What's the difference between the ARP and the PCUSA?

Good question!

First, a little history. Both the ARP and the PCUSA derive from a common theological heritage -- the Protestant Reformed faith. This expression of Christianity was championed by such men as John Calvin and John Knox (to name a few) in Reformation times, and Presbyterianism came to fullest expression in Scotland in the 1600s. Our theology essentially places the sovereign, triune God at the center of all things.

The ARP Web site offers a concise, useful summary of our denomination's history: "The ARP had its beginnings in the preaching of John Knox in Scotland when the Scottish Church became the official church of Scotland in 1560 A.D. As always the case when the church and state become too closely allied, controversy and bitter strife over control became a way of life for church and state alike.

Things improved somewhat under King William III in 1688 A.D. as he reorganized the Church of Scotland into the Established Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In spite of the improvement, however, a great number of problems still existed, and in 1733 a pastor by the name of Ebenezer Erskine led a group of Christians in forming a separate Associate Presbytery (from thence comes the first part of our name). Ten years later, another group of Christians who for years had suffered problems with the established church organized themselves into the Reformed Presbytery.

Both churches spread to Northern Ireland as the Scots were forced to emigrate and both came to America with those 'Scots-Irish' folks. The immigrants came to the Pennsylvania area at first, and it was there that both the Associate and the Reformed Presbyteries of Pennsylvania were organized in the 1750-1770 time period.

It was a heady time in the new world, and all the 'old alliances' were being called into question. The new America was emerging and at the same time our forefathers were seeking to create a new church as well. Formal union talks between the 'Associates' and the 'Reformed' began in 1777 and by 1782 the Associate Reformed Synod came to be in Philadelphia. This Synod, even though all 'Associates' and 'Reformeds' did not join, included churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North and South Carolina and Georgia.

Eight years later, the Associate Reformed Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia was formed in Abbeville County, S.C., followed some twenty years later (1803) by the division of the entire church into four Synods and one General Synod. The Synods were those of the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, New York and Scioto with the headquarters of the church in Philadelphia. In 1822 the Synod of the Carolinas was granted separate status, and by the end of the century was the sole remaining body of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as several mergers over the years had absorbed the rest of the denomination into the old United Presbyterian Church. The remaining 'A.R.P.s' in the Southeast continued on as the denomination we have today.

There are now ten Presbyteries in North America: Canada Presbytery, the Presbytery of the Northeast (Northeastern United States), Virginia Presbytery (Virginia and West Virginia), First Presbytery (North Carolina), Catawba Presbytery (Eastern South Carolina), Second Presbytery (Western South Carolina and Georgia), Florida Presbytery, Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery (Eastern Tennessee and Alabama), Mississippi Valley Presbytery (Arkansas, Missouri, Western Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi), and Pacific Presbytery (Washington, Oregon, and California)."

There are also fine, Bible-believing, Gospel-preaching PCUSA churches and ministers today. We rejoice in their stand for Christ and delight in our fellowship with them. But to answer your question (finally!), we in the ARP officially hold to the traditional, biblical teaching about Scripture: that it is God's Word, given of His Spirit, perfect and infallible and therefore the rule of faith and practice for individual Christians and for the church (cf. II Tim. 3:16-17). By comparison, the PCUSA generally takes a lighter view of Scripture and consequently has introduced such practices as the ordination of women to the presbuterate.

Although we basically differ from the PCUSA along the typical liberal-conservative divide, there are exceptions to the rule in the PCUSA; not every ARP church necessarily preaches the truth of Scripture always; and no denomination is perfect or has a total grasp of all God's truth. We in the ARP base our "conservatism" on the plain, prayerful and clear reading of God's Word, and we welcome fellowship with all like-minded believers.

Thanks for your question!
Joe Rolison