The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or PC(USA), is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination

Christian denomination

A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian

Presbyterianism

Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...

 denomination in the U.S. The PC(USA) was established by the 1983 merger of the former Presbyterian Church in the United States

Presbyterian Church in the United States

The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983...

, whose churches were located in the Southern and border states, with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America

United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America

The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was the largest branch of Presbyterianism in the United States from May 28, 1958 to 1983...

, whose congregations could be found in every state.

With 2,077,158 members and 13,462 ordained

Ordination

In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...

 minister

Minister of religion

In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...

s in 10,657 congregations in 2009, the reunited denomination is the most visible and influential Presbyterian denomination in North America.