Our Denomination
First Presbyterian Church of Waco is one of more than 10,000 congregations connected through a representational system of church government, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This connectional system starts with the individual church and its governing body, the Session. Our Session is comprised of 24 elders, elected to three-year staggered terms, one youth elder elected annually, a Clerk of Session, an elder who may or may not be a current member of the Session, and our pastors, one of whom serves as moderator.
For a 10-year statistical look at our congregation, click below:
First Presbyterian Church Waco is a member church of Grace Presbytery, the regional governing body for 178 congregations totaling 43,000 members located in 53 counties in north and central Texas. Grace Presbytery claims God’s mission as our Grace Presbytery prepares and supports leaders to build vital congregations, nurture disciples and send apostles of our Lord into the world.
For more information about Grace Presbytery click below.
Grace Presbytery is one of 11 presbyteries in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana in the regional governing body, the Synod of the Sun. There are 900 congregations with 200,000 Presbyterians within the synod. The priorities of the synod are focused on ministry in higher education, multicultural ministry and resourcing the 11 presbyteries within its borders.
For more information about the Synod of the Sun click below:
The Synod of the Sun is one of 16 synods within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. The PCUSA has approximately 2.3 million members, more than 10,000 congregations and 14,000 ordained and active ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation.
One unique governing principal in the PCUSA is that other than the individual church session, each governing body and its committees consist of an equal number of clergy and elders to be faithful to our belief in equality between them.
For a quick review of Presbyterian 101, click below.
For a longer look at the PCUSA, click on the link below to the denomination's home page.
