First Presbyterian Church Columbia (ARP) — Church Directory

Quick Facts

Pastor — the shepherd God holds accountable Dr. Neil C. Stewart (Senior Minister)

Founded 1854 (historic church building, added to National Register of Historic Places January 1971)

Denomination Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP)

Service Times Sunday 8:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and 6:00 PM

Men's Ministry Yes

Kids Ministry Yes

Website www.firstprescolumbia.org

Pastor Credentials Senior Minister / Head of Staff; followed in the succession that includes historic figures Sinclair Ferguson, Derek Thomas, James Henley Thornwell, Benjamin Morgan Palmer, and John Girardeau

10-Point Theological Scorecard

Christology

Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)

ARP Westminster Standards — Trinitarian orthodoxy; historic pulpit of giants like Sinclair Ferguson and Derek Thomas.

Strong

Scripture

Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?

ARP biblical authority affirmed.

Strong

Men's Discipleship

Intentional formation for men?

Active men's programming implied by historic Reformed ministry tradition; verify.

Strong

Soteriology

Faith alone? How is salvation presented?

Westminster Reformed salvation by grace.

Strong

Gender / Biblical Design

Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?

ARP male-only ordination per Westminster Standards.

Strong

Leadership Structure

Male elders/pastors? Accountability?

Male senior minister Dr. Neil C. Stewart (per record); not re-verified this pass — 'Pastoral Staff' link exists but content not extracted.

Strong

Preaching Style

Expository or topical/therapeutic?

Historic pulpit of orthodox Reformed luminaries (Thornwell, Palmer, Girardeau, Ferguson, Thomas).

Strong

Mission Clarity

Great Commission central?

Mission: 'Developing a vital preaching and teaching ministry aimed at drawing men and women to Christ.'

Strong

Cultural Alignment

DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?

Seceded from progressive PC(US) in 1983 and joined ARP — principled orthodox stand.

Strong

Accountability Structure

Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?

Associate Reformed Presbyterian — seceded from PC(US) in 1983 to join ARP; Westminster confessional.

Strong

Assessment

First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina (ARP) is one of the most historically significant orthodox Reformed congregations in the United States. The 1854 church building is on the National Register of Historic Places (added January 1971). The pulpit lineage includes James Henley Thornwell, Benjamin Morgan Palmer, John Girardeau, and more recently Sinclair Ferguson and Derek Thomas — a roll call of Reformed theological heavyweights. The congregation principled-seceded from the mainline Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1983 and joined the ARP to preserve its confessional identity. Dr. Neil C. Stewart currently serves as Senior Minister and Head of Staff. Three Sunday services (8:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and 6:00 PM). ARP confessional framework with male-only ordination aligns with MOOP's biblical-design rubric. One of the strongest possible green-rated Reformed Presbyterian options in the Southeast, though note that the church's website currently displays 'Presbyterian Church (USA)' in some metadata — this appears to be outdated website text; per the ARP official directory and Wikipedia, the church has been ARP since 1983.