The seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a symbolic statement of the church’s heritage, identity and mission in contemporary form.  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.  The two center lines of the cross represent 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 Scriptures as a means of knowing God’s word.

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 peace and wholeness which his death and resurrection bring to a broken world.

The flames 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 manifest himself to is apostles at Pentecost and charged them to be messengers of the good news of God’s love.

The seal is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.