ABOUT US

For over 60 years, God has faithfully accomplished His ministry through this Body of Christ called Colonial. Born from a church plant Sunday school called Boone Church, Colonial Presbyterian Church was established in 1953 at 9500 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO. Our Overland Park, KS campus, near Quivira Rd and 135th Street, was opened in 2002, making us one church in two locations.

OUR BELIEFS

As members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church we hold tightly to the Essentials of Our Faith as laid out by the EPC. We also maintain the system of doctrine found in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Beliefs are often best discussed in dialogue. Accordingly, our pastors would love the opportunity to talk with you about the beliefs of Colonial.

Here is a brief overview of what we believe:

1. There is one God who is revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all with unimaginable power, goodness, and love. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

2. All humans have dignity because they were created by God in His own image. Although we were created by God to enjoy him and bring him glory, we all disobey him. This is sin. Because of this sin, we are separated from God, each other, ourselves, and creation. The only way to be restored and reunited with God is by his grace, given to those who repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; Titus 3:3-6)

3. Jesus is the Son of God, fully human and fully God. He lived a perfect life and offered himself as a sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross. Three days later he rose from the dead, forever defeating death. Through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven and we are restored before God. Jesus now reigns forever in heaven. He will come again to judge everyone who has ever lived. (John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Matthew 24:36-44)

4. God uniquely reveals himself to us through the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. The Bible is authoritative and tells us how to have a relationship with God, what we are to believe, and how we are to live. Because it is God’s word, the Bible should be believed, trusted, and obeyed in life and in faith. (Matthew 4:4; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

5. The Holy Spirit lives in those who put their faith in Jesus for their salvation, helping them to become more like Christ. (John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 1:13-14)

6. God is at work to redeem and reconcile all that he has made to himself. We believe he is doing this through the local church. He invites everyone who is willing to follow Jesus to join his church. (Isaiah 11:6-9; Matthew 18:18-20; Revelation 21:1-5)

7. All those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior are to BLESS others in the places that they live, work, play, and learn, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and inviting them to discover who God is. (Genesis 12:2-3; Matthew 28:18-20)

WHY PRESBYTERIAN?

So, why “Presbyterian?” What does that word mean, anyway? So glad you asked!

The word “Presbyterian” comes from the Greek word presbyteros, which means “elder.” So, to make it really simple, if a church is Presbyterian, the church is governed by elders.

You might be familiar with churches that are governed in more of a top-down style, usually through a hierarchy. For instance, Episcopalian churches are governed by bishops (episkopos is the Greek word for “bishop”). In other kinds of churches, the congregations are autonomous and the members make all the decisions through voting. Those churches are usually called Congregational in their government.

In Presbyterian churches, congregations elect their elders, and the elders prayerfully make most decisions as a group on behalf of the congregation (although very large decisions often include a congregational vote or direct input). If a decision has to be made that affects several churches, elders from each of those churches get together to make the decision collaboratively.

If you’re thinking, “Some of that sounds like how the United States government works,” then you’re right! Many aspects of the United States’ representational government were modeled after Presbyterianism!

It’s not only churches in Presbyterian denominations that run this way. Any church that is governed by elders is Presbyterian in their government, and this includes many other denominations and non-denominational churches.

At Colonial, we currently have 18 elders serving the congregation in this way with 6 of those elders also having clergy responsibilities.

If a church is part of an actual Presbyterian denomination, it means that not only is it Presbyterian in church government, but it also subscribes to Presbyterian theology to some level.

Probably the most thorough explanation of Presbyterian theology is in the Westminster Confession of Faith – and it is thorough! Members are not required to agree with everything in the Confession, but it does represent a summary of what Presbyterian churches will teach.

Colonial belongs to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. The EPC recognizes that not every church or church member is going to agree on every doctrinal point, so they’ve written “The Essentials of our Faith,” which are seven statements held to be core, non-negotiable beliefs. This is a much shorter list than, say, the Westminster Confession, and it allows us to have the freedom to disagree (with love and respect) on matters that aren’t considered absolutely essential.

So, there you have it! We’re Presbyterian because we believe churches are best run by a Spirit-led group accountable to each other and their congregations, and because we hold to key doctrines of the faith while also allowing freedom to biblically and lovingly disagree.

When you’re Presbyterian, it isn’t just you trying to be a Christian on your own, anymore. You get a whole family as part of the deal.