Some quick thoughts on the Wilson camp...

Yeah, I dunno about that. I tried to look up Wilson's history, but it's not anywhere on the web that I could find. What I really wish is that he had a blog...

Ya, I only know the rudimentary history of his time at Christ Church. I don't know his past or anything further than that, and the occasional tidbits he reveals in Credenda. He's a remarkably formal writer, in that he's able to talk about things in a manner that, at least explicitly speaking, divulges very little about himself and/or his gut feelings.

A few thoughts:

1. You've got the gist of the story right. The church here was your run-of-the-mill Bible Baptist sort of set up until Mr. Wilson became Reformed.

2. The church did do some investigation concerning the already existing Reformed denominations. The fact seems to be that they got scared away for various reasons (some legitimate, perhaps some not). You've got to remember that these guys were still kind of skiddish about everything. The Reformed world was a big unknown to them, and as they were already in the middle of some fairly hefty changes, they were understandably shy about some of their first impressions.

3. The decision to form the CRE seemed at that point to be the best option for them. They were seeking to be obedient: They knew they needed accountability of some sort. Some of the 'independent spirit' may have still been alive at that point, but frankly I don't think they were as catholic in their orientation then as they are now. They have continued to grow and learn. If they were in the same situation now, I'm not sure they would make the same decision. I imagine, at the very least, that your points would at least be more weighty to them now, than perhaps before.

Obedience tends to look different as we mature.

Nice blog.

Catholicity was part of the motivation for not joining existing Reformed and/or Presbyterian denominations.

For one, the CRE has a much broader statement of faith which includes a more catholic group than would a Presbyterian denomination.

And for two, since Christ Church (formerly Community Evangelical Fellowship) was independent and generally draws independent churches to join it effectively reduces the number of denominations by one each time a new member joins.

Please continue to quibble at the Moscow camp, for if catholicity is the goal only everyone will benefit.

The thing I don't understand, though, is why if Christ Church is in favor of paedocommunion that they are part of a denomination that includes credobaptists. How covenantal is that?

You all do some good work though. I just think that we need more people who actually believe in the sacraments in the PCA.

You're of course correct Evan. I think its slowly starting to happen in the PCA. It certainly is in the "right" of the PCA, and the moderates are catching on also. I even know of a few of the "left" PCA churches, in a very contemporary format, rediscovering the role of the Sacraments. Its rather beautiful actually.

There's a PCA "left?" I really don't know enough about my own denomination.

I just wish that liturgical worship would become more prevalent in the denom. Of course, it's not the historic Reformed position. But I never thought that exclusive psalmody and instrumentless worship - although potentially beautiful - was Biblically mandated.

E-Dawg,

It was put to me once that the PCA is divided into 3 camp, each of which takes up about a third of the PCA. It is of course, more fractured then that, but for a general analysis of the PCA, this is pretty acurate.

Its odd. I go to an OPC church now, a great OPC church. But it was at RP where I first feel I learned to worship.

I pretty much think worship "style" is all about taste and reverence. For one person, one type of worship style is reverent, the other it isn't. Sure, there are other qualifications, but I'm firmly convinced the worship at Rock Creek is on the same level as RP.

What I like to say is "style with substance." I haven't been to Rock Creek, but I have been to New City. I can delight in the Lord just as much at New City as I can at RP, and vice versa. That's a big step forward for me, since I used to think old-school RP worship was dry as bones. But now I'm growing to like it. I just wish that New City would pick songs with more depth in their lyrics sometimes. But the music is incredible. Some of the gospel songs they do are really simple but also really deep.

Evan,

Although I feel that there is equality of quality in terms of the worship between say RP and New City, I still have a really really really hard time "getting into" the worship at New City or Rock Creek. Its just not my style. Of course, if I were at either one of those churches, I'd have a responsibility to "get into it."

The next time Rock Creek does communion, you should go. Perhaps me, you, Ryan, and my fiance could go together. I hear its a wonderful experience.

Finally, I used to be a member at RP (heck, I still might be, I'm waiting on their letter of transfer). I really loved that church in terms of worhsip. Its the community that kinda killed it for me. I never really became part of it.

Sure. After spring break talk to me. I'm enjoying it already.