The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia.

Beginnings

Presbyterian Christianity came to in Australia with the arrival of Presbyterians from different Presbyterian denominations in Great Britain at the end of the 18th Century.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia was formed when Presbyterian Churches from various Australian states federated in 1901. The churches that formed the Presbyterian Church of Australia were the Presbyterian Churches of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. These state churches were each established by act of parliament.

Church Union

(see also Basis of Union)

In 1977 the two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Congregational Union of Australia, and the Methodist Church of Australasia joined to form the Uniting Church in Australia. Much of the third that did not join the Uniting Church did not agree with its liberal views, although a number remained because of cultural connections.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia’s stated that the church has over 50,000 adults and children within its communion, more than 600 ministers, deaconesses and theological students, and 740 congregations.

At the last Commonwealth census (2001) nearly 720,000 people describes themselves as being, "Presbyterian." This makes Presbyterianism

Church Organizations

The Presbyterian Church of Australia’s missionary organization is Mission Partners, formerly the Australia Presbyterian World Mission. This organization has more than 170 cross-cultural missionaries.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia has established Arabic, Chinese, Cook Islands, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Samoan congregations.

The Presbyterian Inland Mission continues the work of the Australian Inland Mission founded by John Flynn in 1912. Padres patrol outback Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, and hopes to expand into the Northern Territory and Tasmania when resources become available.

The Presbyterian Church of Australia publishes the monthly magazine, and provides social and educational services.

Schools

The following schools are associated with the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

• Covenant College, Tuggeranong

New South Wales

• The Scots College, Sydney
• The Scots School, Bathurst
• Presbyterian Ladies College, Croydon
• Presbyterian Ladies College, Armidale

Queensland

• Fairholme College, Toowoomba

The following schools in Queensland are conducted by
the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association.

• Brisbane Boys' College, Toowong
• Clayfield College, Clayfield
• Somerville House, South Brisbane

Victoria

• Belgrave Heights Christian School, Belgrave Heights
• King's College, Warrnambool
• Presbyterian Ladies College, Burwood
• St Andrew's Christian College, Burwood
• Scotch College, Hawthorn

Theological Colleges

Presbyterian Theological Colleges operate the Presbyterian Theological Centre, Sydney, Presbyterian Theological College, Melbourne and Prezra, a Bible college in Adelaide. They also jointly administer the Consortium of Reformed Colleges in Brisbane with the Queensland Presbytery of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Beliefs

Ministers and elders of the Presbyterian Church of Australia are required to agree to the Westminster Confession of Faith as their authority under the Bible.

Note: the following

"Along with other true Christian churches, the Presbyterian Church believes that the Bible is the infallible Word of God.

As a result of this commitment to the Bible, we uphold the historic Christian faith.

• We believe in one God in the Trinity of the three persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

• We affirm the real historical events of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection and future return. We look to Him for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

• We submit to the Scriptures as the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

• We seek to live in obedience to the Great Commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself’; and we endeavour to fulfil the Great Commission: ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.’

The Presbyterian Church is a Reformed and Evangelical denomination whose understanding of Christianity is set out in the Westminster Confession of Faith. So we stress, as the Bible does, God’s initiative in people becoming Christian believers. This stance does not lead to a lessening of human responsibility before God nor does it take away from the importance of mission and evangelism, but rather establishes the conditions under which true human response to Christ can take place.

The Presbyterian Church does not claim to be the only true church. We see ourselves as forming one small part of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ and we seek to have fellowship wherever we can with fellow Christians who share with us a common loyalty to ‘the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude verse 3)."

Church Government

(see also Presbyterian church governance)

The Presbyterian Church of Australia is ruled, under God, by elders, or presbyters. Presbyterian Churches recognize two types of elders, teaching elders (ministers) and ruling elders. These elders meet at a local level in the Kirk Session. Only ordained ministers may preside at Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, except in the rare circumstance where the Presbytery licenses an Elder to do so. Likewise only a minister can administer Baptism. A Board or Committee of Management handles the material concerns of the local congregation. Deacons may also be elected to provide practical care.

The minister and an elder from the each parish have a seat at the Presbytery, the regional body, and at the General Assembly of their state. Every three years the General Assembly of Australia (GA of A) meets with commissioners from each Presbytery and state Assembly.

Famous Australian Presbyterians

See also List of famous Australian Presbyterians

John Dunmore Lang

John Flynn (aviator) The Flying Doctor

Sir Robert Menzies Twelfth and Longest serving Australian Prime Minister

See also

List of Presbyterian Denominations in Australia

Presbyterian church governance

Australian Inland Mission

Uniting Church in Australia

Basis of Union

External links