Creation Science Resources

Old Earth Ministries Reviews

The Old Roman Catholic Church in North America

     A review of their website's Our Faith page did not reveal any documents mentioning creation.  A search of their website for the word "creation" turned up no hits.  Based on the lack of information, it is unclear what their stance on creation science would be. 

Reviewed Nov 2003

Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)

     The OPC believes in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and in the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, as described on their website.  A review of their summary of What We Believe shows no claims about the length of the creation days.  A 142-page General Assembly report was commissioned in order to assist the church in dealing with officers and candidates which hold "differing views" about the creation.  Based on this report, the denomination openly supports members who have differing viewpoints on the creation account.

     Based on these items, old earth creationists should be welcomed within this denomination without any problems.

Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)  

     The Presbyterian Church in America holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith (can be viewed here on their website).  Chapter 4 addresses creation, which states the term “six days.”  No claim is made about the length of those days.  In addition, their statement of beliefs makes no reference to the creation week.

     In 2000, the denomination received a report from their self-commissioned Creation Study Committee.  Their recommendation, which was adopted by the church, states, "That since historically in Reformed theology there has been a diversity of views of the creation days among highly respected theologians, and, since the PCA has from its inception allowed a diversity, that the Assembly affirm that such diversity as covered in this report is acceptable as long as the full historicity of the creation account is accepted."  Thus the official church position accepts old earth creationism as a viable alternative.

Reviewed Oct 2003, Revised Dec 04

Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

     The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. has several articles addressing an old earth.  First, they have a statement on Evolution and the Bible.  It can be found at their website by clicking here.  Simply put, it does not limit God to a six day creation, and allows for belief in evolution as one of God’s creating methods.  Second, they have a section titled Science and Faith (click here) that addresses the issue in more depth.

     Based on the above statements, it is acceptable for a member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to believe in evolution as a means that God may have used to create.  Therefore, old earth creationism is acceptable within this denomination.

Reviewed Oct 2003

The Reformed Episcopal Church/Traditional Anglican Province

     A review of their Constitution and Canons did not reveal any references to the creation.  A review of their Anglican Belief and Practices also did not mention creation.  Based on other Episcopal/Anglican churches, an old earth believer should be accepted in this denomination.

Reviewed 9 May 2004

     There is no official stance by the Roman Catholic church concerning the creation debate.  According to several members who have contacted Old Earth Ministries, they are open to both progressive creationism and theistic evolution, and the present Pope, Benedict XVI, is apparently a theistic evolutionist.  Many thanks to Tyler Fehr for providing material for this review.

For an unofficial, but accurate, summary about the Catholic Church and evolution, click here.

     An excellent resource for Catholics concerning the creation account is the website www.hedgeschool.com.  The authors of this website were kind enough to send me a book, Creator and Creation, which discusses the creation from a Catholic perspective.  The book is available on their website.   I heartily recommend this book to people of the Catholic faith.

Reviewed 9 Jan 2006