Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church

06/07/2026

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05/31/2026

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05/30/2026

05/27/2026

Pastor Grant's recent post: puritanchurch.com/an-alternative-view-to-vandixhoorns-on-the-westminster-confessions-historic-marriage-affinity-clause.

Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn’s recent article giving attention to the original Westminster Confession of Faith’s (WCF) position on consanguinity and especially affinity in marriage is most appreciated (see reformation21.org/consanguinity-affinity-and-other-points-of-divinity).

I have made significant use of Van Dixhoorn’s excellent work on the WCF throughout my church membership class booklet—including for the chapter under discussion. Still, I’d like to share an alternative view averring that the impetus for the WCF’s closing affinity clause was much less the immediate historical context of King Henry VIII and instead significantly more the historic church’s common commitment. I offer the following for the reader’s further consideration.

Citing John Murray, G.I. Williamson says in his WCF commentary for study classes that the Confession is correct and historically consistent on this matter.

The WCF 24:4 reads: “Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word;(h) nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.(i) The man may not marry any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own; nor the woman of her husband’s kindred nearer in blood than of her own.(k)” [(h) Lev. 18; 1 Cor. 5:1; Amos 2:7. (i) Mark 6:18; Lev. 18:24-28. (k) Lev. 20:19-21.]
.. The last part of this section and its specific history that is in question—on not permitting one to marry the sibling of a deceased spouse, is admittedly difficult upon first glance and a potential modern lack of familiarity. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America’s Testimony that goes alongside the original WCF rejects it as unscriptural (seen as contradicting the Levirate law in Deut. 25:5-10: see also Genesis 38). American versions of the WCF simply omit it (some perhaps with footnote disclaimers) ...

... rather than espouse it as uniquely dangerous—we may defer to the likes of A.A. Hodge with his commentary on the WCF 24:4’s final phrase in passing, “All branches of the Protestant Church—Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian—have maintained the same principle in their Confessions of Faith or canons of discipline.”

>>Full article: puritanchurch.com/an-alternative-view-to-vandixhoorns-on-the-westminster-confessions-historic-marriage-affinity-clause >>

05/21/2026

So proud of PRPC's Olivia Rose Van Leuven who graduated Providence Christian College in Pasadena last Saturday, May 16. She graduated summa cm laude with a concentration in Education. For family and friends interested in pictures and videos, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/vanlocos/albums/72177720333735513/. Thank you to the staff and faculty at Providence for the legacy they have left for us

05/19/2026

This San Diego Business Journal article about PRPC partnering with Haragan Properties and what grew out of it as a new template for churches in San Diego with potential property to develop just ran. We encourage older/smaller churches like ours in San Diego County that may need new incomes sources like we did to reach out to Randy to explore possibilities. https://www.sdbj.com/real-estate/residential/a-model-for-churches-struggling-to-keep-buildings/

This was in response to our news release we sent out about the project (with more information) here:https://puritanchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PRPC-Story-Idea-Memo-Randy-Haragan-Partnership.pdf

05/05/2026

Monthly Homemakers fellowship event, Game Night, Friday, April 24, 2026. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Renner for making this a whole new experience! See more pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/puritanchurchsd/albums/72177720333483160