Question: Does the denomination list what it considers to be the essential tenets of the faith?
Response: The simple answer is that the PCUSA does not list any essential tenets (beliefs) while both the EPC and ECO list them clearly on their websites. You may recall that Henry did an 8 week sermon series this past fall on these historically Christian beliefs, which are: the authority and inerrancy of Scripture; belief in a Triune God; the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ; the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; salvation by faith and only through Jesus; the True Church of Jesus Christ; the return of Christ; and the Christian life – proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples.
The question is: why hasn’t/doesn’t/won’t the PCUSA list what basic beliefs they hold as essential? Rev. Dr. Ben Lacy Rose (a former moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly and professor at Union Theological Seminary) famously wrote, “If you asked 10 (PCUSA) pastors or seminary professors to make a list (of essential tenets), you would have 10 different lists.” While there doesn’t seem to be a good answer to this question, the mere fact that for nearly a century the PCUSA and its predecessors have refused to state clearly what they believe as a denomination is very troubling. Thus, pastors and elders in the PCUSA are free to interpret what beliefs are essential as they personally see fit, which explains in part why we find the “big tent” (the acceptance of a wide range of beliefs) existing in the PCUSA.
Please read the notes at the end of the comparison chart (found through the link) and especially read numbers 1-3 pertaining to essentials. Both the EPC and the ECO require all pastors and elders to study and to uphold the essential tenets as clearly stated by each denomination. Thus, both the EPC and ECO uphold: “In essentials – unity; in non-essentials – liberty; and in all things – charity.” By stating and upholding the essentials, we find the EPC and the ECO to be more solid and consistent in their teaching of scripture, more united in their beliefs, and more cohesive as denominations than the PCUSA.
by Dan Brown