Christianity: Details about 'Canadian And American Reformed Churches'
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The Canadian and American Reformed Churches (CanRC) is a federation of Protestant Christian churches. Its emphasis is on truthful Christ centered preaching. It teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone. It follows Reformed Calvinist theology and has adopted the Three Forms of Unity (Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort) as its doctrinal standards. In the Canadian and American Reformed Churches, members aim to live their lives in thankfulness to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all areas of their life. They believe that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God and that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the long awaited Messiah. He is the Son of God and is in fact God himself incarnate (in the flesh). That is why he is called Immanuel, which means "God with us". The Canadian Reformed Churches were founded by Dutch immigrants who came to Canada following World War II. At that time these Dutch immigrants first made contact with already existing Reformed churches in Canada, The Protestant Reformed Church (PRC) and the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), in the hope that they could join with them. This was not possible however due to theological differences with the PRC and a gradual leftward movement in the CRCNA. The first Canadian congregation was instituted in Lethbridge, Alberta on April 16, 1950. There are currently just over 50 congregation and two "house congregations". They are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as in the American states Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Colorado. Throughout the years there has been some contact between the CanRC and the CRCNA. In 1996 the United Reformed Church of North America (URCNA) was formed in Lynwood, Illinois by members who seceded from the CRCNA due to the continual leftward movement in that church. Currently unity is being pursued with between the CanRC and the URCNA. The CanRC also has "ecclesiastical fellowship" with a number of other Reformed and Presbyterian church federations. These include: Free Reformed Churches of Australia, Presbyterian Church in Korea, Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) , Free Church of Scotland , Free Reformed Churches of South Africa, Reformed Churches in Brazil , Reformed Church in the United States, Orthodox Presbyterian Church. External link |
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