The Blue Banner logo of the RPCNA

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States and some parts of Canada. Its beliefs 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 its constitution: the Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms, along with its Testimony, Directory for Church Government, Book of Discipline, and Directory for Worship. All communicant members "believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule for faith and life", according to the first of several vows required for such membership. Image File history File links Rpcnabanner. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... A denomination, in the Christian sense of the word, is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and/or doctrine. ... Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Western Christianity, as well as a particular form of church government. ... The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant denominations historically related by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine, which first arose especially in the Swiss Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli, but soon afterward appeared in nations throughout Western Europe. ... Protestantism is one of three main groups within Christianity, whose beliefs are centered on Jesus. ... The word Bible refers to the canonical collections of sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity. ... Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology concerned with the divine origin of the Bible and what the Bible teaches about itself. ... The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. ... The Westminster Larger Catechism along with the Westminster Shorter Catechism is the catechism of Presbyterians througout the World. ... The Westminster Shorter Catechism (also known simply as the Shorter Catechism, hereinafter referred to as the WSC) was written in the 1640s by English and Scottish divines. ... A vow (Lat. ...

Unlike many denominations today, the RPCNA has a long history, having been a separate denomination in the United States since colonial days. Furthermore, in Scotland (where the denomination originated), Reformed Presbyterians have been a separate denomination since the late 1600s, and today the RPCNA claims identity with the original Presbyterian Church of Scotland that came out of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

As its name suggests, the RPCNA is governed through the Presbyterian system (which the denomination considers to be the only divinely-appointed method of church government), with each individual congregation being governed by two or more elders. As with most Presbyterian denominations, the RPCNA is divided into several presbyteries: Atlantic, St. Lawrence, Alleghenies, Great Lakes-Gulf, Midwest, and Pacific Coast. Unlike several other smaller Presbyterian denominations, the supreme governing body is a single synod, not a general assembly. Each congregation may send one elder delegate (two for larger congregations) to its presbytery meeting, as well as to the annual Synod meeting. Each minister, whether serving as the pastor of a congregation or not, is automatically a delegate to his presbytery and to Synod. A congregation is the group of members who make up a local Christian church or Jewish synagogue (or those who are present at a service thereat), as opposed to the building itself. ... A religious elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος [presbyteros]) is valued for his or her wisdom, in part for their age, on the grounds that the older one is then the more one is likely to know. ... Presbyterian governance of a church is typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. ... Presbyterian governance of a church is typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. ... Presbyterian governance of a church is typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. ...

Terminology

• Baptized member: a member, almost always the child of communicant members, who has been baptized but has not yet professed Christian faith. Baptized members may not receive the Lord's Supper or vote in congregational business meetings. For the death metal band from Sweden, see Eucharist (band) The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfilment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ...

• Communicant member: a member who has professed Christian faith and adherence to denominational standards. Communicant members may receive the Lord's Supper and vote in congregational business meetings. For the death metal band from Sweden, see Eucharist (band) The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfilment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ...

• Elder: men chosen and ordained to lead congregations, including both lay ("ruling elder") and clergy ("teaching elder"), which are considered equal in status but different in role. Under normal circumstances, each ruling elder is a member of his congregation's session of his congregation, as is every teaching elder serving as a pastor, while a teaching elder not serving as a pastor may serve as a ruling elder in his congregation. Each congregation must have at least two elders in order to be fully organized. Ordination is the process in which clergy become authorized by their religious denomination and/or seminary to perform religious rituals and ceremonies. ...

• Presbytery: a grouping of several congregations in a specific area, governed by the ministers in that area along with one or more elders from each of those several congregations.

• Session: a governing board in each congregation, composed of the elders in that congregation and the congregation's pastor(s).

• Synod: a governing body above the presbytery, composed of all ministers and one or more elders from each congregation in the denomination.

Background

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 and form of government 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 Covenanters saw the King's attempt to alter the church as an attempt to claim its headship from Jesus 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 establish Presbyterianism as the national church in 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. Oliver Cromwell put the independents in power in England, signalling the end of the reforms promised by Parliament. When the monarchy was restored in 1660, some Presbyterians were hopeful in the new covenanted king, as Charles II had sworn to the covenants in Scotland in 1650 and 1651. Charles II, however, determined that he would have none of this talk of covenants. While the majority of the population participated in the established church, the Covenanters dissented strongly, instead holding illegal worship services in the countryside. They suffered greatly in the persecutions that followed, the worst of which is known as the Killing Times, administered against them during the reign of James VII/II. James VI of Scotland (James I of England) was opposed by the Covenanters in his attempt to bring the Anglican Church into Scotland The Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century. ... Covenant, in its most general sense, is a word for a solemn promise or similar undertaking. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... Greyfriars Kirk, today Greyfriars Tolbooth & Highland Kirk, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in central Edinburgh. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ... The English Civil War consisted of a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians (known as Roundheads) and Royalists (known as Cavaliers) between 1642 and 1651. ... Oliver Cromwell (April 25, 1599–September 3, 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for making England a republic and leading the Commonwealth of England. ... // Events January 1 - Colonel George Monck with his regiment crosses from Scotland to England at the village of Coldstream and begins advance towards London in support of English Restoration. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... // Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... The Conventicle Act of 1664, 16 Charles II c. ... The Killing Time is the colloquial name given to a period of conflict in Scottish History between 1679 and 1688. ... James II of England/VII of Scotland (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) became King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland on 6 February 1685, and Duke of Normandy on 31 December 1660. ...

In 1691, Presbyterianism was restored to the Established Church in Scotland. Because there was no acknowledgement of the sovereignty of Christ in terms of the Solemn League and Covenant, however, a party of dissenters refused to enter into this national arrangement (the “Revolution Settlement”), on the grounds that it was forced upon the Church and did not adhere to the nation's previous covenanted settlement. These formed into societies which eventually formed the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland. Meanwhile, when persecution broke out after Charles II had declared the Scottish Covenants illegal, tens of thousands of Scottish Covenanters had fled to Ulster, between 1660 and 1690. These Covenanters eventually formed the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Events March 5 - French troops under Marshal Louis-Francois de Boufflers besiege the Spanish-held town of Mons March 20 - Leislers Rebellion - New governor arrives in New York - Jacob Leisler surrenders after standoff of several hours March 29 - Siege of Mons ends to the city’s surrender May 6... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 km² Population (2006 estimate) 1,993,918 Ulster (Irish: Cúige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ... // Events January 1 - Colonel George Monck with his regiment crosses from Scotland to England at the village of Coldstream and begins advance towards London in support of English Restoration. ... Events Giovanni Domenico Cassini observes differential rotation within Jupiters atmosphere. ...

After the Revolution Settlement, all of the few remaining Covenanter ministers joined the Established Church in 1690, leaving the "United Societies" without any ministers for sixteen years. In 1706, one minister of the Established Church became convinced of Covenanter principles and joined them, but it was not until 1743 that another minister joined them. Immediately a presbytery was formed, allowing the ordination of other ministers for Irish and Scottish churches. The Church in Ireland was formally organized within twenty years.

However, political fighting, such as the Irish Rebellion of 1798, began to cause problems for Irish Covenanters. Although they did not join either side, their refusal to take oaths of loyalty to the British government led some government officials to consider them rebels, similar to the Society of the United Irishmen (Glasgow 77-78). As a result, many Irish Covenanters fled to find freedom in America. Joined by Scottish Covenanters seeking a new life in America, these settlers were the founding members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 (Éirí Amach 1798 in Irish), or 1798 rebellion as it is known locally, was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against the British dominated Kingdom of Ireland. ... The Society of the United Irishmen was a political organisation in eighteenth century Ireland that sought independence from Great Britain. ...

Theology

The Reformed Presbyterian Church has held to the Westminster Confession and Catechisms since the 1600s. Instead of adopting revised versions of the Confession, as has been done by other Presbyterian churches in North America, the RPCNA instead keeps the original text but states objections in its official Testimony, which is printed side-by-side with the Confession. Today, only three small portions of the original Confession are denied by the RPCNA, besides qualifying the Confession's naming of the Pope as Antichrist. As a result of adhering to these creeds, the RPCNA is doctrinally close to other Reformed denominations. The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ... // The English word Antichrist is translated from the Greek αντίχριστος antíkhristos, which literally means opposite of Christ. A broader meaning is in place of Christ. Therefore, antichrist means opposed to Christ by being in the place of Christ. ...

Historically, the "distinctive principles" of Reformed Presbyterians were political: they held to a continuing obligation of the Covenants, both National and Solemn League, upon all who had sworn them and upon all their descendents, and the belief that governmental rejection of such documents caused the government to become immoral or even undeserving of obedience. Obviously, this led them to reject the government of Scotland after the Glorious Revolution, as well as those of Ireland and England, which had also acknowledged but later dropped the Covenants. Furthermore, as the American colonies had been under English jurisdiction at the time of the Solemn League, the United States was held as responsible to uphold the Covenants. Since the Constitution contains no reference to Christ or to the Covenants, Reformed Presbyterians refused to vote, hold governmental office, serve on juries, or swear any oath of loyalty to the United States government or any lower government, and Canadian members similarly refrained from such activities. Members who did participate in the political process would typically be disciplined by their congregational session. Although these principles were held firmly for many decades, the official denominational position was changed, beginning in the 1960s; by 1969, the official position allowed members to vote and run for office. Some members yet continue the historic dissenting positions, but the majority of members participate like members of other conservative Christian denominations. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An oath (from Old Saxon eoth) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually a god, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. ...

Another long-held belief distinguishing the RPCNA from other churches was its prohibition of "occasional hearing", the practice of attending worship services or preaching by ministers of other denominations. Although the practice is permitted today, it was long prohibited. For example, records from an eastern Pennsylvania congregation note that two women were "severely admonished" for attending a weekday Methodist camp-meeting in 1821 (Glasgow 273). The reasons for this prohibition were historical grounds: as the Church of Scotland, the continuation of which the Reformed Presbyterian Church considered itself, had been established as the state church throughout Great Britain. As the Reformed Presbyterian Church believed that had never officially been disestablished in a legal manner, it considered other churches to have no legal right to exist. Therefore, attending a worship service of any other church amounted to participation in an illegal organization. In the protestant denominations of Christianity, a service of worship is a meeting whose primary purpose is the worship of God. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Nations with state religions:  Buddhism  Islam  Shia Islam  Sunni Islam  Orthodox Christianity  Protestantism  Roman Catholic Church A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state. ...

The denomination has always believed in the "Regulative Principle of Worship" and applied it to require a cappella singing of the Psalms only in worship. While this practice was not unusual in past centuries, many other denominations have permitted hymns and instrumental music over the years. As a result, the RPCNA's manner of worship is quite distinctive today, and with the change in the official position on political action, the manner of worship is the chief distinction of the RPCNA today. A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... Exclusive psalmody is the particular worship practice of some churches in using the Book of Psalms from the Bible as the only manual of songs that may be sung in their services. ... See also hymn - a program to decrypt iTunes music files. ... An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or piece without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ...

Although alcohol use was prohibited for all members for many decades, in recent years both ordinary members and ordained officers have been permitted to use it. Chapter 26 of the RPCNA Testimony states that abstinence from alcohol is still a fitting choice for Christians. Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ...

Along with many other conservative denominations, the RPCNA interprets the Bible as requiring all elders to be male. Unlike most related denominations, however, deacons in the RPCNA may be either male or female; deaconesses have been permitted since 1888. In the late 1930s, the Synod voted to ordain women elders, but the decision was not ratified by a sufficient number of sessions, a process required for all constitutional changes. In general religious use, ordination is the process by which one is consecrated (set apart for the undivided administration of various religious rites). ...

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or Communion, is served to all communicant members present at a church celebrating the sacrament. Until recent decades, only Reformed Presbyterians were permitted to take the sacrament, but members of other denominations considered to be Bible-believing have been extended this privilege in recent decades. For the death metal band from Sweden, see Eucharist (band) The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfilment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ...

History

The first Reformed Presbyterian congregation in North America was organized in Octorara (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) in 1738, but the first presbytery, organized by four immigrant Irish and Scottish Reformed Presbyterian ministers, was not formed until 1774. At this time, Reformed Presbyterians were mostly concentrated in eastern Pennsylvania and northern South Carolina, but small groups of Reformed Presbyterians existed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, western Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. During the American Revolution, most Reformed Presbyterians fought for independence — the one minister that served in South Carolina was even arrested for insurrection and brought before Lord Cornwallis in 1780! Lancaster County is a county located in the south-central portion of the state of Pennsylvania in the Susquehanna Valley. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35... This article is about the U.S. State. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... NY redirects here. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marques Cornwallis (31 December 1738 - 5 October 1805 in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh) was an English(England) military commander and colonial governor. ...

From the time of the Revolution Settlement in 1691, the foremost of Reformed Presbyterian "distinctive principles" was the practice of political dissent from the British government. After the adoption of the United States Constitution, the denomination held the document (and therefore all governments beneath it) to be immoral, and participation in such a government to be likewise immoral, because the Constitution contained no recognition of Christ as the King of Nations. Therefore, many civic rights, such as voting and jury service, were waived, and church courts disciplined members who exercised such civic rights. As few Americans held such principles, and as obedience sometimes caused difficulty (for example, oaths of allegiance were prohibited, preventing foreign-born Reformed Presbyterians from becoming citizens, and preventing Reformed Presbyterians to make use of the Homestead Act), many Reformed Presbyterians began to differ with the denomination's official position. Since 1774, the denomination has had four splits, three of them due to members who considered the denomination's position to be too strict. In 1782, almost all of the church merged with the Associate Presbyterian Church to form the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, holding that the new situation of independence removed the reasons for political dissent. The few remaining members who refused to join the merger, including just two congregations, were reorganized into a presbytery in 1798. In 1833, the church split down the middle, forming the New Light and Old Light RP Synods. The New Lights, who exercised political rights, grew for some years but suffered splits and went into decline, eventually merging in the 20th century with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to form the Reformed Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Synod), which in 1982 merged with the Presbyterian Church in America. The Old Lights, who continued to teach the old doctrines, suffered a similar split, the "East End Split", in 1891. Statistics reveal that denominational membership suffered a net loss of 11% in 1891, most of whom joined the United Presbyterian Church. The fourth split, in 1840, resulted in two ministers and a few ministers leaving to form the Reformed Presbytery (nicknamed the Steelites, after Dr. David Steele, their most prominent leader), which continues today. Unlike with the other splits, this was occasioned by the departed ministers and members considering the denomination to be too liberal, especially by allowing membership in "voluntary associations", which today might include both political groups and groups such as the Boy Scouts. In law, an alien is a person who is not a native or naturalized citizen of the land where they are found. ... The Homestead Act of 1836 was a United States federal law that gave one quarter of a section of a township (160 acres, or about 65 hectares) of undeveloped land in the American West to any family head or person who was at least 21 years of age, provided he... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The seal of the ARPC The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a small denomination, formed from the merger of the Associate (Seceder) and the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) churches in Philadelphia in 1782. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is a Protestant denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church (USA). ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... The United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA) was an American Presbyterian denomination that existed for one hundred years. ... The Reformed Presbytery in North America (RPNA) is a religious denomination with beliefs in Protestantism, Calvinism, Presbyterianism, and more particularly Covenanting. ... The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a United States Scouting organization, with some presence in other countries. ...

Despite such disagreements, the denomination held to its doctrines without many changes. Holding to the principle that covenants should continue to be updated and sworn, the RPCNA adopted the "Covenant of 1871" as their new church covenant in that year. Some members saw certain aspects of this covenant as major departures from historic Reformed Presbyterian positions, causing some to leave and join the Reformed Presbytery. Perhaps the most enduring change during the nineteenth century involved social activism, especially related to alcohol and tobacco. While drunkenness alone had always been prohibited, members were prohibited from the alcohol business in 1841, and by the 1880s, both church officers and ordinary members were prohibited from alcohol use. By 1886, tobacco use was strongly condemned as well, with ordination being prohibited to anyone who used it. As a result, the denomination explicitly supported the Eighteenth Amendment and other prohibition efforts for many decades. Another cause favored by the denomination was the abolition of slavery, beginning officially in 1800, when members were prohibited from slave owning and from the slave trade. As with alcohol and tobacco, the official position on slavery was enthusiastically supported by most members. Despite the denomination's strong stance against the Constitution, it faithfully supported the North in the Civil War, as Reformed Presbyterians enlisted to fight against the "slaveholders' rebellion". Incidentally, abolition was a major cause for the decline of the denomination's South Carolina and Tennessee congregations: most members there, finding it hard to be abolitionists in slave-owning societies, moved to southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. One reason for the denomination's hearty support for the Civil was that, by the beginning of the Civil War, all of the old congregations in South Carolina and Tennessee were gone. The only congregations remaining in slave-holding territory were in Baltimore, Maryland and in Roney's Point, Virginia, near Wheeling. A cartoon from Australia ca. ... Amendment XVIII (the Eighteenth Amendment) of the United States Constitution, along with the Volstead Act (which defined intoxicating liquors excluding those used for religious purposes), established Prohibition in the United States. ... A cartoon from Australia ca. ... This French poster depicting the horrific conditions on slave ships was influential in mobilizing public opinion against slavery. ... 1800 (MDCCC) was an exceptional common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ... Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town, B-more, Balmerr,Bodymore, Murderland Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; Get In On It is not the citys motto, but rather the advertising slogan of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association; BELIEVE is not the... Nickname: The Friendly City Location in Ohio County in the State of West Virginia Coordinates: Settled 1769 Established 1806 Incorporated 1836 Mayor Nick Sparachane City Manager Robert Herron Chief of Police Kevin Gessler, Sr. ...

Heavy immigration from Reformed Presbyterian churches in Ireland and Scotland provided sustained growth for the denomination. Some congregations, especially those on the East Coast, saw rapid growth; over ninety members, many of them immigrants, joined the Baltimore, Maryland, congregation in a single three-year period. Meanwhile, members moved west and many congregations were organized. In 1840, there were four East Coast city congregations and zero congregations west of the Mississippi River, the farthest west congregation being in southwestern Illinois. In 1865, there were nine East Coast city congregations and eight congregations west of the Mississippi, as far west as southwestern Iowa. In 1890, there were twelve East Coast city congregations and thirty-five congregations west of the Mississippi, as far west as Seattle, Washington. More presbyteries were organized as well: in 1840, there were 5; in 1850, 5; in 1860, 6; in 1870, 8; in 1880, 10; in 1890, 11. Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... Randolph County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Clarinda is a city located in Page County, Iowa. ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King Incorporated December 2, 1869 Mayor Greg Nickels (NP) Area    - City 369. ...

During the middle decades of the nineteenth century, the denomination experienced widespread growth. Many congregations in the East were organized in cities, while many others were countryside congregations. Farther west, however, most congregations were founded in the countryside. This is due in large part to the way of life of many Reformed Presbyterian settlers. Typically, a large group of settlers would gather and move to an area favorable for farming, where a congregation would soon be organized for them. Some congregations saw extremely fast growth in this way: the North Cedar (Denison, Kansas) congregation did not exist in 1870 but had eighty-four members in 1872. Other growth came from different sources. Although American congregations had been governed by an American church since 1798, the Scottish and Irish synods continued to operate missions in Canada. Over the years, several Scottish-synod congregations joined the North American synod, and with the blessing of the Irish synod, an entire presbytery (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) transferred in 1879. Few complete congregations have joined the RPCNA over the years, other than these, although the denomination has seen one merger: in 1969, the RPCNA merged with the remnants of the Associate Presbyterian Church, which by this point consisted of just four churches. Denison is a city located in Jackson County, Kansas. ...

After sixty years of nearly constant growth, the denominational split in 1891 led to a denomination-wide downturn. Although the departure of twelve hundred members in the split still left over ten thousand communicant members, nearly constant loss led to a total of just 3,804 communicant members by 1980. During this time, the large congregations in the big cities of the East gradually withered: while in 1891, there were two congregations in Boston, Massachusetts, five in New York City, three in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one in Baltimore, in 1980 there were only four in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia combined. Settlement and growth in the western United States continued for a time, with new presbyteries being organized in Colorado, the Pacific Coast, and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. However, the countryside congregations also dwindled, from eighty-three in 1891 to twenty-five in 1980. Presbyteries, too, were disorganized and combined, with only seven presbyteries remaining in 1980. Perhaps the most drastic examples of both congregational and presbyterial decline involve New York: by 1980, four presbyteries (Philadelphia, New York, Vermont, and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) had been combined into the New York Presbytery (since renamed Atlantic), while five New York City congregations with 1,075 communicant members had been reduced to one congregation of only about forty people. Although large numbers of losses were due to individuals leaving for other churches, some departures involved many people at once. For example, over 100 communicant members left First Boston congregation when their pastor left the denomination in 1912, while Craftsbury (Vermont) and Second Newburg (New York) congregations left the denomination as entire congregations, in 1906 and 1919 respectively. After the mid-1910s, even the founding of new congregations was uncommon, with only three each in the 1920s and 1930s, and no new congregations at all between 1937 and 1950. Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1 Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area    - City 232. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Western Canada is a geographic region of Canada, also known as simply the West, generally considered to be west of the province of Ontario. ... Craftsbury, Vermont Craftsbury is a town located in Orleans County, Vermont. ... Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York. ...

Missions

A recent picture of the former Indian Mission property

With its strong sense of denominational identity and belief in the need of all people to hear the gospel of Jesus, the RPCNA has sponsored missions in several different fields throughout the years. In North America, several different home missions were established among specific people: Image File history File linksMetadata Indian_Mission. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Indian_Mission. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

• Jewish Missions were established by congregations in Philadelphia and Cincinnati.

• A Chinese Mission was run for a short time in Oakland, California. Oakland, founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in California[1] and the county seat of Alameda County. ...

• The Indian Mission, which worked primarily with members of the Kiowa nation, was established in the countryside near Apache, Oklahoma, in 1887 or 1888. A congregation that resulted from this mission existed until 1971. The Kiowa are a nation of Native Americans who lived mostly in the plains of west Texas, Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico at the time of the arrival of Europeans. ... Apache is a town located in Caddo County, Oklahoma, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,616. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

• Several small Southern Missions were run throughout the South during and after the Civil War, mostly working with freed slaves. The last of these, established in Selma, Alabama in 1875, resulted in the establishment of a congregation still in existence. The pastor of this congregation was instrumental in organizing the civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in March of 1965. Selma is a city in Alabama located on the banks of the Alabama River in Dallas County, Alabama, of which it is the county seat. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... John Lewis (on right in trench coat) and Hosea Williams (on the left) lead marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge,March 7, 1965 The Selma to Montgomery marches, which included Bloody Sunday, were three marches that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

Several other missions were organized for foreign work:

• In 1847, a missionary was sent out to begin work in Port-au-Prince, Haïti. This mission was ended abruptly within two years when the missionary joined the Seventh Day Baptist Church. 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: Caribbean geography stubs | Capitals in North America | Haiti ... Seventh Day Baptists are Christian Baptists who observe the Sabbath on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. ...

• Missionaries were first sent to Syria in 1856. After a short exploratory period, several mission stations were organized in Latakia and the surrounding area. This mission was continued until the late 1950s, when Syrian governmental policies forced the RPCNA to cut its ties with the churches there. 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Roundabout in Latakia Latakia (Arabic: اللاذقية Al-Ladhiqiyah, Greek:Λαοδικεία) is the principal port city of Syria. ...

• Work was begun in the area around Mersin, in Asia Minor, around 1882 and continued until around 1932. Mersin is the capital city of İçel Province, in Turkey. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ...

• In 1888, work was begun in Cyprus, and congregations were established in Larnaca and Nicosia. Mission work continued until the 1970s. Today, a single congregation in Larnaca is affiliated with the RPCNA and is pastored by an RPCNA missionary, but is not related to the previous mission. Larnaca, or Larnaka (also colloquially Skala or Iskele), is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus. ... Platia Eleftherias (Freedom square) Nicosia, Cyprus Satellite photo of Nicosia, Cyprus Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia (Greek: Λευκωσία , also colloquially Khora, Χώρα or Turkish: LefkoÅŸa) is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. ... Larnaca, or Larnaka (also colloquially Skala or Iskele), is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus. ...

• Missionaries were first sent to the town of Tak Hing, in South China, in 1895. This mission proved to be quite fruitful, resulting in over eight hundred members by the early 1940s. However, with the Communist takeover in 1949, the mission was closed. Guangdong, often spelt as Kwangtung, is a province on the south coast of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants Chinese Nationalists Chinese Communists Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Mao Zedong Strength 4,300,000 (July 1946) 3,650,000 (June 1948) 1,490,000 (June 1949) 1,200,000 (July 1946) 2,800,000 (June 1948) 4,000,000 (June 1949) The Chinese Civil War (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...

• A mission was begun in Qiqihar, Manchuria, in the early 1930s. Communist control of the area forced the mission's closure before 1949. Qiqihar (Simplified Chinese: 齐齐哈尔; Traditional Chinese: 齊齊哈爾; Pinyin: Qíqíhāěr; Postal Pinyin: Tsitsihar; Wade-Giles: Chi-chi-ha-er) is a major city in the Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China and has 895,000 inhabitants. ... Manchuria (Manchu: Manju; Traditional Chinese: 滿洲; Simplified Chinese: 满洲; pinyin: MÇŽnzhōu, Russian: ) is a vast territorial region in northeast Asia. ...

• With the closure of the Chinese missions in 1949, the unemployed missionaries were soon sent to Kobe, Japan. This field, the only one currently operated by the RPCNA, is the site of a small mission presbytery. , Kobe ) is a city in Japan located on the island of Honshu. ...

Several short-term mission trips are sponsored by the denomination each year, both foreign and domestic. As well, some RPCNA members work formally or informally as missionaries in other countries, although not officially with the RPCNA's Foreign Mission Board.

Today

Since 1980, the denomination has experienced growth, seeing an increase of approximately 25% in membership and 11% in the number of churches. This growth has not been uniform, however; many churches have been started in urban areas, while many older congregations, especially in rural areas, have continued to decline.

Today, the RPCNA has congregations in twenty United States states and two Canadian provinces throughout North America, as well as maintaining close relations with "sister churches" of Reformed Presbyterians in Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. There is also a mission presbytery in Kobe, Japan, as well as an associated mission congregation in Larnaca, Cyprus.

As of 31 December 2005, the RPCNA has 6,150 members in 71 North American congregations, along with 241 more members in four congregations in Japan. The "stronghold" areas of the denomination are in northeastern Kansas, central Indiana, and western Pennsylvania. The denomination sponsors Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania (all board members are required to be Reformed Presbyterians) and operates the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The denomination holds a week-long International Conference quadrennially at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was last held in 2004. A denominational magazine, the Reformed Presbyterian Witness, is published monthly. The RPCNA is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. Fraternal relations are maintained with the Reformed Presbyterian Churches of Australia, Ireland, and Scotland, the Trinity Community Christian Fellowship (the aforementioned congregation in Larnaca, Cyprus), the American Presbyterian Church, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the North American synod of the Free Church of Scotland, the Korean American Presbyterian Church, the Église réformée du Québec, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Reformed Church in the United States, and the United Reformed Churches in North America. Official language(s) none Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Geneva College was the original name of Hobart College in Geneva, New York. ... Beaver Falls is a city located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. ... The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges, P-Burgh, The Burgh Motto: Benigno Numine Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded 1758 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area    - City 151. ... Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ... Nickname: Location of Grand Rapids within Kent County, Michigan Coordinates: Country United States State Michigan County Kent Mayor George Heartwell Area    - City 45. ... North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council is an association of some Presbyterian and Reformed churches in the United States and Canada. ... The seal of the ARPC The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a small denomination, formed from the merger of the Associate (Seceder) and the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) churches in Philadelphia in 1782. ... This article concerns the Free Church of Scotland 1843-1900, for the Free Church of Scotland existing from 1900 to the present day see Free Church of Scotland (post 1900). ... Along with Westminster Theological Seminary, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) was founded by conservative Presbyterians who revolted against the modernist theology within the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) during the 1930s. ... The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is a Protestant denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church (USA). ... The United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) is a theologically conservative federation of churches in the Dutch Calvinist tradition. ...

Disambiguation

Although the RPCNA is the oldest American denomination to use the name "Reformed Presbyterian Church", there are other churches in America currently using similar names. Some of these include the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Reformed Church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly, the Reformed Presbyterian Church-Hanover Presbytery, the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States, and the Reformed Presbytery in North America. Many individual congregations of other denominations, especially in the Presbyterian Church in America, also use this name. While some use it to express their devotion to historic Reformed Presbyterian principles, many others use the name because they were once part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (Evangelical Synod), which merged with the Presbyterian Church in America in 1982. The seal of the ARPC The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a small denomination, formed from the merger of the Associate (Seceder) and the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) churches in Philadelphia in 1782. ... The Presbyterian Reformed Church is an indigenous North American group of churches continuing historic Scottish Presbyterian orthodoxy in doctrine, worship, government and discipline, on the basis of a conviction that these principles and practices are founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God. ... The Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly is a conservative Presbyterian denomination in the United States. ... The Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States is a branch of Presbyterianism with seventy-four churches in the United States. ... The Reformed Presbytery in North America (RPNA) is a religious denomination with beliefs in Protestantism, Calvinism, Presbyterianism, and more particularly Covenanting. ...

References

Only a few sources have been used to prepare this essay. Since each one largely deals with a different topic, references have not been noted unless (1) the topic in question is rather obscure, or (2) the source used is mostly used for other topics.

• The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America is the primary source for current doctrine.

• Historical and theological matters until 1888 are largely based on W. Melancthon Glasgow's History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America, a public-domain book freely available on the denominational website.

• Some historical and theological matters before 1888 and most since 1888, as well as all statistical matters, are derived from the annually-issued Minutes of Synod and Yearbook of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.

• Many current matters and issues, including some also discussed in the Minutes of Synod, are derived from information found on the denominational website.

External links

• RPCNA website
• Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
• Geneva College
• Reformed Presbyterian Missions
• Scottish Reformed Presbyterian Church website
• Irish Reformed Presbyterian Church website
• Australian Reformed Presbyterian Church website
• Reformed Presbyterian Witness
• Crown & Covenant Publications