Our Purpose and Vision

The purpose of Elmwood United Presbyterian Church is to introduce people to Jesus, inspire them in the worship of God, integrate them into the life of the church, instruct them in the process of Christian growth and inflame them with a passion to serve Christ in the church and in the world.

Elmwood's vision is to become the regional church of choice for those seeking transformation through Jesus Christ and the opportunity to transform this world into the kingdom of God.

Our Beliefs
Elmwood is a part of the Presbyterian Church USA, which has a rich history. The father of Presbyterianism is John Calvin, who converted to Protestantism in 1583, some 66 years after Martin Luther, a catholic clergyman protested against the abuses of the Catholic Church and nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Presbyterians spread to Scotland and England and finally to America when Presbyterians escaped persecution in Europe. At least 14 Presbyterians signed the Declaration of Independence.

African Americans are no strangers to the Presbyterian Church. With such notable personalities as Henry Highland Garnett, Samuel Cornish, Lucy Craft Laney and Mary McCloud Bethune, in the 1800's, African Americans flocked to the Presbyterian Church as a means of spiritual enrichment and social advancement through educational opportunities offered by the church. For more information on African American Presbyterians consult Black and Presbyterian: The Heritage and the Hope, by Gayraud Wilmore.

The first presbytery in America was established in Philadelphia in 1706. During the 1800's, disagreement over slavery and evangelism broke the church into northern and southern branches. The two branches reunited in 1983 to form the Presbyterian Church USA. The term Presbyterian means elder and refers to the custom of electing leaders and pastors to serve the church from among the wisest members. Presbyterians confess Jesus Christ as Lord, trust in Christ as the forgiving Savior, follow Christ's example for living, and commit to active participation in the church and in the world. There are no strict set of beliefs that unite or separate Presbyterians from other followers of Christ. Like many other Christians, Presbyterians believe that

- God is the Creator of the Universe.

- Christ is the incarnation of God on earth, the very Son of God, the Revealer
  of God and the Savior of humanity.

- The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the word and in the believer.

- God exists in the trinity of the Creator, Son and Holy Spirit.

- The Bible is the inspired word of God and the most authoritative source for
  faith and practice for all people.

- Salvation is made possible through the crucifixion and resurrection of
  Jesus.

Those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior are granted the gift of everlasting life.