Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals
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The Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals (F.I.R.E.) is a fellowship of baptistic and Reformed churches and individuals.
A conference was held in Escondido, California in 1999 to explore the possibility of organizing an association of reformed evangelical churches. F.I.R.E. was organized May 1-3, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois. The national conference is held annually, and two regional conferences have been formed - Midwest and Southeast.
According to its constitution, F.I.R.E. affirms "the five 'Solas' of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria. We stand in the tradition of the historic Reformed Confessions of Faith such as The London Baptist Confession of 1644 and The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689." Doctrine is Calvinistic and Reformed, with a baptistic emphasis on the church and the ordinances. Baptism is by immersion. Local church leadership is a plurality of elders.
To join the fellowship, a church must agree with the doctrinal statement and the Constitution, be "recommended by at least one member church by letter", and must be approved by the member churches. Individuals may join as associate members, but without the right to vote in business sessions. Officers include a moderator, secretary and an executive board.
In December 2006, the fellowship consisted of 59 member churches in the United States, 7 international member churches in Canada, India, Israel and Mauritius, and more than 100 individual members globally.
[edit] External link
- Fellowship of Reformed Evangelicals - official web site
