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The Seal: A
Closer Look
The seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a
symbolic statement of the church's heritage,
identity, and mission in contemporary form. Its
power depends on both its simplicity and complexity,
as well as its traditional and enduring qualities.
The basic symbols in the seal
are the cross, Scripture, the dove, and flames. The
dominant structural and theological element in the
design is the cross — the universal and most
ecumenical symbol of the Christian church. The cross
represents the incarnate love of God in Jesus Christ
and his passion and resurrection. Because of its
association with Presbyterian history, the Celtic
cross was chosen as a model for this contemporary
rendering of the ancient symbol. |
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In experimenting with
the basic lines and shapes of the cross, the contour
of a book began to emerge in the horizontal section,
and the two center lines of the cross became the
representation of an open book. This integration of
the horizontal dimensions of the cross with the book
motif highlights the emphasis which the Reformed
tradition has placed on the role of Scripture as a
means of knowing God's word. |
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The slightly-flared
shape of the Celtic cross also makes possible the
transforming of the uppermost section into the shape
of a descending dove. As a symbol of the Holy
Spirit, the dove is intimately tied to the
representation of the Bible, affirming the role of
the Spirit in both inspiring and interpreting
Scripture in the life of the church. The dove also
symbolizes Christ's baptism by John and the peace
and wholeness which his death and resurrection bring
to a broken world. |
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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. |
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Integrated into the
lower part of the design are flames which form an
implied triangle, a traditional symbol of the
Trinity. The flames themselves convey a double
meaning: a symbol of revelation in the Old Testament
when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and a
suggestion of the beginning of the Christian church
when Christ manifested himself to his apostles at
Pentecost and charged them to be messengers of the
good news of God's love. |
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The triangle also
suggests the nature of Presbyterian government, with
its concern for balance and order, dividing
authority between ministers of the Word and
laypersons and between different governing bodies.
This understanding of the church was based in part
on an important idea in Reformed theology, the
covenant, which God establishes with people to
affirm God's enduring love and to call us to faith
and obedience to Jesus Christ. |
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Looking more closely at
some of the visual components of the design, viewers
may discover elements that seem to fuse with some of
the more obvious theological symbols. In the shape
of the descending dove, for example, one might also
discern in the body of the bird, the form of a fish,
an early-Christian sign for Christ, recalling his
ministry to those who hunger. For some, the overall
design evokes the calligraphy of Hebrew and Greek
manuscripts. Others have seen a baptismal font or a
communion chalice (cup). |
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In 1 Corinthians, Paul described the church as a
body with many members, illustrating the pluralism
of the church and the many gifts which God gives to
its members. So also the seal's individual parts,
when taken together, form an encompassing visual and
symbolic unity, while not exhausting the richness of
possible interpretations |
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