Born in 1859, it grew out of the missionary efforts of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and traces its deepest roots to the 16th-century Swiss and Scottish Reformations headed by such men as Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin and John Knox. The name "presbyterian church" comes from the manner in which the denomination is administered, through "presbyters" (elders) who are democratically elected by their local church communities. The Presbyterian Church of Brazil currently has approximately 4,200 churches, 6,000 pastors, 844,000 members, nine seminaries, two hospitals and 90 educational institutions, including the historically highly-acclaimed Mackenzie Presbyterian University.
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