North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council

Last updated
North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council
Formation1975 (1975)
Membership607,355 (2020-2023)
Chairman
Rev. Dr. L. Anthony Curto [1]
Website www.naparc.org

The North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) is an association of several Presbyterian and Reformed churches in the United States and Canada. [2] The Council meets annually.

Contents

It lists biblical inerrancy as its basis, along with the Six Forms of Unity: the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Belgic Confession, the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms , the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dordt.

The purpose of NAPARC is to "facilitate cross-denominational conversation and co-operation." [3]

History and basis

The first NAPARC meeting was held in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in the fall of 1975, and had the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRCNA), the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod as its founding members. [4] In time, NAPARC would grow to include 12 Continental Reformed and Presbyterian denominations.

In 1997, the membership of the Christian Reformed Church was suspended, largely on the basis of its 1995 decision to open the offices of elder and minister of word and sacrament to women. [5]

The Constitution of NAPARC states that the Basis of the Council is "Confessing Jesus Christ as only Savior and Sovereign Lord over all of life, we affirm the basis of the fellowship of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches to be full commitment to the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God written, without error in all its parts and to its teaching as set forth in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dordt, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. That the adopted basis of fellowship be regarded as warrant for the establishment of a formal relationship of the nature of a council, that is, a fellowship that enables the constituent churches to advise, counsel, and cooperate in various matters with one another and hold out before each other the desirability and need for organic union of churches that are of like faith and practice."

Purpose and function

Possible member mergers

In 1977, the Presbyterian Church in America absorbed the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, one of the founding members of the NAPARC. [6] Since then, the NAPARC routinely debate on new proposals for the unification of denominations. [7]

In 2008, United Reformed Churches in North America absorbed Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches in North America. [8]

Canadian and American Reformed Churches and United Reformed Churches in North America

The Canadian and American Reformed Churches and the United Reformed Churches in North America have been in dialogue about a possible merger since the 2010s. In 2016, the two denominations held simultaneous synods, in the same location. [9] [10]

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was formed by the union of two Presbyterian groups, which included most of the members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, in 1803. [11]

After the establishment of the NAPARC, the two denominations established a relationship. In 2015 and 2019, the two denominations held simultaneous synods in the same location and some members questioned the possibility of a future merger. [12]

Free Reformed Churches of North America and Heritage Reformed Congregations

The Free Reformed Churches of North America and Heritage Reformed Congregations have operated a seminary together since 1995 and are in dialogue about a possible merger. In 2017, they held simultaneous synods, in the same location. [13] [14] [15]

Presbyterian Church in America and Orthodox Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church in America and Orthodox Presbyterian Church attempted, in 1956 and in 1972, denominational merger. However, in each of the attempts, the merger was not approved by the necessary quorum in the respective assemblies of one of the denominations. [6] [16]

Member denominations

Denomination [17] Number of congregationsNumber of membersRefs
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 26025,692(2022) [18]
Canadian and American Reformed Churches 7619,866(2022) [18]
L'Église réformée du Québec (ERQ)
("Reformed Church of Quebec" (RCQ) in English)		5400(2018) [18]
Free Reformed Churches of North America 235,420(2022) [18]
Heritage Reformed Congregations 102,186(2022) [18]
Korean American Presbyterian Church 65080,000(2023) [19]
Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin) 13510,300(2015) [20]
Orthodox Presbyterian Church 33233,520(2023) [21]
Presbyterian Church in America 1,934393,528(2023) [22]
Presbyterian Reformed Church72262018 [23] [24]
Reformed Church in the United States 473,340(2022) [18]
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America 1077,581(2021) [18]
United Reformed Churches in North America 13025,296(2021) [25]
Total3,712607,655(2020-2023)

Related Research Articles

The Protestant Church in the Netherlands is the largest Protestant denomination in the Netherlands, being both Calvinist and Lutheran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Reformed Church in North America</span> Protestant Christian denomination

The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Calvinist Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed Church of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Dutch immigrants in 1857 and is theologically Calvinist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church</span> Protestant denomination

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC) is a theologically conservative denomination in North America. The ARPC was formed by the merger of the Associate Presbytery (seceder) with the Reformed Presbytery (covenanter) in 1782. It is one of the oldest conservative denominations in the United States.

The United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) is a theologically conservative federation of Reformed churches founded in 1996. Many churches joined the URCNA after splitting from the Christian Reformed Church in North America denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformed Church in the United States</span> Reformed Christian denomination in the United States

The Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. The present RCUS is a conservative, Reformed denomination. It affirms the principles of the Reformation: Sola scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola gratia, Sola fide, and Soli Deo gloria. The RCUS has membership concentrated in the Midwest and California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Conference of Reformed Churches</span> Federation for reformed churches

The International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) is a federation of Reformed or Calvinist churches around the world. The ICRC convenes international meetings every four years.

The Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA), formerly known as the Reformed Churches of Australia (RCA) is a Christian denomination established in Australia belonging to the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bible Presbyterian Church</span> Confessional Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States

The Bible Presbyterian Church is an American Protestant denomination in the Reformed tradition. It was founded by members of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church over differences on eschatology and abstinence, after having left the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America over the rise of modernism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westminster Standards</span> Christian Reformed confessions of faith

The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly (1643–1649). These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and represent the doctrine and church polity of 17th century English and Scottish Presbyterianism. The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechism have been adopted as doctrinal standards by a number of Reformed and Presbyterian Christian denominations, but not the Church of Scotland nor those derived directly from it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protestant Reformed Churches in America</span>

The Protestant Reformed Churches in America is a Protestant denomination of 33 churches and over 8,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformed Churches of New Zealand</span> Christian denomination in New Zealand

Reformed Churches of New Zealand is a Calvinist denomination in New Zealand. The denomination is constituted of 22 member churches, the first seven of which were formed in 1953. Total membership as of 2023 stands at 3,530.

The Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC) is a Reformed denomination in the United States and Canada influenced by the tradition of English Puritanism and the Dutch Nadere Reformatie.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod was a Reformed and Presbyterian denomination in the United States and Canada between 1965 and 1982.

The Sudanese Reformed Presbyterian Churches (SRPC) are a unified body of Protestant Churches in Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Reformed Fellowship</span> Ecumenical Christian organization

The World Reformed Fellowship (WRF) is an ecumenical, Christian fellowship that advances partnerships among confessional Reformed churches around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America</span> Presbyterian church with locations in the United States, Canada, and Japan

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) is a Presbyterian church with congregations and missions throughout the United States, Japan, and Chile. Its beliefs—held in common with other members of the Reformed Presbyterian Global Alliance—place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches. Below the Bible—which is held as divinely inspired and without error—the church is committed to several "subordinate standards," together considered with its constitution: the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms, along with its Testimony, Directory for Church Government, the Book of Discipline, and Directory for Worship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformed Churches in South Africa</span> Conservative Christian denomination

The Reformed Churches in South Africa is a Christian denomination in South Africa that was formed in 1859 in Rustenburg. Members of the church are sometimes referred to as Doppers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECO (denomination)</span> Protestant denomination

ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians is an evangelical Presbyterian denomination in the United States. As a Presbyterian church, ECO adheres to Reformed theology and Presbyterian polity. It was established in 2012 by former congregations and members of the Presbyterian Church (USA), abbreviated PC(USA). Denominational disputes over theology—particularly ordination of practicing homosexuals as pastors and gay marriage—and bureaucracy led to the founding of ECO. In 2018, ECO has over 383 congregations, 103,425 covenant partners and over 500 pastors. ECO churches are egalitarian in beliefs and ordain women as pastors and elders.

The Reformed Church in Japan is a confessional Calvinist denomination in Japan. It was formerly a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, but it chose to suspend its membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presbyterianism in the United States</span>

Presbyterianism has had a presence in the United States since colonial times and has exerted an important influence over broader American religion and culture.

References

  1. ↑ "Contact – NAPARC".
  2. ↑ "Links | Aisquith Presbyterian Church". Aisquith Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition. InterVarsity Press. 2013. p. 80. ISBN   9780830827084 . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Constituting Meeting of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC)" accessed June 21st, 2013 http://www.naparc.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Minutes-of-the-1st-1975-Meeting-of-NAPARC.pdf Archived 2016-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "NAPARC Votes, 6-1, to Suspend the Christian Reformed Church" accessed June 20th, 2013 http://www.presbyteriannews.org/volumes/v4/1/n-crc.htm
  6. 1 2 "History of the absorption of the Reformed Presbyterian Church - Evangelical Synod for the Presbyterian Church in America" . Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Minute of the 2019 NAPARC Meeting" (PDF). Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Timeline of Reformed Denominations in North America" . Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Report of the coordinators of the Commission for Church Unity". Canadian and American Reformed Churches. 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Report of the Synod of the United Reformed Churches in North America". Churches United Retirees in North America. 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ Carson, David Melville (1964). "History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America until 1971". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  12. ↑ Sims, Kyle E. (May 14, 2019). "Simultaneous Synods of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America". Gentle Reformation. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary". MV Michigan. July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Report of the Synod of Congregations of Reformed Heritage". Reformatorisch Dagblad. May 31, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Reformed Heritage Congregations Unity Committee" . Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  16. ↑ "The near merger between the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church". April 16, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Member Churches - NAPARC". North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Minute of Ninetieth General Assembly of Orthodox Presbyterian Church" (PDF). pp. 83, 243–260. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  19. ↑ "미주한인예수교장로회 총회 역사" . Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Report to General Synod Dunnville 2016 - Committee for Contact with Churches in North America". p. 45. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Report of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church 2024" . Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Five Year Summary" . Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Report of the Synod of the United Reformed Churches in North America". United Reformed Churches in North America. June 11, 2018. p. 280. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  24. ↑ Presbyterian Reformed Church (2012), Congregations, archived from the original on October 30, 2012, retrieved November 13, 2012
  25. ↑ "Acts of Synod of Niagara 2022". p. 261. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.