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Our Mission

We are a community of faith, challenged, strengthened, and transformed by the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ. We:

  • Welcome all who would follow Christ
  • Prefer truth to complacency
  • Strive to connect faith and daily life
  • Serve and leaven the church, community, and wider world through compassionate and empowering ministries

What We Believe

As Presbyterians, we affirm:

  • One sovereign God who creates, redeems, sustains, and rules all with justice and mercy
  • The centrality of God’s grace in Jesus Christ—fully human and fully divine—whose life, death, and resurrection reveal God’s saving love
  • The Holy Spirit as the active presence of God, calling us into relationship and empowering the church for mission
  • The Bible as the inspired, trustworthy witness to God’s self-revelation, interpreted through Christ, and read in community through tradition, reason, and experience
  • Shared leadership, where God calls people of all genders, races, and backgrounds to serve as ministers, elders, and deacons
  • The church’s mission to serve with compassion, seek justice, share good news, and build peace

We also affirm that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and each person is invited to grow in faith at their own pace, bringing their whole selves into relationship with God.

Belonging & Inclusion

Since the 1960s, BMPC has sought to engage issues of race, privilege, equity, and inclusion through study, dialogue, and action. In April 2024, the BMPC Session adopted a powerful new statement of commitment:

“We repent of our complicity and recognize that past wrongdoings have resulted in exclusivity...
We commit to ensuring a place of belonging and inclusion for all, recognizing that we are most fully the Body of Christ when all are welcomed and affirmed as beloved children of God.”

Our Commitments Include:

  • Offering education and dialogue to deepen understanding of racism and bias
  • Evaluating our practices for equity and welcome
  • Embedding inclusion in every ministry area—from worship to hospitality
  • Advocating for justice in our community and beyond
  • Maintaining accountability through transparency and regular evaluation
  • Learn more about our Anti-Racism work

History of BMPC

Founded in 1873 by 16 women and men, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church has always united worship and service.

  • First Presbyterian church in the U.S. to directly support foreign missionaries
  • Supported Dr. William Wanless’s enduring medical ministry in India
  • Formalized Urban-Suburban partnerships in 1998 through the Presbytery of Philadelphia
  • Launched a tutoring program, preschool, and intergenerational service efforts
  • Established a rich tradition of music and fine arts ministries

In 2023, we celebrated our 150th anniversary, honoring our past and stepping boldly into the future.