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59-779: The church was founded by Francis Schaeffer as a missionary of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCES) in the United States. Schaeffer and his wife began L'Abri ("the Shelter") and then started the International Presbyterian Church. They moved from Switzerland to England , bringing the church with them. The first congregation started in Ealing in 1969. They also created congregations among Korean-speaking people, including

118-534: A Presbyterian polity. The offices of the church and corresponding duties can be found in the OPC Book of Church Order. A Session consists of the ministers and ruling elders of an individual congregation. The duties of the Session include overseeing public worship, the administration of Baptism and The Lord's Supper , the addition, removal, and discipline of members, and keeping records of membership. All of

177-543: A synod . The five statements of the Reformed doctrine: Francis Schaeffer Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other Francis August Schaeffer (January 30, 1912 – May 15, 1984) was an American evangelical theologian , philosopher , and Presbyterian pastor . He co-founded

236-472: A 1948 article in The Bible Today , Schaeffer explained his own apologetics and how he walked a middle path between evidentialism and presuppositionalism, noting that "If the unsaved man was consistent he would be an atheist in religion, an irrationalist in philosophy (including a complete uncertainty concerning 'natural laws'), and completely a-moral in the widest sense." J. Budziszewski summarizes

295-532: A British Presbytery, a European Proto-Presbytery, Korean Presbytery and a South-Korean Proto-Presbytery which all follow a common Book of Church Order . The British Presbytery comprises seventeen English-speaking congregations in the United Kingdom. They are: Exeter, All Saints Formerly, there was Grace Community Church, based in Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland. It closed during 2020. These Presbyteries form

354-490: A Christian society. We mention that merely in the interests of clarity, for we are not sure that anybody has noticed it up to now. The same comment applies to all of Dr. Schaeffer's writings: he does not spell out the Christian alternative. Christian conservative leaders such as Tim LaHaye have credited Schaeffer for influencing their theological arguments urging political participation by evangelicals. Beginning in

413-489: A Mission ), Schaeffer was one of the founders of what would later be termed the Seven Mountain Mandate . The idea would later go on to be popularized by Bethel Church pastor Bill Johnson and Lance Wallnau , among others. The concept centers around Christians taking dominion of seven societal spheres of influence : "family, religion, education, media, art, economics, and government." Francis Schaeffer

472-677: A church guild called "The Society of Reformed Philosophical Thinkers". This was merged in 1988 with "Into Thy Word Ministries", which was then transformed into "The Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development" in 1998. Its purpose is to strategize how to reach and train pastors and church leaders to focus on Christ centered principles. Its aim is to point the church back to "true-Truth" and "true spirituality". The foundation develops comprehensive curriculum for pastors, church planters and church leaders. In 1975, along with fellow evangelists Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ ) and Loren Cunningham (founder of Youth With

531-884: A lawsuit against the fledgling denomination for its name choice, the denomination adopted its current name, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (or, OPC). In 1961, the OPC published the Trinity Hymnal . It also publishes a journal called Ordained Servant . Since its founding, the OPC has produced numerous influential figures, including Scottish theologian John Murray , Dutch theologian Geerhardus Vos , American theologians Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. , Edmund P. Clowney , Loraine Boettner , and Meredith Kline , historian D.G. Hart , and presuppositional theologians Cornelius Van Til and Greg Bahnsen . The Orthodox Presbyterian Church traces its doctrinal beliefs to

590-788: A merger of church and state, which he opposed. He held that the principles, not the actual details, of Old Testament civil law were applicable under the New Covenant of Jesus. He wrote "The moral law [of the Old Testament], of course, is constant, but the civil law only was operative for the Old Testament theocracy. I do not think there is any indication of a theocracy in the New Testament until Christ returns as king." The Francis A. Schaeffer Foundation in Gryon , Switzerland

649-570: A range of issues. They can be roughly split into five sections, as in the edition of his Complete Works ( ISBN   0-89107-347-7 ): In addition to his books, one of the last public lectures Schaeffer delivered was at the Law Faculty, University of Strasbourg. It was published as "Christian Faith and Human Rights", The Simon Greenleaf Law Review , 2 (1982–83) pp. 3–12. Most of his writings during his Bible Presbyterian days have not been collected, nor reprinted in decades. In addition to

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708-410: A substantial threat to the general health, safety and welfare of our citizens. Your own Christian background ought to demonstrate to you the practical benefits of upholding the biblical stand against homosexuality, especially in light of the current epidemic of AIDS and other diseases spread through homosexual conduct." The 68th General Assembly in 2001 declared “that the use of women in military combat

767-695: A theocracy. Christian Reconstructionists Gary North and David Chilton were highly critical of A Christian Manifesto and Schaeffer. Their critical comments were prompted, they wrote, by the popularity of Schaeffer's book. They suggested that Schaeffer supports pluralism because he sees the First Amendment as freedom of religion for all; and they themselves reject pluralism. Pointing out negative statements Schaeffer made about theocracy, North and Chilton then explain why they promote it. They extend their criticism of Schaeffer: The fact remains that Dr. Schaeffer's manifesto offers no prescriptions for

826-495: A variety of political views. Carl Trueman , an ordained minister in the OPC, has authored Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative (pub. 2010). Greg Bahnsen was also a key figure in the Christian Reconstructionism movement, with an emphasis of applying God's law to contemporary civil and legal matters. The 39th General Assembly, meeting in 1972, adopted a statement on abortion that included

885-709: Is both contrary to nature and inconsistent with the Word of God,” In 2006-2007, a study committee formed by the General Assembly created a report that concluded that "the church should never turn its back on fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they are legally or illegally in the country. We should be willing to see to the spiritual and physical needs of anyone who comes to the church." The report nonetheless recommended that illegal immigrants repent of their illegal activity. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church has

944-426: Is credited with helping spark a return to political activism among Protestant evangelicals and fundamentalists in the late 1970s and early 1980s, especially in relation to the issue of abortion . In his memoir Crazy for God, Schaeffer's son Frank takes credit for pressing his father to take on the abortion issue, which Schaeffer initially considered "too political". Schaeffer called for a challenge to what he saw as

1003-457: Is far more nuanced and multi-dimensional than was suggested by his public persona. He states, for example, that Schaeffer's primary passions in life were not the Bible and theology but rather art and culture. "And what moved him was not theology but beauty". Schaeffer's son claims he had frequent bouts with depression and a verbally and physically abusive relationship with his wife, Edith. Those in

1062-587: Is led by one of his daughters and sons-in-law as a small-scale alternative to the original L'Abri Fellowship International, which is still operating in nearby Huemoz-sur-Ollon and other places in the world. Covenant Theological Seminary has established the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute directed by a former English L'Abri member, Jerram Barrs. The purpose of the school is to train Christians to demonstrate compassionately and defend reasonably what they see as

1121-520: Is not talking about a theocracy: State officials must know that we are serious about stopping abortion… First , we must make definite that we are in no way talking about any kind of theocracy. Let me say that with great emphasis. Witherspoon, Jefferson, the American Founders had no idea of a theocracy. That is made plain by the First Amendment, and we must continually emphasize the fact that we are not talking about some kind, or any kind, of

1180-419: Is that nonbelievers cannot bring themselves to be completely consistent with their own presuppositions, and this inconsistency is a result of what many call common grace and is in fact the reality of God having made, and spoken into, a defined and unavoidable creation. "Thus, illogically", he wrote, "men have in their accepted worldviews various amounts of that which is ours. But, illogical though it may be, it

1239-538: Is there and we can appeal to it." Schaeffer came to use this middle path as the basis for his method of evangelism which he called "Taking the roof off". An example of Taking the roof off in written form can be found in Schaeffer's work entitled Death in the City. Nancy Pearcey also describes two books by Schaeffer, Escape From Reason and The God Who Is There in this way: In these books, Schaeffer explains

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1298-476: The Humanist Manifesto documents of 1933 and 1973. Schaeffer's diagnosis is that the decline of Western Civilization is due to society having become increasingly pluralistic , resulting in a shift "away from a world view that was at least vaguely Christian in people's memory… toward something completely different." Schaeffer argues that there is a philosophical struggle between the people of God and

1357-747: The Auburn Affirmation . He and others founded Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929 in response to rising liberal sentiments at Princeton Theological Seminary , and in 1933, Machen formed the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions , due to his concerns around tolerance of liberal theology on the PCUSA mission field. Machen's views were met with opposition. In 1935, the PCUSA General Assembly declared Machen's Independent Board unconstitutional, and gave

1416-627: The Eastern Orthodox Church and later becoming a liberal and a self-described " atheist who believes in God." Schaeffer's approach to Christian apologetics was primarily influenced by Herman Dooyeweerd , Edward John Carnell , and Cornelius Van Til , but he was not known to be a strict presuppositionalist in the Van Tillian tradition. His approach to culture was heavily influenced by his friendship with Hans Rookmaaker . In

1475-534: The L'Abri community in Switzerland with his wife Edith Schaeffer , née  Seville , a prolific author in her own right. Opposed to theological modernism (which prefers, e.g., rational thought and religious experience over doctrinal pronouncements by leaders or following religious traditions), Schaeffer promoted what he claimed was a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics , which he believed would answer

1534-637: The Presbyterian Church in America , or PCA, which formed in 1973), with Machen as the first moderator. Other key figures at this time include Ned B. Stonehouse , J. Oliver Buswell , and Edward Joseph Young . Machen died shortly thereafter in January 1937. Later that year, a faction led by Carl McIntire broke away to form Bible Presbyterian Church , affirming total abstinence from alcohol and premillennialism . In 1939, after PCUSA filed

1593-957: The Reformation , and particularly the theology of the French Reformer John Calvin . After his death, Calvin's doctrines were developed and set forth by a 17th-century assembly of British theologians in the Westminster Standards (which include the Westminster Confession of Faith , and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms ). The OPC thus holds to the Westminster Standards (with the American revisions of 1788) for doctrine and practice. The OPC provides

1652-466: The 1990s, critics began exploring the intellectual and ideological connection between Schaeffer's political activism and writings of the early 1980s to contemporary religious-political trends in the Christian Right, sometimes grouped under the name Dominionism , with mixed conclusions. Sara Diamond and Frederick Clarkson have written articles tracing the activism of numerous key figures in

1711-604: The Christian Right to the influence of Francis Schaeffer. According to Diamond: "The idea of taking dominion over secular society gained widespread currency with the 1981 publication of...Schaeffer's book A Christian Manifesto . The book sold 290,000 copies in its first year, and it remains one of the movement's most frequently cited texts." Diamond summarizes the book and its importance to the Christian Right: Frederick Clarkson explains that this had practical applications: Analyses of Schaeffer as

1770-528: The EPC into the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod when the Bible Presbyterian Church's Columbus Synod merged with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, General Synod in 1965, a denomination which would merge with the Presbyterian Church in America , in 1982. In 1948, the Schaeffer family moved to Switzerland and in 1955 established the community called L'Abri (French for '

1829-608: The London Korean Church. Missionaries for the church worked in Timișoara , Targu Jiu , Verona, Italy , Ghent, Belgium and Baku, Azerbaijan . Recently dissatisfied evangelical groups from the Church of Scotland have joined the church, with former ministers, elders (males only) and members creating 3 new Scottish congregations out of existing Church of Scotland congregations. The IPC has four presbyteries , namely

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1888-968: The OPC became a founding member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC). Through NAPARC, the OPC enjoys fraternal relations with the PCA , the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , the Reformed Church in the United States , the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church , the United Reformed Churches in North America , the Canadian and American Reformed Churches and several other confessional Continental Reformed and Presbyterian Churches in

1947-469: The OPC was a "largely white" denomination, due to losing "the allegiance of blacks during the ecclesiastical discrimination against blacks in the post-civil war period " and ecclesiastical "neglect" of minority groups. The report recommended more outreach to minority and urban areas. As of 2019, there is one black minister in the OPC. The OPC also has at least 6 Asian ministers, 3 Middle Eastern ministers, and 8 South American ministers. OPC ministers have

2006-502: The United States of America (PCUSA), who objected to the rise of Liberal and Modernist theology in the 1930s. The OPC is considered to have had an influence on evangelicalism far beyond its size. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church was founded in 1936, largely through the work of John Gresham Machen . Machen, who, prior to this time was a PCUSA minister, had a longstanding distrust of liberalism in Christianity, as typified by

2065-448: The United States was founded on a Christian base came in part from Rushdoony." Schaeffer later lost this fervor because Rushdoony was a postmillennialist (holding the doctrine that the kingdom of God will be built on earth before the second coming of Jesus) while Schaeffer was a premillennialist (holding that the kingdom of God will only be ushered in with the second coming). Further Schaeffer thought that Rushdoony's system would require

2124-642: The United States: Central Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Southern New York, the Dakotas, Michigan and Ontario, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New Jersey, New York and New England, Northern California and Nevada, Northwest, Ohio, Philadelphia, South, Southeast, Southern California, Southwest, and Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the early 1970s, the General Assembly commissioned a 'Report of the Committee on Problems of Race', which stated that

2183-478: The affirmation that "voluntary abortion, except possibly to save the physical life of the mother, is in violation of the Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:13)." In 1993, the denomination petitioned then President Bill Clinton to continue to disallow homosexuals to serve in the military. The petition states that: "The practice of homosexuality is a reproach to any nation. It undermines the family, and poses

2242-469: The article about this middle path approach by writing: Presuppositionalists, he held, are right to assert that the ultimate premises of Christian and anti–Christian systems of thought are utterly at odds in relation to their origin. On the other hand, evidentialists are right to assert that between Christian and anti–Christian systems of thought there is always a point of contact in the shape of reality itself. The reason for this point of contact, he argued,

2301-530: The associated clergy an ultimatum to break their ties with it. When Machen and seven other clergy did not disavow the Independent Board, they were suspended from PCUSA ministry. In light of these events, Machen and a group of likeminded ministers, elders, and laymen met in Philadelphia on June 11, 1936, to form what they then called the Presbyterian Church of America (not to be confused with

2360-441: The claims of Christ on all of life. According to Michael Hamilton of Christianity Today , "Perhaps no intellectual save C. S. Lewis affected the thinking of evangelicals more profoundly [than Francis Schaeffer]; perhaps no leader of the period save Billy Graham left a deeper stamp on the movement as a whole." In 1978, Schaeffer asked a group of Reformed Episcopal Clergy to research his thoughts and current trends, forming

2419-690: The decline of commitment to objective truth that he perceives in the various institutions of society is "not because of a conspiracy, but because the church has forsaken its duty to be the salt of the culture." A true Christian in Hitler 's Germany and in the occupied countries should have defied the false and counterfeit state and hidden his Jewish neighbors from the German SS Troops . The government had abrogated its authority, and it had no right to make any demands. He then suggests that similar tactics be used to stop abortion. But Schaeffer argues he

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2478-739: The fall and studied under Cornelius Van Til ( presuppositional apologetics ) and J. Gresham Machen ( doctrine of inerrancy ). In 1937, Schaeffer transferred to Faith Theological Seminary , graduating in 1938. This seminary was newly formed as a result of a split between the Presbyterian Church of America (now the Orthodox Presbyterian Church ) and the Bible Presbyterian Church , a Presbyterian denomination more identified with Fundamentalist Christianity and premillennialism . Schaeffer

2537-479: The five volume Complete Works listed above there were also two books by Dr. Schaeffer published after his death: Orthodox Presbyterian Church The Orthodox Presbyterian Church ( OPC ) is a confessional Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States, with additional congregations in Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyterian Church in

2596-511: The following summary of its doctrine: Despite affirming the Westminster standards, OPC pastors and presbyteries teach a range of doctrines on the biblical creation accounts, from non-evolutionary framework and analogical interpretations to young earth . There is similar variability in terms of eschatology . At the 2024 General Assembly, the OPC reported 599 ministers and 33,520 members. The OPC has 17 Presbyteries across Canada and

2655-405: The history of the two-story division of knowledge, often referred to as the fact/value split. He also describes his apologetics method, which combined elements of both evidentialism and presuppositionalism. In the 1960s Schaeffer read the works of Reconstructionist theologian Rousas John Rushdoony with appreciation, and according to Barry Hankins, "it is quite likely that Schaeffer's belief that

2714-461: The increasing influence of secular humanism. Schaeffer's views were expressed in two works, his book entitled A Christian Manifesto , as well as the book and film series, Whatever Happened to the Human Race? . Schaeffer's book A Christian Manifesto was published in 1981 and later delivered as a sermon in 1982. It was intended as a Christian answer to The Communist Manifesto of 1848 and

2773-504: The inner circle at L'Abri challenge Frank's account. Os Guinness , who lived with the Schaeffers and was a close friend of both the younger and elder Schaeffer, described Crazy for God as a "scurrilous caricature" and said, "[N]o one should take Frank's allegations at face value." Frank Schaeffer initially supported his father's ideas and political program, but has since distanced himself from many of those views, first converting to

2832-590: The major intellectual influence on Dominionism can be found in the works of authors such as Diamond and Chip Berlet . Other authors argue against a close connection with dominionism, for example Irving Hexham of the University of Calgary , who maintains that Schaeffer's political position has been misconstrued as advocating the Dominionist views of R. J. Rushdoony , who is a Christian Reconstructionist. Hexham indicates that Schaeffer's essential philosophy

2891-401: The members of local congregations and its ministers are organized by geography into a regional church, and the presbytery serves as its governing body. The presbytery is composed of all of the ministers and ruling elders of the various congregations in the regional church, and presbytery meetings are to consist of all ministers and one ruling elder from each respective session. The duties of

2950-684: The moderator and stated clerk of the previous General Assembly, and ministers and ruling elders representing their respective presbyteries. The OPC does not ordain women as pastors, elders, or deacons. At least one congregation allowed women to serve as unordained deaconesses, but that congregation has since closed. There are 38 mission works and eight active foreign mission fields in the OPC today: in China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Quebec, Uganda, Ukraine, and Uruguay. The OPC also has two missionaries currently serving in Japan. Japan was, historically, one of

3009-547: The oldest OPC mission works, but has since closed. One of the OPC's goals is that "indigenous Reformed churches be established which will provide fellowship and instruction, and make the gospel known in its own culture and in others". The OPC's Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension also serves to help sustain and plant congregations in the United States and Canada. Their duty is to aid presbyteries in planting congregations, finding pastors, purchasing property and church buildings, and assisting home missionaries. In 1975,

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3068-407: The presbytery include overseeing evangelism and resolving questions regarding church discipline. The presbytery also takes candidates for ministry under its care, and examines, licenses and ordains them. It also, if necessary, can remove a minister. The OPC's General Assembly is the supreme judicatory, and as such, it is to resolve all doctrinal and disciplinary issues that have not been resolved by

3127-619: The questions of the age. Schaeffer was born on January 30, 1912, in Germantown, Pennsylvania , to Franz A. Schaeffer III and Bessie Williamson. He was of German and English ancestry. In 1935, Schaeffer graduated magna cum laude from Hampden–Sydney College . The same year he married Edith Seville, the daughter of missionary parents who had been with the China Inland Mission founded by Hudson Taylor . Schaeffer then enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary in

3186-550: The secular humanists. In the sermon version of the book, Schaeffer defines secular humanism as the worldview where "man is the measure of all things". He claims that critics of the Christian right miss the mark by confusing the "humanist religion" with humanitarianism, the humanities, or love of humans. He describes the conflict with secular humanism as a battle in which "these two religions, Christianity and humanism, stand over against each other as totalities." He writes that

3245-438: The sessions and presbyteries. The other duties of the General Assembly include organizing regional churches, calling ministers and licentiates to missionary or other ministries, and reviewing the records from the presbyteries. It also arranges internship training for prospective ministers, and oversees diaconal needs. The General Assembly meets at least once a year, and is to have, at maximum, 155 voting commissioners, including

3304-792: The shelter ' ). Serving as both a philosophy seminar and a spiritual community, L'Abri attracted thousands of young people, and was later expanded into Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Schaeffer received numerous honorary degrees. In 1954, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Highland College in Long Beach, California . In 1971, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts . In 1982, John Warwick Montgomery nominated Schaeffer for an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, which

3363-615: Was conferred in 1983 by the Simon Greenleaf School of Law , Anaheim, California in recognition of his apologetic writings and ministry. Schaeffer died of lymphoma on May 15, 1984, in Rochester, Minnesota . He opened a L'Abri branch there before his death. Schaeffer Academy, a private K-12 school in Rochester, is named after him. In Crazy for God , Schaeffer's son Frank presents a portrait of his father that

3422-527: Was derived from Herman Dooyeweerd , not Rushdoony, and that Hans Rookmaaker introduced Schaeffer to his writings. Dooyeweerd was a Dutch legal scholar and philosopher, following in the footsteps of Neo-Calvinist Abraham Kuyper . Congresswoman and 2012 United States presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has cited Schaeffer's documentary series How Should We Then Live? as having a "profound influence" on her life and that of her husband Marcus. Francis A. Schaeffer wrote twenty-two books, which covering

3481-741: Was the first student to graduate and the first to be ordained in the Bible Presbyterian Church. He served pastorates in Pennsylvania ( Grove City and Chester ) and St. Louis, Missouri . Schaeffer eventually sided with the Bible Presbyterian Church Columbus Synod following the BPC Collingswood and BPC Columbus split in 1956. BPC Columbus reorganized as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 1961, and Schaeffer followed

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