I will probably be transferring to another college, but I am having some trouble finding a good Reformed church in the candidate cities. Even before I knew I was going to be transferring to another school, I decided that I would never move to another city unless I knew that there was already a church there I would be overjoyed to join and worship God with. My question is this: If I cannot find a good Reformed Baptist church in the city I would be moving to, should I also look at, say, a Presbyterian church? Given, the only portion of the WCF I don't hold to is the portion on baptism, and that wouldn't be a problem for me - I've already been baptized. They might not allow me to be a member, so that leads me to this post. Would I be going a little too far in sacrificing core values just to be involved with a church? Or should the Word of God and fellowship with other passionate believers in the pursuit of God's truth be my priority? Is there something else I'm not taking into consideration? This may sound like a strange question to some, but I've never thought about it. I didn't even know I was moving until just recently. Any input would be wonderful.

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Dan Pemberton
Vacaville, CA

Member, First Baptist Church San Luis Obispo
Formerly ABUSA (We left, so I guess that makes us American Baptists Unleashed!)

I would certainly take a look at PCA, OPC, RPCXX, RCUS, URC in addition to founders-type SBC churches - and then beyond that there are other reformed-minded churches in other denominations. I DO think finding a good church is an absolute must for you. PM'ing ...

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://semperubi.rtrc.net

"Many men, after a long conversion, see more of the workings of sin in their hearts than ever they did before or at their first conversion. Now, such men have not an increase of sin, but an increase of illumination and light" (Christopher Love)


Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

The PCA would take you as a member even if you disagree with their baptism doctrine...they would just not allow you to be an officer.

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Larry Bray
Elder - Reformed Presbyterian Church of Boothwyn, PCA
Boothwyn, PA - http://www.rpcb.org/
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
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“The Christian must not be of such a complying nature as to cut the coat of his profession according to the fashion of the times…" - William Gurnall

Back when I was a Reformed Baptist I was most blessed by our Presbyterian Reformed church here, best church I have ever been part of - but you must be careful, as I ended up a Presbyterian. Oddly enough I didn't fully embrace paedobaptism till after that church closed - and I was then blessed in a Reformed Baptist mission plant.

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T W Hopper
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church
Currently between churches since PRC closed here - attending Crossroads Christian Church.
Canberra, Australia.

Don't tell anyone at my present church this - there are lots and lots of very old and convicted Baptists.........I'm a closet Presbyterian.

I know what the PCA stands for, but what are the others?

We've had members in our congregation who were Baptists. From what I understand, it's the Baptists who are more strict on Presbyterians in their midst than the other way around.

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DAVIDIVS DOCTVS VTRIVSQVE LINGVAE
Husband of Emilia
Member: First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham (RPCNA) - Durham, NC
Currently in the process of transferring membership to an as-yet-undecided church in Chapel Hill
Student: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, German Literature and Classics

I think:

OPC=orthodox presbyterian church
rpcna=reformed presbyterian church north america,
rpcus=reformed presbyterian chuch united states
prc=presbyterian reformed church (not to be confused with prc=protetstant reformed church)
rcus=reformed church united states
urc=united reformed church

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Attending CCRPC, Member of TRBC
Reformers & Puritans -lllll- Puritan Pub
Board Rules - Signature Rules - Suggestion Box

I'm not quite sure as to what you're implying. Do you mean:

Is it more important to be a member in good standing of a local church even if they don't hold fully to Reformed Doctrines of Soteriology, or to avoid churches that teach error and just focus on fellowship with other believers in bible study, yada, yada, yada?

If that's what you mean, you need to find a church. No man is an island. Depending on where you're going there's more than likely a sound church (in essentials) nearby. If not, maybe 20, 30, 40 minutes away? All men need pastoral oversight (even Pastors, which is one reason why we should all vie for a Plurality of Elders in church leadership), accountability, and the preached ministry of the Word. Furthermore, if you're not a member of a Church, how would you be able to partake in the ordinary means of grace, including the Lord's Table?

If the above is not what you meant, well you obviously need to find a church, if possible, that is Confessional (i.e. holds to one of the Reformed Confessions).

Also look at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. They subscribe to the WCF and fall somewhere in between the OPC and PCA.

I've belonged to both OPC and PCA churches and can say the ARP is OK>

Search Results for "arpsynod.com"

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Michael Masztal
H.S. Science Teacher at Community Christian School, Melbourne, FL
Member, Chapel By The Sea, ARP
Melbourne Beach, FL

You mean the FBC of SLO where Tom and Aaron are?

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Heck yes I do. You know them?

Dan, what city are you moving to?

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Ivan Schoen, Pastor * Maranatha Baptist Church, Poplar Grove, IL * http://maranatha-sbc.org/

"I want to assist churches and to assist pastors in training pastors. But, after fourteen years of service in this capacity, I am absolutely certain that the finest theological seminary on earth is absolutely incompetent at replicating the actual life of a Gospel congregation. I want to train a generation of pastors who will train pastors, and I want to help them in that task." --- Dr. R. Albert Mohler, President of THE Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

Well, that's the thing. I don't know yet. I applied to schools in Berkeley, Davis, LA, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo (where I am now). I should know in a month or two as to which schools accepted me. I have found a very good church in Berkeley and a couple of good possibilities in LA and Long Beach, but the travel time would be killer.

http://berkeley.opc.org/- Covenant OPC, Berkeley

Covenant Presbyterian Church Home Covenant OPC, San Jose

So... you are a closet presbyterian yet you disagree with the WCF on Baptism. Or were you being humourous?

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Jonathan Hunt

Preaching Elder
Cheltenham Evangelical Free Church (Confessionally Based)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
-- Thomas Elsworth

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that it's most important to be in a community of believers.

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Ashley H.
Member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church (PCA)
DeLand, FL
~Wife to Mike~
~All good which could be thought or desired is to be found in Jesus Christ alone. - John Calvin~

I was being humorous. I've only really been exposed to a Baptist way of living the Christian (referring to cultural and doctrinal convictions), so when I started reading a lot of Puritan literature and some other Presbyterian stuff, I started to see things a little differently. The humor comes from the fact that I live in a college town and most of the people (a.ka. only college students) I'm surrounded by are non-theologians: if what they see in church can potentially be backed up with a couple of one-liners from scripture than it must be true, and we need not be concerned with details, for anything else is just a bunch of traditionalism which leads to legalism which leads to death. Sorry for the harsh conclusion - I don't really believe that at all, but so so many of the young people around me do. Being a "closet Presbyterian" is just a joke mainly between myself and myself, but in so many ways there's a lot of truth to it too.

And as to baptism, I am not entirely sure as to what I believe right now. I have been researching the verses in scripture used by credo- and paedo- baptists, and I see some validity in both; but, one thing I have not seen is a strong case for either one. I feel inclined to both for different reasons, but not for the right reasons. I ought to be convinced because God has moved me and I believe that it is what scripture teaches, but sadly I am not at that point right now.

Yeah, I know that belonged on the Baptism board.

I mean that I am looking for a Reformed church that is not shy, ashamed, or afraid to preach Christ crucified passionately and as the Bible depicts it. One that has expository preaching, one that is not afraid to use the word "elect" in a sermon, one that teaches doctrine so that it can glorify God and not embrace the latest craze in the churched just to attract numbers. Where I'm from, it has become hard to find one like this. Also, I am in a unique position right now where I have options and I have time - time to find a good church before I decide which school to go to.

You might try the list of churches at 9marks.
9Marks Church Search

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Mike Shingler
Pastor: Steep Hollow Baptist Church (SBC)
Bryan, TX

also:
Reformed Baptist Church Directory | The Reformed Reader

Dan, check out my website for the Presby/Reformed side of things. And PM me if you will end up in SoCal... I lived there for a while and know a few good churches...

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BJ Mora
Grace OPC, Modesto, CA
Reformed & Presbyterian Churches & Denominations in North America

This is the church that I attend. It is about a 20 minute drive from Berkeley.

Welcome to Community Bible Church of Vallejo CA - Home

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Curt Hayashida
member, Community Bible Church (Non-denominational)
Vallejo, CA