The Presbyterian Church in America

 

Sep 25, 2026 #ChristianFaithArchive #Christianity #PCA

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is growing while many historic Protestant denominations are shrinking — so what is different about the PCA? In 1973, a group of Presbyterian pastors and congregations made a costly decision: they left the existing denominational structure and formed what became the Presbyterian Church in America. The new denomination began with approximately 250 congregations. More than five decades later, the script documents approximately 1,673 congregations and 31% growth since 2000. This documentary examines the fascinating story behind PCA growth in America and compares it with the trajectory of the Presbyterian Church USA. We explore the theological convictions the PCA has maintained, including its commitment to biblical authority, the Westminster Confession, its position on ordination, and its traditional understanding of Christian sexual ethics. We also examine the positive strategies behind its growth — including church planting, campus ministry through Reformed University Fellowship, and serious expository preaching. But this is not simply a story about numbers. The documentary also examines the real pastoral costs and controversies surrounding the PCA and emphasizes an important distinction: institutional growth is not necessarily the primary measure of Christian faithfulness. Why is the PCA growing? What can its history teach us about theological conviction, church planting, discipleship, and the future of American Protestantism? This is the story of the Presbyterian Church in America — and the decision it made in 1973 that continues to shape it in 2026.