THE REFORMATION PARTY
The foundation of all sound government, including civil government, is a true and proper fear of the Lord. This is why we read in Psalm 2:10-11: “Now therefore be wise, O ye kings, Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear…” The fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom. And a true fear of God entails a recognition of the doctrines of His Word, which reveal how He is to be served. Such true religion is the only foundation which can issue in a proper implementation of both tables of the Ten Commandments, both those concerning our relations with God and with other men.
The Reformation Party is a political party dedicated to promoting government based upon true fear of the Lord, such as was conceived in the Solemn League and Covenant of 1642. It is an international political party, analogous to the Green Party (but with a different political agenda from the Green Party).
This political party is being established because it is believed that there is not currently a similar political party with a similar political platform. However, if at any time in the future another political party should arise with a similar political platform, arrangement and agenda, then the Reformation Party should merge with it, and cease as a separate entity.
The Reformation Party is not endorsed, recognized, or officially supported by any church or religious denomination. This is a purely political organization with certain political goals, which we believe are taught in the Bible.
1. It is the duty of all men and institutions of men, including civil governments at every level, to acknowledge the Biblical doctrines accurately summarized in the original Westminster Standards, and to suppress heresy, idolatry, and every other enemy of sound doctrine, appropriate to their station and calling. This includes violations of both the first and second tables of the Ten Commandments.
2. It is the duty of civil governments at every level and in every nation to recognize and protect that church which adheres to the Biblical doctrines accurately summarized in the original Westminster Standards, and to be a nursing mother to that church. And only communicant members of that church should be allowed to vote or hold public office.
There shall be two types of membership in the Reformation Party: voting members and associate (non-voting) members.
Voting members must meet the following qualifications:
· Have indicated their desire and willingness to be a voting member in the Reformation Party.
· Have indicated their full adherence to the Biblical doctrines summarized in the original Westminster Standards (which include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Westminster Larger Catechism).
· Have indicated their agreement with the Party Platform of the Reformation Party.
· Are communicant members in the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or an affiliate church of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, if in the future such an affiliate church exists). [Note: This qualification has not been added at the recommendation or suggestion of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland as a whole, or any member thereof, but has been added based upon the conviction of one that is not currently a member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, but would desire to be in the long term. Furthermore, this qualification has not been endorsed or approved in any manner by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Finally, there is no formal or informal relation of any kind between the Reformation Party and the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.]
If at any time any of the qualifications cease to maintain, the voting member must immediately notify the Party Secretary, and the person be removed from the official voting membership.
Associate members must meet the following qualifications:
· Have indicated their desire and willingness to be an associate member in the Reformation Party.
· Have indicated their full adherence to the Biblical doctrines summarized in the original Westminster Standards (which include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Westminster Larger Catechism).
· Have indicated their agreement with the Party Platform of the Reformation Party.
Any changes in the rules governing the Reformation Party shall require a majority vote of the voting members. Voting members will also elect Officers of the Party, as well as Nominees of the Party for political office in the area in which they live.
When there are at least 10 voting members in the Reformation Party, they shall elect a Board of Officers, consisting of the following offices:
· Party Chairman
· Party Secretary
· Party Treasurer
Officers shall serve for one year terms, and may be indefinitely re-elected by the voting members. All administrative decisions for the Party shall be made by its Board of Officers, who shall try to promote the goals of the Party by their decisions and actions. Each Officer has one vote on the Board.
Officers shall meet the following qualifications:
· Be voting members in the Reformation Party.
· Male
· 21 years or older
· Not a minister of the gospel
If at any time any of the qualifications cease to maintain, the officer must immediately step down from office, and an election be held for a replacement to serve out the balance of his term.
This first Board of Officers will serve as the officers for the Reformation Party internationally, for all nations which do not have enough voting members to have their own national chapter of the Reformation Party.
However, as each nation has a sufficient number of voting members (10) to elect the officers of its own national chapter of the Reformation Party, it can do so. Then the officers of the various national chapters, as well as the Board of Officers representing those nations without enough voting members to have their own national chapter of the Reformation Party, should periodically meet in a congress of national chapters of the Reformation Party, to confer and coordinate the policies of the Reformation Party internationally.
Party Officers will encourage qualified Party members to run for political office in the districts and states of their residence (see the Candidates for Political Office section). Party Officers are responsible for organizing primary elections for Party candidates running for political office in districts and states. After primary elections have determined Party nominees for certain political offices, Party Officers will help organize campaigns for Party nominees.
Until such time as the Reformation Party has officers, the Party will take no actions as an organization.
The election of officers will be organized and conducted by a Board of Elections (see section Board of Elections below). The annual election date of Officers will be publicized at least 8 weeks prior to the election date. Candidates for office must submit their names at least 4 weeks prior to the election date, and these candidate names will be publicized at least 3 weeks prior to the election date.
In order to win election for office, a candidate must obtain more than 50% of the votes cast. If no one candidate for a particular office obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, then there will be a run-off election between the 2 candidates which obtained the most votes in the original election within 4 weeks of the original election date.
The Board of Elections will be responsible for the counting of votes cast and the announcement of election results.
The Reformation Party will seek to nominate Party candidates to run for political office in the districts and states of their residence. To be a Reformation Party candidate, the following minimum qualifications must be met:
· Be voting members in the Reformation Party.
· Male
· 21 years or older
· Not a minister of the gospel
If you would like to apply for membership, or find out more information about membership, contact info@puritans.net. Until such time as Officers have been elected, J. Parnell McCarter will maintain the membership records. These shall be turned over to the Party Secretary, should Officers be elected.
We receive many questions about the
Reformation Party from website visitors.
Here are some Answers to Some
Commonly Asked Questions .