The Book of Confessions
The Book of Confessions is the book of doctrinal statements of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is designated “Part 1″ of the PCUSA Constitution, “Part 2″ being the Book of Order. It consists of several ecumenical, Reformed, and modern statements of the Christian faith. None of them are required to be subscribed to point-by-point, and the newer confessions are said to take precedence over the older ones in points of conflict. Taken together they as a body represent the official belief of the church.
Contents (Click on each for a detailed explanation and text):
- Nicene Creed (325/381 AD)
- Apostles’ Creed (second to sixth century)
- Scots Confession (1560)
- Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
- Second Helvetic Confession (1566)
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)
- Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)
- Westminster Larger Catechism (1647)
- Theological Declaration of Barmen (1935)
- Confession of 1967 (1967)
- A Brief Statement of Faith (1991)**
**”A Brief Statement of Faith” is a reformed confession written by a committee of this church following the 1983 reunion of the Northern and Southern branches of the church. It is the most recently added statement in the Book of Confessions, and has gained popularity for use in worship, as well as educational, settings.
