
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has approximately 2.5 million members, 11,200 congregations, and 21,000 ordained ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has its national offices in Louisville, Ky., was formed in 1983 as a result of reunion between the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS), the so-called "southern branch," and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA), the so-called "northern branch." Visit http://www.pcusa.org for more information.