear witness to the timeless good news of Jesus Christ, though with varying emphases depending on the challenges confronting church and society in any given era. This calling finds Christians on various occasions producing testimonies or confessions of faith that articulate the Christian faith in ways that speak to their unique circumstances. 

 

Presbyterians have always been concerned to conduct the work of the church "decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). That interest in a reasoned, careful form of church government finds expression in the church's polity. 

 

Confession and polity, working together, give the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s constitution its shape. The denomination has a two-part constitution. 

 

Part 1 of the constitution is called the Book of Confessions. This includes statements of faith ranging from the 4th century AD to the 20th century. The Confessions include The Nicene Creed, The Apostles' Creed, The Scots Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Second Helvetic Confession, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Shorter Catechism, The Westminster Larger Catechism, The Theological Declaration of Barmen, The Confession of 1967, The Belhar Confession, and A Brief Statement of Faith--Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 

 

Part 2 of the constitution is called the Book of Order. It consists of four parts: The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity, The Form of Government, The Directory for Worship, and Church Discipline.

 

The church is called to be "Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei," that is, "the church reformed, and always being reformed according to the Word of God." At its best, the church does not seek to remake confession or polity to keep pace with the cultural moment, or adapt to societal trends in pursuit of an imagined relevance. Rather, the church is called to the continual reformation of its life and witness, always grounded in the witness of Scripture.