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Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church

Our Congregation
We as a church strive for a dynamic spiritual development of all its member, eager to reach out to others "where they are at." This goes beyond mere inclusiveness or evangelism, reaching to the core of what it means to be Christ-centered. I envision a team of lay people that are willing to strive toward a common vision to create a spirit of contagious grace.

Pastoral Leadership
Here is not a call to be 'holier than thou," rather a call to be wholly honest, transparent, humble, and therefore fully comfortable with yourself as a "work in progress" and fearlessly open as you approach others with the Gospel."

On Scripture
The Bible is written so that we may apply grace, mercy, and faith in the world we find ourselves in today, as it has for the faithful of all generations. The wonder of God's Word is that this truth can be found in a canon of inspired poetry, parable, and historical recollections."

Our Pastor

Pastor Kahl & Family Pastor Ed Kahl and Family
Pastor Ed was raised in Allegheny, New York. While attending Tulsa University Ed joined the Presbyterian Church, and discerned that God was calling him to serve as minister of the sacrament. After graducation Ed attended Seminary at Dubuque Theological Seminary, a smaller seminary with a well balanced approach to evangelism and mission. While on a summer internship in South korea he met his wife Suk Hwa. Her journey in life and faith has broadened and challenged Ed to grow in faith and love.Ed and his wife Suk Hwa have two wonderful children, Hanna and Tyler. They all love hiking, books, movies, music, and travel. Suk Hwa is a special education teacher and yoga instructor.

Pastor Ed also serves as a Navy chaplain for the Marines, the Fleet, and finally the Military Sealift Command serving over 50 ships in the Far East. He has earned the Naval Commendation Award twice.

"The exciting journey here at Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church has led on to our adventure in the family of faith. The beauty of the Sound and the mountains resonate with the moments in my life
when I have experienced my closest walk with Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. I look forward
to realizing with all of you the great potential Christ has in each of our lives, as we dicover when we combine our many gifts, we can become a beacon of faith for our community and the world." - Rev. Ed Kahl

About Our Denomination

Presbuteros, the Greek word meaning elder, is used 72 times in the New Testament. In Apostolic times leaders were chosen from among the wisest members of the church. It provided the name for the Presbyterian family of churches, which includes the Reformed churches of the world. Both Presbyterian and Reformed are synonymous with churches of the Calvinist tradition.

John Calvin is considered the father of Presbyterianism. During the period 1533 - 1564 he became a leader of the Protestant Reformation in Geneva, Switzerland. His teachings stressed a direct relationship with God. After studying under Calvin, John Knox returned to Scotland in 1559 and established the Presbyterian faith. The Westminster Assembly called together an alliance of English, Scottish and Irish Presbyterians and prepared the Psalter, Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms and other key texts from 1643 to 1649. Religious persecution drove many Presbyterians to America.

In America, the first presbytery was organized in 1706, the first synod in 1717. The first General Assembly was held in 1789. Today's Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was created by the 1983 reunion of the two main branches of Presbyterians in America, separated since the Civil War: the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. and the United presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. The latter had been created by the union of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America in 1958

PCUSA is distinctly a confessional church and a connectional church, distinguished by the representation of elders - laymen and laywomen - in its government. The church has approximately 2.3 million members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, in over 10,000 congregations. The denominational offices are located in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Ten Essential Beliefs of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

1. Trinity - We believe in one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer).

2. Incarnation - The eternal Word of God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is fully divine and fully human.

3. Justification - Salvation is by grace alone through faith, not through our good works.

4. Scripture - The Bible is the sole and final authority for salvation and the life of faith.

5. Sovereignty of God - The Lord creates, sustains, rules and redeems the world in sovereign righteousness and love, reflecting God's majesty, holiness and providence.

6. Election - God chooses people for salvation and service. Election is through grace alone, not because of our merit or good works.

7. Covenant - God's covenant of grace is revealed in both the Old and the New Testaments (one covenant in the whole Bible). The Sacraments are related to the them of covenant.
    Baptism is God's act of bringing us, whether as infants or adults, into the covenant community.
    The Lord's Supper reminds us of God covenant of grace through Christ's broken body and shed
    blood. The real, spiritual presence of Christ is felt to a greater degree when this sacrament is
    celebrated.

The covenant life of the church is marked by a disciplined concern for order according to the Word of God.

8. Stewardship - In gratitude for salvation through God's grace, we respond by living simply and by being good stewards of all that God has give us. We seek to be faithful steward's of God's creation by shunning ostentation and using God's gifts properly.

9. Sin - We take seriously the fact of sin in our lives and in our world especially:
    The sin of idolatry, which is worshipping anything or anyone other than God.
    The sin of tyranny, which denies the Lordship of Christ over all of life.

10. Obedience - We are called to live in obedience to Jesus Christ. In obedience to Christ, we work for justice and peace in the transformation of society.