Reformed University Fellowship
Encyclopedia
Presbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
(PCA). RUF has experienced rapid growth the past few years, and currently has 110 chapters at different college campuses spread over 27 US States, Mexico, and Canada. Most of its schools are in the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but it has ministries from California to Massachusetts. The PCA follows traditional Westminster
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
standards, including belief in the inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
and infallibility of the Bible.
Purpose
RUF is not constructed to be a substitute for formal churchChristian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
, thus it is open for anyone to join and become a member, and is not exclusive to those within a certain denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
or indeed within the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religion. However, the organization itself is closely associated with the Reformed theological viewpoint, as their name implies. Its meetings range in size from campus to campus. There are also different types of meetings, often referred to as 'large groups' or 'small groups'.
RUF hosts two main conferences a year, held in Laguna Beach, Florida
Laguna Beach, Florida
Laguna Beach is a census-designated place in Bay County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,932 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in the summer and Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge, Colorado
Established in 1859, the historic town of Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a population of 4,540. The town also has many part-time residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area...
in the winter. There are also regional conferences that take place throughout the year. The conferences, like the organization meetings, are not limited to those ascribing to Reformed theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
History
The idea grew out of the desire of several "young, Presbyterian ministers in the southeastern United States in the late 1970's." At this time the PCA commissioned Rev. Mark Lowery to coordinate this ministry program with an emphasis on honest theology and a welcoming community.Other similar movements
The Reformed Youth MovementReformed Youth Movement
Reformed Youth Movement is a Christian non-denominational junior and senor high conference located in Florida, Colorado and Oregon in the United States for students . Such students are typically from a Protestant Evangelical background. RYM was started in 1972 with about 120 students and now...
, while a ministry similar to RUF, is not officially a part of the PCA.