What we believe

The Presbyterian form of Christian faith is best described as a 'Reformed' church with a strong emphasis on:

The Sovereignty of God
The Kingship of Christ 
The authority of the Bible.

Mission Statement

The Mission Statement below was received by the General Assembly in June 1992 at its meeting to mark the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the first Presbytery in Ireland.

We believe as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ, PCI is grounded in the Scriptures.

We exist to love and honour God through faith in his Son and by the power of his Spirit, and to enable members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world.

God calls us to a shared life

• Where we love, honour and are reconciled to one another whilst respecting our diversity within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

• We are called to encourage the exercise of the gifts of every member of the Body for the work of ministry and, seeking the renewal of the whole Church, to co-operate with other parts of Christ's Church without betrayal of our convictions.

God calls us to worship Him with our whole lives

• To meet together in groups large and small and gathering especially on the Lord's Day for the preaching and study of his Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the offering of prayer and praise with reverence and joy, using language, form and music appropriate both to Scripture and to our time and culture.

God calls us to mission as witnesses to Christ

• This is through both evangelism and social witness challenging the values of the world in which we live with the values of God's kingdom and winning men and women to faith and discipleship.

• This mission is to be pursued amongst all the people of Ireland, the peoples of the European Community and the whole world: those with whom we feel comfortable, those from whom we feel alienated and those who are in any way distant from us in culture and faith.

We ourselves are challenged with a biblical discipleship which is radical in its:

• self-denial
• simplicity of lifestyle
• stewardship of money
• faithful relationships
• prayerfulness
• concern for the world which God has created and love for its people whom he loves
and for whose salvation he gave his Son.

Subordinate standards

PCI believe that the Word of God as set forth in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and the supreme standard of the Church.

PCI, as a witness for Christ, has adopted subordinate standards. These standards are what the Church understands the Word of God to teach on certain important points of doctrine and worship. These subordinate standards are a testimony for truth and against error, and serve as a bond of union for members of the Church.

These Subordinate Standards are:

•    The Westminster Confession of Faith (as approved by the Church of Scotland in her Act of 1647)
•    Larger Catechism (as prepared by the Westminster Assembly of Divines)
•    Shorter Catechism (as prepared by the Westminster Assembly of Divines)