Covenanter.org is Reformed Presbyterian Church
Title
Reformed Presbyterian Church (Covenanted) aka Steelite Covenanters
Description
We are the remnant of those that hold to the whole of the Covenanted work of Reformation as attained in Scotland between the years 1638 and 1649. We trace our spiritual lineage through the Covenanters who fought against both ecclesiastical and civil tyranny. It is a line including such men as George and Patrick Gillespie, Samuel Rutherfurd, John Brown (of Wamphray), Robert M’Ward, Richard Cameron, Donald Cargill, William Guthrie and James Renwick, men who contended earnestly for the faith once delivered. At the Revolution establishment, in 1690, our spiritual forefathers refused to join with the usurped Church of Scotland in their latitudinarian basis of union. The remaining three ministers did join this establishment and, thus, they were left without public gospel ordinances. However, they continued to meet in societies (i.e., fellow-ship meetings) to worship according to the dictates of sanctified conscience. The United Societies (as they were known in Scotland) were left without preaching, sacraments or government from 1690 until 1706. In 1706, Mr. John M’Millan, a minister of the Church of Scotland, acceded to the Societies and remained the only ordained minister among them until 1743. In 1743, Mr. Thomas Nairn, an ordained minister of the Secession Church, dissatisfied with the way in which the Seceders had renewed the Covenants (i.e., National and Solemn League), acceded to the Societies. Thus, in 1743, the Reformed Presbytery was organized. This root grew into the Reformed Presbyterian churches that are found throughout various parts of the world.
In 1712, at Auchensaugh, the Covenants, National and Solemn League, were renewed by the Societies (known as "Covenanters"), under the leadership of Mr. John M’Millan and a licentiate, who was never ordained (he died before the Presbytery was organized), named Mr. John M’Neil. At the renewal, the covenant bonds were recognized as binding the descendants of those who first entered into those bonds. The Covenanters, however, sought to display the true intent of those Covenants with marginal notes. These notes explained that the Church of Jesus Christ, in Scotland (and around the world), must not join hands with any political power in rebellion to the crown rights of King Jesus. The Covenanters pledged the Covenanted Reformed Presbyterian Church to the support of lawful magistracy (i.e., magistracy that conformed itself to the precepts of God’s Word) and declared themselves and their posterity against support of any power, in Church or State, which lacked biblical authority. This renovation exemplifies the proper method of covenant renewal for a witnessing remnant.
In 1761, the Reformed Presbytery emitted its "Act, Declaration and Testimony, for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation, as Attained to, and Established in, Britain and Ireland; Particularly Betwixt the Years 1638 and 1649, Inclusive." In this document, the Reformed Presbytery defends the crown rights of Jesus Christ in Church and State. It utilizes history to demonstrate that the Church of Scotland, at the Revolution, was established on principles antithetical to the Reformational principles attained in Scotland. It uses argument to show the inconsistency of Seceder principles with Reformational principles, on the head of Civil Magistracy. It testifies on behalf of the received doctrine, government, worship and discipline of the Church of Scotland in her purest (i.e., reforming) periods.
Contact
- Covenanter (COVENANTER2-DOM)
-
- Pottstown PA
- United States 19464
-
- +1.5702237880
