The Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Grace OPC is a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), a Reformed and confessional denomination formed in 1936 as a witness to the full authority and truth of the Bible. Its principal founder, J. Gresham Machen, helped establish the church during a time when the historic Christian faith was being widely abandoned in American Protestantism.

What We Believe

The OPC stands firmly within the Reformed tradition that flows from the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation. The Bible is received as the authoritative Word of God and the only infallible rule for faith and life. At the heart of our teaching is the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, whom God the Father gave to die on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of his people. Our doctrinal convictions are summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith together with its Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

How We Are Governed

The word Presbyterian comes from the Greek word for elder, and reflects our commitment to church government by elders. Each local congregation is led by a session of pastors and elders who care for the spiritual life of the people. Regional matters, such as the planting of new churches and the ordination of ministers, are overseen by presbyteries. Once a year the presbyteries send representatives to a general assembly that provides direction for the whole denomination.

Our Mission

The purpose of the church is to glorify God and to proclaim Jesus Christ. The OPC pursues this through Christian education, home missions that plant churches across North America, and foreign missions that carry the gospel to the nations. Alongside faithful preaching, our congregations seek to show the love of Christ in practical care for the vulnerable and the hurting.

This summary is provided for our visitors. More information about the wider denomination is published by the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.