Difference between revisions of "Orthodox Presbyterian Church"
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| − | The '''Orthodox Presbyterian Church''' is a conservative American [[Reformed Churches|Reformed denomination]] that emerged from the [[Presbyterian]] tradition in America. In | + | The '''Orthodox Presbyterian Church''' is a conservative American [[Reformed Churches|Reformed denomination]] that emerged from the [[Presbyterian]] tradition in America. In 2005 it had 27,500 members and 449 clergy in 255 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 (e.g., [[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. | It holds steadfastly to the [[Westminster Standards]]. It was founded in 1936 by conservative members (e.g., [[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. | ||
Revision as of 19:54, March 24, 2009
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a conservative American Reformed denomination that emerged from the Presbyterian tradition in America. In 2005 it had 27,500 members and 449 clergy in 255 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 (e.g., 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.
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.
It has been charged with being too Fundamentalist in nature as well as not being Fundamentalist enough. Its willingness to defend Bible-based Christian liberties such as the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (see Ecclesiastes 9:7, Matthew 26:29, John 2:3-11) and a robust toleration of various eschatological viewpoints set it apart from those who seek more prohibitionist-based forms of piety and a strict dispensationalist interpretation of scripture. Many conservative members split away to form the Bible Presbyterian Church in 1937.
The OPC has disciplined its members for breaking rules that prohibit participation in organized sports on their Sabbath observance. It remains highly skeptical of the Charismatic movement, going so far as to discipline one of its ministers who spoke tongues in private.
Further reading
- Hart, D. G. "Fundamentalism, Inerrancy, and the Biblical Scholarship of J. Gresham Machen." Journal of Presbyterian History 1997 75(1): 13-28.
- Hart, D. G. and John Muether. Fighting the Good Fight: A Brief History of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Philadelphia: Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 1995. 217 pp.
References