User:Glemmelo/Reformed Churches in the Philippines (Dortian Federation))

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The Reformed Churches in the Philippines (Dortian Federation) or RCP is a communion of Christian congregations that:

1. Fully and faithfully adhere to and teach the doctrines of the Bible alone as summarized and embodied in the Ecumenical Creeds (namely, the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed) and the Reformed Confessions (Three Forms of Unity: namely, the Belgic Confession [1561], Heidelberg Catechism [1563] and Canons of Dort [1618/19]);

2. Fully and faithfully proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as preached and taught by the apostles and the reformers: that salvation is by grace alone (Sola Gratia) through faith alone (Sola Fide) because of Jesus Christ alone (Solus Christus) according to the teachings of the Bible alone (Sola Scriptura) all to the glory of God alone (Soli Deo gloria);

3. Are governed according to the Biblical and Reformed principles of Reformed church government and polity, patterned after the Church Order of Dort (1618/19); and

4. Are totally committed and intentional in advancing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) through the planting of Reformed churches all over the Philippines and abroad, especially among unreached people groups.

BASIC BELIEFS

1. The Bible is the authoritative Word of God for faith and life.

2. There is one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. God is sovereign in creation, providence and redemption.

4. All men are sinful and totally corrupt, making them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

5. Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% man.

6. The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ satisfied the wrath of God for His people.

7. Sinners are declared righteous by grace alone through faith alone.

8. The church is the community of professing Christians and their children.

9. Jesus Christ will return again as Judge of all men and to receive His church.

STANDARDS

The Bible is the final rule for faith and life for RCP congregations. To them, the teachings of the Bible are faithfully summarized in three ecumenical creeds and three Reformed confessions:

The ecumenical creeds that RCP congregations adhere to are:

1. The Apostles' Creed

2. The Nicene Creed

3. The Athanasian Creed

Their Reformed confessions are also known as the Three Forms of Unity (TFU). They are:

1. The Belgic Confession of Faith (1561)

2. The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

3. The Canons of Dordt (1618-19)

HISTORY

The RCP federation was founded by two churches in Mindanao, Philippines: Kagay-an Reformed Church (KRC) and Marawi Reformed Church (MRC).

KRC was pioneered by Pastor Glimar "Glem" Melo in their home on January 9, 2000. It started as a neo-pentecostal church. But by the grace of God, the church started to change on August 9, 2007, when Pastor Glem started to study Reformed Theology. Gradually, the whole church came to fully subscribe to the TFU. In need of accountability and close fellowship with fellow Reformed churches, they formally applied for affiliation/membership with the United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (UCRCP) on October 13, 2009. But due to irreconcilable differences in doctrine, practice and polity, it was unanimously decided during a congregational meeting on May 9, 2010, that they withdraw their application for affiliation with the denomination.

Meanwhile, Pastor Glem have been teaching Reformed Theology to the missionary trainees of the Asian Center for Missions for one year. In June 2010, Pastor Jim Ouano, a physics professors of the Mindanao State University and head of Reach Ministries in Marawi City, expressed full subscription to the TFU.

With the help of Rev. Nollie Malabuyo of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), KRC was instituted on August 29, 2010. In February 2011, RCP was registered as a non-stock, non-profit federation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Republic of the Philippines.

God willing and working, MRC will be instituted and the first classis formed this year (2011).