To borrow from the opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” When, on Friday, May 12, the brothers and sisters of our Canadian churches were established as a new denomination, it was a time of both rejoicing and sorrow.
There was joy because, as the churches and ministries of the Canadian churches have grown over the years, it was deemed that there was sufficient internal, external, and financial strength for them to be established as their own denomination. This is a reason for rejoicing as this is seen as a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to build His church (Matt. 16:18).
On the other hand, the churches, brothers, and sisters will be truly missed as part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, as we have enjoyed sweet fellowship together and have valued their participation in the life and ministry of the RPCNA.
The idea of forming a new denomination in Canada has its genesis in a St. Lawrence Presbytery meeting in April 1999 when a motion was passed “to establish a Canadian Presbytery by July 1999.” However, no progress was made on the motion until October 2018, when the St. Lawrence Presbytery appointed a committee to initiate discussions with a view to proceeding to form a Canadian RP Church. At the RPCNA Synod of 2022, the churches of Canada were organized as the Canadian Presbytery of the RPCNA and were given permission to establish themselves as a new denomination. These efforts culminated in the formation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada (RPCC) on the 12th of May.
Pastor Andrew Quigley states that “there are two reasons why the RPCC was formed—one theological and the other practical. The idea of a nationally covenanted church is a biblical reality. The command of Lord Jesus to His universal visible church is to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20.) God created the nations with languages, lands, and boundaries (Gen. 10:5, 20, 31-32 and Acts 17:26), and we know from Psalm 2:10-12 that every civil magistrate must serve the Lord with fear and “kiss the Son of God.” This responsibility requires that national civil governments address the unity and peace of the church (Westminster Confession of Faith, chap. 23:3). So the RP Church needed to be established in Canada for theological reasons. But there are also strong practical reasons, including the necessity for the ministers and elders in the congregations in Canada to be given the time and opportunity to form and implement a coherent vision for the church in Canada.”
At the RPCNA Synod of 2021, a committee consisting of pastors and elders from the Canadian and American churches was formed to work out the details of the formation of the new denomination and bring back recommendations to the following synod. The plans suggested by the committee for the establishment of the RPCC were approved by the 2022 Synod. After the drafters of the new constitution for the RPCC had completed their work, six meetings of ministers and elders of the Canadian churches were held to amend the constitution prior to its approval in October 2022.
At a special meeting of the Canadian Presbytery on Friday, May 12, in Ottawa, Ont., the RPC of Canada was formally constituted. Pastors Scott Wilkinson and Matt Kingswood served as the moderator and as the clerk pro tem of the new presbytery. The prayer for the formation of the new denomination was given by Pastor Allen MacLeod. There was also prayer offered seeking God’s blessing on the church. (Andrew Quigley, RPCC Presbytery clerk, was unable to attend the meet-ing due to the death of his father in Northern Ireland.)
The pastors and elders of the church gave their public assent to the RPCC Vows of Office. The deacons responded to vows affirming their willingness to abide by the constitution of the RPCC. The communicant members present affirmed the vows of the new denomination. Greetings were brought by fraternal delegates from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, United Re-formed Churches, and Canadian Reformed Churches, as well as the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.
Since I was moderator of the 2022 Synod of the RPCNA, I was asked by the Interchurch Committee to represent the RPCNA at the formation service of the RPCC. I also delivered the address at the service entitled “The Marks of the Christian” from 1 John 5:1-4. I sought to encourage the members of the newly formed denomination to, first of all, go out in faith. Christians are to live in faith, believing and acting on the promises of God. As a young church the RPCC needs especially to remember those promises where Jesus said He would build His church (Matt. 16:18). The second mark of the Christian is that we are to go out in love, which is the distinguishing sign of a Christian (John 13:34-35). People may debate our doctrine and challenge our worldview, but they cannot deny the love of Christians. Very simply, the Apostle Paul stated that “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Third, Christians are to go forth in obedience. As we obey God, more of God’s blessings will be visible in our lives (Deut. 5:29). The beauty of the life of Christ in us is more clearly manifested in the obedient. Last, the members of the new denomination were encouraged to go forth in victory. The Lord Jesus has won the victory through His death and resurrection. It is important for Christians, both personally and corporately, to focus on the triumph of Jesus Christ. Because of this victory, the nations will be discipled. “Thanks be to God who always leads in His triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14).
Currently, RPCC is comprised of six organized churches and three mission stations. The new de-nomination will maintain both formal and informal fraternal relationships with the RPCNA and is seeking membership in the RP Global Alliance.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada will be maintaining a website rpccanada.org. Their magazine, Sea to Sea, will feature articles by members of the church as well as news and updates about the denomination. It is available online at (https://rpccanada.org/magazine)[rpccanada.org/magazine]. In good RP tradition, they will host a family camp in September at Wesley Acres, Prince Edward County (rpfamilycamp.org).
The RPCC magazine’s title is taken from Canada’s official motto: A Mari usque ad Mare. Translated into English, it reads “From Sea to Sea.” The motto is taken from Psalm 72:8, which reads, “May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!” As Christians, we believe that these phrases ultimately point to the victorious reign of Jesus Christ. The motto is to encompass Canada’s borders: the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
The formation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada is a step toward seeing the reign of Jesus expand throughout the vastness of the nation. May we join with our fellow Reformed Presbyterians in Canada in praying that the beautiful reign of Jesus Christ might be seen in every corner of Canada, and throughout all the nations of the world. Let us remember to rejoice in the privilege that we have of serving such a wonderful King!