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| Currently, the RPCNA has approximately 7,000 members in 81 congregations in 20 American states and two Canadian provinces. ], ], and ] have the largest number of congregations. The denomination is the sponsor of ] in ] and operates a theological seminary in ]. | Currently, the RPCNA has approximately 7,000 members in 81 congregations in 20 American states and two Canadian provinces. ], ], and ] have the largest number of congregations. The denomination is the sponsor of ] in ] and operates a theological seminary in ]. | ||
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Revision as of 22:18, 21 December 2005
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The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America is a Christian, Protestant, Reformed denomination which adheres to the principles first enunciated during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The Church is fully committed "to the authority of the Bible as the inerrant, infallible Word of God," with its subordinate standards embodied in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and based upon the writings of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox.
The form of church government is Presbyterian, in that 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. In response to the King's attempts to change the style of worship in the churches that had previously been agreed upon (covenanted) by the free assemblies and parliament, a number of ministers affirmed their adherence to those previous agreements by becoming signatories to the "National Covenant" of February 1638 at Greyfriars Kirk, in Edinburgh. It is from this that the blue banner comes, proclaiming "For Christ's Crown & Covenant", as the Reformed Presbyterians, along with other Covenanters, saw the King's attempt to alter the church as an attempt to claim its headship from Jesus (called the Christ). In August, 1643, the Covenanters signed a political treaty with the English Parliamentarians, called the "Solemn League and Covenant". Under this covenant the signatories agreed to impose Presbyterianism on England and Ireland. In exchange, the "Covenanters" agreed to support the English Parliamentarians against Charles I of England in the English Civil War. The Solemn League and Covenant asserted the privileges of the "crown rights" of Jesus as King over both Church and State, and the Church's right to freedom from coercive State interference. Later, the Reformed Presbyterians were among those to suffer in the Killing Time, while James VII was king of Britain.
In 1691, Presbyterianism became the Established Church in Scotland. But because there was no acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Christ in terms of the Solemn League and Covenant, a party of dissenters ("Seceders") refused to enter into the national arrangement, on the grounds that it was forced upon the Church without a covenanted settlement. Charles II of England declared the Scottish Covenant illegal, resulting in bloodshed. Tens of thousands of Scottish covenanters fled to Ulster, between 1660 and 1690. The seceding Covenanters eventually formed the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland and Ireland.
In 1743 the first Reformed Presbyterian congregation was organized in North America. The Church has congregations in many locations throughout North America, as well as "sister churches" of Reformed Presbyterians in Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. They also have missionary movements in Japan and Cyprus. The RPCNA is renowned for their historical commitment to strict subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith (subordinate to The Bible), and the singing the psalms only, unaccompanied by instruments. They have also been historically important for their stance for the abolition of slavery, and their advocacy and development of organized, contractual labor guilds (labor unions).
Currently, the RPCNA has approximately 7,000 members in 81 congregations in 20 American states and two Canadian provinces. Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Indiana have the largest number of congregations. The denomination is the sponsor of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and operates a theological seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Related topics: Associate Presbyterians, Associate Reformed Presbyterians, United Presbyterian Church of North America, Presbyterian Church USA, Presbyterian Church, The Killing Time, Andrew Melville, Oliver Cromwell