By Dan Geohagan
The Parsons Advocate
Parsons, WV – There are over 30 churches in Tucker County of all different denominations. Yet we often times don’t know what the difference between all of them are. For the next several weeks I will be sharing the differences and histories of all the church denominations in our area. This week I will be sharing about the Presbyterian church.
We have two Presbyterian churches in our county. One in Parsons and one in Thomas. Both are part of PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of the United States of America). The Presbyterian church was one of the first denominations that came from the Great Reformation from the Catholic church in 1517. As a reformed church that is still conservative it still follows most of the old traditions such as Advent, lectionary and Lent. The church is conservative as well in music following time honored hymns.
“As a younger minister in the community I really hope to be able to share in the work of helping in the community,” Said Daniel Geohagan Pastor of Parsons Presbyterian. “It’s not about building numbers of the congregation but sharing in God’s work for the expansion of His kingdom. I have attended college to seek answers that I have always had about Christianity and now God has given me a church to share His Word and my studies on it.”
Something that is somewhat unique about the Presbyterian church is the ecumenical movement with other churches. Which is to say, that Presbyterians are always looking to work with other denominations for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
“It’s not about which church people are going to but that they are going in general,” Said Geohagan. “Just knowing that our community is alive in Christ in sharing in doing his works. That is what our church is all about. Being ecumenical is sharing in Christ’s love and breaking down the walls built by man.”
The church is immersed in an amazing history that travels from England to an early America. The actual structure of our governmental system is derived from that of the Presbyterians. Most of our founding fathers were also in the same denomination.
Being the second oldest denomination in the world of Christianity it does not let down the world with its reformed thoughts. As the world continues to change and advance so does the Presbyterian church as it’s “reformed and always reforming”.
Parsons Presbyterian Church’s service starts at 11a.m. on Sunday and First Presbyterian Church in Thomas service starts at 9:30 a.m.
