Posted on 05/29/2014 2:51:33 PM PDT by Gamecock
On April 27, 2014, University Reformed Church (URC) voted 282-9 in favor of leaving the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and affiliating with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
The following Wednesday, the consistory of URC voted unanimously (14-0) to file a petition with the Classis of South Grand Rapids that we might leave the RCA with all our real and personal property and join the Presbytery of the Great Lakes in the PCA.
For the past three years, our church has wrestled with our place in the Reformed Church in America. We have prayed, studied, strategized, spoke, listened, prayed, asked questions, explored options, tried to discern what is in the best interest of the Kingdom, and prayed some more. We did not come to this decision lightly.
And this decision on our part does not mean that we have already left the RCA. Now that our petition has been filed, we will enter into a formal process with the classis—a series of meetings and reports which will take place over the next 6-8 months, as spelled out in detail by our Book of Church Order. We anticipate a final vote on our petition sometime in the first part of 2015.
Perhaps at a later date I will be able to share our 39-page petition for withdrawal. But for now the process is one that needs to take place between our church and the classis, not by blogs and in the public eye. Let me simply say at this point that our reason for seeking to leave the RCA is not one thing, but many things. From the adoption of the Belhar Confession, to the removal of the conscience clauses related to women’s ordination, to the growing acceptance of homosexual practice in the denomination, we believe the RCA has changed significantly in the last several years. The denomination has moved away from churches like ours. Our request is that we may be able to move too.
We are hopeful that our brothers and sisters in the classis will conduct a fair process and seek with us “how Christ’s Kingdom may best be served in this matter” (BCO 1.II.7.19b).
Thanks in advance for your prayers.
Wonder how it is going to work out with their deaconesses?
The ARP or EPC would seem a better fit.
Please someone explain to me.
How does a conservative denomination
come to accept homosexuality in practice?
I think RCA is conservative in many
ways, especially in the doctrines
of election regeneration by God
and not by a personal decision or
a profession of faith in Christ.
Good for them. Presbyterian America is going to grow.
I think the PCA is conservative. The PCUSA is the liberal bunch.
Not sure about the RCA, but in the PC(USA) it went something like this:
-Undermine the Confessions by bringing in outside, non-Reformed Confessions, not as authoritative but complementary. That is the camel’s head in the tent.
-The the way is clear to undermine the final authority of Scripture.
-Once that is done you can water down the Gospel of our Lord Jesus with a gospel of social works/justice.
-You ordain women as elders, then teaching elders.
-By now the only sin is calling something a sin.
>>not as authoritative but complementary
I think that’s the key. Everybody needs
to be on the lookout for this.
It makes the liberals extremely unhappy that, after all the effort they have put into subverting and taking over churches, that people who actually care about their faith want nothing to do with liberal doctrines substituting for their religion.
They make take over the building, but they will preach to empty pews, and their collection plates will be empty.
The PCA has a constitution consisting of the Westminster Standards and Book of Church Order. All church officers must subscribe to these documents as their Confession of Faith. Teaching against the doctrines contained in these documents or violating them could result in trial and deposition from office.13 Differences Between the PCA and the PCUSA; Differences between two major Presbyterian denominationsBy contrast, the PCUSA has a “Book of Confessions” containing all of the major Reformed Confessions, and some modern confessions of faith which change or even deny things contained in these confessions. They are viewed more as a series of general guidelines or suggestions that do not bind the conscience of officers in any way. PCUSA church officers routinely teach contrary to the doctrines contained in these documents.
How will this set with the Presbyterian Church?
Please expand your question.
Exactly. If liberalism was really so great, they wouldn’t try to subvert established churches and start ones of their own. Of course, they’d never find enough members to sustain them and end up like Air America talk radio.
The only negative comments I’ve seen have been from those in other, smaller, more conservative Presbyterian bodies that wish that URC had gone their direction.
The deaconesses may present a problem as the PCA doesn’t allow the ordination of women but some Presbyteries have unordained women that serve as unordained deaconesses. Others feel that such terminology causes confusion.
Conservative relative to the PCUSA. PCA is conservative but rather worldly much like the URC. The good denominations are the Protestant Reformed Churches, the Heritage Reformed Congregations, the Canadian and American Reformed Churches... typically, the more faithful groups are smaller because narrow is the path and strait is the gate...
That’s cycle is so sadly typical in Christ’s church, much like Tytler’s Cycle...
For the past three years, our church has wrestled with our place in the Reformed Church in America. We have prayed, studied, strategized, spoke, listened, prayed, asked questions, explored options, tried to discern what is in the best interest of the Kingdom, and prayed some more. We did not come to this decision lightly.
And this decision on our part does not mean that we have already left the RCA. Now that our petition has been filed, we will enter into a formal process with the classis—a series of meetings and reports which will take place over the next 6-8 months, as spelled out in detail by our Book of Church Order. We anticipate a final vote on our petition sometime in the first part of 2015.
PFL
Looks like the “Split P’s” are splitting again.
I had a silent bet running as to which FRoamin' Catholic would make this mistake. Looks like we have a winner!
Alex:
Of course it would be me!. Who else? Of course I would perhaps not be here making a comment on the matter if it were not for the fact that every time there is something posted here regarding the Catholic Church, it seems ole Alex seems to always make a special appearance in Catholic news stories [Pope Francis and the recent meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople, Pope Francis agreeing to preach and meet with the 37th meeting of the Catholic-charismatic movement, etc., do these not ring a bell?????????????????], perhaps because you were Double predestined to do so, or maybe you just like to see what is going on in the Catholic Church [secretly, I think you have a grandmother or aunt that treated you with a Catholic sensibility vs. the stern Calvinist approach, but that is pure speculation on my part, for the record] or maybe you actually enjoy the constant back and forth that goes on here.
And which mistake is it that I made, in my home city, the largest Presbyterian church left its current association and went to another one, and one not one mentioned in this story.
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