Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches in North

America
The Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches (OCRC) were a theologically conservative federation of churches in
the Dutch Reformed tradition. Although the federation has disbanded, most of its churches still exist. They are in the
United States and Canada. They confess the Bible to be the Word of God and believe it is faithfully summarized by the
Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort.

History
The first Orthodox Christian Reformed Church was organized in Listowel, Ontario, in 1979 by families who had left
the Christian Reformed Church for doctrinal reasons, especially its Report 44.[1] Rev. Harry Van Dyken was very
active in the formation of the federation and founding churches. Congregations also formed in Allendale, Michigan
(1979 or 1980); Burlington, Washington (1980); and Toronto, Ontario (1980).[2]

Representatives of these churches began meeting in 1981 to discuss church order and federation. The Orthodox
Christian Reformed Churches formally federated in March 1988 with seven congregations. In addition to the four
mentioned above, there were congregations in Bowmanville, Ontario (1982); Cambridge, Ontario (1984); and Ripon,
California (1985). At its peak about 1995 the federation numbered fifteen churches[3] in two classes, Classis East and
Classis West. Almost all the new churches were in the West.

The OCRC federation had two decades of stability and then a decade of decline. In 2004 the Listowel congregation
joined the Protestant Reformed Churches in America.[4]

The August 2008 OCRC synod voted to accept the invitation of the United Reformed Churches in North America to
join them.[5]

Beliefs
The Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches believed in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and the only rule of
faith and practice.[6]

Confessions

These are also called the Three Forms of Unity.

Belgic Confession of Faith, 1561

Heidelberg Catechism, 1563
Canons of Dort, 1618–1619

Creeds

These are sometimes known as the Ecumenical Creeds.

Apostles' Creed, circa 150

Nicene Creed, 381
 Athanasian Creed, 500

References
1. "Inerrancy — Lessons from History (10)" (http://yinkahdinay.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/inerrancy-learn
-from-history-10/). 17 October 2009.
2. https://www.webcitation.org/5x4ZHbU8z?
url=http://www.drlogick.com/immanuelocrc/Secondnavsec/ocrc_church_index.htm
3. http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/reformed/archive95/nr95-009.txt
4. http://www.prca.org/standard_bearer/volume80/2004apr15.html#Feature%20Article: 2
5. https://www.webcitation.org/5x4ce691r?url=http://www.burlingtonurc.org/federation.html
6. https://www.webcitation.org/5x4fDpZnT?
url=http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090623040941/http://www.burlingtonocrc.com/Confessions.html

External links
OCRC Position Papers (https://www.webcitation.org/6n31wN17X?url=https://web.archive.org/web/201
30614094718/http://www.cambridgeocrc.org/positionpapers.htm)
OCRC Church Order (https://web.archive.org/web/20110725125846/http://www.cambridgeocrc.org/Ch
urchOrder.htm)

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