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How to Join the RCA as a Church

Welcome! We are glad you are interested in joining our denominational family. As your congregation explores this pursuit, there are a number of things you should know and consider before official documents are signed. This is a broad outline of what is expected of your church if you are brought into the Reformed Church in America (RCA) either as a new congregation or as an established church, as well as how you might navigate this process well and prepare for joining our denomination.

Please note: this webpage is intended to serve as a general guide. Every situation is different and should be carefully considered in conjunction with the RCA classis that your church is looking to join. A classis is a smaller family of churches within the denomination, typically organized geographically.

If you are a classis representative seeking guidance for welcoming a new church to the RCA, visit the clerks’ page for resources and forms.

What to consider before your church joins the RCA

As with any church family, it is necessary to confirm that there is a good fit. Is the RCA the right home for your church? Will your church fit well in the RCA family? Your congregation has its own set of values, theological and sacramental beliefs, and normal way of governing. Likewise, the RCA has established some beliefs and practices over its nearly 400 years of existence.

Build a relationship

Connect with an RCA classis

It is important to take time to build a relationship with an RCA classis. A classis is a mini-family of churches within the denomination, typically based on geographic proximity.

The classis plays a big role in an RCA congregation’s life. And you need to have a relationship with a classis who is ready to receive your church in order to join the RCA. Email join@rca.org for help getting connected with the correct classis.

What follows are some suggested ways to intentionally and patiently develop avenues of open and honest dialogue between your congregation and the adopting classis.

Meet with classis representatives

Designate two to four people to represent your church. Each of these people should have the gift of discernment. One should be the pastor, or in his/her absence, the designated leader of the church’s governance team.

This group will meet with a similar number of representatives of the RCA classis nearest to the church’s location, though, in some cases, this may be an affinity classis (organized by a particular affiliation rather than geographic location). A representative from the regional synod (a regional body that oversees classes) may also be present at these meetings. One of the RCA representatives should be appointed as the facilitator of the teams’ meetings and will ensure clear, consistent communication throughout the process.

Email join@rca.org to be connected with the correct classis.

Note: if your church is of a different ethnicity than the majority of the classis, it may be helpful to request that a classis delegate who matches your church’s ethnicity is present at these meetings to provide cultural sensitivity.

Schedule some meetings and gatherings. Begin with a meeting to become acquainted, first as individuals (preferably over a meal), then get acquainted as organizations. At least one of the meetings should be held in the facility or community where your church meets. Once you have become acquainted, determine if there is sufficient interest on both sides to continue.

Topics to discuss

Here are some topics to discuss with the classis representatives, likely over a series of gatherings:

  • Express why your church is interested in joining the RCA.
  • Share visions for ministry and evaluate alignment among the church, the classis, and the RCA.
  • Share respective organizational histories, including any previous denominational affiliation, if any. Consider whether you and your church are leaving a previous affiliation in good standing, or if reconciliation is necessary before proceeding.
  • Review theological understandings and practices of administering the sacraments.
  • Discuss the RCA Standards of Unity and what it means to be a confessional church.
  • Share respective strengths and challenges. It is essential that each party be transparent in order to build trust and allow effective discernment.
  • Provide each other with positions on relevant topics such as women in ministry, same sex relationships, racial reconciliation, etc.
  • Discuss the process of becoming an RCA congregation, and ask any questions about this process. (Scroll down for more details; see these FAQs about financial assessments.)

What are we committing to each other?

The Reformed Church in America is a covenant family, not merely an association or network of churches. While there is latitude for each church to live into its unique call of God, there are central beliefs and practices that bind our denomination’s churches together and define what it means to be an RCA church. It is important to discuss what commitments your church would be making to the classis (and denomination) and what commitments the classis (and denomination) would be making to your church.

The importance of belonging

As part of the RCA family, your organized church receives benefits of belonging like relationships and accountability, resources for equipping and administration, and Reformed theology and church order. You also enter into a covenant of care that provides ministers with insurance coverage and retirement funds. Additionally, there is inherent value in being an organized RCA church:

  • It is a visible sign of maturity, as the church is able to govern, support, and multiply itself.
  • It protects the church from becoming isolated from the greater body.
  • It moves the church from recipient to contributor and stakeholder.
  • It is a step of faith that God will provide, as the church leaves the safety net of external dependence on others.
  • It empowers ordained and installed leaders, such as elders and deacons, and celebrates the Holy Spirit’s gifts in the lives of church leaders.
  • It provides stability and order for the church, offering internal leadership, clear rules of order, and bylaws to keep everyone on the same page and to reference when necessary.
  • It ensures multi-level representation; local elders offer a discerning voice in decisions at all levels.
  • It lets the church be a full participant in mission, supporting missionaries and other mission efforts that a single church cannot do alone.
  • It strengthens the whole church and enables more new church plants as the RCA seeks to reach new disciples for Christ.
  • It gives strong bonds of relationship and accountability.
An icon of Athanasius, for which the Athanasian Creed is named.

Standards of Unity

As a denomination, the RCA holds to four statements of faith that are collectively called the Standards of Unity (or the Doctrinal Standards). These are the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Belhar Confession. Like many Christian churches, the RCA also affirms three creeds: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.

As an RCA church, you agree with and profess the beliefs encapsulated in these Standards. It is important that the leaders of your church read and discuss these Standards of Unity, alongside a primer on Reformed theology, especially if your congregation is unfamiliar with Reformed beliefs. Church attendees and members may also be interested; these references can help deepen their understanding of Reformed theology.

The RCA's Book of Church Order features an orange cover and the RCA crest.

RCA Polity

With its theology and liturgy, polity holds the RCA together. The RCA’s government style is Presbyterian. Four different assemblies oversee ministry in the RCA: the consistory, the classis, the regional synod, and the General Synod. Those who hold the church offices of elder, deacon, and minister serve on these assemblies.

Learn more about how the RCA is structured and the responsibilities that each level of government holds.

An important piece of the RCA’s government is the Book of Church Order (BCO), which is much more than a rule book. It provides a way for us to live and work together as the body of Christ, following the admonition in 1 Corinthians 14:40 that “all things be done decently and in order.” The introductory pages of the BCO provide an overview and instruction for use.

The Book of Church Order doesn’t cover every question about church order that you may encounter; rather, it gives authority to the assemblies to decide many issues related to the general superintendence of the church.

Read more about the BCO (also available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean).

Formula of Agreement

The Reformed Church in America is in “full communion” with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., and the United Church of Christ. These denominations continue to maintain their distinctive traditions and identities, while agreeing to recognize the validity of each other’s baptism, encouraging the sharing of Holy Communion, and permitting ministers from one denomination to serve in the other denominations. For particular information, read the full agreement or the orderly exchange of ministers, which outlines the principles, policies, and procedures for Formula of Agreement churches and ministers.

In addition, the RCA has an agreement with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) that allows the exchange of ministers between these two denominations.

How to make it official:

A guide to joining the RCA

As you begin to make your church’s status as an RCA church official, here are some suggestions to help you get to know your new denominational family.

1

Have a delegation of your church attend a consistory meeting of another church in the classis you’ll be joining, a classis meeting, and possibly meetings of the regional synod that oversees your classis and General Synod.
2

Have a delegation of the classis attend a church worship service and possibly another congregational event or small group gathering.
3

Have your pastor(s) or a few other church leaders attend a training event or gathering of other RCA leaders.
4

Have classis representatives meet with your entire church leadership team for a time of questions and answers.

Details to discuss and attend to

Your church will need to work with the classis to be organized as an RCA church. In order to officially “organize,” your church must be self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. The specifications for this organization process can be found in Chapter 1, Part II, Article 8 of the Book of Church Order.

Either through discussions with classis representatives (email join@rca.org to be matched with a classis) or by reading the relevant sections of the BCO, your church leadership will want to familiarize yourselves with the following details:

  • How discipline is administered in the RCA (Chapter 2 of the BCO).
  • Classis minimum salary guidelines, including insurance options, retirement benefits, and required minimums. The Board of Benefits Services provides a guide to minister compensation details, as outlined by the Book of Church Order.
  • Supervision of licensure and ordination for pastoral candidates (Chapter I, Part II, Article 11 of the BCO).
  • If the congregation has a name that reflects a different denominational affiliation, determine what steps will need to be taken to change the name.

A guide to navigating the official paperwork

Note: These guidelines are presented as recommended steps toward RCA reception of a new congregation or an established church from another denomination. Classes are encouraged to add to and edit them to reflect their specific needs, desires, and culture.

If you have gotten this far, congratulations! It’s time to seal the deal and celebrate, but there are a few details to take care of first. Here are some of those details necessary or suggested to make it official.

  1. [Optional] Write and sign a Covenant of Agreement. See this sample.
  2. Partner your congregation with an existing classis church to serve as a sponsor/sending church. This sponsor church and pastor will ensure that your congregation is fully assimilated into the RCA and the classis by showing hospitality and helping you make personal connections with others in the classis and denomination. The sponsor can also make you aware of available resources.
  3. Set up a meeting between the classis clerk and the pastor or administrator for your church to review such things as Consistorial Report Forms, maintaining membership records, writing and recording minutes, classis structure and schedule, etc.
  4. Review and approve the church’s Articles of Incorporation. Make sure the document is filed with the state and includes Formulary 15. (Formularies can be found in the appendix of the BCO.)
  5. Review and approve the church’s bylaws. In particular, review and approve their election process, making sure it aligns with one of the Book of Church Order The church should be informed that any future changes to the election process will require classis approval.
  6. Complete a new congregation plan (NCP). Connect at equip@rca.org to start this process. There may be additional steps for planter assessment, training, and coaching. The plan will need to be approved by both the classis and the regional synod, as well as the Church Multiplication team.
  7. If your congregation is a church plant that does not yet have its own 501(c)(3), submit necessary documents to come under the non-profit status of the RCA. Details can be found at rca.org/groupexemption.
  8. If your congregation is a church plant, form a governance team that includes representation from the classis and parent/partner church. See the Oversight Team Manual for more helpful information.
  9. Approve your pastor’s credentials or pathway toward credentialing.
  10. Approve the call or contract of the pastor(s).

Celebrate!

With all that paperwork completed, it’s time for a public celebration. Hold a service that celebrates your church being received into the RCA. This is an official special classis meeting. During this service, the pastor will be commissioned or ordained if it is a church start.

If you are a congregation that is already self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating, your church may be joining as an organized congregation. In that case, elders and deacons will be selected according to the church’s bylaws prior to this service and ordained/installed at this service.

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