Changes

The '''Orthodox Presbyterian Church''' is a conservative American [[Reformed Churches|Reformed denomination]] that emerged from the [[Presbyterian]] tradition in America.  In 2005 it had 20,000 full members and 449 clergy in 244 congregations.  Despite the term "Orthodox" it has no links to the Eastern Orthodox churches.

The '''Orthodox Presbyterian Church''' is a conservative American [[Reformed Churches|Reformed denomination]] that emerged from the [[Presbyterian]] tradition in America.  In 2005 it had 20,000 full members and 449 clergy in 244 congregations.  Despite the term "Orthodox" it has no links to the Eastern Orthodox churches.

It holds steadfastly to the [[Westminster Standards]]. It was founded in 1936 by conservative members (especially [[John Gresham Machen]]) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) who were strongly opposed to the pervasive Modernist theology of the 1930s. Machen, a Presbyterian scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary at the end of his career, began advocating conservative theology in 1920. A year before his 1937 death he helped form the Orthodox Presbyterian Church after his suspension from the Presbyterian Church in the USA's general assembly. He was the first moderator.

It holds steadfastly to the [[Westminster Standards]]. It was founded in 1936 by conservative members (especially [[John Gresham Machen]]) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) who were strongly opposed to the pervasive Modernist theology of the 1930s. Machen, a Presbyterian scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary for most of his career, was the first moderator.

The Church attempts to preserve historic [[Calvinism]] within a [[Presbyterian]] structure. OPC was originally called the '''Presbyterian Church of America,''' but a legal issue with Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A caused them to change their name.<ref> Ironically, another conservative denomination has since assumed the name [[Presbyterian Church in America]], which was founded in 1973 and is the second largest Presbyterian church in the United States after [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]].</ref>

The Church attempts to preserve historic [[Calvinism]] within a [[Presbyterian]] structure. OPC was originally called the '''Presbyterian Church of America,''' but a legal issue with Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A caused them to change their name.<ref> Ironically, another conservative denomination has since assumed the name [[Presbyterian Church in America]], which was founded in 1973 and is the second largest Presbyterian church in the United States after [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]].</ref>