Presbyterian 101 - the Meaning Behind the Seal

The following is an article by Elizabeth Mark.  She has written a very informative article about the Presbyterian Church Seal in the form of our Cross.  It has been a long time since I have looked at this specific cross and I did not realize all the symbolism contained within it.  Perhaps everyone else does, but I thought I would share this article.  I talked with Richard and he thought it would be alright to share, so here it is.  Also if you have a chance, please click on the link provided to visit the Author's blog, A Spiritual Break and have a look at some of her other writings.

** This article has been reproduced with permission of the author, Elizabeth Mark.  If you have any questions regarding the origins of Presbyterian 101, please contact me at briandishman@gmail.com

              Presbyterian Seal

Presbyterian 101

Religious symbols are a part of human history. 

Let’s take a closer look at the seal of the Presbyterian Church (USA). 

This seal is a registered trademark designed by Malcolm Grear (Rhode Island School of Design) and a task force made up of various Presbyterians.  It is comprised of several basic components; the seal being:  cross, scripture, a descending dove at the upper part of the cross, and flames on either side of the lower part of the cross; and the name of the denomination encircling the symbol.  The seal is a symbolic statement of the church’s heritage, identity, and mission.

Now for a closer look at the symbol.

The Cross:  represents the incarnate love of God in Jesus Christ, his passion, his resurrection.  The Celtic cross was chosen as a model because of its association with Presbyterian history.

The Open Book:  The two center lines of the cross are the representation of an open book.  This highlights the emphasis which the Reformed tradition has placed on the role of Scripture as a means of knowing God’s word.

The Dove:  The slightly-flared shape of the top of the cross depicts a descending dove thus a symbol of the Holy Spirit and is intimately tied to the representation of the Bible.  The Spirit is both inspiring and interpreting Scripture in the life of the church.  The dove also symbolizes Christ’s baptism by John and the peace which is resurrection brings to a broken world.

The Lectern or Pulpit:  Beneath the image of the book is the suggestion of a lectern or pulpit, which captures the important role of preaching in the history of Presbyterian worship.

The Flames:  Found in the lower part of the design, they also form an implied triangle with the dove.  The flames have a double meaning.  As a symbol of revelations in the Old Testament when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush; and as a symbol of the beginning of the Christian church when Christ manifested himself to his apostles at Pentecost & charged them to be messengers of the good news of God’s love.

The Triangle:  A traditional symbol of the Trinity; also a symbol for Presbyterian government with its concern for balance and order.

Theological symbols:  Let’s see if you can find these.  The body of the dove becomes a fish, an early symbol for Christ.  The center line under the book may look like a baptismal font or a communion chalice (cup).

So, the next time you see this symbol take a moment to think about the Presbyterian heritage and what this special image means to you.