Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod - Revision history

BrantleyRider at 02:00, 18 March 2025

2025-03-18T02:00:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:00, 18 March 2025
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	Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.<ref name=hutchison>Hutchison, George. ''[http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/rpces/history The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]''.</ref> However, division soon began to plague the church, with a faction in Philadelphia arguing that the RPCGS had spent too much time arguing doctrinal points, as opposed to pursuing union with other Presbyterian denominations.<ref name=hutchison /> Indeed, the Synod had rejected a plan of union with the [[United Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1859.<ref name=hutchison /> Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,<ref name=hutchison /> the use of instruments in worship,<ref name=hutchison /> and union with the UPCNA<ref name=hutchison /> led to even further dissension and division in the church.<ref>http://www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm</ref>		Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.<ref name=hutchison>Hutchison, George. ''[http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/rpces/history The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]''.</ref> However, division soon began to plague the church, with a faction in Philadelphia arguing that the RPCGS had spent too much time arguing doctrinal points, as opposed to pursuing union with other Presbyterian denominations.<ref name=hutchison /> Indeed, the Synod had rejected a plan of union with the [[United Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1859.<ref name=hutchison /> Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,<ref name=hutchison /> the use of instruments in worship,<ref name=hutchison /> and union with the UPCNA<ref name=hutchison /> led to even further dissension and division in the church.<ref>http://www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm</ref>

	The first [[Stated Clerk]] of the RPCGS was Rev. John Black.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2013/10/october-2/</ref>		The first [[Stated Clerk]] of the RPCGS was Rev. John Black.<ref>http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2013/10/october-2/</ref>

	The General Synod began shrinking in the 19th century and the early 20th century. At its low point the denomination had only 9 organized churches. In the 1940s and 1950s with new pastors it began to grow, planting new congregations in the USA. In 1965 there were 28 churches.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2014/12/december-16-the-duanesburg-fire-1951/</ref>		The General Synod began shrinking in the 19th century and the early 20th century. At its low point the denomination had only 9 organized churches. In the 1940s and 1950s with new pastors it began to grow, planting new congregations in the USA. In 1965 there were 28 churches.<ref>http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2014/12/december-16-the-duanesburg-fire-1951/</ref>

	==Merger with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church==		==Merger with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church==

BrantleyRider at 02:00, 18 March 2025

2025-03-18T02:00:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:00, 18 March 2025
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	The division had come about in 1833 between the [[Old and New Light]] Covenanters. The Old Lights had refused to swear allegiance to the constitution and thus become citizens, whereas the New Lights decide to allow for it. While the Old Light side was generally known as the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America]], the New Light was generally known as the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod.		The division had come about in 1833 between the [[Old and New Light]] Covenanters. The Old Lights had refused to swear allegiance to the constitution and thus become citizens, whereas the New Lights decide to allow for it. While the Old Light side was generally known as the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America]], the New Light was generally known as the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod.

	Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.<ref name=hutchison>Hutchison, George. ''[http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/rpces/history The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]''.</ref>~~{{rp\|80}}~~ However, division soon began to plague the church, with a faction in Philadelphia arguing that the RPCGS had spent too much time arguing doctrinal points, as opposed to pursuing union with other Presbyterian denominations.<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|83}}~~ Indeed, the Synod had rejected a plan of union with the [[United Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1859.<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|82}}~~ Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|85}}~~ the use of instruments in worship,<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|92}}~~ and union with the UPCNA<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|89}}~~ led to even further dissension and division in the church.<ref>[http://www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm ~~www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917101052/http://gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm \|date=2013-09-17 }}~~</ref>		Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.<ref name=hutchison>Hutchison, George. ''[http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/rpces/history The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]''.</ref> However, division soon began to plague the church, with a faction in Philadelphia arguing that the RPCGS had spent too much time arguing doctrinal points, as opposed to pursuing union with other Presbyterian denominations.<ref name=hutchison /> Indeed, the Synod had rejected a plan of union with the [[United Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1859.<ref name=hutchison /> Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,<ref name=hutchison /> the use of instruments in worship,<ref name=hutchison /> and union with the UPCNA<ref name=hutchison /> led to even further dissension and division in the church.<ref>http://www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm</ref>

	The first [[Stated Clerk]] of the RPCGS was Rev. John Black.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2013/10/october-2/</ref>		The first [[Stated Clerk]] of the RPCGS was Rev. John Black.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2013/10/october-2/</ref>
Line 25:		Line 25:

	==Merger with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church==		==Merger with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church==
	By the 1950s, the RPCGS had been moving away from its Covenanter heritage, including dropping its ''Reformation Principles Exhibited'' (1807) as a subordinate standard in 1959,<ref name=hutchison />~~{{rp\|355}}~~ and had also been looking to merge with another denomination.		By the 1950s, the RPCGS had been moving away from its Covenanter heritage, including dropping its ''Reformation Principles Exhibited'' (1807) as a subordinate standard in 1959,<ref name=hutchison /> and had also been looking to merge with another denomination.

	Eventually, thanks to influence of newer people in the denomination such as [[Gordon Clark]], discussions began with the Bible Presbyterian Church-Columbus Synod, which included members such as [[Francis Schaeffer]] and [[Jay E. Adams]]. During the years of negotiations, the BPC-Columbus Synod would eventually rename itself, becoming the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (established 1956)\|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]].		Eventually, thanks to influence of newer people in the denomination such as [[Gordon Clark]], discussions began with the Bible Presbyterian Church-Columbus Synod, which included members such as [[Francis Schaeffer]] and [[Jay E. Adams]]. During the years of negotiations, the BPC-Columbus Synod would eventually rename itself, becoming the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (established 1956)\|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]].

BrantleyRider: Created page with "{{Infobox denomination |name = Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod |theology = Reformed |orientation = conservative Calvinist |polity = Presbyterian |date_founded = 1833 |founded_place = USA |area = United States |branched_from = Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] |merged_into = Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod in 1965 |congregations = 21 (1961) |members = 2,403 (1961)https://..."

2025-03-18T01:59:33Z

Created page with "{{Infobox denomination |name = Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod |theology = Reformed |orientation = conservative Calvinist |polity = Presbyterian |date_founded = 1833 |founded_place = USA |area = United States |branched_from = Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]] |merged_into = Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod in 1965 |congregations = 21 (1961) |members = 2,403 (1961)<ref>https://..."

New page

{{Infobox denomination
|name = Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod
|theology = [[Reformed church|Reformed]]
|orientation = conservative [[Calvinist]]
|polity = [[Presbyterian]]
|date_founded = 1833
|founded_place = USA
|area = [[wikipedia:United States|United States]]
|branched_from = Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland]]
|merged_into = [[Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]] in 1965
|congregations = 21 (1961)
|members = 2,403 (1961)<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20141111183209/http://www.tateville.com/churches.html</ref>
}}

The '''Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod''' was a [[Presbyterian]] denomination in the [[wikipedia:United States|United States]] that came about due to a split amongst the Reformed Presbyterians, or [[Covenanter]]s and existed between 1833 and 1965.

==History ==
The division had come about in 1833 between the [[Old and New Light]] Covenanters. The Old Lights had refused to swear allegiance to the constitution and thus become citizens, whereas the New Lights decide to allow for it. While the Old Light side was generally known as the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America]], the New Light was generally known as the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod.

Initially, the church did well, including sending missionaries to India, and adopting both a Book of Discipline and a Directory for Public Worship.<ref name=hutchison>Hutchison, George. ''[http://www.pcahistory.org/findingaids/rpces/history The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]''.</ref>{{rp|80}} However, division soon began to plague the church, with a faction in Philadelphia arguing that the RPCGS had spent too much time arguing doctrinal points, as opposed to pursuing union with other Presbyterian denominations.<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|83}} Indeed, the Synod had rejected a plan of union with the [[United Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1859.<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|82}} Debates on issues such as exclusive psalmody,<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|85}} the use of instruments in worship,<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|92}} and union with the UPCNA<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|89}} led to even further dissension and division in the church.<ref>[http://www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm www.gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917101052/http://gulfcoastpres.org/about.htm |date=2013-09-17 }}</ref>

The first [[Stated Clerk]] of the RPCGS was Rev. John Black.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2013/10/october-2/</ref>

The General Synod began shrinking in the 19th century and the early 20th century. At its low point the denomination had only 9 organized churches. In the 1940s and 1950s with new pastors it began to grow, planting new congregations in the USA. In 1965 there were 28 churches.<ref>[http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2014/12/december-16-the-duanesburg-fire-1951/</ref>

==Merger with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church==
By the 1950s, the RPCGS had been moving away from its Covenanter heritage, including dropping its ''Reformation Principles Exhibited'' (1807) as a subordinate standard in 1959,<ref name=hutchison />{{rp|355}} and had also been looking to merge with another denomination.

Eventually, thanks to influence of newer people in the denomination such as [[Gordon Clark]], discussions began with the Bible Presbyterian Church-Columbus Synod, which included members such as [[Francis Schaeffer]] and [[Jay E. Adams]]. During the years of negotiations, the BPC-Columbus Synod would eventually rename itself, becoming the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (established 1956)|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]].

In 1965, after coming to negotiations that had included revising the Westminster Larger Catechism to be more open to Premillennial eschatology, and resolutions against alcohol, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod celebrated a union at the EPC's [[Covenant College]] in Georgia, adopting the name the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod]].

The RPCES would eventually merge with the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] in 1982.

==References==

[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1833]]
[[Category:Religious organizations disestablished in 1965]]
[[Category:Reformed denominations in North America]]