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DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND acapella - music without the accompaniment of
instruments. This was the universal
practice of the early church. ARPC - Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. A member
of NAPARC, with a membership of about 40,000 and
just over 250 churches; located mostly in the Southeast. Baptism - Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with
water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
(Matt. 28:19) doth signify and seal our ingrafting
into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our
engagement to be the Lord’s. (Rom. 6:4, Gal. 3:27). Baptism is not to
be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess
their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; (Acts 8:36–38, Acts 2:38)
but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be
baptized (Acts 2:38–39, Gen. 17:10, Col. 2:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:14)
(Questions 94 and 95 of the Shorter Catechism). For more information on infant baptism
see: A Contemporary Reformed Defense
of Infant Baptism by R. Scott Clark Blue Banner - The blue banner bearing the motto "For
Christ's Crown and Covenant" originated as a battle-flag for the
Covenanters. It first appeared in 1639 with the Covenanter army under General
Alexander Leslie, first Earl of Leven. During the period of most intense
persecution (1660-1668), some 18,000 men, women, and children died in battle,
were executed, killed without process of law, or exiled, for their
faithfulness to “Christ's Crown and Covenant.”
Board of Education and Publication - uses the medium of print to promote, encourage,
and defend the Reformed faith and testimony of the denomination. Publications
include The Reformed Presbyterian Witness,
a monthly denominational magazine, and other praise and testimony materials
including The Book of Psalms for Singing. Christian Reformed Church (CRC) -
“was brought to North America by those who belonged to a more orthodox
Reformed denomination in Holland. As more recent immigrants (from the late
19th century to the present), CRC members were
generally much less aware of, much less infatuated by, American
evangelicalism (i.e., revivalism). However, that is changing and the CRC now accepts contemporary worship styles,
controversial church growth programs and the ordination of women to all
offices” (“Finding a Church” Michael Horton). close communion
- the former practice of the RP Church in forbidding from the Lord's table
all who were not members of the RP Church; the practice was later changed to
"session controlled communion". communicant member
- a member of the church who takes communion. Baptized children in the RPCNA
are considered members (baptized member) but they cannot partake of communion
until they make a public profession of faith and are admitted to the Lord's
Table by the session (see Question 177 of the Larger Catechism). Constitution - The beliefs of the RPCNA. The Constitution
contains: The Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter
Catechisms, the Testimony, the Directory for Church Government, the Book of
Discipline, and the Directory for the Worship of God. A copy of the RPCNA
constitution can be found by clicking here. covenanter - On special occasions in both the Old and New
Testaments, believers covenanted together that they would obey the Lord. At
the time of the Reformation, believers in Scotland adopted this practice for
mutual protection and the advancement of Biblical Christianity. On at least
three occasions: 1581; 1638, and 1648 - the entire nation covenanted this
way. Covenant of 1871 - sworn/subscribed by Synod of RPCNA in Pittsburgh;
the covenant consists of (1) confession of personal, ecclesiastical, and
national sins (2) rejection of things contrary to God's Word (3) promotion of
God's Word to unite the Church and bring submission of the government under
Christ. covenant theology
— overall framework for understanding the Bible. J. Ligon
Duncan defined it as, “the Gospel set in the context of God’s
eternal plan of communion with his people, and its historical outworking in
the covenants of works and grace…” About the importance of the covenant the 19th
century baptist preacher C.H.
Spurgeon said, “The
doctrine of the Covenant lies at the root of all true theology. It has been
said that he who well understands the distinction between the Covenant of
Works and the Covenant of Grace is a master of divinity. I am persuaded that
most of the mistakes which men make concerning the doctrines of Scriptures
are based upon fundamental errors with regard to the covenants of law and the
covenants of grace.” See: What is Covenant Theology? J. Ligon Duncan elders - Those men who are called by God, elected by the
congregation and approved by the Session or presbytery to oversee God’s
people in a particular congregation. L'Église
Réformée du Québec (ERQ) – Officially
established on November
6, 1988. The majority of its members
are French-speaking Québecers. Their officially
adopted creeds are the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Confession of
Faith. exclusive psalmody
- view that only the psalms are to be sung in worship. Foreign Missions Board - responsible for all aspects of the foreign
missions of the church, including oversight of missionaries, budgets and
salaries, keeping the church aware of needs in the mission fields, and
investigating new fields of opportunity. Geneva College - founded in 1848, is a fully accredited Christian
college of approximately 1,200 students operated by the RPCNA. It is located
on a 55-acre campus overlooking the Beaver River. Heidelberg Catechism – The Heidelberg catechism (1563) was
composed at the request of Elector Frederick III (1515-1576) for the purpose
of instructing the youth, and guiding pastors and teachers in their teaching
duties. Of the Heidelberg Catechism, the eminent Swiss historian, Philip Schaff wrote, “The Catechism is a work of religious
enthusiasm, based on solid theological learning, and directed by excellent judgement.… It is the product of the heart as well
as the head, full of faith and unction from above. It is fresh, lively,
glowing, yet clear, sober, self-sustained. The ideas are Biblical and
orthodox, and well fortified by apt Scripture proofs. The language is
dignified, terse, nervous, popular, and often truly eloquent. It is the
language of devotion as well as instruction. Altogether the Heidelberg
Catechism is more than a book, it is an institution, and will live as long as
the Reformed Church.” Home Missions Board - provides counsel, encouragement, resources,
training, and support to the presbyteries as they do the work of
church-planting. In consultation with the presbyteries, this board also
determines the level of financial support that each of the new works will
receive. Korean American Presbyterian Church (KAPC) - one of
the members of NAPARC. They take a conservative
stand on Scriptures but “with considerable latitude in worship and the
interpretation of Reformed distinctives”
(“Finding a Church”, Michael Horton). Lord’s Day - The Christian day of rest (Ex.20:8-11;
Isa.58:13-14), observed on the first day of the week because of the
resurrection of Jesus from the grave on that day. See: The Perpetuity And Change Of The Sabbath by Jonathan
Edwards Mediatorial Kingship of Christ - distinctive of the RPCNA. The rule and reign of
Christ as Mediator. It is the belief that Jesus is Lord of individuals AND
nations (Psalm 2:7-12; 110; Mt.28:18; 1 Cor.15:25-28; Phil.2:9-11;
Eph.1:19-23; Rev.1:5,6) Mission Church - a Church that has only one resident elder. It
differs from an organized Church in that it cannot elect elders. NAPARC - stands for North American Presbyterian and
Reformed Council. It was formed in1975
and member denominations are: the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; E’glise reformee du
Quebec; Korean American Presbyterian Church; Orthodox Presbyterian Church;
Presbyterian Church in America; Reformed Church in the United States;
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and the United Reformed
Churches of North America.
NAPARC emphasizes an adherence to historic
Reformed creeds and promotion of truthful unity of the body of Christ. Their
purpose statement is: Confessing Jesus Christ as only Savior and
Sovereign Lord over all of life, we affirm the basis of the fellowship of
Presbyterian and Reformed Churches to be full commitment to the Bible in its
entirety as the Word of God written, without error in all its parts and to
its teaching as set forth in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dordt,
the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger and Shorter
Catechisms. That the adopted basis of fellowship be regarded as warrant for
the establishment of a formal relationship of the nature of the council, that
is, a fellowship that enables the constituent churches to advise, counsel,
and cooperate in various matters with one another and hold out before each
other the desirability and need for organic union of churches that are of
like faith and practice. National Reform Association (NRA) - formed in 1864 as a means of promoting a
Christian amendment to the Constitution, the mission of this organization is
to maintain and promote in our national life the Christian principles of
civil government, which include, but are not limited to, the following: 1)
Jesus Christ is Lord in all aspects of life, including civil government.
Jesus Christ is, therefore, the Ruler of Nations, and should be explicitly
confessed as such in any constitutional documents. 2) The civil ruler is to
be a servant of God, he derives his authority from God and he is duty-bound
to govern according to the expressed will of God. 3) The civil government of
our nation, its laws, institutions, and practices must therefore be conformed
to the principles of Biblical law as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Their publication is the Christian
Statesman. Orthodox Christian Reformed Church (OCRC) –
left the CRC because of the CRCs
departures from Reformed and biblical theology. Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) - founded
in1936 by J. Gresham Machen. They broke off from
the PCUSA because of the PCUSA’s
weak view of the authority of Scripture and rejection of significant
doctrines such as the virgin birth of Christ. As of 1987 they have over
18,000 communicant members in approximately 175 congregations. Ottawa Theological Hall (Ottawa,
Canada) - was established in 1982
under the oversight of the St. Lawrence Presbytery. A Master of Divinity
program is offered. precentor - the person who leads the psalm singing. presbyter - literally, an elder. Presbyters are officers of
the New Testament Church, of two classes: 1. Those who rule (“ruling
elders”); 2. Those who in addition to ruling also teach and preach (the
minister or pastor). Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) - Came
out of the PCUS (Southern Presbyterian Church). The
World Almanac and Book of Facts for 2004 estimates
their membership at 306,784 members among 1498 congregations. The PCA is a member of NAPARC. Presbyterian Church (USA) - The "mainline" Presbyterian Church. The World Almanac and Book of Facts for
2004 estimates it as having 3,445,952 members among 11,142 congregations; its
membership is declining. Presbyterianism - form of church government in which the church is
governed by a plurality of presbyters (elders) in a series of graded courts
in which the highest is a synod or general assembly. presbytery - gathering of sessions. The presbytery represents
a geographical region and oversees the congregations in that region. Christ
Church is part of the St. Lawrence Presbytery. The other presbyteries of the
denomination are: Allegheny, Atlantic, Great Lakes-Gulf, Midwest, Pacific Coast, Japan. RCUS - Reformed Church in the United States. There are
37 churches, with a membership of just over 4,000. Strongest in the Dakotas
and California. The RCUS is a member of NAPARC. Reformed Presbyterian Witness - monthly denominational magazine of the RPCNA. regulative principle - doctrine held by Reformed Churches which says that the worship of
God must be regulated by the Word of God. RP- abbreviation for Reformed Presbyterian. RPCNA - Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Reformed
Presbyterians have also been referred to historically as Covenanters because
of their identification with public covenanting in Scotland, beginning in the
16th century. This act was a protest for Christ's crown rights over the state
and the recognition of Christ as King over the Church without interference
from the government. In 1743 the first Reformed Presbyterian congregation was
organized in North America. A copy of our beliefs and constitution can be
found by clicking here. RPM&M - stands for Reformed Presbyterian Ministry and
Missions; the central pot for Synod's budget for the Church. RPTS - Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Located in Pittsburgh, PA. Fifth oldest seminary in the U.S. (1810). Reformed Translation Fellowship (RTF) - Began in Manchuria, China for the purpose of
providing Reformed literature in the native language. Ruling Elder – A man who has been elected by the
congregation and meets the Scriptural qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7;
Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3. Ruling elders are active in the general oversight
of the congregation. The Ruling Elder of Christ Church is George Goerner. semper reformanda - Latin for “always reforming”. No
Church has absolutely arrived at the truth but must continue to reform
according to the Word of God. session - the elders of a particular Church (including the
pastor). session controlled communion - communion that is administered by the Session
and offered only to those who are known by the Session to be committed to
Christ in faith and life. sola fide -
Latin for “faith alone”. Teaching that salvation is received
through faith alone (Eph.2:8-10) sola gratia
- Latin for “grace alone”. Salvation is by grace alone
(Eph.2:8-10) sola scriptura
- Latin for “Scripture alone”. Fundamental tenant of the
Reformation teaching that the whole counsel of God concerning all things
necessary for God’s glory, man’s salvation, faith and life is set
down in Scripture (see 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 1-6). St. Lawrence Presbytery - the presbytery that Christ Church belongs to. In
the RPCNA there are seven presbyteries: strict subscription - belief that a person must agree 100% with the Westminster
Confession of Faith. The RPCNA does not hold this view. Synod - The meeting of all the presbyteries. Teaching Elder - A man who has been elected by the congregation
and meets the Scriptural qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1
Peter 5:1-3. The Teaching Elder is also the pastor/minister of a
congregation. The Teaching Elder of Christ Church is Aaron Goerner. Three Forms of Unity – the Belgic
Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of the Synod of Dort. United Reformed Churches in North
America (URC) – was founded in 1996 as an effort in part to unite churches of
the Reformed confession and to reach out to non-Dutch communities
(“Finding a Church” Michael Horton). Their doctrinal basis is the
Three Forms of Unity. This federation
of congregations is a member of NAPARC. Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) –
the definitive statement of Presbyterian beliefs, finished in 1646. It is the
last of the classic Reformed confessions and perhaps the most influential in
the English-speaking world. It has been widely adopted (sometimes with
amendments) by many Congregational and Baptist churches. “There never has been a period in which the Christian Church has been
without a Confession of Faith, though these Confessions have varied both in
character and in extent. The first and
simplest Confession is that of Peter: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living God.” That of the
Ethiopian treasurer is similar, and almost identical: "I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God." This Confession secured admission into
the Church; but without this, admission could not have been obtained. It was
not long till this simple and brief primitive Confession was enlarged; at
first, in order to meet the perverse notions of the Judaizing
teachers, and next, to exclude those who were beginning to be tainted with
the Gnostic heresies. It then became necessary, not only to confess that
Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but also that Jesus Christ was come in the
flesh, in order to prevent the admission, and to check the teaching, of those
who held that Christ’s human nature was a mere phantasm or appearance. “In like manner the rise of any heresy
rendered it necessary, first,
to test the novel tenet by the Word of God and by the decision of the Holy
Spirit, and then to add to the existing Confession of Faith a new article,
containing the deliverance of the Church respecting each successive heresy.
Thus, in the discharge of her duty to
God, to the world, and to herself, the Church was constrained to enlarge the
Confession of her Faith.” (William Hetherington, The History of the Westminster Assembly of
Divines [Chapter 6]) Westminster Larger and Shorter
Catechism – After the
Westminster Assembly completed its work on the Confession, it focused its
attention on preparation of a catechism. A consensus developed that two
catechisms would be needed, "one more exact and comprehensive, another
more easier and short for new beginners." The Larger was intended for
pulpit exposition, while the Shorter was intended for the instruction of
children. These were completed, the Shorter in 1647 and the Larger in 1648.
Both function as official standards of doctrine in many denominations today
[including the RPCNA] within the Reformed tradition (John Frame, Elwell Evangelical Dictionary). No man lives
without a creed, let only the feeble
minded claim none and let the
courageous put forth what they believe
that it might be seen by all and defended. See: Why We Memorize the Catechism
by R. Scott Clark Whitelake - summer camp owned and operated by the St. Lawrence Presbytery.
Located outside of Woodstock, NY. Women’s Missionary Fellowship (WMF) -
encourages women in prayer, evangelism, service and changed personal lives. |
