Facts about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Established: 1983 in Atlanta, reunion of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (northern church) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (southern church), which had separated in 1861 over the issue of slavery.

Total membership: 2.5 million members.

Total congregations: 11,300 congregations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

National offices:
General Assembly — Louisville, Kentucky.
Board of Pensions — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation — Jeffersonville, Indiana.

General Assembly budget: $125 million - $130 million annually.

Form of government: Constitutional and connectional — 11,300 congregations (governed by elected Sessions) are organized into 173 presbyteries (district governing bodies) and 16 synods (regional governing bodies) plus the General Assembly (delegated national annual meeting) which function under the authority of a two-part constitution — the Book of Order (church government) and The Book of Confessions (church doctrine).

Ordained offices:
Minister of the Word and Sacrament — ordained by presbyteries.
Ruling Elders (govern congregations) — elected and ordained by congregations.
Deacons (humanitarian service in congregations) — elected and ordained by congregations.

Total ministers: 15,000 active; 5,000 retired.

Historic firsts:
First Presbyterian congregation in America — 1683, Maryland.
First Presbytery — 1706, Philadelphia.
First Synod — 1717, Pennsylvania.
First General Assembly — 1789, Philadelphia.

Educational institutions:
67 church-related colleges and universities.
10 theological seminaries.
8 racial ethnic schools and colleges.

Total national staff: 600 employees.

Total overseas missionaries: 500 (includes paid and volunteer) in 90 countries.