Changes

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 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.

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.

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. Ironically, another conservative denomination has since assumed the name [[Presbyterian Church in America]].

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.  

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.