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Our Denomination

Our Name​

The "Reformed" in our name refers to our adherence to the biblical principles set down by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Our spiritual fathers include Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox.​

 

"Presbyterian" refers to our form of church government. Each congregation is under the oversight of those elected as elders, who are also part of the higher courts known as presbyteries and Synod.​

 

Reformed Presbyterians have also been referred to historically as Covenanters because of their identification with public covenanting in Scotland, beginning in the 16th century. This act was a protest for Christ's crown rights over the state and the recognition of Christ as King over the Church without interference from the government. Our roots also include those referred to as the Seceders, who share in the testimony for Christ's Crown and Covenant.​

 

In 1743 the first Reformed Presbyterian congregation was organized in North America. In this continent, too, the Kingship of Christ has been maintained as a foundational principle of our denomination. Today, congregations reach all across North America. We also acknowledge sister churches of Reformed Presbyterians in IrelandScotland, and Australia.

Our Commitment​

It is our desire to offer to God the worship that He commands in His word, worship that is simple, centered on the Scriptures, and in unity with the worship of the church in all ages. Therefore, we sing the Psalms, the songs of the Bible, in our worship. We sing without instrumentation, making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Eph. 5:19) and encouraging one another in faith. Together with the reading and preaching of the word and the administration of the sacraments, this constitutes a simple form of worship that can be practiced in any time and place and, we believe, is consistent with the pattern of worship God sets forth in the Scriptures. It grieves us that this form of worship actually sets us apart from most churches today instead of forming a common "worship language" that we share with all who call on the name of Christ. However, because we are of the firm conviction that this is the biblical form of worship, we will continue to worship in this way, hoping that others will come to see the truth and beauty of it and that you will join your voice with us in giving glory to our God.

Our Beliefs

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16–17
What the Scriptures Are

​The Scriptures testify that they are the inerrant and infallible word of God. Although the Scriptures were written by men many centuries ago, God, by His Holy Spirit, so guided and guarded them in what they wrote that their words were without error and were exactly what God wished to communicate to His people and the world. The Scriptures are God's revelation of who He is and what He has done and is still doing to redeem humanity from sin. This makes Scripture unique in authorship, content, and authority. The 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament comprise the totality of Scripture and testify with a unified voice to God's person and works. These Scriptures are the only authority to instruct and direct us in the Christian faith and how God requires us to live.

What the Scriptures Teach

​The Scriptures teach that there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This God is the sole creator of this universe and everything in it. Although God created humanity and the universe without fault, humanity sinned by rebelling against God and His good purposes and incurred His wrath and curse. To redeem humanity from this cursed state, the Son humbled Himself to become a true man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth and by His life, death, and resurrection from the dead accomplished all that was necessary to redeem all who have faith in Him. Jesus Christ calls all people everywhere to place their faith in Him alone for salvation.

 

We confess this in agreement with what the church in every age since the time of Jesus Christ has believed, as is reflected in the great ecumenical creeds of the church: the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Chalcedonian Definition. More specifically, we also adhere to the theology that comes out of the Reformation, which sought to recapture the faith as taught in the Scriptures and practiced by the early church. We believe these truths are best summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Testimony of the RPCNA, Larger Catechism, and Shorter Catechism. These documents form the constitution of our church as our public expression of the faith taught in the Scriptures and as a guide for what people can expect us to teach.

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