Presbyterian factions: PCUSA vs EPC vs ???

98cwitr

Lord forgive me
Apr 20, 2006
20,020
3,473
Raleigh, NC
✟449,894.00
Country
United States
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
As with us Baptists, and in doing some research since it does seem our Baptist denomination is jumping off the Wesleyan deep end, and whereas my theology have never really aligned with Wesleyanism/Armenianism, I am wondering what are the nuanced differences between these organizations, and if there are any I am simply missing.

What is the difference, theologically, between PCUSA and EPC?

Are there other Presbyterian organizations that the churches (small c) are aligned with?
 
  • Informative
Reactions: anna ~ grace

Silverback

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2019
1,306
854
61
South East
✟66,766.00
Country
United States
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Married
As with us Baptists, and in doing some research since it does seem our Baptist denomination is jumping off the Wesleyan deep end, and whereas my theology have never really aligned with Wesleyanism/Armenianism, I am wondering what are the nuanced differences between these organizations, and if there are any I am simply missing.

What is the difference, theologically, between PCUSA and EPC?

Are there other Presbyterian organizations that the churches (small c) are aligned with?

If it was me, I would checkout the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
 
Upvote 0

98cwitr

Lord forgive me
Apr 20, 2006
20,020
3,473
Raleigh, NC
✟449,894.00
Country
United States
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
If it was me, I would checkout the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)

Got 2 of their churches within 20 miles of me. Nada closer. I'm trying to escape the "social justice" plague that has poisoned our churches, but looks like I would be stepping from one snake pit to another going from a CBF Baptist church to a PCUSA church.

This is severely disheartening in the light of Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 5:

Our Challenging Way: Faithfulness, Sex, Ordination and Marriage | Theology and Worship | Presbyterian Mission Agency
 
Upvote 0

JustRachel

He welcomed me back! <3
Site Supporter
Aug 12, 2007
714
764
Right here
✟325,928.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
I am a Baptist. My understanding is that the USA Presbyterians are embracing the gay culture. In my little town the church has split. In a neighboring town the USA Presbyterians actually took the building and all of the money from a church who did not agree with the gay philosophy. :(
 
Upvote 0

Silverback

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2019
1,306
854
61
South East
✟66,766.00
Country
United States
Faith
Lutheran
Marital Status
Married
Got 2 of their churches within 20 miles of me. Nada closer. I'm trying to escape the "social justice" plague that has poisoned our churches, but looks like I would be stepping from one snake pit to another going from a CBF Baptist church to a PCUSA church.

This is severely disheartening in the light of Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 5:

Our Challenging Way: Faithfulness, Sex, Ordination and Marriage | Theology and Worship | Presbyterian Mission Agency

There is also the "Orthodox Presbyterian Church" which is more common in the Northern States, but is overall a small denomination.

Other possibilities for reformed churches include Christian Reformed, Reformed Church in America, and their offshoots.
 
Upvote 0

hedrick

Senior Veteran
Site Supporter
Feb 8, 2009
20,250
10,567
New Jersey
✟1,148,308.00
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Single
The EPC is one of the many conservative breakoffs from the PCUSA. The PCA is as well. However the PCA holds strictly to Westminster. The EPC has defined a few essentials, and allows more variation. They allow congregations to ordain women, which the PCA does not.

Note that congregations in both the PCUSA and EPC are likely to vary. There are conservative PCUSA congregations, even in the Northeast. There is no mandate to marry gays, although the national leadership thinks it's appropriate. You might well find a PCUSA congregation that's OK. PCA churches are likely to be more uniform in belief, though not necessarily in the "feel" of the congregation. So the best advice is to try congregations near you and see what they're like.

If homosexuality is the key issue for you, note that RCA congregations have varying views. There have been gay marriages and there are gay clergy within the RCA, though not necessarily in your region.

The CRC prohibits gay marriage, but in the most recent study, the majority report recommended softening the position. The minority report was adopted, but you've got to wonder how long a denomination will continue to support the advice of a minority of its leadership.

If homosexuality is the most important thing for you, I think the PCA may be the only safe place in the long run, though for the moment the conservative offshoots such as EPC and PCA all take the traditional position. However if you're OK with a church or even a presbytery / classis that you agree with, you should check all the local churches from Reformed denominations.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

MacGarto

New Member
Dec 6, 2019
1
0
45
Pittsburgh
✟7,803.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
The EPC is one of the many conservative breakoffs from the PCUSA. The PCA is as well. However the PCA holds strictly to Westminster. The EPC has defined a few essentials, and allows more variation. They allow congregations to ordain women, which the PCA does not.

Note that congregations in both the PCUSA and EPC are likely to vary. There are conservative PCUSA congregations, even in the Northeast. There is no mandate to marry gays, although the national leadership thinks it's appropriate. You might well find a PCUSA congregation that's OK. PCA churches are likely to be more uniform in belief, though not necessarily in the "feel" of the congregation. So the best advice is to try congregations near you and see what they're like.

If homosexuality is the key issue for you, note that RCA congregations have varying views. There have been gay marriages and there are gay clergy within the RCA, though not necessarily in your region.

The CRC prohibits gay marriage, but in the most recent study, the majority report recommended softening the position. The minority report was adopted, but you've got to wonder how long a denomination will continue to support the advice of a minority of its leadership.

If homosexuality is the most important thing for you, I think the PCA may be the only safe place in the long run, though for the moment the conservative offshoots such as EPC and PCA all take the traditional position. However if you're OK with a church or even a presbytery / classis that you agree with, you should check all the local churches from Reformed denominations.
 
Upvote 0

athenken

Barbary pirates? Or are they?
Nov 30, 2011
1,782
214
West Texas
✟20,257.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
The OPC (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) is even more conservative than the PCA. They hold strictly to the Westminster confession and catechisms. I currently attend a PCA church. Along with the Westminster standards, we also study the Heidelberg catechism (which is what the Westminster documents are based on).

If you are looking for strictly Reformed churches, you can also look at the URC (United Reformed Church). There is a website, which I cannot remember offhand, that lists different like-minded denominations if you are looking for a good, local, Reformed church. But with the denominations we have mentioned you should be able to find something close by.
 
Upvote 0