Reformed Church in the United States

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The Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) is a small Christian denomination in the German Reformed theological heritage. The RCUS is descended from German settlers in 18th-century America who originally affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church (now the Reformed Church in America) but formed their own synod by the end of the century. The 19th century saw controversy as the German Reformed Church debated issues such as revivalism and especially the Mercersburg Theology of John Nevin and Philip Schaff.

[edit] Ecumenical Activity

The twentieth century saw the RCUS move toward ecumenism and higher criticism of the Bible. Some who were more conservative in their theology united to form the Eureka Classis of the RCUS to continue classical Reformed worship and polity.

The RCUS merged with the Evangelical Synod of North America in 1934 to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The Eureka classis, however, continued its existence as the "continuing" Reformed Church in the United States. (The Evangelical and Reformed Church later merged with the Congregational Christian Churches (itself a combination of Congregational and Restorationist churches) in 1957 to become the United Church of Christ).

The remnant of the RCUS has in recent years become an active member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches and the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. Through these organizations, it has ecclesiastical relations with churches such as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the United Reformed Churches in North America.

[edit] The Current RCUS

The present RCUS is one of the most conservative denominations in the United States. There are around fifty congregations with about five thousand members across the country. The old RCUS as well as the continuing RCUS originally held only to the Heidelberg Catechism as its statement of faith, but the 1995 Synod meeting officially adopted the Belgic Confession of Faith and the Canons of Dordt, which along with Heidelberg are known as the Three Forms of Unity. By holding strictly to these standards, the RCUS maintains a strong Calvinism.

The Reformed Church in the United States is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council as well as the International Conference of Reformed Churches.