Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation.  Many of the early Presbyterians in America came from England, Scotland and Ireland. The first American Presbytery was organized at Philadelphia in 1706. The first General Assembly was held in the same city in 1789. The first Assembly was convened by the Rev. John Witherspoon, the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence.

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.

Portions of the Presbyterian church in the United States have separated from the main body, and some parts have reunited, several times.  The greatest division occurred in 1861 during the American Civil War. The two branches created by that division were reunited in 1983 to form the Presbyterian Church (USA) currently the largest Presbyterian group in this country.

Some of the principles at the core of Presbyterian beliefs are 1.) God is the supreme authority throughout the universe; 2.) Our knowledge of God and God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ; 3.) Our salvation through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments; 4.) It is everyone's job - ministers and lay people alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. That is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women.

As far back as 1837 the General Assembly declared that the church, by its very nature, is a missionary society whose purpose is to share the love of God in Jesus Christ in word and deed and with all the world. Witnessing to the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world, Presbyterians engage in mission activities, seek to alleviate hunger, foster self-development, respond to disasters, support mission works, preach the gospel, heal the sick and educate new generations for the future.

The church has a membership of 2, 587,674 in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Presently there are 11,260 congregations, 20,940 ordained ministers; 1,255 candidates for ministry; and 108,532 elders.

Mission in the United States is decentralized as much as possible, determined by and administered at the appropriate level of the 16 regional synods, the 173 presbyteries and the more than 11,000 congregations.

Beyond our borders, we engage in mission and relations in partnership with churches and ecumenical bodies in more than 80 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific.

This congregation is in the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois located in the regional Synod of Lincoln Trails.

The Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois is made up of 103 congregations and their 12,801 members. These churches have ministries and mission that are healthy, vital and thriving.