Home / Tools / Compare Denominations / Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Non-denominational

Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Non-denominational

A side-by-side comparison of Presbyterian / Reformed and Non-denominational teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.

Presbyterian / Reformed

The Reformed tradition follows the teaching of John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli and their heirs, and Presbyterian churches are its best-known family. It stresses the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and government by elders (presbyters).

More about Presbyterian / Reformed Christianity

Non-denominational

Non-denominational churches are independent congregations with no formal denominational parent. Most are evangelical, centered on the Bible and personal faith in Christ, but each sets its own doctrine and style, so practice varies more here than in any other group.

More about Non-denominational Christianity

At a glance

Where they differ: Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Church government; Style of worship.

Varies within one or both: Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Mary and the saints; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.

Side by side

Question	Presbyterian / Reformed	Non-denominational
Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree	Scripture alone is the supreme authority. Confessions such as the Westminster Confession are subordinate standards that summarize its teaching.	The Bible is the final authority, and each congregation interprets it for itself. Most hold to biblical inerrancy in some form.
Books of the BibleAgree	66 books. The Westminster Confession says the Apocrypha is not inspired and has no authority in the church.	66 books.
The TrinityAgree	One God in three persons, as defined at Nicaea and Constantinople and restated in the Reformed confessions.	Almost always Trinitarian, though statements of faith are set by each church.
How a person is savedAgree	Justification by grace alone through faith alone, with salvation entirely God’s work from election to glory. Good works are the fruit and evidence of faith.	Usually teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, received by a personal decision to trust him. Details are set by each church.
Can a saved person fall away?Varies	No. The “perseverance of the saints” holds that those whom God has truly chosen will be kept in faith to the end, though they may stumble seriously.	Varies by church. Many teach eternal security, and others teach that salvation can be lost.
Predestination and free willVaries	God unconditionally chose those he would save before the foundation of the world, which is the classic Calvinist position. Its five points are often summarized by the acronym TULIP.	Varies by church. Some are Calvinist and many are Arminian or take no stand.
BaptismDiffer	A sign and seal of God’s covenant promise. Infants of believers are baptized, generally by sprinkling or pouring, and baptism is not thought to save automatically.	Usually believer’s baptism by immersion, as a public witness. A few churches baptize infants or allow other modes.
Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Differ	Christ is truly present, but spiritually, through the Holy Spirit, for those who receive by faith. It is a sign and seal, not a change in the elements.	Usually a memorial ordinance, observed as often as each church chooses.
Sacraments or ordinancesDiffer	Two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.	Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Church governmentDiffer	Governed by elders. Each congregation is led by a session of elders, which belongs to a presbytery, then a regional synod and a national General Assembly.	Each church governs itself, generally under a pastor or a board of elders.
Clergy and women in ministryVaries	Varies. The PC(USA) ordains women as pastors and elders, while the PCA and other conservative bodies reserve those offices for men.	Varies by church. Many limit pastors to men and others welcome women in leadership.
Mary and the saintsAgree	Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus, and saints are remembered as examples. Prayer is directed to God alone.	Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. Non-denominational churches do not pray to saints.
Death, purgatory and hellAgree	Purgatory is rejected. Believers pass at once into Christ’s presence and await the resurrection. The unsaved face eternal punishment.	Believers go to be with Christ at death and unbelievers face judgment. There is no purgatory.
Style of worshipDiffer	Centered on the preaching of the Word. Worship is more sober than in Catholic or Lutheran churches and traditionally uses hymns and psalms, with some congregations now using contemporary music.	Free-form and often contemporary, with a band, a sermon and modern arrangements. Each church sets its own style.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries	The Spirit gives gifts to the church. Traditionally, many Reformed teachers held that miraculous gifts ended with the apostles (cessationism), while others, including charismatic Presbyterians, disagree.	Varies. Some non-denominational churches are charismatic and others hold that miraculous gifts have ceased.
Day of worshipAgree	Sunday, called the Lord’s Day. Some Reformed churches apply the Sabbath commandment to Sunday strictly.	Sunday, with some churches also offering Saturday evening services.
Best known for	The sovereignty of God, careful doctrine, government by elders and a long history of education and biblical scholarship.	Independence, contemporary worship, a focus on personal faith and the Bible, and rapid growth as a share of American churchgoers.

“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.

Presbyterian / Reformed vs. Non-denominational