The seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a symbolic statement of the church’s heritage, identity, and mission in contemporary form. Symbols incorporated within the seal are the cross, a descending dove, representing the Holy Spirit and the sacrament of baptism, a fish, representing the church, an open book, representing Scripture, a pulpit, representing the preaching of God’s word, a cup or chalice, representing the sacrament of communion, a robe, representing the humanity of Jesus, flames, suggesting both God’s revelation to Moses in the burning bush and the appearance of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and, finally, a triangle representing the trinity.
Symbols in the PCUSA Seal
The dominant element in the design is the cross — the universal and most ecumenical symbol of the Christian church. The uppermost horizontal section of the cross is in the shape of a descending dove, a representation of the Holy Spirit. Within the dove can be seen the form of a fish, an early-Christian sign for Christ. The upper portion of the horizontal section of the cross is in the form of an open book, representing Scripture, the emphasis which the Reformed tradition has placed on the role of Scripture as a means of knowing God’s word. 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. Within this portion of the seal may also be recognized a cup or chalice, representing the Lord’s Supper, and a robe indicating the humanity of Jesus Christ. Integrated into the lower part of the design are fire or flames which form an implied triangle, a traditional symbol of the Trinity. The flames convey a double meaning: God speaking to Moses from the burning bush and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles at Pentecost.
Presbyterian Church in Burlington 