Scripture is the basis of our life together as Presbyterians. The Book of Order (how churches should live together to continue Jesus’ work in our world) and the Book of Confessions (a collection of statements that reflect what Scripture has led people to believe and work together in specific times and places), help us to be guided by our ancestors in the faith, and God’s Word to us now.

Each confession speaks to issues at a particular time. For example, the Westminster Confession of Faith, written in the 17th century, describes the tenets of the Reformed faith and describes the many ways God is revealed to us and cares for us. The Barman Declaration spoke out against the rise of the Nazi regime in 1934. The Confession of 1967 was written to respond to social challenges in the US including the civil rights and the Vietnam War. The Belhar Confession was written in 1982 to respond to the issues of apartheid and the church’s role in racial reconciliation in South Africa. Although written in response to particular challenges, confessions speak powerfully to us still about faith and the work we hope to do in this world.

In July 2023, the General Assembly of the PC USA appointed a special committee consisting of sixteen teaching elders (pastors) and ruling elders and charged them with drafting a new confession for our times. Matt Hartley, an SPC member, is a member of the committee. The committee has met numerous times since then to discuss a range of issues in society and the world that have arisen since the last confession in 1982 that have important implications for our faith. It is now seeking input from congregations to learn what they see as some of the most salient issues influencing our faith and our life together.