Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Colombia

Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Colombia
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationReformed Faith
TheologyCalvinist
GovernancePresbyterian
RegionColombia
Origin1992
Branched fromPresbyterian Church of America
Congregations14 (2020)[1]
Official websitewww.irepcolombia.org

The Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Colombia (in Spanish Iglesia Reformada Evangélica Presbiteriana de Colombia or IREPC), also known as Reformed Church of Latin America, is a Protestant Reformed denomination, founded in Colombia in 1992, by missionaries from the Presbyterian Church in America.[2][1]

History

Presbyterianism arrived in Colombia in 1855, when Reverend Ramón Montsalvatge arrived in the country. His work led to the formation of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (PCC).[3][2][4][5][6][7]

In 1992, missionaries from the Presbyterian Church in America (IPA) began planting churches in Bogotá. Several churches arose from there, which could not affiliate with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (PCC) due to doctrinal differences between the PCC and the IPA.

Together, these churches decided to form a new denomination, the "Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Colombia" (IREPC). The first general assembly was held in 2000.

The first Colombian pastors ordained were Rev. Rafael Leal and James Leal, in 2001.[8][9]

Since then, the denomination has grown to 14 churches in 2 presbyteries.[1]

Doctrine

The denomination subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism and Westminster Shorter Catechism.[10]

Theology

Inter-Church Relations

The denomination was once a member of the World Reformed Fellowship.[12][13]

In 2010, the IREPC sent a delegate to the Supreme Council of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "History of the Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Colombia". Archived from the original on 2021-12-27. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Calvinism in South America:Colombia". August 7, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Presbyterian Church of Colombia". World Council of Churches. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Reformiert Online: Presbyterian Church of Colombia". February 17, 2006. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  5. ^ Robert Benedetto and Donald K McKim (2010). Historical Dictionary of Reformed Churches (Second ed.). Toronto: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-8108-5807-7. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  6. ^ James E. McGoldrick and Richard Clark Reed (2012). Presbyterian and Reformed Churches: A Global History (Second ed.). Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Bookd. p. 396. ISBN 978-1-60178-349-3. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  7. ^ Gary Scott Smith and P. C. Kemeny (2019). The Oxford Handbook of Presbyterianism. Oxford University Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-19060-840-8. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  8. ^ "Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Colombia ordains pastors". Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. ^ Josué Pineda Dale (2021). Daniel Puerto (ed.). Pride: Every Man's Permanent Battle (in Spanish). Editorial Spokesperson. ISBN 9780825477966. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Book of the Order of the Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian Church of Colombia" (PDF). Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Confesión de Fe | IRLA Colombia". Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
  12. ^ "World Reformed Fellowship: Member Churches". Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "World Reformed Fellowship Members". Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "Minutes of the IPB Superior Council of 2010". Retrieved January 1, 2022.