HOME > About Us > INTRODUCTION

Who We Are

This is the seal of the EAPCA. The components of the seal are a cross, and flames that crown the cross.

The seal contains the following meanings:

Cross and Resurrection:

The cross symbolizes the death of Jesus Christ, which was an act of self-emptying and humility. Resurrection is the return of Christ to life from the dead. Jesus Christ thus revealed and taught the gospel through his life and death and resurrection, explained clearly in Philippians 2:5-11.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ was exalted through ‘kenosis' (Greek for ‘self-lowering'). The crown of flames signifies the glory of God that comes on the foundation of sacrifice.

Christ and the Holy Spirit:

The cross can also signify Christ himself, and the flames then symbolize the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the one in whom the Holy Spirit dwelled. And through Jesus we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:17-20 records the historical Advent of the Holy Spirit, manifested in miraculous signs among the believers of the early church, fulfilling the prophecy of the Old Testament prophet Joel:

'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

These are not an exhaustive interpretation of the symbolism contained within our seal, but are meant to be used as a guideline to find the meanings therein. Each affiliated congregation and governing body may use the seal without receiving prior permission. Any other use requires prior approval by the Office of the General Assembly. Contact the EAPCA Office of the General Assembly for more information.