The Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC) is a Reformed Christian denomination formed in 2021 by a group of disgruntled churches that broke away from the Reformed Church in America,[1][2] the longest standing protestant denomination in America.
In the 2010s, the Reformed Church in America (RCA) faced pressure to clarify its position on same-sex marriage and homosexuality.[3][4] Specifically, there were disputes over what ramifications should exist over clergy conducting same sex weddings, which were being permitted by individual local classes [presbyteries] even while it was against a broader denominational doctrine and policy.
In 2021, after failing to find an agreement amongst the RCA's diverse membership, there emerged a growing dissatisfaction from the more conservative members, who saw with the RCA's inability to deal with enforcement as implicit permission for churches to celebrate same-sex marriage when they form classes that support this conduct.[5]
In response, 55 dissatisfied churches left the RCA in 2021 and formed the Alliance of Reformed Churches.[1][2] The ARC was initially co-lead by Dan Ackerman and Tim Vink though after a short tenure they were replaced by Greg Alderman. It has continued to grow since then, primarily drawing from conservative churches who remain frustrated with the RCA.
The ARC affirms the Apostles' Creed, Athanasian Creed and Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. It also partially permits the ordination of women, by allowing local churches to affirm/deny this doctrinal stance, with the majority of local churches denying female clergy.
It subscribes to the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, the Belhar Confession and the Great Lakes Catechism on Marriage and Sexuality.[6] The final catechism being non-historic statement drafted in concurrence with the establishment of the ARC, and served as clarification for a stronger conservative stance on human sexuality that the micro-denomination built its foundation on.
