Merritt Island Presbyterian Church

"In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God's new heaven and new earth praying, 'Come, Lord Jesus.'" — From A Brief Statement of Faith

Merritt Island Presbyterian Church (MIPC) is part of the largest Presbyterian denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Presbuteros, the Greek word meaning elder, is used 72 times in the New Testament. It provided the name for the Presbyterian family of churches, which includes the Reformed churches of the world. Both Presbyterian and Reformed are synonymous with churches of the Calvinist tradition.

In America, the first presbytery was organized in 1706, the first synod in 1717; the first General Assembly was held in 1789. Today's Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was created by the 1983 reunion of the two main branches of Presbyterians in America separated since the Civil War — the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. The latter had been created by the union of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America in 1958.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is distinctly a confessional and a connectional church, distinguished by the representation of elders — laymen and laywomen — in its government. The church has a membership of 2.3 million in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Currently there are nearly 11 thousand congregations, over 21,000 ordained ministers, 1,100 candidates for ministry and more than 94,000 elders.

MIPC is locally governed by the Session.  The Session is made up of 15 members, called elders, who are nominated, elected by the congregation, ordained and installed.  They each serve 3 year terms and serve as chairmen and members of the Commissions. The pastor serves as the moderator of the Session.  We have a democratic system based on the needs of the commissions and the votes of each elder.

While the Session governs the church locally, we are regionally governed by the Central Florida Presbytery, composed of 75 churches in Central Florida, with 3 churches in development. 

Central Florida Presbytery is part of the Synod of the South Atlantic. Every two years, commissioners from every Presbytery in the United States gather to meet at the General Assembly.  More information on church governance can be found at PCUSA.org. 

The Board of Deacons is made up of 18 members, called deacons, who are nominated, elected by the congregation, ordained and installed.  They each serve 3 year terms and serve as chairmen and members of the Commissions.  Deacons are the “shepherds of the church” and provide support to church members.