Park Cities Presbyterian Church

Park Cities Presbyterian Church
building of Park Cities Presbyterian Church
Map
Location4124 Oak Lawn Avenue Dallas, TX 75219
Country USA
DenominationPresbyterian Church in America
ChurchmanshipEvangelical, Reformed
Membership5,500
Websitepcpc.org
History
FoundedMay 26, 1991
Architecture
Architectural typeGothic revival
Administration
PresbyteryNorth Texas
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Rev. Mark Alan Davis

Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCPC) is a Presbyterian Church in America megachurch in Dallas, Texas with about 5,500 members.[1]

It is member of the North Texas Presbytery of the PCA.[2]

History

PCPC's origins started out of a failed attempt by Highland Park Presbyterian Church to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Although a simple majority(2,563) voted to withdraw and 2,001 to remain in the PC(USA), the vote required a 2/3 majority and thus the motion failed.[3]

At that time, Highland Park was the second-largest Presbyterian congregation in the US with more than 7,000 members. It was a bastion of conservative theology within the PC(USA).[4][5]

A group of individuals thus decided to leave HPPC and form a Presbyterian congregation not affiliated with PC(USA). The first worship service was held on May 29, 1991 in the auditorium of Highland Park High School. The attendance was about 1,500-2,000, who followed elder Harry Hargrave and other dissenting leaders the next Sunday after the vote. In June 1991, PCPC started meeting in the facilities of Highland Baptist Church; PCPC would ultimately purchase the building. On June 23, 1991 the congregation adopted its current name. The Highland Park Church lost more than a quarter of its membership, which resulted in decreased tithing, budgetary belt-tightening, and downsizing at the church complex on University Boulevard. Many who left Highland Park were elders and deacons. The majority of Sunday school teachers also left. Morale among those who stayed declined.

The first senior pastor of Park Cities congregation was Rev. Skip Ryan, who served until 2006. During Pastor Ryan's 15 years of ministry, the church grew from 1,500 members to 5,000-5,500.[6] During this time, the church helped plant 57 others churches in Dallas and around the world.[7] On May 11, 2008 Rev. Mark Alan Davis was installed as senior pastor.[8]

Doctrine

The church theologically describes itself as evangelical, evangelistic, Reformed, confessional, covenantal, Presbyterian and Kingdom centered.[9] The Westminster Confession of Faith is the official standard. The mission statement of the church is that it exists to extend the transforming presence of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in Dallas and to the world.

Missions

Park Cities Presbyterian Church is involved in several home mission efforts including the Southwest church Planting Network of the PCA, which facilitates new PCA churches be planted in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.[10] There are outreach and Presbyterian church planting works in Laos (Lao Presbyterian Fellowship),[11] Senegal, Japan, South India, Peru mission, Kiev mission.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Megachurch Search Results". Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  2. ^ "Church Directory". Presbyterian Church in America. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  3. ^ "www.hppc.org/history". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29.
  4. ^ "RELIGION The Schism". D Magazine.
  5. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  6. ^ "My Church Proves Grace Still Works". o-l-i.blogspot.hu. 16 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Skip Ryan and Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCPC)".
  8. ^ "About PCPC — Home". pcpc.org. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  9. ^ "About PCPC — Theological Identity". pcpc.org. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  10. ^ (PCA), Park Cities Presbyterian Church. "U.S. Missions — Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)". www.pcpc.org.
  11. ^ (PCA), Park Cities Presbyterian Church. "Lao Presbyterian Fellowship — Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)". www.pcpc.org.
  12. ^ (PCA), Park Cities Presbyterian Church. "Church Planting — Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)". www.pcpc.org.