Speaking of Sacraments in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4.1.9. The translation used in this essay is by Ford Lewis Battles in John T. McNeill, ed., The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 2, trans. (Louisville: Westminster Press, 1960). Calvin, Institutes, 4.14.17. Calvin, Institutes, 4.17.46, 4.17.44. Harold M. Daniels, To God Alone Be Glory: The Story and Sources of the Book of Common Worship (Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2003), 96–97. Visit http://www.pcusa.org/ sacraments to learn more about Invitation to Christ or to download a free copy of the report. The following are just a few examples of works that have appeared since the 2006 publication of Invitation to Christ: Paul Galbreath, Leading from the Table (Herndon, VA: Alban, 2008); Martha Moore-Keish, Do This in Remembrance of Me (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008); Ronald P. Byars, What Language Shall I Borrow (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008); and Kimberly Bracken Long, The Worshiping Body (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2009). Calvin, Institutes, 4.14.3. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Book of Order, W-3.3600. See http://www.pcusa.org/sacraments/worship.htm, where other these and other examples may be found. Many more stories may be found at http://www.pcusa.org/sacraments/tell.htm. For baptism: (1) participation in Christ's death and resurrection; (2) cleansing, pardon, and renewal; (3) the gift of the Holy Spirit; (4) incorporation into the body of Christ; and (5) the sign of the kingdom. For the Eucharist: (1) thanksgiving to the Father; (2) anamnesis or remembrance of Jesus Christ; (3) invocation of the Holy Spirit; (4) communion of the faithful; and (5) the meal of the kingdom. See Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry: Faith and Order Paper No. 111 (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1982). A summary of the findings of the February 2009 Presbyterian Panel survey is available at http://www.pcusa.org/research/panel/summaries/panelsacraments02-09summary.pdf. These figures are not available in the online summary of the survey, but may be found in the appendix containing the complete results. Results of a second survey on sacramental practices in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are forthcoming. James F. White, Sacraments as God's Self-Giving (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2001), 113. Additional informationNotes on contributorsDavid GambrellRev. David Gambrell—a minister of word and sacrament—is associate for worship in the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and a candidate for the PhD in liturgical studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.