Orthodox Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orthodox Presbyterian Church |
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| Abbreviation | OPC |
| Classification | Evangelical Protestant |
| Orientation | Orthodox |
| Theology | Reformed |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Moderator | David Nakhla |
| Associations | North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council, International Conference of Reformed Churches |
| Region | North America |
| Headquarters | Willow Grove, Pennsylvania |
| Origin | June 11, 1936 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Separated from | Presbyterian Church in the United States of America |
| Separations | Bible Presbyterian Church (1937) |
| Congregations | 301 (2023) |
| Members | 32,720 (2023) |
| Ministers | 584 (2023) |
| Other name(s) | Presbyterian Church of America (1936–1939) |
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is a Christian church group. It is mainly found in the United States. There are also churches in Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. This church was started by Christians who wanted to keep traditional beliefs. They separated from another church group in the 1930s. The OPC has influenced many other Christian groups.
Contents
History of the OPC
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church began in 1936. A minister named John Gresham Machen helped start it. He was worried about new ideas in Christianity. These ideas seemed to move away from traditional teachings.
Machen and others started Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929. This was to teach traditional Christian beliefs. Later, he formed a mission board in 1933. He was concerned about how missions were being run.
The church Machen belonged to disagreed with his actions. In 1935, they told him to stop supporting his mission board. Machen and seven other ministers refused. Because of this, they were suspended from their church roles.
So, Machen and other leaders met in Philadelphia on June 11, 1936. They decided to form a new church group. They first called it 'The Presbyterian Church of America'. Machen was chosen as its first leader. Other important people included Ned B. Stonehouse and J. Oliver Buswell.
John Machen passed away in January 1937. Later that year, another group separated from the OPC. This group formed the Bible Presbyterian Church.
In 1939, the OPC changed its name. This happened after a lawsuit about its first name. The church then became known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
The OPC has published a popular songbook called the Trinity Hymnal. It also publishes a journal called Ordained Servant. Many important thinkers have been part of the OPC. These include theologians like John Murray and Cornelius Van Til.
What the OPC Believes
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church follows beliefs from the Reformation. This was a big change in Christianity centuries ago. Their beliefs are based on the teachings of John Calvin. He was an important leader during the Reformation.
After Calvin, his ideas were written down. This happened in the 1600s in documents called the Westminster Standards. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith and two catechisms. The OPC uses these documents to guide its beliefs and practices.
Here are some main beliefs of the OPC:
- The Bible is God's inspired Word. It is completely true and has no errors. Christians should believe and obey its teachings. The Bible is the only special message from God today.
- There is only one true God. He is a spirit and cannot be seen. God is all-powerful and always present. He is perfectly holy, just, loving, and merciful. This one God exists as three "persons": the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- God created everything in the heavens and on earth. He also controls and guides everything. God is in complete control, but people are still responsible for their choices.
- Because of the first sin by Adam, all people are born with a sinful nature. They are separated from God and deserve His anger. But God made a way for people to be saved. This is through faith in Jesus Christ. This way of salvation has always been the same.
- The Son of God became human. He was born to the virgin Mary. So, in Jesus, God and human nature were joined. Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. He died on a cross to take away the sins of those who trust in Him. He rose from the dead and went to heaven. There, He rules over His church. Jesus will return to judge everyone. He will bring His followers to eternal life. Those who did not follow Him will face eternal punishment.
- God chooses some people for eternal life. The Holy Spirit draws these people to Christ when they hear the good news. When they believe, God declares them righteous. This means their sins are forgiven. They are accepted as righteous, not by their own goodness, but by Christ's goodness given to them. They become God's children. The Holy Spirit lives in them, helping them to stop sinning and live right. They turn away from sin and do good works. They continue to follow Christ and are sure of their salvation.
- Believers try to follow God's moral law. This law is summarized in the Ten Commandments. They do this not to earn salvation, but because they love God. Good works are a gift from God. Christians are free to follow their conscience. They should not be forced to believe or do anything that goes against God's Word.
- Christ has set up His church. Local churches gather and help His people grow. They do this through teaching God's Word. They also practice baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is for believers and their children. In the Lord's Supper, Christ is spiritually present. Churches also help members who are struggling with their beliefs or actions. Christians meet on Sunday to worship God. They pray, hear God's Word, sing, and take part in the sacraments.
OPC pastors have different views on some topics. For example, they have different ideas about the Bible's creation accounts. Some believe in a young earth. Others have different interpretations. They also have different views on eschatology, which is about end times.
Church Members
In 2023, the OPC reported having 584 ministers. It had 32,720 members. The OPC has 17 regional groups called Presbyteries. These are located across Canada and the United States.
Diversity in the OPC
In the early 1970s, the OPC looked at its diversity. A report said that most members were white. It suggested reaching out more to minority groups and city areas.
As of 2019, the OPC has a few ministers from different backgrounds. This includes black, Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American ministers.
Views on Society
OPC ministers have different views on politics. For example, Carl Trueman, an OPC minister, wrote a book about being a "liberal conservative." Greg Bahnsen was also a key figure in a movement that applied God's law to modern legal issues.
Military Service
In 1993, the church asked President Bill Clinton to keep certain rules for military service. They stated that some behaviors go against the family and public health.
In 2001, the church's General Assembly made a statement. It said that women serving in military combat goes against nature and God's Word.
Immigration
In 2006-2007, a church committee studied immigration. They said that the church should help all people in need. This includes Christians who are in the country without legal permission. However, the report also said that illegal immigrants should change their illegal actions.
How the OPC is Organized
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church uses a Presbyterian way of organizing. This means it has different levels of leadership. The rules for these leaders are in the OPC Book of Church Order.
Local Church Session
A Session is a group of leaders in a local church. It includes the ministers and ruling elders. Their jobs include overseeing church services. They also manage Baptism and The Lord's Supper. They add, remove, and guide church members. They also keep church records.
Regional Presbytery
All the local churches in a region are part of a presbytery. This is a regional governing body. It is made up of all the ministers and one elder from each church in that area.
The presbytery helps with sharing the Christian message. It also helps solve church discipline issues. The presbytery trains and approves new ministers. It can also remove a minister if needed.
General Assembly
The OPC's General Assembly is the highest court of the church. It solves big issues about beliefs and rules. These are issues that local and regional groups could not solve. The General Assembly also organizes regional churches. It calls ministers for missionary work. It reviews records from the presbyteries. It also helps train future ministers and oversees church needs.
The General Assembly meets at least once a year. It has a maximum of 155 voting members. These members include ministers and elders from different regions.
Women in Church Leadership
The OPC does not allow women to be ordained as pastors, elders, or deacons. One church did allow women to serve as unordained deaconesses. However, that church is now closed.
Mission Work
The OPC has 38 mission projects today. It has eight active foreign mission fields. These are in places like China, Haiti, and Ukraine. One goal of the OPC is to start local Reformed churches. These churches will help people and share the gospel in their own cultures.
The OPC also has a committee for missions in the United States and Canada. This committee helps start new churches. It helps find pastors and buy church buildings. It also supports missionaries in these areas.
Working with Other Churches
In 1975, the OPC helped start the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC). Through NAPARC, the OPC works with other similar church groups. These include the PCA and the Reformed Church in the United States.
The OPC is also a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC). This group includes Reformed and Presbyterian churches from all over the world.
Outside of these groups, the OPC also has connections with other churches. These include the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia presbiteriana ortodoxa para niños
