Our Vision
Our Vision
(What we want to see happen)
Thy Kingdom Come…
A glimpse of heaven on earth as we see the gospel of the invisible Kingdom of Heaven, transform us, our church, our city, our culture and our world to the Glory of God.
Our Mission
(How we go about making our vision a reality)
Making disciples who make a difference in Washington and the World to the glory of God.
Making Disciples
Developing fully devoted followers of Christ who glorify God, who grow in grace, who grow in groups and who grow in giving their gifts and the gospel.
Who make a difference in Washington and the world…
…by loving the lost (evangelism) and the least (mercy & justice); loving and engaging life and encouraging learning (cultural renewal); and loving and equipping leaders (resourcing today’s and tomorrow’s change agents).
…through new Christians who follow new callings and live grace driven lives in the marketplace and through new churches which form new counter-cultural communities that demonstrate the gospel’s distinctly different approach to life in issues like power, sex, money, forgiveness, etc.
…to the glory of God: We don’t exist for ourselves but for the glory of God and the growth of his kingdom.
Motto
Thy Kingdom Come
Purpose Values
The foundational values of our ministry must be based upon biblical principle. Our distinctive convictions define our ministry and the kind of church we are.
Glory & Growth
We do not exist for ourselves but for:
- the Glory of the King
- the Growth of His Kingdom
Our entire ministry is energized by this one principle with complementary facets: the glory of the King produces growth (I Corinthians 14:24-25) and the growth of the Kingdom glorifies the King (John 15:8).
Mighty Message
The message of the cross is the message of the Gospel (I Corinthians 1:18, Romans 1:18) and the means by which we accomplish our mission: it is the message of salvation for the unbeliever and the means of sanctification for the believer. The power of the Gospel message is unleashed by faith (Galatians 3:5).
Changed Lives
The results of ministry are changed lives-not simply nice people, but new people who have been reborn and transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the sacraments. This is our objective and the gauge by which we evaluate each ministry for every age and people group. It is not enough merely to ensure that the truth is taught; we must see evidence of changed lives.
New Community
We are committed to being a vital, biblical community which is distinct from the larger community in which we are located (I Corinthians 1:2). In that the visible church consists of those who profess true Christianity and their children, we are committed to equipping and strengthening Christian families as well as Christian singles.
Because the church is “God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19), we purpose to connect each person in every age and people group in life-changing fellowship with Christ’s people (I John 1:2-7). Every MPC Community should be:
- Welcoming and winsome to newcomers as well as supportive to members and regular attenders.
- Safe havens for self-admitted sinners who recognize their brokenness and need for redemption, healing and transformation by the gracious Holy Spirit.
- Places of growth in which everyone is encouraged to mature and given the necessary latitude and provocation for true life-change.
Life-change occurs in the context of the church, in which people grow not only in knowing the King’s commandments but also in practicing them. This kind of community is not built by our efforts alone but by the work of the Spirit through the Gospel of grace. And it is established and strengthened by the laity who have been equipped for the work of ministry in their respective gifts and callings (Ephesians 4:1-16).
Love for Those Outside the Faith
Since we are here not for ourselves, but for those whom Christ came to redeem, we purpose to welcome warmly our friends and associates who don’t yet believe and to encourage, not merely tolerate, sincere spiritual inquiry.
Believing that evangelism is a process rather than a program, we purpose to communicate persuasively and personally and to employ creative use of varied media, the performing arts, and special events. Evangelism is the by-product of our entire Gospel ministry.
Social Healing
We believe that only the Gospel can bring about significant solutions to our social brokenness. Because of sin, our human community experiences racism, class conflict, poverty, ethnic “cleansing,” cultural superiority, etc. Our Savior set the standard for self-sacrifice in that He became poor that we might be made rich through His poverty (II Corinthians 8:9).
Cultural Renewal
We are committed to cultural transformation brought about by laity in the marketplace who view their vocations as holy callings in which they, as salt and light, express the message of the cross.
Kingdom Mindset
We believe that McLean Presbyterian Church is a small part of the Kingdom of God growing throughout the world because of the power of the Gospel (Matthew 13:1-23; 11, 12.). We purpose to be a church with Kingdom perspective and global vision and are committed to fulfilling a significant role in world evangelism. Therefore, we purpose to:
- Develop ministries serving not only our church but also the Kingdom.
- Plant churches with similar core values in strategic locations in our metropolitan area.
- Place a priority upon planting new churches in our world missionary outreach.
- Network and partner with a wide variety of churches and ministries in the city, nation and world.
Theological Identity
In seeking to get acquainted with a church, questions are often asked not only about its history and philosophy of ministry but also about its theology. The question is sometimes phrased: “What does McLean Presbyterian Church believe?” We hope that this document will assist you in understanding our basic beliefs better. Should you have further questions, an Elder or a member of our ministerial staff would be happy to assist you.
We are Evangelical
To say that we are evangelical means that we take our stand with all those who believe in what used to be called “the fundamentals” or the fundamental tenets of classical historical Christian doctrine. These fundamental beliefs are the existence of the triune God, the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the substitutionary and vicarious atonement of Christ, the physical resurrection of Christ, the sure and bodily return of Christ, and the divine inspiration, infallibility and divine authority of the Bible as the written Word of God. We joyfully affirm our unity with those from every tradition and denomination who hold to these fundamentals, including those true believers in Christ who, for whatever reasons, find themselves members of denominations or churches with which we might have certain disagreements.
We are Reformed
The word “reformed” can be defined simply in two ways. (1) It is a reference to our historical link to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and intends to describe us as the heirs of that tradition which comes from Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and other reformers. (2) The word “reformed” is used also to refer to certain theological distinctives which have marked reformation believers, particularly those of the Calvinistic tradition. These distinctives can be summarized by our glad affirmation of the responsibility of every person to repent and believe, and that it is God who, by His sovereign electing grace, draws men and women, otherwise dead in sin, to faith in His Son. By this faith alone are God’s people justified. Reformed distinctives include the sovereignty of God in His creation, providence and election of believers apart from any merit of their own; the irresistible grace of God provided for and preceding the faith of the individual; the sufficiency of God’s grace apart from which man is dead in sin and wholly defiled in all his faculties of soul and body; the efficacy of Christ’s death for all those who believe in Him by grace; and the safe-guarding of all those for whom Christ died for eternal life. We seek to hold to our reformed convictions humbly, recognizing the sincerity and earnestness of godly men and women who have other positions touching upon these distinctive doctrines. Further, while we require our ordained ministers and officers to subscribe to these distinctive doctrines, belief in the reformed distinctives is not a prerequisite for church membership.
We are Confessional
This means that we have a written confession of faith which we believe to be a good and accurate summary of the Bible’s teaching. Our confession consists of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. These documents (available from our church office or in our church library) are not without flaw; yet we believe they do contain carefully worded summaries of the Bible’s content. All Ruling and Teaching Elders in the Presbyterian Church in America must vow that they hold to these standards and are required to indicate to their presbyteries or sessions where they take exceptions. It is important to note that every church has a confession, formal or informal, written or unwritten even though they may state that they have “no creed but Christ.” Every church summarizes its convictions in some form in order to identify its own church or denominational distinctives.
We are Covenantal
To say we are covenantal means we believe that the unifying principle of the Scriptures is the one covenant of grace that God made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and finally and most importantly, in Jesus Christ. The covenant is a pledge or bond of loyalty which God made to His people through each of the above named persons. The covenant is a relationship of loving loyalty that God has initiated with us as His people throughout human history. To speak of the unity of the covenants means that there is one way and one way only to salvation in both Old and New Testaments-that is, by faith alone in Jesus Christ.
Constitution & Bylaws
The Constitution of McLean Presbyterian Church
(as passed by the Congregation on January 13, 1989, and January 19, 1990)
ARTICLE 1. Name.
The name of this church is the McLean Presbyterian Church.
ARTICLE 2. Denominational Affiliation.
The McLean Presbyterian Church is a particular church of the Presbyterian Church in America.
ARTICLE 3. Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical Standards.
The doctrinal standards of McLean Presbyterian Church are the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Larger Catechism, and the Westminster Shorter Catechism, as adopted by the Presbyterian Church in America. In ecclesiastical matters, McLean Presbyterian Church shall adhere to the Book of Church Order, consisting of the Form of Government, the Rules of Discipline, and the Directory of Worship, as adopted by the Presbyterian Church in America.
ARTICLE 4. Civil Status.
Located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, McLean Presbyterian Church is unincorporated.
ARTICLE 5. Disposition of Assets.
Upon the dissolution of the church or the winding up of its affairs, the assets of the church shall be distributed exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes.
ARTICLE 6. Amendments to the Constitution.
Amendments to the Constitution of McLean Presbyterian Church shall be made only by two-thirds majority vote at each of two consecutive congregational meetings, with an interval of at least three weeks, but not more than five weeks, between the two meetings. Public notice of each meeting shall be given during the Sunday morning worship service the week before the meeting and the week of the meeting. Copies of the proposed amendments shall be mailed to each member not more than two weeks nor less than one week prior to each meeting.
The Bylaws of McLean Presbyterian Church
(as adopted by the Congregation on January 13, 1989; corrected April 22, 1998; amended February 23, 2003)
Preamble.
So long as McLean Presbyterian Church shall be a particular church of the Presbyterian Church in America or its successor, the Book of Church Order shall be used as the general directive by which it shall be governed. The Bylaws, as set forth herein, and as may be duly amended from time to time, are intended only as a supplement to the Book of Church Order, and if there is any conflict between these Bylaws and the Book of Church Order, then the Book of Church Order shall govern. (Parenthetical references to the Book of Church Order are provided throughout the Bylaws for assistance but are not themselves part of the Bylaws.)
ARTICLE 1. Congregational Meetings.
Section 1. Voting Membership.
Only communicant members shall be entitled to vote in meetings of the congregation. (BCO 25-1)
Section 2. Responsibilities.
a. Calling and removing Pastors and Associate Pastors. (BCO 20-2 through 20-8 and 23-1)
b. Electing Ruling Elders and Deacons. (BCO 24-1 through 24-9)
c. Approving the purchase, sale, transfer, or mortgaging of the real property of the church and electing trustees to execute such decisions of the congregation. (BCO 25-6)
d. Approving any major alterations to the buildings or grounds.
e. Approving and amending the Constitution and Bylaws. (BCO 25-7)
Section 3. Meetings.
a. Stated Meetings. The date of the Annual Stated Congregational Meeting shall be determined by the Session. The business of this meeting shall be to review the previous year, elect officers for the current year, review and discuss the budget, and consider any other matters brought to the attention of the Congregation.
b. Called Meetings. The Session shall call special meetings of the congregation when it shall deem them necessary or upon written petition of one fourth of the communicant membership. Public notice of the called meeting shall be given during the Sunday morning worship service the week before the meeting and the week of the meeting, or mailed to each member not more than two weeks nor less than one week prior to the meeting. The notice shall state the purposes of the meeting. The business of all such meetings shall be confined to the purposes stated in the call for the meeting. (BCO 25-2)
Section 4. Quorum.
If the church has more than 100 resident communicant members, one-sixth of such members shall constitute a quorum, but if the church has 100 or fewer resident communicant members, one fourth of such members shall constitute a quorum. (BCO 25-3)
Section 5. Moderator.
The Pastor shall normally serve as moderator of meetings of the congregation. In the absence of the Pastor, the congregation shall elect an interim moderator who may be a teaching elder, a ruling elder, or any male member of the congregation. By a majority vote of communicant members present, the Pastor may be required to yield the chair, but actions of such a meeting shall not be binding until ratified by a subsequent meeting called in accordance with due process. (BCO 25-4)
Section 6. Clerk.
A clerk shall be elected at each meeting of the congregation to keep correct minutes of the proceedings and to report them to the Session. (BCO 25-5)
Section 7. Rules of Order.
Meetings of the congregation shall be conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 8. Proxy Voting.
There shall be no absentee or proxy voting at meetings of the congregation.
ARTICLE 2. Pastors and Staff.
Section 1. Pastor.
The responsibilities of the Pastor are those defined by the Book of Church Order. The Pastor shall serve as moderator of both Session meetings and congregational meetings. He shall be an ex-officio member of all boards, committees, and organizations connected with the church. The Pastor shall provide day to day leadership to the staff in accordance with applicable policies of the Session and the Diaconate. (BCO 8-1 through 8-5, 10-3, and 25-4)
Section 2. Associate Pastors.
Each Associate Pastor shall be assigned specific ministry responsibilities by the Pastor in consultant with the Session. In the temporary absence of the Pastor, the senior Associate Pastor shall perform all of his ministerial duties. When the church is without a Pastor, the Session will normally request the Presbytery to appoint the senior Associate Pastor as moderator of the Session. The number of Associate Pastors shall be determined by the congregation.
Section 3. Calling of Pastors and Associate Pastors.
The calling of Pastors and Associate Pastors shall follow the process prescribed in the Book of Church Order. (BCO 20-2 through 20-8)
Section 4. Assistant Pastors and Other Professional Staff.
a. As the needs of the congregation require, professional staff in addition to a Pastor and Associate Pastors may be added. Determination of the need for a particular staff position shall be made by the Session.
b. These additional professional staff may be teaching elders (in which case they shall be designated Assistant Pastors), ruling elders, interns, or lay people (members or non-members), consistent with the needs of the position.
c. When a vacant position to be filled is that of Assistant Pastor or other professional staff, the Session shall use its discretion as to the proper way to conduct a search and to make a recommendation to the Session. The actual invitation to serve, including terms of employment, shall be the responsibility of the Session.
Section 5. Administrative Staff.
Administrative staff to perform clerical, custodial, and other support functions shall be hired in accordance with policies established by the Session. The actual hiring of such staff may be delegated by the Session to the Deacons or to the professional staff.
ARTICLE 3. The Session.
Section 1. Membership.
The Session is composed of the Pastor, Associate Pastors, and the body of ruling elders elected by the congregation to serve for particular terms. (BCO 12-1)
Section 2. Responsibilities.
The responsibilities of the Session (and of individual elders) are those defined by the Book of Church Order. (BCO 8-1 through 8-5, 8-8, 8-9, 9-2, 9-7, 12-5, and 12-8)
Section 3. Meetings.
Meetings of the Session shall be governed by the Book of Church Order supplemented by the Session’s own standing rules. (BCO 9-4, 10-1 through 12-9)
Section 4. Church Committees.
Church committees shall be established by the Session (except for Pulpit Committees which are elected by the congregation), shall have their members approved by the Session, and shall be responsible to the Session. At least one Session member shall serve on each committee. Each committee shall elect its own chairman unless one is designated by the Session. Copies of the minutes of church committee meetings shall be provided to the Session for review.
ARTICLE 4. The Board of Deacons.
Section 1. Membership.
The Board of Deacons is composed of the body of deacons elected by the congregation to serve for particular terms. The Pastor and Associate Pastors shall be advisory members of the Board of Deacons. Assistant Pastors and other professional staff may be invited to attend meetings of the Deacons, but without vote. (BCO 9-4)
Section 2. Responsibilities.
The responsibilities of the Board of Deacons (and of individual Deacons) are those defined in the Book of Church Order. (BCO 9-1 through 9-7)
Section 3. Meetings.
Meetings of the Board of Deacons shall be governed by the Book of Church Order supplemented by the Board’s own standing rules. (BCO 9-1 through 9-7)
Section 4. Church Treasurer.
a. Appointment. The Church Treasurer, and any Assistant Treasurers deemed necessary, shall be appointed by and serve under the supervision of the Board of Deacons. The Church Treasurer need not be a deacon. (BCO 9-4)
b. Duties. The Church Treasurer shall ensure that all receipts are properly recorded and promptly deposited. The Treasurer shall ensure that all disbursements are in accordance with the approved budget and are accounted for accurately. The Treasurer shall ensure that monthly financial reports are prepared for review by the Board of Deacons (and for subsequent transmittal to the Session) and that and annual financial report is prepared for the congregation. All church financial records shall be subject to outside audit as directed by the Deacons.
Section 5. Church Budget.
a. Preparation and Approval. The church budget shall be prepared by the Deacons, and approved and adopted by the Session after presentation to and discussion by the Congregation at a Congregational Meeting. Amendments to the budget during the year shall be prepared by the Deacons and approved by the Session. (BCO 12-5)
b. Fiscal Year. The church’s fiscal year shall be determined by the Board of Deacons with the advice and consent of the Session.
ARTICLE 5. Election of Ruling Elders and Deacons.
Section 1. Rotation System.
Ruling elders and deacons shall be elected to three year terms of service under a rotary system of three classes. A ruling elder or deacon having served two consecutive terms is ineligible for a new term until one year has elapsed. Election to fill one half or more of an unexpired term shall be counted as a full term; election to fill less than half of an unexpired term shall not be counted as a term.
Section 2. Size of Session and Board of Deacons.
The number of ruling elders on the Session and the size of the Board of Deacons shall be established each year by the congregation at the Annual Stated Congregational Meeting after hearing the recommendation of the Session. (BCO 24-1)
Section 3. Procedure for Nominations.
a. A committee of Session shall be formed no later than the end of March for the purpose of submitting nominations to the Session.
b. The congregation shall be provided an opportunity to submit names for consideration as nominees no later than the end of April. The committee shall carefully consider nominations from the congregation.
c. The committee shall report to the Session before the end of May concerning names that the committee recommends for nomination.
d. The Session shall give general approval of the list of nominees prior to the end of May. It shall ask the committee to determine the willingness of the nominees to run for office.
Section 4. Preparation and Training of Officer Candidates.
a. All nominees for ruling elder or deacon will be expected to complete an officer’s training course, held before the election, in which the doctrines and distinctives of the church and the qualifications and duties of the church offices will be discussed.
b. Following the course and before the election, each nominee shall submit to the Session a completed questionnaire regarding matters discussed in the course and the candidate’s sense of his particular calling to the church office.
c. Each nominee (and his wife, in the case of candidates who are married) shall be interviewed by the Session regarding his readiness to service and his willingness to answer the subscription questions in the affirmative with understanding.
d. The Session shall examine those nominated and then report to the congregation on election day those eligible for election.
e. This section shall not apply to an officer who has completed the training class and has been ordained by this congregation but has been inactive. Inactive officers, however, shall be encouraged to participate in the training class.
Section 5. Timing of Elections.
Election of ruling elders and deacons shall take place each January at the Annual Stated Congregational Meeting. At the discretion of the Session, or if requested by one-fourth of the communicant members, special meetings of the congregation may be called to fill vacancies which arise during the year or to enlarge the Session and the Board of Deacons. (BCO 24-1)
Section 6. Election Procedures.
All elections shall be by written secret ballot. There shall be no “white ballots” cast for elective offices. A candidate must receive a majority vote of those voting in order to be elected. (BCO 24-2 through 24-4)
Section 7. Ordination and Installation.
Ruling elders and deacons shall be ordained and/or installed on the Sunday following their election. If a newly elected ruling elder or deacon is not able to attend the installation service, arrangements should be made to install him publicly as soon as practical thereafter; in the meantime, he may commence his term of service by affirming his installation vows in the presence of the Session.
ARTICLE 6. Trustees.
Section 1. Responsibilities.
The trustees of McLean Presbyterian Church shall have the power and authority to buy, sell, transfer, or mortgage the property of the church, to accept and execute deeds, to hold and defend titles, and to manage any permanent special funds entrusted to them. In the fulfillment of these duties, the trustees shall act solely under instructions given by the congregation at duly called meetings.
Section 2. Election.
The number of trustees shall be four, and they shall serve for terms of one year with no limitation on the number of successive terms they may serve. The trustees shall be elected by the congregation at the Annual Stated Congregational Meeting after hearing the recommendation of the Session. Normally the trustees will be members of the Session, but the congregation shall have the option to elect any communicant member. Vacancies arising during the year shall be filled at duly called congregational meetings if deemed necessary by the Session.
Section 3. Number of Signatures.
The signatures of two of the four trustees shall be required to transact any business on behalf of the congregation.
ARTICLE 7. Amendments to the Bylaws.
Amendments to the Bylaws of the McLean Presbyterian Church shall be made only by a two-thirds vote at either a stated congregational meeting or at a special called meeting. Copies of proposed amendments shall be circulated to the membership in accordance with the notification procedures outlined in Article 1., Section 3., a. Stated Meetings or b. Called Meetings.
History
The History of McLean Presbyterian Church
McLean Presbyterian Church had its beginnings in the spring of 1943 when twenty Christians concerned about the increasing liberalism in the mainline Presbyterian Church met in the Shoreham Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. to consider joining the fledgling “Bible Presbyterian Testimony.” They continued to meet, grew in number, and in 1945 purchased a church building on Q Street in Georgetown. The congregation became part of the Evangelical Synod in the late 1950′s. In 1960 the members moved their meeting place to McLean, Virginia, changed their name to McLean Presbyterian Church, and in 1961 moved into their new building on Old Dominion Drive in McLean, Virginia.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church merged with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1965 to become the Reformed Presbyterian Church/Evangelical Synod (RPC/ES). In 1982 the RPC/ES joined the emerging Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), with which the church is still associated. Despite the construction of a considerably larger sanctuary at the Old Dominion Drive facility in 1975, the number of members grew beyond the building’s capacity. Unable to expand any further on the existing property, the present facility on Balls Hill Road was built and dedicated on Christmas Eve 1989. In November 2004 the congregation doubled the size of the facility on Balls Hill Road with a lovely addition.