The purpose of the newcomer seminar is:
- to review with participants the so-called “essential tenets” of the Reformed tradition;
- to offer suggestions for continued spiritual formation
- to review the polity of the Presbyterian Church
- to familiarize participants with the ministry of Indianola Presbyterian Church
- to provide resources for a better understanding of the history of the Reformed tradition and its theology of the sacraments

The Ten Essential Tenets of the Reformed Tradition

Tenets common to Christians everywhere:

1. The doctrine of the Trinity

2. The doctrine of the Incarnation

Tenets common to the Protestant tradition:

3. Ultimate authority of scripture

4. Justification by grace through faith

Tenets stressed particularly by the Reformed tradition:

5. Sovereignty of God

6. Doctrine of election

7. Life as covenant relationship with God and all humanity

8. Stewardship of the earth

9. Doctrine of sin (primary sin is idolatry)

10. Obedience

Spiritual Formation

Historically the Christian tradition has held up three major supports for nurturing the spirit:
prayer
study
action

Recognizing that finding a perfect balance between these three is difficult, the church offers a number of things which support not only the individual’s spiritual formation but the spiritual formation of the church as a community as well. These include:

Prayer:
regular Sunday worship
monthly Taizé prayer services
devotional time at all meetings and church gatherings
other worship opportunities throughout the year

Study:
church school for all ages every Sunday
small groups for both prayer and study
Lenten study groups
occasional special programming

Action:
many mission activities
offering care to the sick, homebound, and grief-stricken
serving in the administration of the church
worship leadership

Polity of the Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church affirms the following:
Christ alone is Head of the Church
Christ calls the church into being and is its authority
God alone is lord of the conscience
Rights of private judgment in all matters that respect religion thus considered universal and unalienable

The Presbyterian Church is governed by representative bodies composed of presbyters, both elders and ministers of Word and Sacrament. The governing bodies are as follows:
The Session consists of the pastors and elders in active service and is responsible for the mission and government of the particular church.
Presbytery is a corporate expression of the church consisting of all the churches and ministers of the Word and Sacrament within a certain district. It is responsible for the mission and government of the church throughout its geographical district.
Synod is the unit of the church’s life and mission which consists of not fewer than three presbyterian within a geographic region. It works to develop broad strategies for mission.
The General Assembly is the highest governing body and is representative of the unity of the synods, presbyteries, session, and congregations.

The Ministry of Indianola Presbyterian Church

The following represent the major areas of ministry overseen by the Session of Indianola:

Worship
- music ministry
- lay leaders

 

Christian education
- church school for children
- adult education
- small group ministry
- youth fellowship

Mission
- Indianola Children’s Center
- Neighborhood Services
- B.R.E.A.D.
- Bread for the World
- Alternative Gift Market
- Disaster Relief
- Special offerings
- Thai partnership

 

University Relations
- Student ministry
- outreach to the OSU community
- working in cooperation with the campus ministry of the presbytery

 - Moonlight Madness Midnight Breakfasts

 

Newcomers
- outreach to the community
- welcome and integration of newcomers
- newcomer seminars

Finance and Stewardship
- Stewardship education
- Management of financial resources
- Revitalization campaign

Property
- Oversight of the church property
- Management of rental properties

In addition, the Board of Deacons provides outreach and care to the active membership of the congregation. The service of the deacons includes:
- welcome and hospitality
- visiting the sick and homebound
- preparing the table for communion
- pastoral care to all members