Heritage Reformed Congregations


The Heritage Reformed Congregations is a Reformed denomination in the United States and Canada influenced by the tradition of English Puritanism and the Dutch Nadere Reformatie.

History

The Heritage Reformed Congregations denomination was established in 1993, when the synod of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations deposed the consistory of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids. However, 780 of the one thousand members of the church could not accept the deposition of their pastor, elders, and deacons.
The consistory felt compelled to form a new denomination named the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, while Joel R. Beeke continued ministering to the church. Eight other churches soon joined the Grand Rapids congregation to form a new denomination, bringing the denominational membership to about two thousand.
In 1995, the denomination founded Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Later, the seminary was supported by the Free Reformed Churches of North America.
Starting in the 2010s, the denomination began a dialogue with the Free Reformed Churches of North America about a possible denominational merger. In 2017, the two denominations held simultaneous synods to discuss the proposed merger.

Doctrine

The churches of the Heritage Reformed Congregations subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards. The denomination affirms the authority, inspiration, and inerrancy of the Bible and promotes Reformed experiential preaching.

Interdenominational relations

The denomination is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council and the International Conference of Reformed Churches.

Ministries

The denomination has five publishing ministries:The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth

Congregations

The Heritage Reformed Congregations consist of ten congregations.

Schools

The churches of the Heritage Reformed Congregations run three schools.