What Is a Presbyterian Church?

The name comes from the Greek word presbyteros, which means “elder.” A Presbyterian church is one governed by elders, rather than by a bishop ruling over it or by congregational vote alone.

In practice, that means no single person runs the church. Each congregation is led by a group of ordained elders called a session, and the pastor is part of it. Ruling elders are ordinary members - the doctors and counselors and entrepreneurs sitting in the pews - men elected by the congregation they serve. If you disagree with a decision, there’s a body to bring it to and a process for sorting it out.

Congregations aren’t independent, either. Each one belongs to a regional presbytery (Utah sits in NorCal Presbytery), and the presbyteries together make up a General Assembly. That structure gives a church the kind of accountability it can’t provide for itself. Pastors are examined and ordained by the presbytery, and serious matters can be appealed beyond the local congregation.

Presbyterian worship tends to be straightforward: Scripture read and preached, prayer, singing, and the Lord’s Supper. The sermon usually works through a book of the Bible passage by passage instead of hopping from topic to topic. At CrossPoint we celebrate the Lord’s Supper every week.

CrossPoint is part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). We gather Sundays at 10:00 AM at 4199 Kilby Road in Park City.