Reformed Ecumenicity

[Steve Ski]

The Feb ’25 “New Horizons” (opc.org/nh.html) featured a couple good articles about ecumenicity amongst reformed denominations. A lot of acronyms were cited for friendly relations (CEIR, NAPARC, ICRC, PCA, URCNA, ARPC, KAPC, KPCA, CanRC, FRCNA, HRC, IPB, BPC) and also for relations terminated for cause (CRC, RCJ, GKV).

Conspicuously absent was any mention of the CREC. I have heard some OPC pastors criticize the CREC, but have also witnessed CREC pastors welcomed to speak at OPC-sponsored conferences.

Does anyone know if the OPC has an official position for or against the CREC? Or is this left to each session?

 

[johnmo]

The Feb ’25 “New Horizons” (opc.org/nh.html) featured a couple good articles about ecumenicity amongst reformed denominations. A lot of acronyms were cited for friendly relations (CEIR, NAPARC, ICRC, PCA, URCNA, ARPC, KAPC, KPCA, CanRC, FRCNA, HRC, IPB, BPC) and also for relations terminated for cause (CRC, RCJ, GKV).

Conspicuously absent was any mention of the CREC. I have heard some OPC pastors criticize the CREC, but have also witnessed CREC pastors welcomed to speak at OPC-sponsored conferences.

Does anyone know if the OPC has an official position for or against the CREC? Or is this left to each session?

All of those are P&R churches; they subscribe to Reformed or Presbyterian confessions. CREC has a list of confessions, including the LBC and the 39 Articles, which churches must pick one of, so the CREC as a whole doesn't seem like it would fit.

The OPC article says

Nevertheless, while our formal ecclesiastical bilateral relationships are limited to confessional churches having Reformed standards and who are of like faith and practice, it is good and appropriate to remember that Christ’s church is indeed broader than the Reformed and Presbyterian world.

As far as whether the OPC is officially "against the CREC," I don't think so. They are against some practices, including paedocommunion, credobaptism, congregationalism, and episcopacy, which are prevalent in various CREC churches. But I think it's fairly common for OPC churches to hold conferences where non-P&R men present.

 

[paranymph]

The OPC is against Federal Vision, associated with CREC.

Report of the Committee to Study the Doctrine of Justification: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

We're the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Our purpose is simple: to bring glory to God through our churches and individual lives to make known to the world the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

opc.org

 

[Steve Ski]

The OPC is against Federal Vision, associated with CREC.

Report of the Committee to Study the Doctrine of Justification: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

We're the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Our purpose is simple: to bring glory to God through our churches and individual lives to make known to the world the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

opc.org

I'm aware of this, but is it official?

 

[johnmo]

I'm aware of this, but is it official?

Yes, it was the official work of a committee officially called by the GA to create it, and it was officially received by the GA. But the box at the top explains its official relationship to the teaching of the OPC. The official actions that the GA took in relation to it are also listed at the bottom of the report.

 

[Steve Ski]

Yes, it was the official work of a committee officially called by the GA to create it, and it was officially received by the GA. But the box at the top explains its official relationship to the teaching of the OPC. The official actions that the GA took in relation to it are also listed at the bottom of the report.

My apologies, I meant to ask if the OPC’s stance on the CREC is official.

Regarding study committee reports officially called and received by the GA, we could also say that the OPC is against substantial republication, and yet it is taught in OPCs.

Report of the Committee to Study Republication: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

We're the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Our purpose is simple: to bring glory to God through our churches and individual lives to make known to the world the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ

www.opc.org

 

[paranymph]

I meant to ask if the OPC’s stance on the CREC is official.

I don't think so (but I'm not OPC). This is why I used the word "associated."

 

[Alexander Suarez]

I do not think the OPC has an official stance on the CREC. Looking at the last few years of GA minutes, the only mention of CREC is in relation to "Non-OP Churches Represented on [Short Term Mission] STM Teams in 2021".


Here is a list of their official relationships: https://www.opc.org/relations/links.html