Associate Reformed in History
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest
Protestant denominations in America. It was formed by the union of the
Associate Presbyterian Church (The Seceders) and the Reformed Presbyterian
Church of Scotland (The Covenanters) whose members settled in America.
As early as 1685, these "Covenanters" and "Seceders" from Scotland began
settling along the eastern seaboard in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
the Carolinas. The Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania was organized in
1753. Soon after, in 1774, a Presbytery of the Reformed Church was formed in
Paxton, PA. Then, on October 31, 1782, these two groups came together to
form the Associate Reformed Church in North America. In 1804, a seminary was
established in New York under the leadership of Dr. John M. Mason.
It is sometimes said that the Associate Reformed Presbyterians founded
the first theological seminary in America. This is not strictly correct, for
twelve years earlier, the Associates had established a seminary in Beaver
County, Pennsylvania. The Seminary in New York was the second and precedes
Andover by four years and Princeton by eight years. Erskine Theological
Seminary is our present Seminary, being organized in 1836.
The congregations of Old Providence Church, Spottswood, Broad Creek,
Timber Ridge, and Ebenezer in and around Lexington, Virginia, and New
Lebanon Church, Pickaway, WV, were all in existence before 1770.
The Associate Reformed Church grew rapidly. The original Synod was
divided, and over the period, six Synods were formed: the Synod of New York,
the Synod of Pennsylvania, the Synod of the South, the Synod of Scioto, and
the First and Second Synods of the West. In 1858, the Synods of New York,
Pennsylvania, and the West united with the Associate Presbyterian Church
(the part of that church which did not enter the 1782 union) to form the
United Presbyterian Church of North America. This included practically all
of the Associate Reformed people except the Synod of the South. It is this
Synod which, under God's Providence, has continued until now, and is known
as the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. At
present, we have churches throughout the Southern states, Califonia, New
England and NE Canada, as well as foreign Presbyteries in Mexico and
Pakistan.
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Reformed in Doctrine
At the time of the Reformation, two major branches of thought and
practice emerged: the Lutheran branch under the leadership of Martin Luther,
Melancthon and others; and the Reformed branch under John Calvin, Theodore
Beza, John Knox and others.
The Reformation under the Reformed movement took the positive position
that the Word of God alone was infallible and authoritative in matters of
faith and practice. As such, only those things commanded and directed in
scripture were permissible in worship. We hold such basic Evangelical truths
as:
- The divine inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures as the
Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments.
- One living and true God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and
in glory.
- The deity of Jesus, the Christ. Though Jesus of Nazareth was in His
human nature born of a virgin, He in His person was the Divine Son of God.
He is therefore God and Man in two distinct natures in one divine person
forever.
- The sinful nature and estate of man. Man is a sinner transgressing
God's law, and in rebellion of God's authority. He is under the wrath and
curse of God, condemned by his just judgment. He is therefore in a lost
condition unable to save himself.
- Salvation and forgiveness of man only in Christ, who by His death on
the cross paid the penalty of our sin in full and who by His resurrection
is victorious over death and the grave.
- Salvation by grace, only through the merit and righteousness of
Christ, which is put to our account and received by faith alone.
- The Church as the Body of Christ of which all true believers in Christ
are a part, dwelling together in unity of the spirit and in the bond of
Christian love.
- Christ as the King and Head of all the church abiding in Him; we are
in the true apostolic succession of the Christian Faith. Christ Himself
will provide His church with necessary gifts and fullness needed for this
day.
The Associate Reformed Church has sought faithfully to hold to the
Westminster Confession of Faith and the catechisms as her standards.
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Presbyterian in Government
The government of the Presbyterian Church is a representative government
in which the entire congregation elects elders, for the administration of
spiritual affairs, and deacons for the administration of temporal ones.
This, however, does not mean that the congregation has no further voice in
her affairs, for regular and called meetings of the congregation are held
throughout the year.
These administrative Boards are known as the Session and the Diaconate.
From the Session a representative is chosen each year to represent the
congregation, along with the pastor, in the Presbytery. The Presbytery is
composed of all representatives of the separate Associate Reformed
Presbyterian churches in the area.
The Highest Court of the Church is the General Synod of the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church, which is composed of representatives from all
the Presbyteries. The Synod holds its annual stated meeting in June at
Bonclarken, our assembly grounds in western NC.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church makes no claim to a monopoly
in matters of truth and faith; neither does she claim any exclusive position
with regard to the Savior and His love. We accept all believers in Christ as
being in full communion with us and we believe that they too are members of
the body or Christ, the Church Universal. Through it all, we reaffirm the
Catchword of Calvin and the Reformed Movement: "To God alone be the glory."
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The Program of the Denomination:
FOREIGN MISSIONS - fields in Pakistan and in Mexico, Middle East,
Germany, Russia, and more.
HOME MISSIONS - in areas throughout the US and Canada
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
- Erskine College, Due West, SC.
- Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC
BONCLARKEN, Flat Rock, NC - Assembly and Conference Grounds of the A.R.P.
Church
Cooperation in the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY and other such
interdenominational causes.
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