United Reformed Churches in North America
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The United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) is a theologically conservative federation of churches. The United Reformed Churches trace their roots back to the earlier Protestant movements that spanned Europe and the indeed the globe. From 1618 to 1619 the international Reformed churches, with representatives from dozens of countries, met at a Synod or Council of Dordrecht and there collectively stated their faith, summarizing biblical teachings in three documents, or forms, of unity: The Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of the Council of Dordrecht. The fundamental doctrine that they describe is forensic justification, according to which Christ offers a double-benefit: your sin is imputed to Him and he suffers for it on the cross, while His perfect obedience is credited to you and you receive its benefits including eternal life.
The URCNA was founded as a federation of Reformed churches in 1996 at Lynwood, Illinois URC. Most of the churches that founded the URCNA were previously members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). The URCNA formed over various issues relating to the authority and accuracy of the Bible, including the enforcement of discipline, Biblical hermeneutics including creationism, and whether or not Scripture permitted women to be ordained into church offices as deacons, elders or pastors. At current, the church has grown to approximately 96 congregations spread across the United States and Canada.
[edit] External links
- URCNA Info Site
- The Official URC Web Site
- An Un-Official URC Web Site
- Start.URClearning.org - hundreds of audio sermons, lectures, discussion programs and curriculum series by URC clergy
- "What Is the Reformed Faith?" A text and audio curriculum series on the Reformed faith by URC clergy
- Heidelberg Curriculum for Families A text and audio curriculum series on the Reformed faith by URC clergy
- What to Expect When You Worship With Us Learn about the liturgical practices in the URCNA.
