Incorporated at the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in 1819, the Reformed Church in America adopted its current name in 1867.
From 1628 to 1819, it was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church. Early settlers in the Dutch colony of New Netherland met in informal meetings until 1628 when Jonas Michaelius organized a Dutch Reformed congregation in New Amsterdam, which was the original name for New York City. This church was known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and still exists as the Marble Collegiate Church. As other congregations joined, the Church became the established church of the New Netherland colony during Dutch rule, although under the authority of the classis of Amsterdam.
After the English captured the colony in 1664, Dutch Reformed ministers continued to be trained in the Netherlands, and RCA services were conducted in Dutch until 1764, when the use of the Dutch language faded, although there was a temporary resurgence in the use of the language when a new wave of Dutch immigration began in the mid-1800s.
In 1747, the Dutch Reformed Church gave permission for an assembly to be formed in North America and, in 1754, that assembly declared itself independent of the classis of Amsterdam. The Dutch community dominated in New Netherland and parts of New Jersey, and had a strong presence in southeast Pennsylvania, southwest Pennsylvania, southwest Connecticut, and Long Island, forming churches in these areas.
In the early 1700s, New Netherlands saw an influx of German immigrants who created German-speaking Lutheran and Reformed churches, while thousands more immigrated to Pennsylvania, using the German language for nearly a century, and recruiting ministers from Germany. By the early 1900s, most of these churches had joined the Dutch Reformed Church, which had incorporated as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in 1819. In 1867, they adopted their current name, Reformed Church in America.
The Church did not support either the First Awakening or the Second Awakening in the 1790s, although some ministers favored revivals. Ethnic Dutch ministers within the church struggled to preserve their European standards while developing an interest in revivalism and American identity. Ongoing Dutch immigration to the Americas in the mid-1800 led to the expansion of the RCA in the newly settled Midwest, with churches established in Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan.
In 1857, a group of conservative members in Michigan, led by Gijsbert Haan, broke away from the Reformed Church in America to form what later became the Christian Reformed Church in North America, and several other churches later joined them.
During World War II, Dutch immigration shifted from the United States to Canada, leading to an expansion of the Reformed Church in America. Between 1949 and 1958, several churches were established in non-Dutch communities, appealing to mainline Protestants.
In the past few decades, the RCA has experienced a declining membership. Due largely to changes that the RCA has made in its interpretation of the Scriptures, its adoption of the Belhar Confession, its removal of the conscience clauses relating to the ordination of women, and a growing acceptance of homosexual behavior, several RCA churches have left to join the Presbyterian Church in America and other more socially conservative Reformed denominations.
The RCA holds to several statements of doctrine and faith, including the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dort, and the Belhar Confession, although it allows more flexibility than do many other Reformed groups.
On social issues, the RCA opposes euthanasia and the death penalty. While generally opposed to abortion in principle, but recognizes that there could be exceptions. Since 1978, the General Synod has revised its stand on homosexuality several times, currently considering homosexual acts to be sinful and contrary to the will of God, while affirming that homosexuals should not be blamed for their condition. Several RCA congregations have voted to publicly affirm LGBT members, including the Classis of New Brunswick and the Classis of Schenectady, and several of these churches perform same-sex marriages, and others have employed gay pastors whose ordination is from other denominations. A 2017 proposal to define marriage as being between a man and a woman did not receive the necessary votes from two-thirds of the classes.
The RCA has a presbyterian polity, diving authority between consistories, classes, regional synods, and the General Synod. The General Synod is the representative body of the denomination and is responsible for the establishment of policies, programs, and agendas. Measures passed by the General Synod are overseen by the General Synod Council, who are appointed by the General Synod.
Recommended Resources
Located in Pella, Iowa, Central College is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, although it was a Baptist institution from its inception in 1853 to 1916, when it was transferred to the RCA. Its majors, a course catalog, and schedule of courses are published, along with its admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and financial aid options, a student handbook, campus map, and other campus and alumni resources, as well as its athletics programs.
https://central.edu/
Associated with the Reformed Church in America, Faithforward seeks to help Christians get to know Christ better and to better determine God's vision for their lives. Its site features articles on church life, practices, prayer, seasonal worship, Advent, Lent, leadership, worship, theology, mission, relationships, and spirituality. The organization sponsors Jesse Tree, a way of preparing for Advent through symbols and Bible stories on Jesus' family tree.
https://www.faithward.org/
The Christian liberal arts college is located on 125 acres in Holland, Michigan. Founded as the Pioneer School by Dutch immigrants in 1862, the college is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, and currently offers more than ninety majors, all of which lead to a Bachelor's degree. Its history, chronology, accreditation, rankings, and recognitions are featured, along with a campus map, a virtual tour of the campus, and a directory of departments, programs, offices, and services.
https://hope.edu/
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Founded in 1784, the Reformed Christian Seminary is one of two operated by the Reformed Church in America. Established in New York City, New Brunswick, New Jersey became its main campus in 1810. Offering professional and graduate degree programs for candidates for ministry and those pursuing careers in academia or non-theological fields, as well as certificate training programs to lay leaders. Admissions, tuition, and fees are highlighted.
https://www.nbts.edu/
The RCA is a mainstream Reformed Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada and a founding member of the National Council of Churches. The official denominational website features a history of the denomination, an overview of its organizational structure, theology, creeds, and confessions. Its church planting, support, and global ministries are outlined, and RCA churches may be found through the site by location. Several other resources are available.
https://www.rca.org/
WTS of the Reformed Church in America was established in Holland, Michigan in 1866, where it is still operated as one of the two seminaries of the Reformed Church in America, a Protestant church that follows the teachings of John Calvin. The institution offers professional and graduate degree programs for candidates for the ministry and those in non-theological fields. Its admissions policies, degrees, courses, publications, and scholarships are defined.
https://www.westernsem.edu/
