Rca - Rcusa ???

[Esdra]

Hi

The thing with the reformed churches in the USA isn't that easy, as there have been quite many church splits, imo.

So help me out, please:
There is the Reformed Church in the US,
then the Reformed Church in America,
and the Reformed Christians who are in the United Church of Christ together with the Congrgationalists.
And also the Christian Reformed Church. - And probably many more...

Now, which of these are mainline churches, which are very calvinist and which not? Which are conservative and which liberal?

Is it the same as with the PCA (conservative) and PCUSA (mainline, liberal) --> RCA (conservative) and RCUSA (liberal)?

Esdra

 

[hedrick]

Hi

The thing with the reformed churches in the USA isn't that easy, as there have been quite many church splits, imo.

So help me out, please:
There is the Reformed Church in the US,
then the Reformed Church in America,
and the Reformed Christians who are in the United Church of Christ together with the Congrgationalists.
And also the Christian Reformed Church. - And probably many more...

Now, which of these are mainline churches, which are very calvinist and which not? Which are conservative and which liberal?

Is it the same as with the PCA (conservative) and PCUSA (mainline, liberal) --> RCA (conservative) and RCUSA (liberal)?

Esdra

There are many churches, for two reasons. First, there are churches that came here from different European countries. Second, there are splits of theology or historical issues. In most families there are mainline and conservative churches. Generally in each family there's one mainline and a bunch of small, conservative churches. As far as I can tell, the mainline churches are all in full communion with each other (and with the ELCA).

From the Dutch heritage we have the RCA and CRC, of about 250,000 members each. RCA is at least partially mainline. CRC is more conservative. Then there are smaller churches, of which RCUS is one. It is conservative.

From German and French there are a couple of very small churches. Most of from that background now part of the UCC (see below).

From the UK, we have Presbyterian and Congregational.

There's one large Presbyterian (2,000,000 members), the PCUSA, which is mainline, and a number of small, conservative ones.

There's one large Congregational, United Church of Christ (1,000,000 members) and a number of small, conservative ones. The UCC is on the liberal end of the mainline, in my opinion.

There are also some smaller churches from other countries. See List of Reformed denominations in North America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for a reasonably complete list.

 

[Esdra]

Thank you that helps. Especially the link you gave me.

So, the ucc isn't really a reformed church. If I wanted to become reformed/Calvinist, where would you advise me to go?

 

[hedrick]

Thank you that helps. Especially the link you gave me.

So, the ucc isn't really a reformed church. If I wanted to become reformed/Calvinist, where would you advise me to go?

If you look at the number on the Wikipedia page, you'll realize that most Reformed churches in the US are mainline. In fact I'm a member of the PCUSA, and my theology is mainline. I'd recommend looking at the PCUSA, UCC, or RCA. But if by Reformed you mean conservative Reformed, i.e. TULIP, you've got a practical problem. In the US the conservative Reformed denominations are smaller. If you read postings here you'll find that in many communities there aren't conservative Reformed churches. If that's what you want, and your community has one, great. But conservative Reformed folks at times have to look at Baptist and non-denominational churches, some of which are close to Reformed in theology. Or at some of the more conservative congregations in the mainline denominations. There are many of them. Probably there are more conservative congregations in the RCA and fewer in the UCC, with PCUSA in the middle. For PCUSA it depends upon the area of the country. There are more conservative congregations in the South and West.

What this means is that you probably don't want to be overly picky about your denomination. If you want a church that follows TULIP any of the non-mainline churches are a possibility and even some congregations in the mainline denominations. Remember, there are significant differences between congregations in a given denomination. So you probably want to look at all of the Reformed churches in your area.

 

[Esdra]

Thanks for your info.
I'm just curious.

Well, usually I'm talking about the state of New York, the area around the finger lakes and Rochester.
In a mind-play I elected that area as my home if I would move to the USA. don't ask me why I elected this area and state and not another one.

In Austria, Europe, the situation is different anyway.
Most reformed churches are like the rca or the pcusa and they are usually in mixed churches with what would be the elca in us terms.
However I know of one tulip Presbyterian church in my neighbouring state.

I am a happy Catholic. But I also would have enjoyed attending reformed churches. Sadly enough there are only mixed churches in my area. I mean, I attended services there, but it's not the same. I had the feeling that they are much more Lutheran than reformed.

Of course in Switzerland there would be many reformed churches. In my case just across the border. But 70km is a bit too far to attend a reformed church.

I have been in various Baptist churches but stopped going there, probably they became too evangelical for me. I also don't know if a reformed Baptist church was among them.

 

[hedrick]

Outside the US, some Anglican churches are also Reformed.

 

[Esdra]

Outside the US, some Anglican churches are also Reformed.

Yes I know. I've heard about that. Especially in the UK.
The Anglican has also always fascinated me, because you can so to speak choose if you want to be reformed or Catholic.
Let's say in your Parish is an Anglo-Catholic church, and the neighbouring parish is reformed. You can choose which one to attend and you are nevertheless in the same denomination