Presbyterian & Reformed

ARP

74 listed in North Carolina. What they believe, and what a service is actually like.

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a small, conservative Presbyterian denomination with unusually deep roots in the Carolinas. It traces to Scottish Seceder Presbyterians who left the Church of Scotland in the eighteenth century, and formed in America in 1782. Its General Synod, its seminary, and Erskine College are all in South Carolina, and the ARP's congregations are concentrated in the two Carolinas to a degree no other Presbyterian body matches. If you have seen an ARP church, you have very likely seen it here.

What to expect if you’ve never been

A structured service following a printed order, usually 60 to 75 minutes.
Psalms and traditional hymns, historically sung a cappella or with a single instrument — most congregations now use piano or organ, and some a small band.
An expository sermon of 30 to 40 minutes working through a book of the Bible.
Corporate confession of sin, an assurance of pardon, and often a recited creed or catechism question.
Communion monthly or quarterly, open to any baptised Christian who professes faith.
Infant baptism, understood as marking children of believing parents as part of the covenant community.
Smart-casual to dressy; congregations tend to be small enough that a visitor is noticed and greeted.

What ARP churches believe

Scripture is the inspired and inerrant Word of God.
The Westminster Confession of Faith and its catechisms summarise what the church teaches.
God's sovereignty in salvation — the historic Reformed position.
Infants of believing parents are baptised as members of the covenant.
Elders govern the congregation; only men are ordained as ministers and ruling elders.
The psalms hold a particular place in worship, a legacy of the Seceder tradition.

Commonly confused with

ARP vs. PCA

Both are conservative, confessional, Westminster-subscribing, and ordain only men — closer to each other than either is to the PCUSA. The ARP is older in America, far smaller, and regionally concentrated in the Carolinas, with its own seminary and college. The PCA is national and much larger. Most visitors would find the two services very similar.

ARP vs. PCUSA

A wide gap. The PCUSA is the mainline body: broader theologically, ordaining women and LGBTQ people. The ARP is confessional and conservative. They share Presbyterian governance and little else in current direction.

ARP vs. Reformed Presbyterian (RPCNA)

Both descend from Scottish covenanting movements. The RPCNA maintains exclusive a cappella psalmody as a matter of principle; the ARP historically practised it and has largely moved on. The RPCNA has very few congregations in North Carolina.

Common questions

What does 'Associate Reformed' mean?

It records a merger: the Associate Presbytery and the Reformed Presbytery, two Scottish Seceder groups in America, united in 1782. The name is history rather than description.

Do ARP churches sing only psalms?

Historically yes, and psalm singing still holds a distinctive place. Most congregations today sing hymns as well, and practice varies from church to church.

Can I take communion as a visitor?

Generally yes, if you are a baptised Christian who professes faith in Christ. The minister states the congregation's practice before communion is served.

Is the ARP part of the PCA?

No. They are separate denominations with separate governance, seminaries, and general assemblies, though they are close in theology and often cooperate.

North Carolina