Reformed and Presbyterian Denominations: A Primer

 

Statement on "micro-churches": You will see many denominations listed here that have three, five, or ten churches. Most of these smaller ones have little difference from all the others. Heck, I think most of the NAPARC churches should united but that's beside the point. I think it's sad that the Reformed community has grown so fragmented that we have these tiny little groups that recognize each other but they're "not good enough". They usually have their reasons, but I don't usually buy it. It's a sad testimony to the spirit of American individualism that this is so rampant. Anyway, here is as complete a list as I can gather for now. Email me (and remove "no spam") if you have other suggestions.

Questionable/erroneous positions are listed in green, while major doctrinal error is in red. (Per my humble opinion.)

Numbers of churches/members are meant to reflect US and Canada, unless otherwise noted.

 

NAPARC (North American Presbyterian And Reformed Council) - A conservative-Reformed ecumenical organization promoting closer relations between Reformed denominations. Most of the major groups are represented.


Basis of the Council:
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, council, 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.

NAPARC Members

Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)

338,000 members

1,639 churches

This church is broadly evangelical, conservative, and Reformed. It was formed in 1973 as the National Presbyterian Church, adopting its current name the next year. It is now the second-largest Reformed denomination in the U.S. There is a blend of Reformed practice and modern evangelicalism.

Creeds: Westminster Standards (Confession & Larger and Shorter Catechism) (1789)

Worship: Mixed (traditional, contemporary, liturgical; Psalms, hymns, praise & worship)

Notables: RC Sproul Sr, Harry Reeder, George Grant, Tim Keller, Kenneth Gentry

Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)

28,000

312

A very conservative Reformed denomination. The OPC came into being (as the Presbyterian Church of America) in 1938 as a breakaway from the old northern PCUSA, then changed its name later. (Our church home now.)

Creeds: WS (1789)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: J.G. Machen+, G.I. Williamson, D.G. Hart

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP)

35,000

250+

The ARP Church is the oldest Presbyterian denomination in America, being formed in 1782 as a merger of Seceder and Covenanter churches. The Associate Reformed Church is solidly conservative, but does allow female deacons.

Creeds: WS (1905)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Billy Graham (raised ARP), Vaughn Hathaway, Sinclair Ferguson

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)

6,000

71

Another very conservative Reformed Church, a successor to the Covenanters. Allows female deacons.

Creeds: WS (1647), RPCNA Testimony

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing

Notables: Ray Lanning

Korean-American Presbyterian Church (KAPC)

33,000

186

A conservative ethnic Korean body.

Creeds: WS

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms (Korean)

Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS)

4,113

48

By most authorities the most conservative of significant Reformed denominations. The RCUS is a descendant of the German Reformed Church, most of which is now part of the United Church of Christ.

Creeds: Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dordt)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Phillip Schaff+, C.W. Powell, Robert Grossmann

Reformed Church of Quebec (ERQ)

Unknown

5

Conservative, evangelical Reformed, ethnic French-Canadian successor to the Huguenots.

Creeds: Westminster Confession, Heidelberg Catechism

United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA)

Unknown

96

Formed in 1995, the URCNA is a breakaway from the Christian Reformed Church. This church continues the conservative Continental Reformed tradition of its predecessor.

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms, some contemporary congregations

Notables: Michael Horton, Robert Godfrey, Kim Riddlebarger

Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA)

3,000

20

Conservative denomination, Dutch background, from the Free Reformed Churches of the Netherlands.

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, only uses the KJV in public

Heritage Reformed Churches (HRC)

Unknown

11

Very Conservative, ethnic Dutch background, formerly with the Netherlands Reformed Congregations.

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, only uses the KJV in public

Canadian and American Reformed Churches (CARC)

15,000

55

Conservative, mostly Dutch church based in Canada and the northern United States.

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody

NAPARC Membership pending

Presbyterian Reformed Church (PRC)

Unknown

7

Conservative breakaway from the Canadian PC, but with congregations in the United States and England as well.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing, only uses the KJV in public

NAPARC Membership pending

Observers to NAPARC

American Presbyterian Church (APC)

60

3

Fundamentalist breakaway from the BPC. While the BPC allows freedom on millennial views, the APC requires premillennialism. Also opposed to any use of alcohol as sinful.

Creeds: WS (1939)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing, only uses the KJV in public

Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC)

10,000

25

Moderate fundamentalist breakaway from the OPC (1938). The BPC advocates (along with conservative Reformed theology) premillennialism, abstention from alcohol, and a strong separatistic tradition. (Includes churches in South Atlantic Presbytery, which has withdrawn.)

Creeds: WS (1938)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Carl McIntire+

Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)

75,000

215

Evangelical breakaway from the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (1981) The EPC holds to conservative Reformed doctrine, but allows the ordination of women as elders and deacons and also is more tolerant of semi-Arminian and charismatic views than most others. Many PCUSA churches have jumped to them recently.

Creeds: WS (modern)

Worship: Mixed (traditional, contemporary; Psalms, hymns, praise & worship)

Notables: Chuck Baynard, Robert Norris, John Wood

Hungarian Reformed Church in America (HRCA)

4,200

31

Moderately Conservative, ethnic Hungarian. 

Creeds: Heidelberg, 2nd Helvetic Confession

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Netherlands Reformed Congregations (NRC)

10,000

26

Very Conservative, ethnic Dutch; is said to have hyper-Calvinistic tendencies.

Creeds: Three Forms of Unity

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, only uses the KJV in public

Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches (OCRC)

1,400

5

Conservative breakaway from the CRC; (They recently voted to join the United Reformed Churches of North America; not sure how this will formalize)

Creeds: Three Forms of Unity

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Korean Presbyterian Church in America (Kosin) Unknown Unknown I know they're an ethnic Korean denomination, and are conservative Presbyterian. Nothing else as yet.

Other Reformed Denominations

Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC) Unk 17 A Christian Reformed Church breakaway.
Creeds: TFU
Associated Presbyterian Churches (APCS) Unk 3  An ethnic Scottish split-off from the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Somewhat ecumenical, but not liberal from what I can see.
Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing

Bible Presbyterian Church, South Atlantic Presbytery (SAP)

Unk

10

Separated from the BPC in 2008, partly because of BPC relations with the OPC. No official organization as yet, and some of the churches want to remain in the BPC.

Creeds: WS (1938)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Calvin Synod of the United Church of Christ (CS-UCC)

Unk

28

Moderately conservative, ethnic Hungarian synod of the United Church of Christ. Many members of the conservative "Faithful and Welcoming" movement are in this body.
Creeds:
Heidelberg, 2nd Helvetic Confession
Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)

273,000

1,021

An evangelical continental Reformed denomination, somewhat conservative but allows ordination of women and also has a lot of ministers who hold to higher-critical views of the Bible.

Creeds: TFU (modern), Our World Belongs to God

Worship: Mixed (traditional, contemporary; Psalms, hymns, praise & worship)

Notables: Anthony Hoekema+, Jerry Dykstra

Covenant Presbyterian Church (CoPC)

Unknown

10

A breakaway from the RPCGA. No sunday school or youth groups, require educated elders, and practice paedocommunion.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (CRPC)

Unknown

3

A recent denomination which mostly broke from the PCA. They are mildly theonomic and strongly Reformed.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms, only uses the KJV in public

Covenanting Association of Reformed Presbyterian Churches (CARPC)

Unknown

2

A small group that holds to the Westminster Standards and to the Three Forms of Unity. Can't really see any distinctives other than this.

Creeds: WS, TFU

Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church (ERPC)

Unknown

6

This is a new denomination forming based on perceived apostasy in the PCA and OPC over the acceptance of the Federal Vision theology (which was recently rejected at their General Assemblies).  Very similar to those of the PCA/OPC, but are aiming to be much more ground-up in church government.

Creeds: WS (1789)

Notables: Paul Elliott

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Federation of Reformed Churches (FoRC)

Unknown

7

Postmillennial, paedo-communion (weekly)

Creeds: FRC Distinctives

Free Church of Scotland (FCS) Unknown 5  An ethnic Scottish denomination, heir of the Covenanters.
Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing

Free Church of Scotland, Continuing (FCSC) Unknown 6  A split-off from the FCS, with similar beliefs and worship.
Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing, only uses KJV

Free Presbyterian Church (FPC)

Unknown

26

A very conservative Reformed church affiliated with the larger FPC Northern Ireland, led by Ian Paisley. This church is fundamentalist/separatist and is very adamantly anti-Catholic. They practice both paedo-baptism (but only "babes in arms", not minors) and credo-baptism (anyone older than an infant has to confess Christ before baptism).

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms, King James Onlyist

Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (FPCS) Unknown 3 Another split-off from the FCS, with similar beliefs and worship.
Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, a capella singing, only uses KJV

Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States (RPCUS)

Unknown

11

A remnant of a breakaway from the PCA (1983), this church is conservative and avows the Christian Reconstructionism of Rushdoony, Bahnsen, and others.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Joe Morecraft, Wayne Rogers

Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly (RPCGA)

Unknown

10

A breakaway from the RPCUS (1990s). Small, mildly theonomic, opposed to incorporation with the government.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Kenneth Talbot, Frank J. Smith

Reformed Presbyterian Church [Hanover Presbytery]  (RPCH)

500

9

Another breakaway from the RPCUS (1990s). Joined recently by the former American Reformation Presbyterian Church, a PCA breakaway.

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody

Notables: Edwin Elliott, Richard Bacon

Providence National Presbytery (PNP)

Unknown

3

Distinctive of this church is their belief in paedocommunion.

Creeds: WS

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms

Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA)

6,700

31

A very conservative breakaway from the CRC (1926) that denies the doctrine of common grace and any love of God for nonbelievers. (Hoeksemites)

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, only uses the KJV in public

Reformed Presbyterian Church, Covenanted (RPCC)

Unknown

Online

A breakaway from the RPCNA (1840), holds to an extreme view of Exclusive Psalmody, saying that those who use hymns and don't sing via lining are idolaters. They do not worship with anyone who sings hymns or who doesn't line the Psalms, use the Directory for Publick Worship (1646) or covenant. (Steelites)

Creeds: WS (1647), Solemn League & Covenant

Reformed Presbytery of North America, General Meeting (RPNA-GM)

Unknown

6

Very similar to the RPCC, holding to most of the same views. Their members are very active on the net despite the church's small size. Claims that to be a Biblically constituted church you must accept not only the Bible, but also the Westminster Standards, Solemn League and Covenant, and the Directory of Publick Worship.(Steelites)

Creeds: WS (1647), Solemn League & Covenant

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, KJV Only

Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States (WPCUS)

Unknown

6

Another recent Reformed micro-church; by its name obviously very Calvinistic

Creeds: WS (1647)

Worship: Exclusive Psalmody, only uses the KJV in public

Notables: Brian Hanley, Brian Schwertley

Reformed Church in America (RCA)

271,000

931

An ecumenical denomination which has a fairly liberal leadership but many of its churches are solidly evangelical.

Creeds: TFU

Worship: Traditional and contemporary, depending on the church

Notables: Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller

Korean Presbyterian Church in America (KPCA) 55,000 302 Liberal-ecumenical Korean Denomination.

Creeds: WS

Worship: Traditional hymns and Psalms (Korean)

Presbyterian Church (USA)  (PCUSA)

2,767,000

10,903

The largest Reformed Denomination in the U.S., has a strongly liberal leadership and is moving toward allowing homosexual marriage and ordination, but several of its churches are solidly Biblical and are fighting this. Original PCUSA formed in 1789, this one in 1983 with the union of Northern and Southern Churches.

Creeds: Book of Confessions (WS, Scots, Heidelberg, 2HC, Barmen Declaration, Confession of 1967, etc.)

Worship: Everything from traditional to contemporary to postmodern to pagan worship of Sophia if you know where to look

Notables: Jack Rogers, Parker Williamson, Fred "Mister" Rogers, Lloyd Ogilvie

Defunct Reformed and Presbyterians Denominations (Approximate figures given for last record available)

Associate Presbyterian Church (APC)

650

4

The Seceder church from old Scotland, led by the Erskines. Strongly Calvinist and Exclusive Psalmody.

Union 1: With Reformed Presbytery to form ARPC (1782)

Union 2: With (northern) ARPC to form the UPCNA (1858)

Union 3: With RPCNA (1969)

Evangelical Presbyterian Church (1961) (EPC)

6,769

169

The majority of the BPC which was deserted by the current BPC in 1956. The BPC (Columbus Synod) became the EPC in 1961.

Notables: J. Oliver Buswell, Francis Schaeffer

Union: With RPCGS to form RPCES (1965).

Evangelical & Reformed Church (E&R) 818,000 2,727 Formed by a union of the liberal majority of the RCUS (minus the current RCUS) with the semi-Lutheran Evangelical Synod of North America. Used the Heidelberg Catechism along with Luther's Catechism and the Augsburg confession. Very neo-orthodox.
Notables: Reinhold Niehbur, Richard Niehbur, George Richards
Union: With the Congregational Christian Church to form the United Church of Christ (1961)

Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS)

815,000

4,250

This had been the old "Southern" Presbyterian Church, formed as the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate State in America (PCCSA) in 1861. Was conservative until the 1950s and 1960s, when liberalism took control. The PCA left the PCUS in 1973.

Notables: James Thornwell, R.L. Dabney, L. Nelson Bell, Ernest Trice Thompson

Union: With the UPCUSA to form the PC(USA) in 1983

Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA)

2,775,000

8,351

This had been the old "Northern" Presbyterian Church, founded in 1789. It was a solid Reformed body until the 1920s when it began to openly tolerate liberalism and modernism, then censured those who opposed them (e.g. J. Gresham Machen). It joined the UPCNA in 1958.

Notables: Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, A.A. Hodge, B.B. Warfield, Charles Erdman

Union: United with the UPCNA to form the UPCUSA in 1958.

United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA)

2,350,000

8,975

The Northern Church formed by the union of the original PCUSA and the UPCNA church in 1958. Carried into liberalism by the old Northern Church.

Union: United with the PCUS to form the PC(USA) in 1983

Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, General Synod (RPCGS)

2,403

21

Broke from the RPCNA in 1833 because that church had forbidden members to vote or hold office, while the RPCGS supported this. Joined with the (old) Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 1965.

Notables: Gordon H. Clark

Union: With EPC (1961) to form the RPCES

Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod (RPCES)

20,000

154

Formed in 1965 with the union of the EPC (of 1961) with the RPCGS. Broadly evangelical with Reformed streak.

Notables: Gordon H. Clark, Francis Schaeffer

Union: With the PCA in 1983.

United Presbyterian Church in North America (UPCNA)

258,000

839

A merger of the Associate and northern Associate Reformed Churches (1858), this was a conservative Reformed witness until its union with the northern PCUSA in 1958 and it lost its distinctives.

Notables: John Gerstner

Union: United with the PCUSA to form the UPCUSA in 1958.

Non-Presbyterian Reformed Denominations

Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) 

(Episcopalian)

Unknown

52

Episcopal breakaway that is endorsed by several Anglican bishops from other nations. A number of priests in this church are Reformed in their theology.

Creeds: Thirty-Nine Articles

Worship: Traditional and contemporary, depending on the church

Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) 

(Episcopalian)

13,400

137

An older Calvinist Episcopalian group, formed in opposition to Catholic influences in the Episcopal Church in the 19th century. Has become more high-church and less Reformed in recent years.

Creeds: Thirty-Nine Articles

Worship: Traditional, liturgical

Every Nation Churches (ENC) 

(Charismatic)

Unknown

Unknown

Reformed Charismatic denomination. As the name suggests, they have congregations across the globe.

Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM)
(Charismatic)
Unknown 81 Another Reformed Charismatic body. This is best known as the home of  C.J. Mahaney and courtship-advocate Joshua Harris.

Association of Reformed Baptist Churches in America (ARBCA) 

(Baptist)

Unknown

59

A Calvinistic Baptist association of churches formed in the last few years to get a more unified witness among Reformed Baptists

Creed: Baptist Confession of 1689

Federation of Independent Reformed Evangelicals (FIRE)
(Baptist)
Unknown 69 Another Calvinistic Baptist association.
Creeds: Baptist Confessions of 1644, 1689
Notables: Phil Johnson

The Founders Online 

(Baptist)

NA

NA

Not a denomination, but a Calvinist renewal movement in the historically Reformed Southern Baptist Convention

Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) 

(Congregational)

Unknown

73 

(5 outside NA)

Composed of Presbyterian, and Reformed Baptist churches, but more congregational in church order. They allow believers and infant baptism and communion, depending on what the local church says, Many advocates of the Federal Vision heresy,which denies justification by faith alone, have come here (e.g. Steve Wilkins), but thankfully there are also members who do not follow this movement (e.g., RC Sproul, Jr).

Creeds: Westminster Creed, Evangelical Statment

Worship: Highly liturgical, traditional hymns and Psalms

Notables: Doug Wilson, Peter Leithart, Wilkins, Sproul Jr.

Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC)

(Congregational)

40,000

297

One of the successors of the old New England Congregationalists, this denomination is officially Reformed but is also tolerant of other views. Several UCC churches which left that apostate group joined this Biblical church.

Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches (EARCCC)

(Congregational)

Unknown

7+

A Reformed and evangelical group with former ties to the United Church of Christ.

United Church of Christ (UCC)

(Congregational)

1,200,000

5,633

Reformed in name only. This merger of old German Reformed, German Evangelical, Congregationalist, and one Disciples group allows practically any belief by its ministers, including homosexual ordination and marriage. A sad descendant of several historically good churches, though there are a few who have "not knelt the knee to Ba'al."

Creed: UCC Statement of Faith (1961)

FAKE Denominations

First Calvinist Church of the Non-Elect (FCC)

N/A

N/A

A sick joke and a bad parody of true Calvinism. The "members" of this church are convinced they're going to hell because they're not elect. The website is actually run by a bunch of anti-Calvinists who don't want to be confused with facts. (Maybe I should put up a site on the "First Arminian Church of Controlling Your Own Eternal Destiny.")

Sources, other websites:

1) Adherents.com

2) Melton, J.G. Encyclopedia of American Religions. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 2003.
3) Mead, F. and Hill, S. Handbook of Denominations in the United States. Nashville: Abingdon, 1985 (8th Ed)

4) BJ Mora's site on Reformed Denominations - Another individual Reformed believer and well-done site

5) Grace Alone's site - Brian Hanley's thorough site about Presbyterian Churches; don't miss it!

6) Association of Religion Data Archives - Has taken off where Adherents stopped

If anyone has any further or updated info I can’t find, email me here (rmv NOSPAM). I've tried to correct my errors, but I'm sure I still have some work to do. Help me out, guys!