1. 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 the cross of Calvary is central to our salvation, the cross was chosen as the overall form and model for our Church.

2. Now looking at the cross more closely, we see that the top portion of the cross is transformed into the shape of a descending dove which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit . The spirit is most always portrayed as descending, because God's Spirit comes from Him in heaven. It is the Spirit that fills us at our baptisms. It is the Spirit that empowers us to live for Christ. It is the Spirit that gives us all our various gifts to serve the Lord. It is the Spirit that enables us to understand the Bible and even helps us to pray. Indeed without the Holy Spirit, we could do nothing. And so we include in the Symbol of our faith the Holy Spirit of God.

3. Now one of the most noticeable things in the symbol are the flames at the base of the cross. Now the symbol of flames in our Faith could convey many meanings. They are a symbol of God's refining fire of judgment. They are a symbol of how the Holy Spirit descended like tongues of flames given on Pentecost. But one symbol we should see is that these flames are a symbol of revelation in the Old Testament when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. At that time God told Moses and so all the world His Name "I AM". And so to a wonderful extent the flames reminded us of God the Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and of our Lord Jesus Himself.

4. Now here let us notice an implied triangle . This triangle is formed by the Cross, the Dove and the Flame. And as we may know, the triangle is an traditional symbol of the Trinity . Therefore at the heart of our Presbyterian Symbol is our experience of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

5. But there is more. Central to the Christian Faith in general and to Presbyterians in particular is God's Holy Word of the Bible. Therefore in our symbol, note the lines and shape and contour of an open book, the Bible, emerge. This integration of the horizontal dimensions of the cross with the book motif highlights the emphasis which Presbyterians (often called People of the Book) have placed on the role of Scripture as a means of knowing God's word. And I love how the Holy spirit is descending directly above the Bible, reminding us that we need the Spirit to understand God's Word.

6. Now speaking of the Bible, the Bible says in Romans 10:17 that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God." But, says the Bible also in Romans 10:14 "How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And so in the very symbol of our Church is a pulpit upon which the Word of God, the Bible, rests . This is a reminder to us all that that our calling as the Church is to Proclaim the Gospel for the salvation of humankind.

7. Now 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. Central to the Church's Worship and Life are our Two Holy Sacraments. Within the symbol a Baptismal Fount can be imagined. Baptism, is after all, the sign of our entrance into God's family and a command of Jesus.

8. So too within the Symbol, one can imagine a Chalice or Cup of Communion or the Lord's Supper, our other holy sacrament in which we all share both the body and the blood our Lord. This sacrament we do to remember His Sacrifice for us all and to renew our vow to seek His mercy and live as His followers should.

9. Now lastly, in the shape of the descending dove, there is something that you might make out. Do you see within the dove, the form of a fish ? The fish reminds us first of all of one of our Lord's greatest miracles of feeding 5,000 people with a few loaves and some fish. So too it reminds us that we are called to feed the hungry & be as servants to those in need.

10. So too the fish has another importance to Christians. It is one of the most ancient early- Christian signs for Christ in the Roman-Greek world in which the Church began. The Greek word for "fish" is "ichthus". Early Christians used each letter in the Greek word for FISH to stand for JESUS CHRIST GOD'S SON SAVIOR.

11. Thus we put all these individual parts together and we see our one whole symbol and seal for the Presbyterian Church USA . And it is good that many parts make up one. Because in 1 Corinthians, Paul described the church as a body made up of many parts, or many members. Thus it is only when we all bring our many gifts together that we truly are the Body of Christ, the Church.