www.rca.org

Basic History
The RCA was founded in 1628 by the Dutch who settled in New Amsterdam (now New York City). The church's history is rooted in the Reformation of the 1500s. Its primary leader was John Calvin of Geneva, Switzerland, whose reform movement spread to Scotland, where it became the Presbyterian Church, and the Netherlands, where it became the Dutch Reformed Church. Until 1867, it was known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and was mainly based in New Jersey and New York. The denomination spread with the immigration of Dutch and German settlers to the Midwest. Congregations can now be found all over the US and Canada.

Although the Reformed Church in America has worked in close cooperation with other churches, it has never merged. The first congregation founded still exists today as the Collegiate Reformed Church in New York City. It is the oldest evangelical church in North America with a continuous ministry.

The RCA also has a rich heritage of world mission activity and evangelical sensitivities. It is a founding member of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and the World Council of Churches. In 1998, the RCA entered into a relationship of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ by way of the Formula of Agreement.

Basic Beliefs
The Reformed Church accepts as its standards of faith the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession and Canons of Dort. Its believers claim heritage to the reform tradition, which emphasizes obedience to God in all aspects of life.

The Reformed Church also affirms three creeds that arose in the early church, the Apostle's Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and the Nicene Creed.

They practice infant and adult baptism and open communion for the Lord's Supper, although local boards of elders have been given the responsibility to decide at what age and under what circumstances young children may be served.

Leadership
President - Gregg Mast
General Secretary - Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
Associate for Ecumenical Relations - Douglas Fromm

Basic Facts
The church has about 950 congregations in the United States and Canada and a total membership of more than 300,000.

Location
Reformed Church in America
475 Riverside Dr., 18th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Phone (212) 870-2841
         (800) 722-9977
Fax (212) 870-2499