What is a Presbyterian Church?
What does Presbyterian mean?
Good question. In short, the word ‘presbyterian’ comes from the Greek word "elder." Presbyterian refers to a representative form of church government, very similar to how our republic works in America – we elect our representative leaders.
A Presbyterian church is led by a group of elders (sometimes called a “session”) that are nominated, trained, examined, and voted upon by the church congregation. It’s important for the church to know and elect its leaders and recognize those in the body that are called to lead and serve.
El Camino is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Our denomination is divided up into smaller geographical groups called presbyteries, of which we are members of the South Coast Presbytery (San Diego, Orange County, Riverside).
We don’t want to exist all on our own because we value accountability and being a part of a denomination that cares about the truth of the Scriptures and proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth.
What if I’m not Presbyterian?
You may have grown up outside the church or in a different tradition. Being a member of El Camino in no way means that you have to be "presbyterian."
Our congregation includes diverse church backgrounds – from Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, and non-denominational traditions. Becoming a member at El Camino is about a commitment to Jesus Christ and to the worship and work of the local church with your fellow brothers and sisters.
Our ultimate goal as a church is to see you flourish as a disciple by growing in your love for Christ and others. We believe that our form of church government is evidenced in the Scriptures. Yet ultimately, issues of church government are secondary to Christ's call for us to extend his kingdom to the ends of the earth.