Our Denomination

First OPC is a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a Protestant denomination established in 1936 to maintain and defend the Bible as the Word of God, the Westminster Confession of Faith as the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, and the principles of Presbyterianism as being founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God.

For more about the history of the OPC, visit This Day in OPC History. Another online resource, the booklet called What is the Orthodox Presbyterian Church?, provides basic information about the denomination.

"Orthodox"

The word, orthodox, means "right thought, teaching, or glory". We require our teaching, worship and lives to be transformed by, and conformed to, what the Bible says. Our churches hold one another accountable in this aim, by agreeing together about what the Bible says. This is the role served by our doctrinal standards

"Presbyterian"

The Church is governed by Jesus Christ, who ascended into heaven and now abides in his church by the Holy Spirit whom he has sent. It belongs to his majesty from his throne of glory not only to rule his church directly but also to use the ministry of men in ruling and teaching his church through his Word and Spirit so that, through these men endowed and qualified by His Spirit, Christ's own authority is exercised and his own laws are enforced in the Church.

The commandment of Scripture in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 establishes elders ("presbyters") as the governors of the local church. Higher assemblies, in which the elders from many churches gather for decisions affecting them all, are seen in Acts 15. First OPC belongs to a regional group of churches (Presbytery of the Northwest) which meets at least two times a year.

Membership vows

1. Do you believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the Word of God, and its doctrine of salvation to be the perfect and only true doctrine of salvation?
2. Do you confess that, because of your sinfulness, you abhor and humble yourself before God, and that you trust for salvation not in yourself but in Jesus Christ alone?
3. Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your sovereign Lord and do you promise, in reliance on the grace of God, to serve him with all that is in you, to forsake the world, to mortify your old nature, and to lead a godly life?
4. Do you agree to submit in the Lord to the government of this church and, in case you should be found delinquent in doctrine or life, to heed its discipline?