Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover

Presbytery
The Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover Presbytery is a
very conservative Protestant, Presbyterian denomination, founded Reformed Presbyterian
in 1991, with congregations in United States and also in Brazil.[2] Church - Hanover
Presbytery
Classification Protestant
History
Theology Reformed
The Presbyterian churches originate from the Protestant Polity Presbyterian
Reformation of the 16th century. It is the Christian Protestant
Region United States
churches that adhere to Reformed theology and whose
and Brazil
ecclesiastical government is characterized by the government of an
assembly of elders. Presbyterian government is common in Origin 1991
protestant churches that were modeled after the Reformation, Separated from Reformed
notably in Switzerland, Scotland, Netherlands, France and portions Presbyterian
of Prussia, of Ireland and, later, of United States.[3] Church in the
In 1983 the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod United States
(RPCES) merged with Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Congregations 19 (2022)[1]
Since then, a group of churches in the PCA's Georgia Presbytery Official website www.rpchanover
has objected to the way the merged denomination made its
.org (http://www.r
decisions. Therefore, these churches separated from the PCA and
pchanover.org/)
formed the Presbytery of the Covenant.[4]

In 1985 this presbytery grew and split into four presbyteries, thus organizing the assembly of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church in the United States (RPCES). In 1990, the denomination changed its name to the
Reformed Presbyterian Church in the Americas.

In 1991 the four presbyteries of this denomination came into conflict. One of these was Hanover
Presbytery, which became a separate denomination, the Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover
Presbytery.[5][6][7][8][9]

Since then the denomination has continued to grow and currently has churches in Brazil[10]

Attempt to join in 2004

In 2004 the Presbytery of Hanover held a joint meeting with the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church,
another conservative denomination in United States, aiming at union.[11] However, differing views on the
government of the denomination by a higher court and on membership in Freemasonry prevented the
union.[12]

Doctrine and Practice

The Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover Presbytery believes that the Bible is the inspired and
infallible Word of God, subscribes to the Ecumenical Creeds ( Apostolic, Nicene Creed, Chalcedonian
Creed and Athanasian Creed) and the Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith,
Westminster Larger Catechism, Westminster Shorter Catechism). They uphold a form of church
government called “constitutional” Presbyterianism which emphasizes the authority of the local
congregation in church discipline and there are no current moderators, boards, commissions or salaried
personnel at eldership level or above. Thus, the church approaches the congregational church government
system.[13][14]

References
1. "List of Hanover Presbytery Churches" (https://rpchanover.org/churches-within-the-hanover-
presbytery/). Retrieved January 22, 2022.
2. "Reformed Churches in the United States of America" (https://web.archive.org/web/2016111
8041220/http://www.presbyterianchurch.us/index.php/locations). Archived from the original
(http://www.presbyterianchurch.us/index.php/locations) on November 18, 2016. Retrieved
November 17, 2016.
3. "Reformed and Presbyterian Churches" (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Presbyterian-chur
ches). Britannica. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
4. "Draft of the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" (https://opcgaminutes.
org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/1995-GA-62-red.pdf) (PDF). May 31, 1995. p. 215.
Retrieved January 17, 2022.
5. Jean-Jacques Bauswein and Lukas Vischer (eds), The Reformed Family in the World: A
Survey of Reformed Churches, Theological Schools, and International Organizations, WB
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999, ISBN 0802844960, p. 538
6. "History of the Presbytery of Hanover" (http://heritagepresbyterianchurch.com/about/).
Retrieved November 17, 2016.
7. "History of the Presbytery of Hanover" (https://rpchanover.org/our-history-and-practices/).
Retrieved January 21, 2021.
8. "Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States and Hanover Presbytery" (http://pastor
mathis.com/index.php/2015/09/01/joseph-morecraft-removed-from-presbytery-while-under-di
scipline/). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
9. "History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States" (http://www.apuritansmin
d.com/whitefield-theological-seminary/reformed-presbyterian-church-general-assembly-rpcg
a/). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
10. "Reformed Presbyterian Church of Campo Bom" (http://fbrito1986.wixsite.com/iprcampobo
m). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
11. "Joint Meeting of the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church and Hanover Presbytery" (htt
p://covref.org/short-reports/04-02-ShortReport.htm). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
12. "Impediments to the union of the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Hanover
Presbytery" (http://www.covref.org/position-papers/HanoverStatement.htm). Retrieved
November 17, 2016.
13. "Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover Presbytery, doctrine" (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20161118041213/http://www.puritanboard.com/showthread.php/25533-Hanover-Presbyter
y-!). Archived from the original (http://www.puritanboard.com/showthread.php/25533-Hanove
r-Presbytery-!) on November 18, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
14. "Participation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church - Hanover Presbytery in meetings of
other denominations" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160803174841/http://covref.org/picture
-reports/02-07-PictureReport.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.covref.org/picture-r
eports/02-07-PictureReport.htm) on August 3, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
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