FPC FAQs
Frequently asked questions. aka faqs. we may not have all the answers, but for the purposes of this page, we’ll pretend like we do.
Okay, first things first, how do you pronounce the name of your church? Because I just can’t. No worries! We’ve heard all kinds of pronunciations! It’s supposed to go something like this: prez-buh-tier-ee-uhn. We call ourselves First Pres. or FPC for short, though. Should you want to know what presbyterian means, read a bit further down the page.
What’s your mission and vision? At First Presbyterian Church, our mission is fairly straightforward: To be a church where all belong, grow, and serve in the name of Jesus Christ. Our vision is: To embrace the grace of Jesus Christ so that all may know God’s love. Or, even more straightforward: That all may know God’s love. By following Jesus, we embrace grace, love, and forgiveness in ways that might seem counter-intuitive and counter-cultural to many… but not to us.
When do y’all meet? We meet for worship at 10:00 every Sunday for in-person and livestream worship.
So what can I expect when I come to worship? When you walk into worship, someone from our Hospitality Team will be there to greet you. If you’re bringing children, you can keep them with you. Itty bittys ages 0-5 can go to the nursery, where a friendly group of staff and volunteers await you and your kiddos.
Worship is what some might call ‘traditional’ or ‘high church,’ though they’re not perfect descriptors. Do we have an organ? Yes. Do we sing old-time hymns? Yes. Do we have a worship band with high-tech lighting and sound? No. So if that helps you know what to expect, awesome! But here’s what else we’ll say about Sunday mornings: First Presbyterian is a place where you will hear the Word preached, where you will be drawn into a multi-sensory experience of the Divine, and where you will see the face of Christ in your neighbor, crossing lines of age, race, gender, political party, identity, or orientation. And though some have tongue-in-cheek described worship in a Presbyterian church as feeling frozen, at First it is anything but. It is dynamic. It is communal. It is warm and friendly. And it will make you realize you’re part of something— or rather, Someone— bigger than ourselves.
Word on the street is Presbyterians are fancy. So what do I wear to worship? We’re not going to lie, you’ll definitely see people wearing what might traditionally be called their “Sunday finest.” But here’s the thing: for some, that means dresses and suits; for others, that means jeans and a collared shirt. Let’s just be clear: we want you to come as you are. Fancy’s got nothing to do with faith; if anything, it’s quite the opposite.
Is there Sunday school? There are currently two adult Sunday school classes meeting on Sunday mornings: the Seekers class at 9:00 am and the Fellowship class at 11:15 am.
While there is not currently children’s Sunday school on Sunday mornings, we do have Kairos Kids on Wednesday nights at 5:45! There they will be fed — literally and spiritually — and they will play hard!!! Children do receive worship bags to peruse during Sunday morning worship, and we have nursery care during worship, as well! For adults, there are also classes available on Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm.
For more information on Formation classes (including children’s ministries), contact Pastor for Community Formation, Laura Neely. For more information on student ministries, contact our Director of Student Ministries, Leighton Parker.
Do you baptize babies? Yes! We love baptizing babies! While we recognize other Christian denominations may wait until you’re a bit older, we baptize babies because we believe God welcomes and initiates us into God’s loving household even when we are not old enough to make that claim for ourselves. That’s what we call grace. If you want more information on baptism, contact us here!
What about Communion? If I’m in worship, can I have the bread and the wine? Well, we don’t drink wine… at least, not at the communion table. We drink grape juice (that’s a whole thing we can explain in person). But yes, you can absolutely participate. All are welcome at God’s table.
The name Presbyterian: what does that even mean? Presbyterian means ‘ruled by elder.’ Our polity— or our form of governing ourselves— is very democratic in nature. Think about the United States government, which is led by elected officials. It’s very similar for Presbyterians, who are led by people elected by the congregation called elders. Together, the elders form a governing body called the Session, which makes big decisions on behalf of the church.
So the pastors aren’t in charge? No they aren’t; for that matter, neither is the Session. Christ is head of the Church. That being said, pastors make decisions about worship; specifically, they choose which Scriptures to preach and how to preach them, they select hymns, themes, etc… Pastors also provide spiritual guidance and leadership for the church and its many parts, including the Session and its committees. However, when it comes to making really big decisions, the pastors and Session work together to make them, with Session ultimately having the final call.
I’ve heard there are different kinds of Presbyterians. What is First Presbyterian LaGrange? You’ve heard correctly: there are different kinds of Presbyterians with different ways of being the church, just as there are different denominations not named Presbyterian (e.g. Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists). FPC is part of the Presbyterian Church USA, or PCUSA. For the purposes of this forum, the most important takeaway is that we’re a connectional denomination; which is to say Presbyterian churches don’t exist as an island unto themselves. First Pres., for instance, is part of a larger body called the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, which is a part of an even larger body called the Synod of South Atlantic, which is part of an even larger body called the General Assembly.
So you don’t have priests or bishops or a Pope? No we don’t. While we love our sisters and brothers in other denominations— as we are all part of what we call the holy catholic (i.e. universal) church— our way of existing very intentionally incorporates a chorus of witnesses from all walks of life at all levels of governance.
Can women be pastors or elders in the PCUSA? While congregations and Sessions ultimately decide who lead them, the answer is absolutely, 100%, unequivocally yes. In fact, per our church’s constitution (the Book of Order), all levels of governance “shall give full expression to the rich diversity of the church’s membership and shall provide for full participation and access to representation in decision-making and employment practices.”
Can LGBTQ+ persons lead or be married in the PCUSA? In reference to leadership, as with the previous question, absolutely, 100%, unequivocally yes. Pastors may also marry LGBTQ+ persons, be it on church grounds (at the behest of the Session, as is the case with any wedding or service of worship) or elsewhere. As we say in every wedding, “We rejoice that marriage is given by God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let marriage be held in honor by all.”
Okay, let’s switch gears. I’ve heard Presbyterians believe in something called predestination. That sounds to me like you think God has already planned every twist and turn in my life. Is that true? Ah, the ole ‘predestination’ question. It’s a good one! Without going too far down a theological rabbit hole, let’s just say this: Presbyterians don’t believe in predestination (or its companion word, ‘election’), per se. We believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who was both fully human and fully God. God didn’t send Jesus out of obligation; God sent Jesus out of grace and love. Why? To teach us. To show us how to live. To put flesh on what God looks like, on how God acts, and on what God expects of us. And though we human beings crucified Jesus, God still raised him from the dead to proclaim that no power in life or in death could ever separate us from God’s love.
What does that have to do with predestination? Well, everything. There’s a common misconception that predestination means God already has everything planned out and we don’t have any say in the process. Or that it means God has already predetermined who’s going to heaven and who isn’t. Our response? That’s God’s business, not ours. How God acts or plans or what God chooses to do is above our pay grade. Predestination is our way of assenting to the ultimate sovereignty of God. It’s our way of confessing that God is God and we are not. And because— as we said above— God is in the business of life, of good news, of grace and love, then any concept we have of God has to be viewed through that lens. Which is why we say predestination is, first and foremost, good news.
Good news? Why? Because predestination means that God decides what will become of us. The very same God whom we encounter in Jesus. The very same God who came down to show us how much we are loved. The very same God who is for us, not against us. The very same God who wills and chooses and elects life — not death — for us. That’s the God we worship and believe in: the sovereign God “who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
So you’re basically saying it’s God who saves us, not we ourselves? Yep.
But I thought we had to make a decision to give our lives to Jesus in order to be saved! Well, there are some Christians who claim that to be true. But we Presbyterians respond by saying that we’re too sinful, too selfish, too wrapped up in our own issues to make the claim that we could possibly save ourselves. In a nutshell: by the power of the Holy Spirit, God saves us in spite of — not because of — what we say and do. Again, that’s called grace.
That kind of sounds like you think everyone is saved. Not to sound like a broken record, but that’s above our pay grade. Those kinds of decisions are up to God, not us.
Well, if God does all the choosing, then what role do we play? We respond to God’s grace and love by extending that same grace and love to ourselves and to others. We don’t go around trying to “save” people, because that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. But we do go out— in word and deed— and share the gift of Good News that we are loved, that we are forgiven, that we are seen and heard, and that we are never alone. And we fight just as Jesus did for justice, for peace, and for love of all our neighbors.
We just went down the theological rabbit hole, didn’t we? Yes, we did. Sorry about that.
Okay, so if I want to get more involved, does that mean becoming a member? It can. Membership at First means committing to what we call the 3 Gives:
Give of your time to Christ in the community — We want our members to be among the most communally active folks in LaGrange and Troup County, constantly working to make this a better place. If you want to learn how you can serve the community at First, click here.
Give of your time to Christ in the church — Members may be asked to serve on committees, as Deacons, or as Elders. To make this place work, we need the input and participation of all people.
Give a portion of your finances to Christ’s ministry in the church — At First Presbyterian, we believe the Holy Spirit is at work building community, forming disciples, and transforming lives. None of that is possible without the generosity of members and non-members alike. If you want to learn how you can support the ministry of First, click here.
Also, if you’d like to know what we ask people when they become members of First, click here.
Have other questions? Contact us using the form below or call our office. If you want to learn more about our church or about what it means to be Presbyterian, come to Discover First. We’d love to engage any and all about what it means to be part of the Body of Christ.