December 1 Today in OPC History

On December 1, 1964, the Presbytery of New Jersey became the first (and only) presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to declare that Roman Catholic baptism was invalid. However, in its ruling, the presbytery also stated regardless of its judgment that a session had the authority to rule as it saw fit in individual cases. The ruling remains on the books of the presbytery although the presbytery has never been asked to review such a decision by a session.

Ministerial members of the presbytery included Jay Adams, Lee Benson, Calvin Busch, Thomas Champness, Leonard Chanoux, Ralph Clough, Edmund Clowney, Raymond Commert, Everett DeVelde, John Davies, Leslie Dunn, Lewis Grotenhuis, Rollin Keller, Meredith Kline, George Knight, Donald Parker and Jack Peterson.

Picture: The Presbytery of New Jersey at its December meeting.