Fort Towson

Edit links

The Federation of Reformed Churches (FORC) is a Reformed denomination, founded in 1990, in United States.[1][2]

The denomination differs from other Reformed denominations in the United States by adopting an optimistic eschatology and paedocommunion.[2][3][4][failed verification][5]

History

Formed in 1990, the Federation of Reformed Churches has welcomed formerly Anabaptist, Baptist and Charismatic churches and members.[6][unreliable source] In 2014, the denomination had 9 churches[2] and planted a new church in Brazil in 2015. However, in 2016 the church left the denomination and joined Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery.[7] As of 2022, 5 churches remain in the denomination.[8][failed verification]

Two of the denomination's 5 churches joined the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches in 2019. They are: Christ Church, in Ithaca, New York and Sovereign Christ Church, in Mount Gilead, Ohio. Both denominations share the same core doctrines, allowing for diversity among local churches and therefore allowing dual affiliation.[9][10][non-primary source needed][11] In addition, St. Stephen's Anglican Church, in Williamsville, New York, is an associate member of the Federation of Reformed Churches but is primarily affiliated with the Anglican Communion.

Doctrine

It adopts the Apostles' Creed, Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed and Declaration of Chalcedon as official doctrines. Unlike most Presbyterian and Continental Reformed denominations, it adopts an optimistic eschatology and paedocommunion.[2][3][4][failed verification][5]

Each local church in the denomination must adopt a Reformed confession of faith. In other matters, the denomination allows its churches to adopt different doctrines. Among the affiliated churches are Presbyterian, Continental Reformed and Anglican Reformed.[8][failed verification]

References

  1. ^ "Federation of Reformed Churches". Reformiert Online. March 5, 2004. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Reformed and Presbyterian denominations in the United States". February 15, 2014. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Which traditions practice paedocommunion?". Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Churches that allow paedocommunion". Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Francis Nigel. "Pedocommunion in the Federation of Reformed Churches". p. 63. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Federation of Reformed Churches". Puritan Board. July 21, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "Reformed Presbyterian Church in Campo Bom". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "List of churches of the Federation of Reformed Churches". Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "Church of the Federation of Reformed Churches requests membership in the Communion of Evangelical Reformed Churches" (PDF). Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Church of Christ, in Ithaca (New York)". Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Church of Sovereign Christ, Mount Gilead (Ohio)". Retrieved July 30, 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_of_Reformed_Churches