In a day and age when many congregations are moving away from denominational ties, it is unusual to find one moving from a nondenominational situation to join a denomination. Especially when that denomination is one of the most conservative in the country. And even more especially when it happens in Northern Utah.

The Reverend Curtis Eggleston began the new congregation as a daughter of the Made Alive In Christ congregation in Sandy, Utah in 2005. Over the years, through both study of theology and churches, they were drawn to the teachings and structure of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a denomination formed in the late 1930’s by a number of pastors and churches separating from the larger northern Presbyterian mainline denomination.

Eggleston reported that as they studied the traditional Reformation doctrines held by the OPC the congregation was convinced they presented the best understanding of the Bible. “We are definitely protestant reformers like Calvin, Hus, Zwingli … We believe in the sovereignty of God in all things, the depravity of the human heart,” he said. “Those are pretty big doctrines that people either adhere to or do not adhere to that distinguishes them.”

Eggleston was examined and approved to transfer his ordination to the OPC and the church voted to make the change, which became official on September 23rd and will be celebrated this weekend.

Now bearing the name Berean Presbyterian Church, the members will welcome friends and visitors at the facilitates of the United Church of Christ, Congregational building Saturday afternoon (October 24, 2009) from 1:00 to 4:00PM.

At the open house, Jason Wallace, pastor of the Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Salt Lake City – the only other congregation of that denomination in Utah – will be present and lead a brief service of dedication.

According to information in a press release issued by the church, the name of the congregation comes from the New Testament, Acts 17:11.

According to the Scripture, when Paul and Silas brought the gospel to the Jews in Berea, the people there were noble and received the word “with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

“In a day when the Word of God is often marginalized and neglected, we seek to exemplify the spirit of the Berea’s by constantly reforming all of our doctrine and life to be in accord with the whole council of God,” states the release.

Members at the church believe there are three crucial characteristics of a Biblical church. They are: faithful preaching of God’s word, the proper administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper and, when necessary, the solemn practice of discipline.

“We invite those who have a yearning for Biblical preaching, commitment to personal growth, maturity and accountability and a desire to know God more intimately to join us,” states the release.

The church meets in the United Church of Christ, Congregational, building at 9 a.m. each Sunday for a one-hour service.