Thanks, but since the REC's link up with the Anglo-Catholic APA I have serious reservations as to whether they still count the gospel truths of evangelicalism as essential to the church. Without more information it would be impossible to assess the theological perspective of the parish listed.
I notice you are a member of the REC. I'd appreciate your insight into how this is working out in this denomination.
I am delighted to hear that, but as an ex-Anglican I am all too aware of the cancer of Anglo-Catholicism destroying the gospel of grace for legalistic pottage. Clearly something is wrong when a denomination set up on evangelical principles like the REC jumps into bed with an avowedly Anglo-Catholic group.
In the current meltdown of global Anglicanism I am saddened to see formerly discriminating evangelicals thinking that defending the gospel from liberalism means linking up with Anglo-Catholics as if there was nothing wrong with what they are teaching!
Nonetheless, in the absence of alternatives in Jersey City, I will bear this parish in mind.
James, since Jersey City is within the huge metropolis of NYC proper, you may want to extend your search. Their might be other cities with Reformed churches less than 10-15 miles away. I notice a couple of PCA churches in Newark and one in Hoboken when I browsed the PCA directory. There might be others close by as well.
John Chaney
"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ."Colossians 2:7
clearly we haven't met before. Pilgrim kindly set up the Church Locator Forum at my instigation some years ago. You'll see I manage to answer most queries, except my own! Feel free to check out my profile for personal info.
Other than this forum time commitments limit my posting elsewhere on The Highway.
It seemed to me a question on the likelihood of a suggested church being Reformed certainly fitted within the scope of this forum. We've certainly had brief comments when looking for local churches in the past. I was merely querying the commitment of the REC to the Reformed faith since I had the privilege of hearing Ray Sutton speak a couple of times in the early 90s and I am genuinely perplexed about whether REC churches can still be recommended on this forum in the light of recent developments in the denomination.
Since you are an active member within the REC and thus have most likely far more accurate information about the denomination, perhaps it would be helpful to start a new thread in the Open Forum and share some of that relevant information about the REC, e.g., official doctrinal statements, Confession used, policies, etc. I would imagine this would be very informative to those who aren't familiar with the REC. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Doubtless, within the REC, just as it is true with most all denominations, there will be individual congregations which are at variance with the "official" doctrinal formulations and practices of their respective denominations. Thus when a denomination is recommended it is encombant upon the one seeking a congregation to check out the individual congregations in the area of interest.
We did that already, here; RECUSA Reformed?. I remember that it was difficult to come to a consensus on exactly how reformed a denomination must be, and I started this thread, What is Reformed?, and nobody stepped forward with the list of necessities. My concern was that this forum, to my understanding, wasn't for the criticism of denominations. There are many "reformed" groups I would not participate in, personally. However, I wouldn't air out my differences in this forum. That's why I suggested it be taken elsewhere.
There are many "reformed" groups I would not participate in, personally. However, I wouldn't air out my differences in this forum. That's why I suggested it be taken elsewhere.
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/yep.gif" alt="" /> I implied the same thing. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> So, perhaps what might be considered is PMing or emailing James directly and share with him the positive aspects of the REC which are consistent with Reformed Theology so that he will know that not every church within the denomination is to be avoided. From my own experience, the PCA churches which I have been too are no better than most Arminian churches, yet I realize that to summarily dismiss the entire PCA denomination would be wrong if not just plain silly.
So, let this post end the discussion re: the REC as it is definitely
Pilgrim said: From my own experience, the PCA churches which I have been too are no better than most Arminian churches, yet I realize that to summarily dismiss the entire PCA denomination would be wrong if not just plain silly.
Go to a Presbytery meeting. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />
We were discussing TULIP in my youth Sunday School today. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bigglasses.gif" alt="" />
Romans 8:29 (in Arminian): For whom He foreknew, He also [foreknew] to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
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