Entering the PC(USA) Book of Confessions

The PC(USA) is unique as it is governed by it's polity. There are two books that make up the Constitution. The Book of Order and the Book of Confessions.

The Book of Confessions is comprised of 12 historical, doctrinal documents of the church that speak how scripture is interpreted and lived out in certain times and helps us speak to our own faith life lived out public witness. READ THE BOOK OF CONFESSIONS

Apostles Creed	Nicene Creed
Scots Confession	Heidelberg Catechism
Second Helvetic Confession	Westminster Confession of Faith
Shorter Catechism	Longer Catechism
The Barmen Declaration of Faith	The Confession of 1967
Belhar Confession	A Brief Statement of Faith of the PC(USA)

During a traditional worship service the Affirmation of Faith comes from the confessions. Many churches typically only use the Apostles Creed.

Scots Confession - written in 1560 by Scottish Reformers, including notable John Knox. During the Reformation it was needed to delineate from the Roman Catholic and these reformers spoke to the role of the church. Specifically about the "sacraments" being only that which was done in scripture (Baptism and the Lord's Supper). The role of reading the scriptures is important and how we worship and trust in a Triune God.

Heidelberg Catechism- around 1563 in Switzerland,

The Second Helvetic Confession - written in 1564, part of the Swiss-German Reformation. This document is truly the work of Heinrich Bullinger who took over the church in Zurich from Reformer Zwingli. This document emphasizes the church and its life and affirms the authority of Scripture for the church's government and reformation.