Free Presbyterian Church of North America
Encyclopedia
The Free Presbyterian Church of North America or FPCNA is a Presbyterian denomination in the United States
and Canada
with mission works in Liberia
, Jamaica
, and Kenya
. Originally consisting of North American congregations under the auspices of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
, the North American group became a separate denomination in May 2005.
, which itself was formed in 1951 in Northern Ireland
by the cleric and politician Ian Paisley
, who remained the FPCU's moderator until 2008. The North American churches organized as the FPCNA and first elected their own moderator in 2005. In 2009 the denomination consisted of 24 churches in the United States
and Canada
.
operated the Whitefield College of the Bible
in Northern Ireland
for the training of ministers. In 1982, an extension of this institution commenced in Greenville, South Carolina
under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Alan Cairns
, who assumed most of the instructional duties. This extension was established as a separate institution under the North American Presbytery and renamed Geneva Reformed Seminary. Dr. Michael P. V. Barrett
was appointed president of the institution in 2001. The seminary has been a fully accredited member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) since 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with mission works in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Originally consisting of North American congregations under the auspices of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
, the North American group became a separate denomination in May 2005.
Origin
The churches now comprising the FPCNA were previously part of the Free Presbyterian Church of UlsterFree Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
, which itself was formed in 1951 in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
by the cleric and politician Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
, who remained the FPCU's moderator until 2008. The North American churches organized as the FPCNA and first elected their own moderator in 2005. In 2009 the denomination consisted of 24 churches in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Beliefs
- Fundamental in Doctrine, believing in the divine authority and verbal inspiration of the Bible, and the great fundamental doctrines of grace it contains. The Scriptures alone are the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice. The Free Presbyterian Church uses only the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Bible.
- Evangelical in Outreach, in obedience to the great commission of Christ to "go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel". A virile program of Gospel preaching, missionary endeavour and radio ministry is actively pursued with the great objective of leading people of every class, colour and creed to an experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
- Sanctified in Behaviour, encouraging its members to lead godly lives in obedience to God’s Word, that will be testimonies of holiness and righteousness, in a world increasingly plagued by lowering moral values.
- Presbyterian in Government, being ruled by elders and deacons chosen from the people, by the people, to serve the people. The Free Presbyterian Church stands for a born-again membership and the ministers, elders and deacons are men genuinely born-again by the Spirit of God, and dedicated to the extension of the Kingdom of Christ.
- Protestant in Conviction, gladly taking its stand alongside the great Christian leaders of the Protestant Reformation. The twin pillars of Protestantism, namely a positive witness for Christ, and a protest against error, are cherished and defended.
- Separatist in Practice, believing and practicing the doctrine of Biblical separatism. In accordance with this, the Free Presbyterian Church has no association with the modern Ecumenical or Charismatic movements, nor will it fellowship with any church which has departed from the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God.
Paedobaptism
The Free Presbyterian Church of North America accepts both paedobaptist and credobaptist ministers, not practicing division or exclusion over "the proper mode and subjects of baptism."Let the Bible Speak
Let the Bible Speak is the radio ministry of the Free Presbyterian Church, which is heard on approximately 30 stations around the world. LTBS publishes The Quarterly, an informative and devotional magazine written by several Free Presbyterian ministers.Geneva Reformed Seminary
For many years the Free Presbyterian Church of UlsterFree Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
operated the Whitefield College of the Bible
Whitefield College of the Bible
Whitefield College of the Bible is an independent theological college in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. It is operated by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
for the training of ministers. In 1982, an extension of this institution commenced in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Alan Cairns
Alan Cairns (clergyman)
Alan G. Cairns is a Bible teacher, retired pastor, and author. A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, he was converted to Christianity through The Salvation Army. He joined the nascent Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster as a teenager...
, who assumed most of the instructional duties. This extension was established as a separate institution under the North American Presbytery and renamed Geneva Reformed Seminary. Dr. Michael P. V. Barrett
Michael Barrett (theologian)
Michael Paul Vernon Barrett is president of Geneva Reformed Seminary and an associate minister of Faith Free Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina, a congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church of North America. Converted to Christianity as a child, he was called to the Christian...
was appointed president of the institution in 2001. The seminary has been a fully accredited member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS) since 2005.