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The Bible Presbyterian Church began in 1937 as a result of the rift created by the Modernist-Fundamentalist Dispute. The Fundamentalists were Godly men who were standing for the truths of God's Word - contending earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints. There was a growing push to do away with the Fundamentals of the faith and make them "one possible" understanding of the teaching of the Bible.
The five Fundamentals:
The Inspiration of the Scriptures
The Virgin Birth of the LORD Jesus Christ
The Supernatural Miracles of the LORD Jesus Christ
The Substitutionary Atonement of the LORD Jesus Christ
The Bodily Resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ
The men at this time determined - correctly - that without each of these "fundamentals" the heart of Christianity was ripped out. It was a denial of the very Gospel that gives life. The men who left the Presbyterian church to form a new church took with them not only the Fundamentals but their Presbyterianism and reformed heritage as well - to learn more click here. Below is the text of a pamphlet put out by Presbyterian Missionary Union, a missions agency of the Bible Presbyterian Church. It speaks to the current state of the Bible Presbyterian Church. There are also links to both PMU and the Bible Presbyterian Church Online site, where you can find more information about the denomination.
The Bible Presbyterian Church of Lakeland is a church that desires to stand firm for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to glorify God in every area of life. We stand in a wonderful tradition of Godly men and Godly churches. We stand, however, more importantly upon the Bible, God's Holy Word. The Bible is what gives the church purpose and authority. Within it's pages we find the words of Eternal life. Are you interested in learning more about the Gospel? Go to our Who You Are page to learn more.
For more information visit the following sites:
Bible Presbyterian Church Online
What is a Bible Presbyterian Church?
General Facts
Bible Presbyterians are a small but vigorous group of people who seek to maintain a strong connection to our separated, Reformed roots. We also desire to faithfully minister to the Body of Christ and win souls both at home and abroad. Love of missions, evangelism, and sound Bible instruction stir the hearts of our people. The denomination approves two mission boards, two schools, and a publishing arm as independent agencies of the Church.
We believe Reformed doctrine is historic Christianity in its emphasis upon the sovereignty of God and trustworthiness of the Bible. It was the compromise of the truths of Scripture in the early decades of the twentieth century that led to the formation of Bible Presbyterian Church. As theological liberalism moved into Presbyterian seminaries and out into the church, it became fashionable to question or reject fundamental tenets of Christianity such as the inspiration of the Bible, the virgin birth of and deity of Christ, His supernatural works, the atonement on the cross, and even His resurrection from the dead.
We believe that God has raised up this denomination to take a faithful stand for the historic Christian faith and to be a light in the darkening days of compromise and apostasy. The Bible Presbyterian Church adopted the Westminster Standards in its organizing synod held September 6-8, 1938. Year after year the BPC has reaffirmed its belief in the biblical doctrines of historic Christianity that are outlined in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.
We are Bible Presbyterians because we believe the Bible is without error in its original text and the only divinely given and trustworthy rule of faith and practice. There are, of course, other denominations that believe the Bible, but we hold faithfulness to Christ and His Word as our primary emphasis.
The Bible Presbyterian Church is unique among American and European Reformed churches, maintaining eschatological liberty while being predominantly an historic premillennial church. We are free to walk under the Presbyterian principle that God is the Lord of the conscience, so our local congregations all have a flavor of their own in worship and ministry activities. The Scriptures provide our only regulations when it comes to worship. BP worship is marked by a vibrancy that comes from each communicant bringing his or her own offerings before the Lord with a full heart, within the bounds of the Word of God.
Presbyterian Government
The Bible Presbyterian Church operates under a Presbyterian form of government because the Apostles established a representative form of government where the elected spiritual leaders, called elders or presbyters, make up the session of the local church to oversee affairs of the church.
The Bible Presbyterian denomination consists of one synod, eight presbyteries, and more than forty local churches. There are over 130 ministers listed on the roll.[1] Each of these courts has its own distinct function in the worship of God, the promulgation of the faith, and the discipline of the church. The denomination adopts the Westminster Standards (Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms) along with the Book of Discipline and Form of Government as its constitution.
Each church is governed by a session, composed of the minister(s) and ruling elder(s), which administers the affairs and discipline of the church. Congregations approve or disapprove sessional recommendations such as extending calls to ministers and church budgets. Each congregation owns its own property and approves by-laws that help apply the Constitution to the local situation.
A presbytery consisting of ministers and elder delegates represents each congregation in a certain geographic region. The presbytery duties include:
o Receiving and ruling on all appeals and complaints brought before it from sessions;
o Overseeing the spiritual welfare of the local churches in the region;
o Providing accountability for ministers and local churches;
o Examining, ordaining, installing, and judging ministers and missionaries;
o Ministering together in mutual projects across the region, such as church planting efforts, camps, seminars, evangelistic efforts, and so on.
The General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church consists of every minister and elder delegates from each church. The Synod is the ultimate governing body of the denomination. The Synod's duties include:
o Receiving and ruling on all appeals and complaints brought before it from presbyteries or sessions;
o Laboring toward the bond of union, peace, correspondence, and mutual confidence among all our churches;
o Representing the denomination to, and corresponding with, other branches of the Christian faith.
o Serving as the primary outlet for the official views and positions of the BPC regarding the application of Scripture truth to the visible Church and society at large.
Concerning Ecclesiastical Fellowship
The BPC has a strong commitment to a Scriptural purity in associations. Such purity has been important to the character, activity, and development of the denomination from its inception. This commitment has guided our fellowship with other major Protestant denominations that hold to the essential doctrines of Christianity and recognize the Bible as their only infallible rule of faith and practice. We oppose ecumenicity that seeks to bring together all churches without regard for their doctrine or faithfulness. At the same time, we extend the hand of fellowship and cooperation to other churches and ministries that endeavor to remain faithful to the Word of God.
[As Found at
http://presbyterianmissions.org/what_is_bpc, the website of Presbyterian
Missionary Union, an approved agency of the Bible Presbyterian Church.]
[1] These statistics are based on the roll of the 65th General Synod, August 2-7, 2001. Many of our ministers serve in independent churches, or as chaplains, educators, and missionaries.
[2] The General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church is incorporated in the state of New York and has been granted group tax-exempt status for all churches in the denomination by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Synod is funded by contributions from local churches and individuals.