Associate Reformed Presbyterian?

[Filia Mariae]

I was in the car yesterday and happened to drive past the church in which I was baptized. It is a Presbyterian church, I had always assumed it was PCA or PCUSA, although it is only in recent years that I would have even had a clue what the difference is. Anyway, as I was driivng past I looked at the sign to see which one it is and I couldn't see anything identifying it as either PCA or PCUSA, but under the name of the church, it said in smaller letters "Associate Reformed Presbyterian." Is this a Presbyterian denomination? If so, is there anyone here that belongs to it? And what would distinguish it from a PCA or PCUSA church?

Thank you!

 

[rmwilliamsll]

ARP are real interesting theologically.
see their denominational homepage at:
http://www.arpsynod.org/

AFAIK they are unique in having embraced modernism/liberalism in the 1920-40's especially neoorthoxy and crossed back into conservativism. The EPC has extensive ties to them, which is how i got my information.

Erskine College in Due West SC is associated with the synod
http://www.erskine.edu/chooser.html

 

[ClementofRome]

I have a friend who is an ARP pastor and he is thoroughly reformed and moderately conservative. I have a friend who is a Professor at Erskine Seminary and he is absolutely reformed and quite conservative.

 

[rmwilliamsll]

I have a friend who is an ARP pastor and he is thoroughly reformed and moderately conservative. I have a friend who is a Professor at Erskine Seminary and he is absolutely reformed and quite conservative.

you ought to invite them both to this forum. i'd love to hear the history of their denomination, firsthand.

 

[ClementofRome]

you ought to invite them both to this forum. i'd love to hear the history of their denomination, firsthand.

I'll see what I can do!

 

[Bulldog]

I If so, is there anyone here that belongs to it? And what would distinguish it from a PCA or PCUSA church?

I'll hold back on the "PCUSA is so liberal" jokes...

Seriously, that seems to be the way to distuinguish them nowadays. There are certainly some conservative PCUSA churhces, but the PCUSA officially denies biblical infailliblity. Arminianism and even some Universalism have crept up in PCUSA churches, problems that PCA churches rarely if never face.

 

[ClementofRome]

Arminianism and even some Universalism have crept up in PCUSA churches, problems that PCA churches rarely if never face.

You are correct in this....the PCA is too busy arguing over 6 literal 24-hour day creationism and strict subscriptionism!

 

[rmwilliamsll]

You are correct in this....the PCA is too busy arguing over 6 literal 24-hour day creationism and strict subscriptionism!

i finished _Practice of Confessional Subscriptionism_ working on North's _Crossed Fingers_ just now. and i'd dearly appreciate a good through discussion of the issues surrounding subscriptionism.....

especially before i have to teach it this summer *grin*.....

 

[Filia Mariae]

I'll hold back on the "PCUSA is so liberal" jokes...

Seriously, that seems to be the way to distuinguish them nowadays. There are certainly some conservative PCUSA churhces, but the PCUSA officially denies biblical infailliblity. Arminianism and even some Universalism have crept up in PCUSA churches, problems that PCA churches rarely if never face.

Thanks Bulldog. I have a pretty good idea (generally speaking) of the difference between PCA and PCUSA, but I just wondered how ARP churches compared to those two larger church bodies.

 

[Gabriel]

You are correct in this....the PCA is too busy arguing over 6 literal 24-hour day creationism and strict subscriptionism!

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Seriously, these are worth arguing over if you ask me. After all, if you don't believe the introduction, how can you believe the rest of the Book?

 

[JM]

A friend of mine is a APR Pastor, he left the Fundamental KJVO Baptists for the APR. He's a great man of God and his preaching is very baptist in style!

 

[ClementofRome]

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Seriously, these are worth arguing over if you ask me. After all, if you don't believe the introduction, how can you believe the rest of the Book?

Thanks Gab, but I ain't biting the hook! I am a firm believer in infallibility, but that does in no way presupposes literalism with respect to Gen. 1.

Here is a tougher one as far as I am concerned...strict subscriptionism, IMHO could be the undoing of the PCA. I spent years in the PCA and have a love for the denomination. However; I am concerned for what the hardliners demand of the elders, deacons and members of the denomination.

May God bless us all.