Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
ClassificationProtestant
Orientationconservative Calvinist
TheologyCalvinist, Evangelical
GovernancePresbyterian
AssociationsWorld Reformed Fellowship
RegionNew Zealand
Origin2002
New Zealand
SeparationsPresbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Congregations22
Membersunknown

Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (GPCNZ) is a Presbyterian denomination in New Zealand which was formed in 2002. It currently consists of 21 churches and missions, which are in the process of becoming fully established churches.[1]

Background

Many members of the GPCNZ are former members who left the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) as they took a more conservative view of faith and the Bible than other churches in the PCANZ. In practice this means that the GPCNZ holds different views to the PCANZ on the Bible, salvation, the gospel, preaching, homosexuality and the ordination of women.[2] In 1974 the Evangelical Presbyterian Church was founded in Christchurch. In 2000 like minded churches formed Grace Bible Churches. In February, 2003 a fully fledged denomination with common constitution called Grace Presbyterian Church in New Zealand was formed.[3]

Theology

The Grace Presbyterian Church describes itself as "Presbyterian in government, Calvinist in theology, and Evangelical in spirit."[2] It confesses the truth of the Trinity, the centrality of Jesus, the unconditional and yet particular love of God the Father, and the irresistible calling, present power and ministry of The Holy Spirit. Grace Presbyterian Church holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith as its official confession of faith. Grace Presbyterian Church believes in the sovereignty of God and subscribes to the Solas of the Reformation:

The denomination teaches that "the Bible is the inspired Word of God and it contains everything people need to know for salvation".[2]

Church positions on issues of particular interest

Grace Presbyterian Church teaches that homosexual practice is sinful. In relation to abortion, it maintains that the Bible does not distinguish between prenatal and postnatal life. GPCNZ believes that women are valued members of the church, equal in value before God, but that the Biblical scriptures do define different roles within life and the church according to the order of how God made us. This means although GPCNZ encourages men & women to serve in the church wherever they can, GPCNZ does not have women as Pastors or elders.

Each congregation has the right to own and control their own property.

Local Churches are represented in the Presbytery and the General Assembly.

Ecumenical relations

GPCNZ is in the process of forming formal links with the Reformed Churches of New Zealand, the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and the Presbyterian Church in America.[4] It is a member denomination of the World Reformed Fellowship.[5]

Theological institutions

GPCNZ does not operate its own theological college, and has approved the courses at the Grace Theological College [6] as the churches' official training institution in New Zealand. Grace Theological College is a non-denominational institution for leaders of churches in the evangelical and Calvinist tradition. It was established in 1995.[4]

Official website:

Constituent churches

Church Location Year
Formed		 Current Pastor/Minister
Northern Presbytery
Redeemer Grace Presbyterian Church[7] Now merged with Trinity
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Manurewa Manurewa Logan Hagoort
Trinity Presbyterian Church Takanini 2001 Leonard Long
Providence Presbyterian Church Māngere Steve Panapa
Grace Church Gisborne Luke Sheldrake
City Presbyterian Church (Mission Church) Central Auckland
Central Presbytery
Grace Community Church New Plymouth[8] New Plymouth David Farr
Grace @ Wellington[9] Wellington Ian D Bayne
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Christchurch[10] Christchurch 1974 John McGimpsey
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ashburton Ashburton David Bayne
Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Fairlie Fairlie David Bayne
Southern Presbytery
Grace Bible Church, Dunedin [11] Dunedin Ben Hudson/Az Gray
Grace Presbyterian Church Waihola[12] Waihola Alf Bradfield
Catlins Evangelical Church Owaka Matthew Tarbotton
Grace Presbyterian Church, Gore Gore Sam Duthie
Wyndham Evangelical Church[13] Wyndham Geoff Lloyd
Grace Presbyterian Church[14] Invercargill

See also

Presbyterian polity

References

  1. ↑ "Church Finder". Gracepresbyterianchurch.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Us". Gracepresbyterianchurch.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  3. ↑ "History | Grace Presbyterian Church of Christchurch, NZ". Gracechristchurch.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  4. ↑ Archived July 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Archived August 28, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Archived August 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Welcome to Grace Community Church New Plymouth". Gracenp.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  8. ↑ "Grace @ Wellington | Every One reaching One to reach One more". Gracewellington.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  9. ↑ Milton, Rusty. "Grace Presbyterian Church Christchurch". Journey.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  10. ↑ "Home". gracedunedin.org.nz.
  11. ↑ Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "Wyndham Evangelical Church". Wyndhamevangelical.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  13. ↑
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