What We Believe - Newberry Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church

What is the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church?

Why is the name of our church different from other Presbyterian churches? Is our church some sect of Presbyterianism, or is it an individually recognized Protestant denomination?

This statement is neither an effort to magnify difference, nor an attempt to emphasize our denomination to the discredit of others. It has been prompted by the above and other questions.

As stated in our Book of Government, "Christ Jesus Himself is the King and Head of the church." To Him we would ascribe all glory, honor, power and authority, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Associate Reformed in History

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest Protestant denominations in America. It was formed by the union of the Associate Presbyterian Church (The Seceders) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland (The Covenanters) whose members settled in America.

As early as 1685, these "Covenanters" and "Seceders" from Scotland began settling along the eastern seaboard in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. The Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania was organized in 1753. Soon after, in 1774, a Presbytery of the Reformed Church was formed in Paxton, PA. Then, on October 31, 1782, these two groups came together to form the Associate Reformed Church in North America. In 1804, a seminary was established in New York under the leadership of Dr. John M. Mason.

It is sometimes said that the Associate Reformed Presbyterians founded the first theological seminary in America. This is not strictly correct, for twelve years earlier, the Associates had established a seminary in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The Seminary in New York was the second and precedes Andover by four years and Princeton by eight years. Erskine Theological Seminary is our present Seminary, being organized in 1836.

The congregations of Old Providence Church, Spottswood, Broad Creek, Timber Ridge, and Ebenezer in and around Lexington, Virginia, and New Lebanon Church, Pickaway, WV, were all in existence before 1770.

The Associate Reformed Church grew rapidly. The original Synod was divided, and over the period, six Synods were formed: the Synod of New York, the Synod of Pennsylvania, the Synod of the South, the Synod of Scioto, and the First and Second Synods of the West. In 1858, the Synods of New York, Pennsylvania, and the West united with the Associate Presbyterian Church (the part of that church which did not enter the 1782 union) to form the United Presbyterian Church of North America. This included practically all of the Associate Reformed people except the Synod of the South. It is this Synod which, under God's Providence, has continued until now, and is known as the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. At present, we have churches throughout the Southern states, Califonia, New England and NE Canada, as well as foreign Presbyteries in Mexico and Pakistan.

Reformed in Doctrine

At the time of the Reformation, two major branches of thought and practice emerged: the Lutheran branch under the leadership of Martin Luther, Melancthon and others; and the Reformed branch under John Calvin, Theodore Beza, John Knox and others.

The Reformation under the Reformed movement took the positive position that the Word of God alone was infallible and authoritative in matters of faith and practice. As such, only those things commanded and directed in scripture were permissible in worship. We hold such basic Evangelical truths as:

The divine inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments.
One living and true God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and in glory.
The deity of Jesus, the Christ. Though Jesus of Nazareth was in His human nature born of a virgin, He in His person was the Divine Son of God. He is therefore God and Man in two distinct natures in one divine person forever.
The sinful nature and estate of man. Man is a sinner transgressing God's law, and in rebellion of God's authority. He is under the wrath and curse of God, condemned by his just judgment. He is therefore in a lost condition unable to save himself.
Salvation and forgiveness of man only in Christ, who by His death on the cross paid the penalty of our sin in full and who by His resurrection is victorious over death and the grave.
Salvation by grace, only through the merit and righteousness of Christ, which is put to our account and received by faith alone.
The Church as the Body of Christ of which all true believers in Christ are a part, dwelling together in unity of the spirit and in the bond of Christian love.
Christ as the King and Head of all the church abiding in Him; we are in the true apostolic succession of the Christian Faith. Christ Himself will provide His church with necessary gifts and fullness needed for this day.

The Associate Reformed Church has sought faithfully to hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the catechisms as her standards.

Presbyterian in Government

The government of the Presbyterian Church is a representative government in which the entire congregation elects elders, for the administration of spiritual affairs, and deacons for the administration of temporal ones. This, however, does not mean that the congregation has no further voice in her affairs, for regular and called meetings of the congregation are held throughout the year.

These administrative Boards are known as the Session and the Diaconate. From the Session a representative is chosen each year to represent the congregation, along with the pastor, in the Presbytery. The Presbytery is composed of all representatives of the separate Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches in the area.

The Highest Court of the Church is the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, which is composed of representatives from all the Presbyteries. The Synod holds its annual stated meeting in June at Bonclarken, our assembly grounds in western NC.

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church makes no claim to a monopoly in matters of truth and faith; neither does she claim any exclusive position with regard to the Savior and His love. We accept all believers in Christ as being in full communion with us and we believe that they too are members of the body or Christ, the Church Universal. Through it all, we reaffirm the Catchword of Calvin and the Reformed Movement: "To God alone be the glory."

The Program of the Denomination:

FOREIGN MISSIONS - fields in Pakistan and in Mexico, Middle East, Germany, Russia, and more.

HOME MISSIONS - in areas throughout the US and Canada

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Erskine College, Due West, SC.
Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC

BONCLARKEN, Flat Rock, NC - Assembly and Conference Grounds of the A.R.P. Church

Cooperation in the AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY and other such interdenominational causes.