You will note two common letters in those initials, in sequence. RP. Both the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, North America trace their roots back to the Covenanters who withdrew from the Church of Scotland so long ago because Arminianism and an Episcopal form of church government had infected the Church of Scotland.
What came up at the ARP synod was our future. If you were to put this in courtship terms, we talking about spending some time getting to know one another. Our hands probably haven’t even brushed accidentally. But in the interest of biblical unity, we are talking.
The ARP has about 27,000 members which means it is smaller than the small city in which I live and serve. We are over 200 years old and have not caved in to liberalizing forces. On the theological map, I guess you could say we are between the EPC and the PCA. As a pastor, I would be in the segment adjacent with the PCA. We are found primarily in the Southeast, though we have a new Presbytery in Canada. There are more ARPs in the Pakistani synod than here in the US. There is also an ARP synod in Mexico. Not bad for a small, largely rural denomination.
The RPCNA is about 6,000 members in churches that are primarily in the North and Midwest. There is a congregation in Orlando, FL. Many of you have probably heard of Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. It is their denominational college. Their seminary is The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. (We, of course, have Erskine College and Seminary in Due West, SC.) The primary difference would probably be that they are exclusive Psalm singers. The ARP has a few congregations that sing only Psalms. But this is the one issue that decides whether or not we ever consummate. There will have to be lots of conversations before that ever happens.
I was duly impressed by their representative who spoke to our synod last week. He was struck by the enormity of the issue, referring to the Gordian Knot. But repeatedly went back to the biblical passion for unity purchased by the death of Jesus.
None of us knows how this will pan out. But it would be great if there were fewer Presbyterian denominations out there- not because of decline, but because of union. I think that would be a great testimony to the power of Christ, the love of Christ to lay aside peripheral issues when we have all the BIG issues in common (after all, we are Reformed and Presbyterian). So, perhaps we’ll go out together and decide we really like each other, and can do more for the kingdom together than apart. That would be a great thing. But it may take awhile.
7 Years Later, an Update: The ARP has issued an invitation for the RPCNA to join them at Bonclarken for a joint meaning. I am not sure of all the logistics, but the ARP has agreed to only use the Bible Songs book and without instrumentation in deference to the convictions of their brothers. I say “their” since I am no longer an ARP pastor but serve in the PCA now.
Cavman Considers 
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