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Did You Know?
What Presbyterians Believe...
from PC(USA) Book of Confessions:
"Dealing with the Differences" (part 1 of 3)
Presbyterians who expect one right answer to every theological and ethical question are especially confused and deeply disturbed by these differences. (“What then does our church believe?”) But the differences also puzzle others who understand that there is room for variety within the fundamental unity of the church. It is therefore important that agreement be reached on some guidelines for dealing with divergences among the confessions. Following are some suggestions based on the theology of the confessions themselves:
a. Differences should not be exaggerated but should be understood and evaluated in light of the Christological and Trinitarian faith shared in common by all the confessions.
b. Differences should be judged central or peripheral, critical or relatively unimportant, in light of the confessions’ common Christological and Trinitarian faith, and in consideration of the most pressing problems and needs that confront the church in our time.
c. Where there are conflicts, decision in favor of one or another alternative—or in favor of a totally new alternative—should be sought by subjection of all confessional statements to possible correction in light of fresh reading of Scripture.
https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/boc2016
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