In 1861, Presbyterians in the Southern United States split from the denomination because of disputes over slavery, politics, and theology precipitated by the American Civil War. They established the Presbyterian Church in the United States, often called the "Southern Presbyterian Church".

The big difference between Presbyterians and other Christian protestant denominations is in how they are governed: the Presbyterian church is run at every level by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike, and is governed from the bottom up – by a body of people (called the Session and comprised of Elders ...

Presbyterianism is a Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders.

Most of the Reformed confessions of the Presbyterian tradition reflect a doctrine of predestination as a part of justification by grace; some are more explicit than others.