The church that refused to vote because of a King

Health · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For over a century, members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) refused to vote or serve in government. Their reason? They believed the United States Constitution failed to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the rightful King of Nations, making participation in civic life a moral impossibility.

The RPCNA's stance on political dissent is rooted in the 1690 formation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Following the Revolution Settlement of 1691, the denomination adopted a 'distinctive principle' of political dissent from the British government. This theology persisted as they migrated to North America, where the first congregation was organized in 1738. After the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, the RPCNA declared the document immoral because it lacked a formal recognition of Christ's authority over all nations.

This conviction led to a period of radical non-participation. Members eschewed civic rights like voting and jury service; in fact, the church even disciplined those who exercised them. This strict adherence caused significant internal friction. Between 1774 and 1891, the denomination experienced four major schisms, three of which were driven by members who felt the church's refusal to engage with the government was too extreme. While the main body eventually began lobbying the federal government to expressly submit to Christ's authority in the Constitution, the legacy of 'political dissent' remains a core identity.

The denomination's history is also defined by its social activism and geographic shifts. In 1800, the church officially prohibited slave ownership and the slave trade, leading to a mass exodus from the South to the Midwest as members sought to live as abolitionists. They also championed prohibition, banning the alcohol business in 1841 and eventually prohibiting tobacco use for all members by 1886. These movements illustrate a group that defines its identity not just by what it avoids, but by its specific moral demands on the state and society.

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