Our Beliefs

Summit Presbyterian Church is a Reformed Protestant congregation affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), which has approximately 2 million members, 10,500 congregations, and 21,000 ministers. Worldwide, Reformed churches exist in 100 countries and have more than 75 million members. Presbyterians trace their history to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Today, the Presbyterian Church remains true to its early roots while being relevant to today’s world.

Some basic Presbyterian tenets are summed up in the ideas below. As a Reformed congregation, Summit Presbyterian members:

• Affirm the sovereignty of God.
• Believe they are created in God’s image, yet in freedom are prone to sin and rebellion.
• Trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• Find identity and nourishment in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
• Affirm the Holy Bible as God’s word.
• Place a high priority on the life of the mind, stressing both order and ardor.
• Are mission-minded, after the example of Jesus Christ, and feel called to be good stewards of God’s resources.
• Celebrate and affirm community, coming from many backgrounds and places.
• Are ecumenical, reaching out to other faith traditions as a way to better know and honor God.
• Are a connectional church that practices shared leadership.

“The Church reformed, always reforming.” according to the Word of God and the Call of the Spirit, from the Book of Order Section G-2.0200.

In order to help our visitors understand more fully about our church and its Presbyterian heritage, we offer an Inquirers’ Class at multiple times throughout the year for all individuals, couples and families. We welcome this opportunity to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. Please contact our office if you are interested in attending one of these sessions.

History of Summit

Created in November 1978, as the “Stafford Presbyterian Chapel” by The Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg, the church has been on its current six-acre site on Shelton Shop Road since 1982. It was chartered in March 1983, as Summit Presbyterian Church with 124 members. Summit has been under four permanent pastors, Carson Rhyne, Darryl Goldman, Steve Dyer, and Dan Hrach; one Associate Pastor, Nancy Dawson; two Parish Associate Pastors, Al Moreau and Sue Cyre; and four Interim Pastors, Jim Riach, Parrish Jones, Glynn Bell, and Howard Leming. Summit has worked hard to fulfill its original dedication “To the glory of God and His work”.

Since its foundation, Summit has supported active worship, Christian education, missions, men’s and women’s groups, children and youth, congregational care, and outreach programs. Children’s, youth and adult Christian education programs and Vacation Bible Schools are ongoing programs begun in the earliest days of the church’s history. Other missions include support to Stafford Emergency Relief through Volunteer Efforts (SERVE), monthly community meals, financial support to foreign missionaries, mission trips, group homes, and disaster relief. In recent years, missions have been added to rehabilitate local homes through Rebuilding Together, support needy Stafford families with gift and food donations through our Christmas White Gift program, support U.S. troops abroad, financially support the Campus Christian Community at the University of Mary Washington, Students Helping Honduras, and the Heifer Project.

In 2013, Summit celebrated its 30th year in God’s service as a chartered church in the Presbytery of the James, Presbyterian Church (USA). Praise and thanks to the Lord!