ABOUT CALVARY

The people of Calvary OPC have been worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ in the La Mirada area since the late 1950s. We are part of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which was founded in 1936 when the inspiration and authority of the Bible was denied by prominent Presbyterian leaders.

We are not a “new” church. We trace our roots to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, which later produced the Westminster Confession of Faith. This Confession, together with the Westminster Assembly’s Larger and Shorter Catechisms, summarizes the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. This statement of Bible teaching is sometimes called “The Reformed Faith.”

We believe that the Bible alone gives us the truth about who God is, what He has done, and how we may please Him. The Bible teaches that God the Father gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, to death on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of His people.

We want to share with you the blessings that come from a personal relationship with God through the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We seek to do this through preaching the Word of God and personal example.

Why the name “Orthodox”?

The “ortho” in our name comes from the Greek word for “straight.” The “dox” comes from the Greek term for “thinking”. At Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church you will find straight preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

Why are we called “Presbyterian”?

The Bible says groups of godly men with experience and wisdom, “elders” are to exercise oversight of God’s people in the local churches. “Presbyterian” is derived from the Greek word “presbuteros” which is often translated “elder” in the Bible. Our members take comfort from the loving care of the elders of Calvary.

The Apostles of the Early Church commanded the appointment of elders in every congregation (Titus 1:5). These elders met regionally and, on occasion, as representatives the entire Church. This structure formed the basis of modern Presbyterianism. The Protestant Reformers determined to return to this structure, so that most of the early Protestant churches adopted government by elders as being the biblical norm.

The theology of these same Reformers emphasized the sovereignty of God in salvation. Their study of the Scriptures led them to agree that salvation is by grace apart from works and depends upon the Lord’s initiative, not man’s. Thus, Presbyterianism came to be identified not only with church government by representative elders but also with a God-centered theology, sometimes called Calvinism after the well-known Reformer of Geneva, Switzerland.

Presbyterians are a Christian community overseen by elders who hold to a Calvinistic understanding of the Bible.

Our Worship is Classical.

We are not tied either to the past or to the present but to the Word of God. We believe it is very important to worship God exactly in the manner He has commanded us to worship. We want everything in the service to be God-centered, and therefore done to please Him. Worship at Calvary Church is simple, dignified, and joyful.

Calvary OPC is a place where both young and more mature Christians are challenged to grow in faith and devotion to Jesus Christ. We are committed to becoming Christian disciples who:

• Know God’s word
• Pray faithfully
• Serve others
• Become more Christ-like
• Take the Gospel to the world

If you’re looking for a church that:

• Honors God as the sovereign Lord of the universe
• Preaches Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners
• Lives by the life-giving power of the Holy Sprit
• Insists upon the absolute authority of the Word of God

…then we invite you to join us in glorifying God through the worship, work, and witness of Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church.