Associated Presbyterian Churches

The Associated Presbyterian Churches (APC) is a Scottish Christian denomination (with a congregation in Canada), formed in 1989 from part of the community of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Associated Presbyterian Churches
ClassificationProtestant
TheologyReformed
PolityPresbyterian
AssociationsWorld Reformed Fellowship[1]
OriginMay 1989
Inverness
Separated fromFree Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Congregations6 active congregations in Scotland, and 1 in Canada.
Members200-300 attendees
Official websitehttps://www.apchurches.org/
Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560
Religion in Scotland

History

The division occurred because of a continuing difference over liberty of conscience (as defined in the Westminster Confession of Faith), which came to a head over the attendance of Lord Mackay of Clashfern at a Requiem Mass which formed part of the funeral of a colleague, former Lord Justice Clerk Lord Wheatley. As Mackay was Lord Advocate for Scotland, it was expected that he attend the funeral of a deceased member of the judiciary; Wheatley was also a friend of Mackay. However, Mackay was also an elder in the Free Presbyterian Church, and its leadership found his attendance intolerable, as it regards Roman Catholicism as spurious and the Mass as idolatrous. As a result, Mackay was suspended from office as an elder. Some in the church disagreed with this punishment and a split ensued, not only over the Mackay affair but also the ongoing issue of freedom of conscience. The people who formed the APC believed that liberty of conscience was not being given sufficient place in the Free Presbyterian Church, and that the disciplinary action taken by the Free Presbyterian authorities against Lord Mackay was inappropriate.[2]

Doctrine

The Associated Churches website states: "We believe that it is correct to allow Christians to make their own decisions on matters that are not fundamental to the faith."

The church's beliefs "are stated in a confession that is catholic, Reformed, and biblical, and which states the historic convictions of the Church of Scotland"[3] the Westminster Confession of Faith.[4]

Churches
Church Location Web Founded
Dundee APC Dundee, Dundee
Burdiehouse & Southhouse Community Church Burdiehouse, Edinburgh
Kingsview Christian Centre, Inverness Inverness, Highland
Harris APC (meets jointly with the Seilebost Church of Scotland) Seilebost, Na h-Eileanan Siar
Kinlochbervie & Lairg APC Kinlochbervie, Highland
Oban APC Oban, Argyll and Bute
Stornoway APC Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar 1989
Vancouver APC Vancouver, Canada 1922

International organisations

Associate Presbyterian Church is a member of the World Reformed Fellowship.[1]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "History «  AP Church". apchurches.org.
  3. "We Believe | Dundee APC". www.dundee.church. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  4. "What we believe «  AP Church". apchurches.org.
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